Day: September 13, 2008

Posted in Mission Stories

More Pictures of Hurricane Aftermath

Posted on by Castillo

This is a picture of the river that took down the bridge that is right before you get into Gonaives. The Bridge is called Montrouis.

THE BRIDGE COLLAPSED! 

MORE FLOODING PICS:



REMEMBER THE BUS RIDE THIS SUMMER? YOU PASSED THROUGH GONAIVES ON THAT LONG BUMPY ROAD! IMAGINE IF YOU WERE ON THE BUS TODAY – HERE IS A LINK TO THE VERY SAME ROAD THAT YOU WENT ON THIS SUMMER……

There are all kinds of videos on You Tube about the hurricane aftermath in Haiti. I just watched one where there were children lying dead and naked from the storm. They were just babies…..just like my little Gabriel. I watched as the mother yelled out to her God asking for help and even now my tears can’t keep from falling. Pictures don’t do justice – but there are videos that show you the horrible truth but  – you have to have the stomach to watch them.

Jose told me to quit watching the videos because I’ve been crying now for over an hour – but I almost feel like it’s my duty to know what my Haitian brothers and sisters are going through. Talk about a reality check. We are all safe from the storms. I sit here in my home (the one I was afraid to come back to) and I feel awful that I ever asked for prayers because of Roaches. My oh My – I hope my God can forgive me.

How is it that I’m so blessed when so many are not….why are my children alive and well….when so many now lay covered in mud in the middle of streets?  I watched as countless bodies were pulled out of the mud – many were adults but most were small children who never even knew what was happening. Haitians who may not have known who our Jesus is and now it’s too late. It’s just too late for them……….

Please pray for Haiti – every day……..every hour………..

Posted in Mission Stories, Top 10 List

Top 10 Reasons You Should Give…….

Posted on by Castillo

10) Because you can. You’ve seen the commercials – “For just a cup of coffee a day – you could help save a child”. The funny thing is – it’s true. The cups of coffee, trips to the movies, and money spent on food that wasn’t really that satisfying anyways……..Just by giving up small things- – –  you could find the “change” to send hope to someone across the world.


9) Because if you don’t – who will? Someone asked me how could Haiti be so close to the United States and yet be in such dire need? How is it that we can spend millions on countries far away (where we have an invested interest in their oil) but Haiti is still this bad? If you’re reading this blog – then you have an invested interest – so if you (with the invested interest) doesn’t give – then tell me – who will?

8)Because there are new Christians all over the northwest trying to make sense of what has happened to their country. Because as their brothers and sisters in Christ – we can bring encouragement – regardless how small. Because we can help remind them that their new God has not forsaken them.

7) Because we can’t do it without you. The need is so great – the stories are too much – the tears flow too easily – and we just can’t help them all……but YOU could allow us to help some.


6) Because despite all their losses – they continue to care more about those who come to serve then their own daily bread. 

5) Because bodies baked in mud continue to be pulled out of the ground, homes continue to be left in ruins, and mothers have no place to lay their babies.

4) Because our employees came to check on the children who live in the mission during the hurricane because they worried that they might be afraid. Because our Security Guard –  Moulein – was more worried about providing security to the mission – that he was not home to protect his house from the destruction of the storm and it now stands in ruins. Because some would give all they had to help and protect this mission.

3) Because they’re so hungry and so desperate for help  – and food stations are so scarce- those that are at the front of the line are crushed into the barbwire fences – trampled on – and some never rise again.

 

2) Because if they had it – they would give to you. Tell me when have you visited a home in Haiti and you saw what small food they had – was it not offered to you? Did they not give you their best chair to sit in? Did they not offer you a cup of water? Did they not thank you over and over again just for acknowledging them that day? 

1) Because that’s what Jesus has asked for us to do: Matthew 25

   I was hungry and you fed me, 
   I was thirsty and you gave me a drink, 
   I was homeless and you gave me a room, 
   I was shivering and you gave me clothes, 
   I was sick and you stopped to visit, 
   I was in prison and you came to me.’

‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you failed to do one of these things to someone who was being overlooked or ignored, that was me – you failed to do it to me.