On the Mountain in Haiti

"And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased."

Hebrews 13:16

Greetings!

Radiator problems

It's been a long time since I've updated! By the Grace of God, we have been able to get $300.00 worth of food for the children up to the orphanage every month since last spring. Thank you for helping in such a need!

I was blessed to go to Haiti with two pastors from Life Church of Rome, GA. a couple weeks ago, Pastor Josh and Pastor Greg. We spent a night at Miriam's guest house in Port au Prince where I ran in to a few old friends (that's different then running into a few friends that are old)! It was great to catch up with them.

Broken down truck blocking the road

After breakfast the next morning, Pastor Jonas that runs the orphanage in Z'Orange, picked us up to go up the mountain and stay with them. We first stopped and got $300.00 worth of food for the children to take with us. What normally is a 1 1/2 hour ride to the orphanage, turned into about a 6 hour adventure! The traffic in Port au Prince was simply the worst I have ever seen it. Just as we were about to get out of town, the radiator went out. We pulled down a side road and pulled the radiator out and some people threw some J.B. Weld around the edges and we were off again.

We were on the small one lane road in the mountain, when we

Building a ramp down the bank

came upon a broken down truck in the middle of the stream we needed to cross. Not knowing how long it would be there, which could be days, we looked for an alternate route down the bank and across the stream. We decided we would build a path. I didn't think we would get stuck seeing as we were going down the bank. We could have just slid down and into the little water that was in it and up the other side by the broken down truck. The Haitian drivers weren't too excited about it though. Just as our road building effort was completed, the truck started up and moved out of the way! Our drivers were glad they didn't have to try the 'new' road!

Children watching us

The ladies around the orphanage were preparing a feast for the evening. The smells were soooooo good! We all got to sample the chicken and goat before hand. I must say, it was the best goat I have ever had! Moist and tender.

We had a church worship service that evening which was powered by a generator. As most of you know, there is no electricity or running water up on the mountain. It was a fantastic evening of song and worship. Pastor Josh played guitar and sang and spoke a few words. Then we had a great message from Pastor Greg. Following the service, we had the feast. It was also Pastor Jonas' birthday and we all celebrated with him.



Pastor Josh dishing up the chicken

Ladies preparing food with the kitchen behind them.

Tasting the chicken and goat

Pastor Jonas and his wife were so hospitable towards us! They even gave us there small, one room house to sleep in while they slept on the floor of the church with many of the children they are taking care of.  They don't have a building completed for the children yet, but are working on one when they do get some funds.

Pastor Josh and friends

Pastor Greg and friends

The next morning we went to the hut of a man I know named Desiree. He suffered a stroke about 2 years ago and life is very difficult for his family. About 20 feet from his hut is a voodoo temple. I asked him if he believed in Jesus and he gave a definite yes! I asked the 2 ladies that were helping him (one was his aunt) if they were also Christian which they replied they were not, that they were voodoo right next door. We prayed not only for Desiree, but asked the ladies if we could pray to the one and only God  for them and they agreed. About 30 feet away was a contingent of people from the voodoo temple watching us. I really feel the Lord is opening a door there! Please be in prayer for them.

We spent a couple more days traveling to different places to include Ellen's. She's an American lady that has a small orphanage that she built herself. Truly a calling from God. We had a few demonstrations in the road to maneuver  around, but made it back to Port au Prince safely.


Morning on the mountain

We want to continue to help those that truly need help. Haiti is getting harder and harder to live in. They need so much and we can do very little. But we feel we must do what the Lord gives us to do. First of all to spread the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ alone! We also pray that we will be able to continue to send food to the children along with helping with other needs when the funds are available. We still work with the church called Philadelphia in the Northwest, but it is a difficult place to get to. Please consider helping in this journey to help those who are unable to help themselves. Thank you and God bless!

Desiree on the right

In His Service,

Chuck & Gail Guerber

P.O. Box 171

Ironwood, MI 49938

906.364.1415

Happy to be in school

A class at the orphanage held in the church bldg.



Thank You!

'He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker,

                              but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.'

Proverbs 14:31

Greetings!

     Just a short update to thank everyone that helped get the needed food up to the orphanage in Z'Orange, Haiti this past week. The family that runs it, which we have known for a number of years, put out a plea for food, which is very unlike them to ask. They take care of a lot of children and food is not cheap in Haiti.

     A special thank you goes to Fred Chalker and Pastor Etienne of Living Water Ministries. After I emailed the need to get money in country, Fred called literally within minutes and said he was headed there in a couple days and would be happy to take the money with him. They met up with our translator Fednel and got the money to him. Fednel in turn contacted the orphanage and set up a time to where they could meet so he could buy the food they needed. Fednel even gave me a picture of the receipts for the food! Thank you Fednel (aka Fedex)!



