Thursday, December 23, 2010
As I write this, I am crying tears of joy…
This past week has been one of the hardest weeks for me at New Life. With all the unrest and the cholera epidemic all of our teams have cancelled. I don’t blame them, Haiti has become a place that people fear… as I watch and hear the news, I would be afraid to come here too.
When our last team cancelled, I called my mom crying and I told her that my Heart was just broken for the people of Haiti. Most of the world has forgotten about them and the ones that haven’t, can’t come because of the unrest. I asked her “what are we going to do about Christmas?” I told her that we had 2 containers come in, but we gave almost all of it away to other orphanages and tent cities, just like we always do… I never regret doing this as God always provides for us. Now for the first time I felt like I should have held back some things just in case… I was questioning giving it all away.
My Mom reminded me that in her 34 years in Haiti, that God has never let New Life down. I wanted to have her faith, but it was hard…
During this week I couldn’t help but wonder how in the world I am going to come up with 102 presents and special food for all of our kids… I would lay In bed at night and cry and wonder “why did I give it all away?” if I only would have kept some, we would have a really great Christmas, but now I have nothing for them.
I had a talk with the kids and told them the situation. I told them that we would have a party on Christmas Eve and a Christmas day dinner with a cake to celebrate Jesus’ Birthday. We still had one team coming after Christmas and they were bringing things for Christmas. They were happy, but inside, I felt sad.
We had 4 people come and with them they brought 10 boxes of Christmas lights… yea!! So we put them up and the kids were so happy! … In my mind I was still trying to figure how to make Christmas for the kids…
Yesterday, we had one girl come from a team that had cancelled…I had never met the girl before and she had never been to Haiti. Today, together we opened her suitcase and she brought for the kids 10 more boxes of lights, Christmas carol CD’s , 2 Christmas movies, a Christmas tree, decorations and a beautiful star to place on the top.
Today, we played the music, made decorations for the tree, strung lights and decorated the Children’s Home. The kids had permanent smiles on their faces!
Tonight we planned on watching a movie and eating popcorn, but while we were getting everything ready, they were playing worship songs and singing so loud that you could here it all the way down to the Guest House…
When I went down there… they were singing the song “How Great is our God”, it sounded like angels were singing. I looked around at the most beautiful place… lights everywhere, every pole decorated and a beautiful lighted star on the top of our tree…
As we sat down to watch our movie… Valter from YWAM and his team came over and told me that they fed 2 Tent Cities today, but had so much food left and wanted to know if they could give it to us? They backed the truck up and brought BBQ chicken and rice and beans and so much food. They even brought the plates and silverware. The team started serving our kids and all our employees the most beautiful dinner.
I will tell you that at that moment I was totally overwhelmed. To think that I could sing a song and say the words “How Great is our God”, and not truly have the faith inside that he is Great?
My tears have not stopped…as I look out over our beautiful place, filled with Christmas everywhere, and I didn’t have the faith to give it completely to God… and he had it all under control the whole time.
God is teaching me new things everyday…
I am crying tears of joy at the Greatness of the God I serve.
Even in my lack of faith, God came through, just as he always has…
I realized once again in my life…
THAT THERE IS NOTHING IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD.
Dan and Sherry Frederick Moesly xxoo
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Monday, December 20, 2010
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Warning US Citizens In Haiti
Warden Message No. 136
Elections-Related Demonstrations
U.S. Embassy Port-au-Prince issued the following Warden Message on
December 08, 2010:
The U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince is issuing this Warden Message to
alert U.S. citizens that there are reports of numerous elections-related
demonstrations throughout Port-au-Prince and in other parts of Haiti and
reminds U.S. citizens of the potential for violence throughout Haiti for
the duration of the electoral period. Demonstrators have barricaded
roads in many parts of Port-au-Prince making movement around the city
difficult and dangerous. U.S. citizens are advised to remain in their
homes and shelter in place until conditions stabilize.
Port-au-Prince's international airport is closed until further notice
and all scheduled flights are canceled. The airport at Cap-Haitien is
also closed, and demonstrations and barricaded roads have made movement
around that city unsafe. Additionally, American Airlines has canceled
all of its flights to and from Port-au-Prince on Thursday, December 9.
While border crossings with the Dominican Republic remain open at
present, travel to the border and throughout Haiti may be hazardous due
to barricaded roads and demonstrations and Americans are advised against
taking any further risks.
U.S. citizens in Haiti should continue to monitor radio, television and
other media and should register with the U.S. Embassy. They can do so
at https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/.
The U.S. Embassy's ability to provide direct assistance in the event of
violent demonstrations is limited and is normally dependent on Haitian
National Police and UN Police.
Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the U.S. Embassy's
website the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs'
website www.travel.state.gov
current Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, Travel Alerts, and Country
Specific Information can be found. The U.S. Embassy also encourages U.S.
citizens to review "A Safe Trip Abroad," found at
http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/safety/safety_1747.html, which
includes valuable security information for those both living and
traveling abroad. In addition to information on the Internet, travelers
may obtain up-to-date information on security conditions by calling
1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the U.S. and Canada, or outside the U.S. and
Canada on a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444.
For emergencies involving American citizens, please contact the American
Citizens Services (ACS) Unit of the U.S. Embassy's Consular Section,
located at Boulevard du 15 Octobre, Tabarre 41, Tabarre, Haiti;
telephone (509) 2-229-8000; after hours emergency telephone (509)
2-229-8000; ACS Unit fax (509) 2-229-8027; and e-mail at
acspap@state.gov.
Elections-Related Demonstrations
U.S. Embassy Port-au-Prince issued the following Warden Message on
December 08, 2010:
The U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince is issuing this Warden Message to
alert U.S. citizens that there are reports of numerous elections-related
demonstrations throughout Port-au-Prince and in other parts of Haiti and
reminds U.S. citizens of the potential for violence throughout Haiti for
the duration of the electoral period. Demonstrators have barricaded
roads in many parts of Port-au-Prince making movement around the city
difficult and dangerous. U.S. citizens are advised to remain in their
homes and shelter in place until conditions stabilize.
Port-au-Prince's international airport is closed until further notice
and all scheduled flights are canceled. The airport at Cap-Haitien is
also closed, and demonstrations and barricaded roads have made movement
around that city unsafe. Additionally, American Airlines has canceled
all of its flights to and from Port-au-Prince on Thursday, December 9.
While border crossings with the Dominican Republic remain open at
present, travel to the border and throughout Haiti may be hazardous due
to barricaded roads and demonstrations and Americans are advised against
taking any further risks.
U.S. citizens in Haiti should continue to monitor radio, television and
other media and should register with the U.S. Embassy. They can do so
at https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/.
The U.S. Embassy's ability to provide direct assistance in the event of
violent demonstrations is limited and is normally dependent on Haitian
National Police and UN Police.
Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the U.S. Embassy's
website the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs'
website www.travel.state.gov
current Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, Travel Alerts, and Country
Specific Information can be found. The U.S. Embassy also encourages U.S.
citizens to review "A Safe Trip Abroad," found at
http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/safety/safety_1747.html, which
includes valuable security information for those both living and
traveling abroad. In addition to information on the Internet, travelers
may obtain up-to-date information on security conditions by calling
1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the U.S. and Canada, or outside the U.S. and
Canada on a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444.
For emergencies involving American citizens, please contact the American
Citizens Services (ACS) Unit of the U.S. Embassy's Consular Section,
located at Boulevard du 15 Octobre, Tabarre 41, Tabarre, Haiti;
telephone (509) 2-229-8000; after hours emergency telephone (509)
2-229-8000; ACS Unit fax (509) 2-229-8027; and e-mail at
acspap@state.gov.
Friday, December 3, 2010
Postponing January's Trip
After closely monitoring the progression of events in Haiti we have decided that it is in the best interest of RELIEF and the safety of our volunteers to postpone the trip until later in the year. We would like to reschedule our mission for mid-spring but will not be able to make this decision until the violence subsides.
Despite not having a calendar date, we will still be building New Life Children’s Home a boys’ dormitory. When we do reschedule, each of the confirmed volunteers on January’s roster will automatically be given a place on next trip’s list. For those volunteers that have already collected donations, the balance will carry over and count towards your next visit to Haiti.
The RELIEF Page for our trip on MyDunkTank.com will be amended to reflect the recent changes to our trip and everyone is welcome to continue fundraising until the original cutoff date of January 7, 2011.
As an alternative volunteer opportunity, The RELIEF Foundation is participating in the MLK National Day of Service on Monday, January 17. More information regarding the event will be posted next week. If you would live to be a local RELIEF Project Leader for the Day of service or have a project that you’d like us to consider please email info@therelieffoundation.com
TC
Despite not having a calendar date, we will still be building New Life Children’s Home a boys’ dormitory. When we do reschedule, each of the confirmed volunteers on January’s roster will automatically be given a place on next trip’s list. For those volunteers that have already collected donations, the balance will carry over and count towards your next visit to Haiti.
The RELIEF Page for our trip on MyDunkTank.com will be amended to reflect the recent changes to our trip and everyone is welcome to continue fundraising until the original cutoff date of January 7, 2011.
As an alternative volunteer opportunity, The RELIEF Foundation is participating in the MLK National Day of Service on Monday, January 17. More information regarding the event will be posted next week. If you would live to be a local RELIEF Project Leader for the Day of service or have a project that you’d like us to consider please email info@therelieffoundation.com
TC
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