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

 

 

    

Back to the Gospel!

Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.

Romans 10:17

Greetings Friends and Family,

It use to take 3 guys just to carry all the equipment
to show the Jesus Movie

I just returned from Haiti where it had been about 3 1/2 months since I was last there. Way too long! In the past 6+ years of going, this has been the longest stretch away I have ever had. But we all have times when we need to step back and work with what God puts in our path. Some things challenging. So it turned into a bit longer time away from Haiti then I would have liked. But this trip was also very fruitful! Let me explain.


All that's needed for the movie in one small backpack.
Plus 2 rain ponchos just incase!

When I first started going to Haiti, I would take the Jesus movie around to different places and show it. We did see some fruit from doing this but not a lot. Unfortunately, the past few years I have gotten away from it and have spent a lot of time on other 'stuff'. Don't get me wrong, this other 'stuff' was and still is good stuff, but there developed a certain need inside me to 'go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation'. It is time that I start not only showing the movie about the life of Jesus, but to sit and talk about it after the showing. Asking questions and talking things through more thoroughly with small groups of people. Not just show a movie and leave!


Showing the Jesus movie for children inside a school room

First of all, the equipment we used in the past was pretty bulky. It required a generator, gas, a big screen, DVD players, electric powered speakers, and people to lug it around! I was blessed with a couple willing Haitian friends of mine to help. Now, thanks to technology, things have gotten much simpler. We purchased all battery powered equipment and a white shower curtain! All of which fits in a small back pack. So much more mobile!

Girl in tears when Jesus was killed

Secondly, we would try and gather as many people as possible inside a church to show the movie. That kept a lot of people away. There is a large number of folks that won't even set foot in a church. So we have switched our focus to a more individual/family type of viewing. It gives us a better chance to talk with them after the movie and discuss the many questions that can come up. People are much more comfortable asking questions when there is not a large group of people around. On this past trip, it proved to be the direction we want to go in showing the movie and sharing God's Word!

My friend Osenie (Can't spell his name) who
use to be a voodoo priest

We started it off by showing it to a handful of children inside a school. Even though it was light outside, the projector worked pretty well. The pictures of it here on the blog don't show the actual brightness of the projectors picture. It was pretty good! The children were glued to the story which is based on the book of Luke and narrated by children. Thus, it's call 'The Jesus Movie For Children', but adults enjoy it just as well. It's translated in Haitian Creole so everyone could understand it. The children were pretty sad when Jesus died, and we spent a significant amount of time talking about it after the movie. It surprised me how moved they were by it.

Watching the Jesus movie inside
what use to be a voodoo temple

On another occasion, we found ourselves at the home of what use to be a voodoo priest that I knew. He had a stroke a couple years back which has made it impossible for him to be a practicing voodoo priest any longer. He says he now goes to church. I pray he does. I asked if we could show the movie about Jesus Christ in what use to be his voodoo temple. He said "yes! yes"! So we set up our little system while he gathered his children. They were very captivated by the movie. Even a couple neighbors came by to watch. At the end, we sat and talked with them about what they just saw. They asked a number of great questions!

One of Osenie's children

There  were many opportunities to show the movie and many stories to tell, but I hope you get the idea of this new direction of showing the movie on a small scale. One or two families at a time. Our Lord is showing me that it's about personal relationships with individuals and families which is almost impossible to create in a large setting.

There are so many more people and families that need to witness the life of Christ and have someone to talk about it with. I pray that the Lord uses me as He wills. There's much more that needs to be done!

Gail and I thank you for your support. It is only by your willingness to prayerfully and financially support this ministry that we are able to "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation". If you haven't supported us in the past, we ask that you prayerfully consider joining us on the journey He has laid out before us. May God bless each and every one of you!

In His Service,

Chuck & Gail

Contact Information

Chuck & Gail Guerber

Friends that use to haul the big equipment
now help set it up and tear it down. Very simple!

% Grace Hill Ministries

P.O. Box 171

Ironwood, MI  49938

USA: 906.285.2500

Haiti:  509.4753.0270

 



Rice, Beans, and the Gospel Delivered!

A generous man will prosper;

he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.

Proverbs 11:25

Greetings!

