The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

~ Psalm 18:2

This week, we continue to pray for the nation of Haiti. The devastation and despair we see on TV and online is so hard to wrap our heads around. I don’t know about you, but I have been battling so many feelings of frustration and helplessness at not being able to do more than pray and give. I just want to reach through the TV and rescue orphans out on the street and dig through rubble to reach those that are crying for help. But our God can do those things, so continue to pray for:

· The bottleneck of rescue workers and aid. That the way would be cleared at the airport and on the roads, for help to get to were it is so desperately needed.

· The young children that are left defenseless, without shelter, food and water. That God would protect them and sustain them. That He would keep away anyone who would prey upon the weak.

· Pray for the local churches in Haiti, that they would be centres of hope and healing

· Haiti as it rebuilds. That the government, systems, and infrastructure would be built on a solid foundation. That aid money would flow through the hands of those that are full of integrity and God’s character.

· For security forces and the police. That they would be able to restore calm, security and peace in the midst of growing chaos.

It will take more than a few weeks of fund-raising to bring Haiti back. But we should do all we can to help with relief efforts. We are encouraging you to give through our partners that are directly working in Haiti, in order to maximize the Canadian governments offer to match donations. You can give through:

Compassion Canada: donations will go to providing help and relief to Compassion sponsored families through the local churches.

Samaritan’s Purse: donations will help provide drinking water, emergecy shelter, and medical supplies

PAOC Erdo: Donations will go towards relief and medical efforts of PAOC missionaries serving in Haiti.

We will keep you posted of any future opportunities to travel to Haiti to help with rebuilding and restoration. That is unavailable at the moment because all resources need to be put towards getting help, food, water to those that are in desperate need. Also, the situation is to unstable to send anything but specialized medical and relief teams.

One of our missionaries from our church works with YWAM in Haiti. Sarah Gilman has been writing back reports from the YWAM base. Here is her beautiful testimony:

“God is a refuge and strength an ever present help in trouble, therefore we will not fear, though the earth shall quake and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea. - Be still and know that I am God, I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” Psalm 46:1-3 & 10

Plagues, famine, floods...

Through out the Bible the Lord brought many disasters on different people. Sometimes to teach a lesson, sometimes to wipe out a people. Either way, there's a common thread. God never forgot about the people, He did not ignore what was going on on earth.

…“then they will know that I am the Lord”.

I see that the one thing that the Lord desires for us is to know Him. I wonder, do you? Do you know Him?

My Haitian brothers and sisters do. It's so nearly almost unbelievable to watch. They are not asking how could a God let so many people die. They are saying, “God's grace is so amazing that some of us are still alive.” They are saying, “God has destroyed the heart of Haiti, (which is the city of Port au Prince) so Haiti can be rebuilt now on the foundation of Jesus Christ”.

Just now I jolted up from where I was sitting at my school desk planning classes. I was sure I felt another after shake, (there have been so many) I ran to the door way and stood still trying to feel the shake. I'm sure it was my imagination, and I went back to my desk in the school. Again, I felt my desk shake, (I have a ceiling fan going above me which shakes the whole building so that's a little tricky) I was just about to jump up again. I realized, if it was an earthquake then I should feel it on the floor. So I sat still and concentrated on my feet. Were they shaking?

I had a sudden thought. I felt like the Lord asked me. “Sarah, what is your foundation on? Are you standing on my (God's) truth of who I (God) am?” I all of a sudden thought to myself. Maybe this is so similar to when the Lord tells us to build our foundation on Him? Even when the rest of my life is falling apart, the Lord is going to be my rock. The ceiling fan was shaking the wall, and causing my desk to shake, but there was no actual earthquake. It's the same in our lives, although things around us may really be shaking, what the real danger is; is if the foundation is firm or not.

I've decided, I want my foundation on Jesus Christ.
 

Blessings,
Pastor Sara