Haiti Update

The Flight is Booked. I’m On my way!

Officially, I will be flying from Florida to Port-au-Prince, Haiti on March 1st to begin my 4-6 months of work there.

What has changed, however, is that I will not immediately begin working with the Heart of God – Haiti orphanage upon arrival, as we are still waiting on the government inspection that is required for the certification. The inspection should be scheduled early next week, and if all goes according to plan there will be no problems and the paperwork will move into the government bureaucracy for final approval.

As my presence at the orphanage prior to final certification could pose problems for the staff, I will in the mean time be dedicating myself to learning the basic navigation of the culture. This will include things like figuring out public transportation, learning how to exchange money, getting a local cell phone, buying food, and other basic skills necessary for daily life.

Upon arrival I will be meeting with other orphanages in the area to observe their day-to-day operations to get an idea of how we can run our program with excellence as God’s stewards, and I will also be making contact with some local non-profits involved in food distribution and healthcare, in order to build partnerships that will benefit our children.

Your prayers are greatly appreciated as the first week in a new place is always the hardest.

 Personal Update

All of the departure delays the last couple of months have been somewhat of a blessing in disguise. They have given me the chance to do some fundraising, work on my spiritual preparation without the drain of working long hours in a truck, and also to minister personally to some friends in their time of need.

This month, I was invited to be a part of the mission conference at Friendswood Baptist Church in Friendswood, TX, and also to share my ministry with some local brothers and sisters at Odessa Bible Church in Odessa, TX.

Last week I also had the opportunity to preach my first funeral after the death of a dear friend, Helen Bond, who was like a second mother to me for a large part of my life.

Prayer Requests

And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” (Matthew 21:22)

• Pray that I can make the most of these last few days of preparation here in the U.S.
• Pray for the orphanage inspection to be passed, and a swift approval process.
• Pray for my move to Haiti to be a smooth transition, and that my time alone there will be fruitful in making contacts and learning my way around the culture.