Re-packaging rice & beans

We recently returned from Northwest Haiti where my wife and I took a group consisting of 4 people from the Ironwood, MI/Hurley, WI area, two guys from St. Charles, MO., one guy from the Chicago area and Dr. LeaAnn's sister from Southern Wisconsin.  Ten in all. There was a lot on our plate to accomplish, and with the Lord's help, we got through it unscathed!

Walking hut to hut and praying for the sick and elderly

Thanks to generous donations from the groups listed below, we were able to purchase just under 4 tons (yes, tons) of rice, over 2 tons of beans, 15 cases of cooking oil and 4 cases of cookies and distribute them in the remote regions of Northwest Haiti.

Individuals from Range Community Bible Church, http://www.rangebible.org/

Life Church in Rome, GA.,  http://lcrome.com/home

Multi community meeting at Lemuel

A special thanks to the team over at Hitch Exclusives where they make custom-made kayak racks.

We also want to thank an anonymous donor from the St Louis, MO area.

Jerry and Karl from Global Compassion Ministries (St Charles, MO) not only had 2 trucks for us to use, they also paid for the box truck to take all the food up to the northwest! Praise God!


Children at 'Miriam's'

With this food, we were able to bless a total of 9 different ministries, churches,  and schools that we visited. It was needed and greatly appreciated by all that received it. We were also able to leave a large portion of food at Lemuel (I believe it's pronounced: Lem-u-el ) for their Food-for-Work program. We were able to attend a multi community meeting where they discussed the Food-for-Work program, along with the Pay-for-Work program. It was great to see how this ministry is working with so many different people and communities.

Gail and one of the children at 'Miriam's'

LeaAnn's sister Jan, spent the week working with very needy children at New Life Children's Home in Port au Prince, which we commonly call 'Miriam's'. Much of her time was filled working with handicapped children that are in the orphanage there. Anyone that spends time at Miriam's will be changed when they come back. It's an amazing facility for those that can't help themselves.

Karl leading a bible study at Miriam's before
 heading to the Northwest

Dr LeaAnn was able to see over 40 children at the Lemuel school and approximately 40+ people up in the village of Boukan Patryio. While in BK, Ken along with a Haitian boss, determined what will be needed in order to put the roof on the clinic. We have the 2x4's, 2x6's, and tin to put the roof on, but we also need to make the roof a hurricane proof roof which involves cement and block work on the walls. This also means we need to truck sand and rock up to the location. We are just waiting on the estimate from the local Haitian contractor to see where we stand financially for it.


The village of Ti Paradis was wiped out by the flash flood.

Marilyn and Emily were such great servants for the Lord! No matter what needed to be done, they were always willing to take it on. They gave a little clinic on sanitation and made a simple, yet very effective, place to wash your hands in between the two out houses at Boukan Patriyo.

Karl was constantly preaching the gospel! If not during our morning and most evening's devotions, he was at a couple little churches in the early evenings. The people really enjoyed his teachings (and antics!)

A school in the city of Gonaives we delivered food to

Personally, I was extremely blessed to have my wife, Gail, along on this trip. We were able to catch up with many old friends and reconnect. We were also asked to participate in the festivities that a little church we know as Philadelphia is having this coming August. I'm not sure what they call it, but it's an annual church get-together that has many surrounding churches joining in on the one day event. It's a great event.They will also be having a baptism ceremony for a number of members and that will be held at the ocean. With the help of Lemuel's bus, (which I haven't really asked them yet if we can rent it for a day) we hope to get everyone from their church to the ocean for the baptism.

We thank our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for each and every one of you! We rely totally on your prayers and support. 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

USA: 906.285.2500

Haiti: 509.4753.0270

Our 'Team' along with Krischelle (from Lemuel), Ani and our two interpreters, and a 'bunch of Brunsches'!
 The Brunsch family, consisting of 7, recently moved to live at the Lemuel campus. They are originally
from Rhinelander, WI.



Yellow hair is a sign of malnutrition

Emily handling 50 pound rice bags...
With a Smile!

  

Food for the school in Gonaives

Dr LeaAnn looking at a badly infected leg. We had
medicine along to give him!