Most of the children at the orphanage



     This need has a special place in Gail and my hearts. We feel it is extremely important to do what we can in order that they have the nutritious  food they need. It's a tough life for them. It's day-to-day. The signs of malnutrition are noticeable on the children. WE CAN CHANGE THAT! With your help, we hope to lessen their daily burdens by being able to, at the very least, provide the food. There are so many other needs that take the little money they do have.



Happy Faces!

            
 This month we were able to get them 3 bags of rice, 1 bag of beans, 1 bag of corn, a bag of sugar, 5 gallons of cooking oil and some sardines. Next month we hope to be able to provide even more and diverse food and hopefully some juice, too!  We ask that you consider helping us with this. We would like to work up to being able to give them $500.00 worth of food every month. No, not give them the money, but get them the food! They are taking care of a lot of people and even $500.00 isn't going to cover everything, BUT IT'S A START!



Fednel on the left helping Pastor Jonas load up the food for the trip up the mountain to the orphanage.

   
  Please consider joining us in helping in this monthly need. Again, thank you for those of you who helped out this past month! God bless all of you...

In His Service,

Chuck & Gail

Contact  Information

Chuck & Gail Guerber

P.O. Box 171

Ironwood, MI 49938

Phone:  906.364.1415 (new phone)

Haiti: 4753.0270

www.nwhaiti.blogspot.com

Haiti in March

Dan from Kids Against Hunger unloading rice and beans

 for the orphanage along with the head teacher and Karl.

In their hearts humans plan their course,
    but the Lord establishes their steps.

                      Proverbs 16:9

Greetings!

A group of 6 of us recently returned from Haiti. We had our plans made, but the Lord directed us in a different path upon arrival! I went along with the folks from Kids Against Hunger, St Peters, MO satellite.

Children from the orphanage attending school

I would like to back up a little here. I haven't written anything for about the past 6 months. Even though I was unable to go to Haiti during that time, the Lord still gave this ministry opportunities to help His people. Last December we were put in a position where a 3-4 month old child needed brain surgery. The Lord made it possible for the ministry to provide the funds for that life saving surgery. Another time we were able to help financially support a work program along with supplying food for the orphanage. I thank our God for putting us, and this ministry, in a position where we could still be effective even though we weren't physically in country. It isn't our work but the Lords work through us. We look forward to seeing how our Lord will direct our feet in the future! Ok, moving on....

The light brown color in this girls hair is a sign of malnutrition

Praying with and for the children

Day 2 in Haiti we planned on meeting the 40' container with 2 smaller box trucks and transfering 250,000 meals. This food was ear marked for the Northwest. After we arrived on location for the transfer, we learned there was a strike at customs and we weren't going to get our food that day (the food wasn't actually released until earlier this past week). With our plans out the window, we decided to make a day trip up to Z'Orange and visit the orphanage. On our way, we stopped and picked up 4 bags or rice, 2 bags of beans and a lot of cooking oil. Upon arrival, we found joyful children in school which was being held in the church at the orphanage. They sang songs for us and were eager to have their pictures taken! Before leaving, we prayed with and for the children. The Lord has shown me the love of Christ at this place.

We left the orphanage and drove through the main road in Z'Orange. I was hoping to see some friends, but only to find out they were all in Port au Prince that day. We were able to meet up with Daniel, one of the voodoo priests living there. We had a nice, casual conversation, then we left.

Meeting up with Pastor Etienne

The decision was made to keep moving forward with our plans of heading to the Northwest. With or without food. Jerry volunteered to stay back in Port in the event the food was released while the remaining 5 of us head northward the next day. Getting to our destination, Lemuel Ministries, in the Northwest is nothing to take lightly, and this trip was no exception! The Lord provided us many opportunities for prayer. When we finally arrived at Lemuel, all the friendly faces were there (except Judy and Ani which were in the States. Sorry to miss you!!). We all enjoyed the fellowship.

Garbage everywhere

We had one full day in the north and we made the best of it. We headed over to the Living Water Ministries campus and met with our dear friend Pastor Etienne. We saw the houses that Living Water and Global Compassion built to aid in the relieve after hurricane Mathew took out the village. It was great to see people living in their new houses with children playing outside! We ventured out on the 'short cut' from Ti Paradi over the mountain to what we call the area of Philadelphia. The road can get a little sketchy at times and I think Karl put it best when he called it and adventure times 2!! It's not for the faint of heart, but we made it just fine.

More garbage burning

We arrived at Philadelphia church to find the pastor and his family just returning from working in their garden. They were hot and sweaty and greeted us warmly. He was excited to tell us of an upcoming baptism. I was blessed to participate in it last year, and he asked if I would return. Not sure when it will take place, but it will be an honor to attend.


