Sound Systems equal Gospel Systems…

Recently, we have had a several US churches purchase sound systems for their church in Haiti. It has been great to watch and listen to the reactions as these get delivered. We recently delivered one of these systems to Fond Deron. Their Sister Church is Christ Community Church in Ocala, FL.

When we delivered the system, the people were overjoyed! There were literally squeals of delight. Jumping up and down, waving hands in the air, cheering, audible praises to God, laughing…

Why so much excitement? Sound Systems are the mouth piece of God here in Haiti. Without a sound system, it is difficult to project the message of the Gospel to the lost. With a sound system, the Haitian people can project and proclaim the good news more effectively. Their faith has opportunity to be more contagious. Their songs of joy may reach the ears of the downcast. They may hold open air evangelistic services much more effectively in the town squares. With the increased volume in the church, they may call out to people to come within the sanctuary.

Fond Deron church members had just met on Saturday to pray, and collect funds for a desperately needed sound system. Yet, they were unable to collect funds since people just didn’t have anything to give. On Monday, RMI showed up with the Sound System that Christ Community donated. Praise the Lord!

On behalf of your brothers and sisters in Fond Deron, THANK YOU Christ Community!

More pictures here.

Rob

Effects of the Rain

Rainy season in Haiti is a mixed blessing.  Its always hot and dusty and the earth is parched so when the rain comes its celebrated.  But at the same time the majority of the Haitian people depend on gardens and livestock for their sustenance and many of Haiti’s roads are unpaved and with lack of proper drainage systems throughout the country, too much rain and gardens are lost, livestock drowns, roads become impassible and flooding occurs.  Waterborne illness it is also often spread through the rivers as they rise. At the beginning of June it rained nonstop for more than a week.  While Haiti needed the rain the inundation of water did cause some damage.  Here is what we currently know from our Sister Churches:

Pestel:
Crop loss, building damage and loss, and the spread of waterborne illness which has led to some deaths in the area(while it has some symptoms which are similar it doesn’t appear to be Cholera).

Fond D’Heron:
Livestock and crop loss

Corail:
Crop loss

Lievre:
Livestock loss (6 cows, 2 mules, 5 goats, 3 horses, 18 donkeys, 12 sheep and several chickens.)

Baradere:
Livestock and crop loss and one human causality

Les Anglais:
Crop loss (peas)

Please keep these churches and all of our Sister Churches in your prayers.  There has been a good bit of rain over the last few days but has been mostly falling at night.  The days have been breezy and slightly overcast with even hints of sunshine.  While the weather right now is quite lovely, hurricane season is upon us which often brings with it days of rain, heavy winds and the damage that follows.  Please pray that God’s hand of protection over Haiti in the coming days and weeks.

Video Testimony…

This is a video testimony by Pastor Jim and Emily folk directly after their very first visit with their new Sister Church in Fond Deron, Haiti.  Pastor Jim is the lead pastor at Christ Community Church in Ocala, FL.  Thanks Pastor Jim and Emily!