More Help Is Needed

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Romans 12:12

 November 30, 2016

Greetings!

Unloading food at Miriam's

As I sat down in front of my computer I found myself hesitating to even write this update. I have been successfully putting it off for about a week now. I keep asking myself, how much do people really want to hear about delivering food in Haiti..... yet again? It seems that it's all I have been writing about, but then again, it's what our Lord has me helping with.

Once I came to the realization that there are ministries being blessed, people being nourished, and the gospel of Jesus Christ being given, I realized it does matter! So I write.

John and Ricky (foreground) sweating it out! 

Jerry Lantz and I returned from our last trip to Haiti November 19th. I believe it was our 3rd trip in about month and a half. Kids Against Hunger had another container clear customs and we needed to get it in the hands of ministries that would distribute it.

One of two schools we delivered food to

It doesn't make the news anymore, but the conditions in the mountains along the southern part of Haiti are tragic and have the possibilities of getting worse. We were able to spend an overnight at New Life 4 Kids (you may know it as Miriam's). Miriam, Ricky, John and a few others had just returned from where they work in the south of Haiti. Listening to them explain the situation was heart wrenching. They told of people dying daily due to the effects of starvation; old people being beaten for what little food they may have received; and dogs being the only means of food for many. Ninety percent of the homes are destroyed or severally damaged. Rain continuously falls on people with no roofs and no tarps.  About 100,000 people that call the mountains home are without aide. Knowing of the situation, they find it hard, if not impossible, to sleep at night. And no, this doesn't make the news. 

Inside one of the school rooms

Happy school children!

The second day we were in Haiti we delivered approximately 12 tons of food to Miriam's https://newlife4kids.org/ and another ministry that works in the south called Charis. http://www.charis4haiti.com/#welcome  They will divide it up as they see fit. Both of these ministries are a huge blessing to the people living in the south. We know it's just a drop in the bucket and much more needs to be done. The situation and the human toll in the mountains is far reaching. Providing help and food at least for the next 4 to 6 months is vital in order to get the people beyond the hurricane to where they can get their gardens established again. Please be in prayer for these people!

The farthest we traveled on this trip was to Gonaives. No gravel roads! It was a blessing to meet new people and ministries in Gonaives. We delivered just under 50,000 meals to two schools and another 20,000 meals was given to an organization called 'Brace For Impact' that supports a children's home and others in Cap Haitian. They sent a truck to meet the food in Gonaives.

Loading food for Ellen's orphanage

Through Christ, we were able to deliver a total of 16 tons of food between 7 ministries, 1 orphanage, and 1 senior feeding program.  We continue to be blessed by being His hands and feet.

Again I ask, please be in prayer for His people that are struggling every day just to live.

'...The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective'.  James 5:16

In His Service,

Don't try this at home!

Chuck & Gail

Chuck & Gail Guerber

% Grace Hill Ministries
P.O. Box 171
Ironwood, MI  49938
USA: 906.285.2500
Haiti:  509.4753.0270
www.nwhaiti.blogspot.com 



Not The Normal Trip to Haiti!

'Those who give to the poor will lack nothing,
    but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses'.

Proverbs 28:27

Greetings family and friends,



Loading up the army truck headed to the northwest

Have you ever made plans that you thought were important and then see those plans go right out the window? Well that's just what happened to a group of us on our recent trip to Haiti. What was supposed to be a three day pastors conference, an eight village food distribution, and nightly preaching at various churches turned out quite differently.

Stuck truck loaded with food

I met up with the group of 6 guys from the St Louis, MO area, in Port au Prince on Monday, Oct 17. The men doing the pastors conference were leaving the next morning, while Jerry and I were going to be in Port to meet two trucks and load them up with food. Global Compassion Ministries has a trailer located on the Global Outreach campus and it was pretty full of donated clothes and shoes which needed to be brought up to the north. They weren't really planning on taking it up on this trip because that would mean someone would have to drive the 5 ton army truck. Not the smoothest of rides. But wouldn't you know, Karl raised his hand to volunteer for the job. Little did we know at the time, we would need that 10 wheel drive vehicle to pull people out with!