The pastor and his family at Philadelphia church

We had an uneventful trip back to Port au Prince with a brief stop at Ellen's orphanage.

We thank everyone that has prayed and/or financially support this ministry. Your giving is a blessing to the people in Haiti. Thank you and God bless.

In His Service,

Chuck & Gail
Contact Information
Chuck & Gail Guerber
% Grace Hill Ministries
P.O. Box 171
Ironwood, MI 49938
Phone US: 906.285.2500
Haiti: 4753.0270
www.nwhaiti.com

Baptisms in Haiti!

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Matthew 28:19-20

 

Greetings!

Traffic!

It was pure joy to be able to attend and participate in the baptisms of 11 people in Northwest Haiti. The small church that we help out, when we can, held their baptism a week ago last Sunday. What added to making this event so special is that there are probably only about 50 people that attend this church. So when 11 get baptized, it's a major event!

We tried to combine a food distribution with the baptisms, but the timing was just a little off. We were expecting a container of Kids Against Hunger food (approx 250,000 meals) to be released from customs a day or two before the event, but it was released the Saturday we had to head up North.

The children at the orphanage liked Jerry too.... No, really they did...

We spent one day getting some food to the orphanage in Z'Orange, and to see how they were doing. Thanks to the generosity of an individual, we were able to provide 100 lbs of rice, approx. 30 lbs of beans, and cooking oil. They greatly appreciated it! We pray that we can continue to help them as their needs arise.

Our church group at the beach before the baptisms.

Without the food being release yet, on Saturday Jerry and I drove up to Lemuel Ministries about 4 miles outside of the village of Anse Rouge in order to be at the baptisms on Sunday. As always, we were greeted warmly by the folks that make up that wonderful ministry of Lemuel. You can find out more about them and their ministry here:  http://www.lemuelministries.org/

The bus we rented to get everyone there!

On Sunday morning, we rented the bus owned by Lemuel to take the people to the ocean for the baptisms. Lemuel was gracious in providing the driver! Thanks! So we headed a few miles away to the little church called Philadelphia where they were holding their Sunday morning service. We loaded up the bus and headed for water. There is a relatively nice swimming spot about 10 miles from the church and that is where we ventured off to.

While on the beach, the pastor read numerous scripture passages and we all prayed for the people that were being baptized. I was asked to be with the pastor in the water, something I had never experienced before! After all eleven were baptized, the pastor grabbed my hands, raised them, and said a rather lengthy prayer. I have to admit, I didn't understand most of what he was praying, but I can tell you it was certainly powerful! We then loaded up the bus and headed back to the church where the pastor recognized each person that was baptized. It was certainly an important event!

The pastor speaking to those getting baptized.

Before we left their village, we went to the pastor's mother-in-laws hut so we could pray for her. She's blind and unable to get up. They have some blankets on the floor for her to lay on. No bed. It was a time for us all to reflect on the short lives we have here on earth. We need to stay focused on Jesus, and the preaching of His word.

As of this writing, hurricane Irma is threatening the Caribbean Islands and could bring significant damage to Haiti. Please keep the people of Haiti in your prayers as we continue to pray that it will stay north and cause no harm.



Praying after the baptisms.

 




Jerry and I both spoke at church after the baptisms.

We sincerely thank all of you who help support this ministry. The sacrifices you make in prayers and giving are such a huge blessing to the people our Lord has us serving. You do make a difference! A heartfelt thank you to all of you.

In His Service,

Chuck & Gail

Contact Information
Chuck & Gail Guerber
% Grace Hill Ministries
P.O. Box 171
Ironwood, MI  49938
USA: 906.285.2500
Haiti:  509.4753.0270

Our Lord Provides!

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. James 1:27

 

Greetings!



Taking the team to the orphanage

After a brief week and a half in the States, I found myself back in Haiti for just under two more weeks. A good friend of mine, Chuck Martindale, has been sick and had a group of 20 people coming in. So I volunteered to help him out. But not only was it a time for me to work with the team, it also gave me opportunities to show the Jesus Movie, talk about our Lord, and build relationships.


I should back up a little and explain how the Lord made it possible for me to even go on this trip. I hesitate to tell this, but it is yet another example of how God provides. Gail and I have a small non profit (501(c)3) organization. When I thought I should make myself available to go back to Haiti to help out, I checked the bank account and we only had $57.34 in there! Well, that's not going to get me very far out of Ironwood (where we live) and certainly not to Haiti and back! I was sharing this with Gail when she stood up, went out of the room and returned with a small plastic bag which had some tin foil in it. She set it in front of me and told me to use it. Upon opening it, I saw a small pile of cash. Gail told me she had been socking a little money away in the event of a 'rainy day'. The Lord provided just enough money in that bag to make the trip with $50.00 left over! Oh, how God provides!