Group deciding whether to try driving across or not (we didn't)

On Wednesday the group held their first, and what ended up to be, their last day of the pastors conference. That same day, Jerry and I followed the two trucks filled with food (250,000 meals) north. There had been a lot of rain the night before and the roads were washing out and muddy. We just got past Gonaives and were on the dirt road when we met a couple seasoned missionaries we know that live in Haiti. They were headed to Port while we were headed further north. They told us how bad the roads were and how high the water was. He looked at us and our vehicle (a KIA pickup) and said "Are you going up there in THAT"? That was a bit disheartening to hear, but we had no plan B. 

Impassable roads

We got notice that one of the food trucks got stuck on an embankment with rushing water around it. Not good. By the time we got to it, the water had receded but the truck was hung up and stuck pretty bad. The other food truck was able to unload and return but couldn't pull or push this loaded truck out. So we sat with it and called Karl to see if he and the army truck could come and help us out. He was about 2-3 hours away but came and pulled the loaded food truck out without a problem! We weren't the only vehicle Karl and the army truck pulled out, there were a few!

By the time Jerry and I, along with the last food truck, got to Anse Rouge it was raining heavy. We had the truck with food follow us to the Lemuel campus where we were staying. There was no attempt on the truckers part to head back to Port that evening, the rain was heavy and the roads were terrible.

George (far right) gave the gospel message to a group of
people that were unable to cross the water to get
to market. After the gospel message, we handed out food

The next morning (Thursday)the guys quickly found out that they wouldn't be able to make it to the pastors conference. There was a rushing river where there was only a small stream the day before. No getting across it. So back to the Lemuel campus we went.  By around 4 in the afternoon the water receded enough so that the one remaining food truck decided to try to head back to Port au Prince. We got notice later that night that he made it. We were thinking that we would be back on schedule in the morning. Then the rains came.... and came.... and got heavier.....and heavier.

These are two of the three guys that pulled 6 people out of
a car stuck in the raging river. The car was then washed down
stream. They didn't know where it ended up at. Maybe the ocean.

I received a call from Fred Chalker of Living Water Ministries about 5:30 in the morning informing me that there was sever flash flooding during the night and that the village Gail and I had called home for 9 months had been hit really hard. Four children and two adults had lost their lives with many homes completely destroyed. We jumped in the truck and headed out only to find that we could go nowhere. The flash flooding had destroyed our road. It wasn't just washed out, it was gone! We were again stuck. But this time it really hurt knowing that we couldn't help those that really needed help. All we could do Is pray. All the clothes and shoes that Karl brought up in the army truck had been unloaded at the Ti Lagon campus which is near the village. They were handed out to the people that literally lost everything.

It was now Friday and most of the guys were to fly out of Haiti Saturday afternoon. Karl, Dan, and I took the army truck a few different ways out from Lemuel only to be met with roads that even that truck couldn't pass. Back to Lemuel we went. We were left with only one option. Leave the trucks and try to arrange an airplane to fly us out.

Working on the runway!

With the tireless efforts of Judy Dilus (her and her husband have Lemuel Ministries) she was able to get a MAF (Mission Aviation Fellowship) plane to pick up 5 people. After checking out the runway, it was noticed that one end was pretty soupy. The people at Lemuel quickly took action to try and get it in shape. Guys were hauling rocks and gravel by wheelbarrow and Karl was packing it down with the army truck. It never really got in good condition, but there was enough room for the planes to land. 

That afternoon most of the guys flew out. Jerry and I along with 3 interpreters waited to see if they could come back for us. They were able to make one more trip that day and we decided the interpreters and our luggage should go. We would hope on getting a flight the next day, which we did.

Flying out and looking down at where the road was.

Once Jerry and I were in the plane, I realized that it really cuts down on the anxiety of flying when you know that both ends of the runway are functional. Something I had never been concerned with in the past, until now. we lifted off just moments before hitting the muck!

So all the plans we made didn't happen. But we know that God is in control. The guys got one day of pastors conference and we were able to get 250,000 meals to the northwest that will be distributed as needed.  We will take that as a good day.

Range Community Bible Church Food Packing

KAH trailer from St Peters, MO.

This group packed approx. 24,000 meals!

This past weekend the Kids Against Hunger group, from St Peters, MO drove up to our church in Hurly, WI for the 2nd annual food packing. Last year we packed 20,000 meals. This year, we wanted to increase it to 25,000 meals. With one week remaining until the packing, I asked our congregation for an additional $1,660 in order to accomplish this goal. We received a few hundred dollars and by Wednesday I figured we would pack whatever we could even if we didn't hit that goal. Then I got a call from Pastor Josh of Life Church of Rome, GA. He was one of the three pastors I recently met up with in Haiti. He started out by saying his church wanted to give us $1,000 for food packing! He had no clue we were going to even be packing food this weekend, let alone that we were, well, about $1,000 short! I was floored. God continues to amaze me. And to God goes the glory.

As I prepare to head back to Haiti this Sunday, please keep the people of Haiti in your prayers. There is so much devastation there. The need for food is real. It's worth repeating the word of God in Proverbs 28:27

'Those who give to the poor will lack nothing,
but those who close their eyes to them  receive many curses'.

As we continue moving forward with the work He has for us in Haiti, please consider joining with us prayerfully and financially. We depend on your support. May God bless you and your families!

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

Haiti: After Hurricane Matthew

'He upholds the cause of the oppressed

and gives food to the hungry.

The Lord sets prisoners free'

Psalms 146:7

 

Greetings,

Mud walled house needing much work.
(Photo curtesy of Lemuel Ministries)

We have all heard and seen some of the destruction in the wake of hurricane Matthew. Now is the time to lean on God's Word and to share God's Word! I start my trip back to Haiti tomorrow and will arrive in country Sunday. On Monday, I will meet up with 5 others and we will head up to the northwest. Some of the guys from Global Compassion Ministries will be holding a pastors conference. Yes, even with all that has gone on, and with continued clean-up and rebuilding, the local people still want to have the pastor's conference which was planned months ago. They are hungry for the Word!

What use to be the road leading to Lemuel.
(Photo curtesy of Lemuel Ministries)

The death of their animals is equal to losing their bank account.
(Photo curtesy of Lemuel Ministries)

The other guys, which will include myself, will be loading two trucks with Kids Against Hunger food in Port au Prince and taking them to the northwest to distribute it. It will total approximately 250,000 meals. People may ask why the northwest when the brunt of the storm and all the news coverage shows the southern part of Haiti being hit the worst? Indeed, it was hit the worst, but the effects of the hurricane run through the entire country. The flooding which destroyed gardens, damaged homes, and killed animals, will in a short time prove extremely hard for all areas of Haiti if something isn't done now. We primarily work in the northwest, so that's where we are headed. I hope to have a couple videos showing the storms effects and will post them when I get back.

Within 2 weeks, we hope to be able to send another 25,000 meals (possibly more, depending on whether we have any more to give!) to a ministry located in the south of Haiti called Charis. Depending on schedules and finances, we may go to the south along with the food, but it's not a sure thing yet.

I ask for prayers for this group of men from Global Compassion Ministries, Kids Against Hunger, and Grace Hill Ministries. That the word of God will be taught and walked as we witness for ourselves the effects of hurricane Matthew and how our Lord will use us during this time, along with His direction moving forward.

Thank you for your prayers and support. We rely totally on outside financial support in order to do the work He has laid out for us. Please consider helping us to help those that are truly in need.

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
www.nwhaiti.blogspot.com 

Grace Hill Ministries is a 501(c)3 non profit organization.

Short Haiti Trip!

'The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.'

Proverbs 16:9



Krishelle, Fednel, Pastor Josh, and Pastor Mike at lunch

I was blessed last week to spend part of it traveling with three pastors from Life Church in Rome, GA.  http://lcrome.com/home  They had a desire to see the area in Northwest Haiti where we work, and specifically, the food program.

After realizing that I wasn't able to use the trucks in country, I turned my attention to getting a rental vehicle. After 3 hours spent dealing with various rental car companies, I ended up with a little Suzuki 4 door. Not exactly the best vehicle to take to the northwest, but that was the only option at that time. I was to meet three pastors very early the next morning and needed to get up to the area where they were staying yet that evening. It took nearly 2 hours just to get from the airport to the outskirts of Port au Prince. It was now 8 in the evening, not exactly the best time to be traveling. Plus, once outside of Port, I quickly learned that this remnant of a car didn't run so good. But Fednel (interpreter) and I drove on.