Living conditions at the orphanage 4 years ago.

This trip also turned out to be a good time to reconnect with a little orphanage Gail and I have worked with in the past. At one time Gail and I even camped in a tent up there so we could work with them! I have to admit, I'm not fond of camping, and camping in Haiti provides an even greater challenge. But hey, we lived. The orphanage was a great host and we lacked nothing. At that time, there were about 10-15 children there. Now, there are about 35 kids running around! I should explain, as with most orphanages in Haiti, most of these children do have family living. But for one reason or another, their families aren't able to provide for them, either in food or in their education. So they send them away. I would rather call this type of living a 'children's home' but they are referred to as orphanages.


New 2 room sleeping area for the girls

The Jonas family started this one in Port au Prince back in 2004. When the earthquake hit in 2010, it completely destroyed their home and the home of the children. With no place for them or the children to live, they moved about one and a half hours outside of Port to the village of Z'Orange where they lived in tents.  Pastor Jonas's wife has family there and it was their only option.

Future building for the boys.

To this day, it hasn't been easy for them. When I met them in February 2013, they were all in tents. I remember bringing duct tape on each trip I made so they could repair the rips in the material. One positive thing is that there is a block church structure (partially built) that they could go into when the weather got bad.

Current kitchen at the orphanage

Forward about four years, and the living conditions are a little better but far from ideal. They received some donations from a couple Haitian churches in the States so they could build a two room building for the girls. It's a fantastic improvement, but the boys are still sleeping on mats on the floor in the partially built church. Their tents have disintegrated over time in the harsh Haitian climate and are unusable. They hope to be able to finish another small building that would house the boys, but they have to rely on outside help to make this happen. They have all they can handle just feeding, clothing, and schooling the children they have.

Girl attending the school for the orphans. They don't have
uniforms, but it would be a huge blessing in the future if they did.

The first of a few trips of taking food up to the children.

As a matter of fact, a few weeks ago when I made a visit to them (I usually go unannounced), I could tell they were pretty hungry. I was told that they hadn't eaten yet that day and were hoping some food from Port au Prince would show up. It was now 4:30 in the afternoon. So a couple Haitian friends and I went to the village and got beans, rice, oil, and spaghetti which will hopefully get them through a month.  We were planning on providing this food all along, but now we were made aware of the  need in person. A special thank you goes to Life Church in Rome GA for providing the funds that made this food purchase possible! God bless you! Gail and I hope to be able to continue providing food for them on a continuous basis. It would be such a relief and a blessing for them. Please think about coming along side us in helping with this need. We would like to provide about $500.00 in food per month, but at this point we just don't have the funds to make this happen. To make clear, this isn't money given to the orphanage. We know better than that! You can't just 'give' cash. We want to actually purchase the food and deliver it. It's the only way we know for sure where the money is going. It's just the way we have to do it.


The next trip to Haiti will hopefully be in mid August. Gail and I have worked with a very small church in the northwest region for the past 3 years. We have established a very good relationship and have come along side them in whatever way we can. Their church, which is called Philadelphia, is having a baptism. Not sure how long it has been since their last one, if in fact they even have ever had one. The pastor asked if I would be with him during this which will take place at the ocean.

The man and lady on both ends are taking care of all these
children. Actually, this picture is missing a few of them!
 

This time will also provide opportunities to show the Jesus movie and share the gospel of salvation to people that may have never heard of Jesus. Most people where we go haven't even seen a movie, let alone one about Jesus. It's a great way to get people that aren't Christian to view it. They want to see a movie!

In August we will also make a stop at the orphanage to provide whatever we can in food to them.


The congregation at Philadelphia church where I hope to help with their
baptism celebration next month!

This is all dependent upon our Lord providing the funding. I sort of used up our rainy day fund on the last trip. As some of you know, for about one and a half years now I have been overhauling wood clarinets and selling them. It's what I use to do and now am doing again in order to help provide funds for our ministry in Haiti. But it's not enough to fully cover all the expenses. I do know, that if the Lord wants us to continue serving Him in Haiti with sharing the gospel, distributing food and helping out the orphanage, He will provide! Please consider being a part of this ministry either through prayer or through your financial gifts. We are a 501(c)3 non profit. Your donations are tax deductible. Thank you!

In His Service,

Chuck & Gail

Contact Information

Chuck & Gail Guerber

% Grace Hill Ministries

P.O. Box 171

Ironwood, MI  49938

USA: 906.285.2500

Haiti:  509.4753.0270