From left to right. Lemuel's Administrator, Pastor Josh, Fednel,
local citizen, Lemuel employee, and Chuck at a village where
they have cleared the thorns from their village and received food

The next morning I met up with the 3 Pastors, Jason, Josh, and Mike. Given the car situation, we discussed whether we would attempt a trip up north or stay closer to Port au Prince. With Jason not feeling well, and not able to travel, the rest of us decided to take the journey north. Josh and Mike wanted to go, so to the northwest we went.

Once we got off the good road and onto the dirt paths, we stopped at an area where we would like to come along side with a work for food program. They dig rocks out of the hillside for a living. They have no gardens due to the desert like conditions. We met with the wife and children of the local pastor. When asked what her greatest needs were, she answered 'food and water'. I pray that we can establish a continued relationship with this area. One prayer request we have is that others will see this need and come along side us and help support this area.


Another project for food is a holding pond fed from this hand
dug trench. It runs from the river (when there is water) to the
pond which they also dug by hand.

We arrived at our destination of Lemuel Ministries where there was a lunch waiting. We then took advantage of some down time before looking at the food program. Around mid afternoon, people from Lemuel gave Josh and I a tour of the area and some of the work for food programs that are ongoing. The need for food and water is very evident. Watching a man dip a bowl into a green, bug invested pond of stagnant water was painful.

That evening, pastors Mike and Josh wanted to rest. It was a long, emotional, and spiritually filled day. I didn't blame them a bit. That evening, Fednel and I headed over to one of our favorite little churches which we call Philadelphia. I realized that with the pastors needing some 'down' time, I would be the one called on to give a message this evening. Oh boy.....  I quickly thought of Mosses and how he told God that God had sent the wrong man to do the job! Rather than arguing with God to send someone else, I asked that he give me the words he wanted spoken.

Man getting drinking water from this pond.

When we arrived, the church was packed with people singing praises to the Lord! It's a beautiful sight to see and listen to. After the singing and a short message from the church's pastor, I was up to bat. The Lord gave me every word. I had nothing to say, but He did! I spoke for about 20 minutes. I thank God for His words!

 The next morning we started our trip back to Port au Prince. We sounded much like a tank seeing as the pipe leading into the muffler broke. It just needed to be welded back in place. And wouldn't you know, we had the joy of getting a flat tire before getting to Gonaives. Oh, and the spare was flat of course! We flagged down a moto and he took the tire and Fednel to get it repaired. We were back on our way within 40 minutes or so! Thank you Lord!

Inside the church at Philadelphia during the service 

We picked up Pastor Jason at the hotel he was staying at and we made it to Port au Prince by about 3:00pm. I dropped the pastors off at the hotel and took the car back to the rental company. I had to pay a little for one broken hubcap and another hubcap that somehow didn't make the trip back with us. I didn't mention the muffler. You could tell where it had been welded before and it broke in the same spot. I'm sure they had no problem with re-welding it. Thank you Lord.

Friday we all flew back to the States. The lines at the airport were incredibly long. People were starting to get out ahead of the hurricane. I was on the American Airlines side while the pastors were on the Delta side. I can't speak for them, but the AA side was a total mess! By the grace of God, I still caught the flight out and made it home by 11:00pm that same day. Thank you Jesus.


The man to my left wanted to thank everyone that has helped
him to be able to have food. Beside him is the church's
pastor and elders.

I want to thank Pastors Jason, Josh, and Mike for their willingness to take this journey. Their desire to 'go' and to 'see' was a great encouragement to me. I pray our paths will cross again in the future! Thank you guys.

I also want to thank those that prayed for our safe trip. Your prayers were heard! And thanks to those that financially support this ministry. Without you, we could do nothing. And please believe me when I say there is a lot to do in Northwest Haiti. We give thanks to the Lord for 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
www.nwhaiti.blogspot.com 

Grace Hill Ministries is a 501(c)3 non profit organization.