Joy House at last

The team has arrived at Joy House after a very long day of traveling. It was a rough trip in many ways...rough roads to travel, rough travels through Port-au-Prince, and then the emotional roughness of the devastation. They would see areas where all buildings were leveled and then a few small areas where some buildings were still standing...but then right back into another area where every building was down. The Gressier area has also had a lot of damage. Most of the homes and buildings around Joy House are down. The team is very tired but all are doing well. Pray for them as they have a lot of hard work ahead of them over the next few days. They still have to check on the well to determine if it has been damaged and then begin repairing the major damage on the building and securing the compound. It was difficult to accomplish things under normal circumstances before, but now it is so much more difficult due to limited resources and the challenges in travel and communication. The two bags that were missing on their flight...never made it to them before they left this morning, so they are unsure of what has happened to them. Pray that they will be able to get them because every bag had much needed supplies. Pray the team will be able to get some good rest tonight...I could hear the rooster crowing as I talked to John...so pray the rooster will sleep, so the team can sleep.
Kay

Almost there!

I just talked to John and they made it to Santo Domingo. They had to wait for an open gate and had only two bags that did not arrive on their flight. The airline did confirm that they were on the midnight flight and that they would be delivered to them as soon as they arrive. They will have a few short hours at a hotel before they leave for Haiti. The plan is to leave at 5:30am (4:30 central time) and drive to Gressier. It is estimated to take 8-10 hours to get across the mountains, through Port-au-Prince and on out to Gressier. Keep praying...they are almost there! Another road trip, but this time without the snow.
Kay

On their way

The team made it to Dalls without any issues on the roads. Thank you everyone for praying. I talked to John at 11:30am and they were on the plane and ready to take off on time. Continue to pray for strength for each of them as they are tired from traveling through the night. Pray also for all their luggage to make it to Santo Domingo. I will send an update tonight if I am able to hear from them after they arrive there.
Kay

The challenges have only just begun

It is safe to say that a major winter storm was not in our plans, but it quickly became part of our plan and one of the challenges for the team preparing to go to Haiti. The airport here in NW Arkansas was pretty much shut down today and the word from the airline was that it was very questionable as to whether the morning flights on Saturday would be a go. With all of that in mind, we had to quickly decide…do we wait, or do we find another way to get to Haiti as scheduled. This is where we need everyone praying tonight (Friday into the early hours of Saturday) because Joe, Norma, Wayne and John are driving to Dallas to catch their second leg of the trip which is scheduled to leave at 11:30am Saturday morning. Pray for their safety on snow-covered roads and for God's hand of protection on them over the next two weeks of many challenges ahead. Pray for each of them as they see the devastation and for God's peace and comfort through the impact that it will have on them. Pray that they will be an encouragement to the Joy House team during this extremely difficult time in their lives. And, pray for those that they will encounter along the way who need Jesus. I will send updates as I am able to get word from them over the next few weeks.
Thanks a bunch for all your prayers!
Kay

Haiti Update - January 25th

Please pray for the team of 6 people who will depart this coming Saturday morning for Haiti. We will fly into Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, purchase building materials, water, food, etc, then drive to Haiti. The team will be Joe and Norma Patterson, their daughter Sherry Bass, Wayne Ford, John Rodgers, and Doug Sarver. The primary focus will be to repair Joy House to a safe and usable level which is estimated to take at least a full week. Our water source is a well on the Joy House property. Please pray the well has not sustained damage and will function to provide water needed to take care of a team.

Once we have completed repairs to the building, confirmed the well is usable, and have a secure compound, we will begin the process of forming teams and determine a timeline for those teams to begin going in. The four areas of ministry which we will be focusing on are: 1. Construction - Rebuilding Joy House, Churches and homes in the community, 2. Medical - helping to provide medical care to the area surrounding Joy House, 3. Physical needs - providing food, clean water, clothing, etc., 4. Sharing the Gospel at every opportunity. Those who have expressed an interest in going will be contacted soon to determine their availability.

We received word that Sue Witt was in Haiti when the earthquake hit and returned to the states soon after. She and all the children which were living with her are ok. Some of the children have been allowed to enter the U.S. if they were in the process of being adopted but did not have their U.S. visa. We do not know which of the kids were allowed to come.

As for Daniel, we still have not received any news regarding his whereabouts. We have sent an email to the organization which he works for in Haiti but have not received a reply. Keep praying for Daniel and his safety.

Reminder: Donations can be taken to Grace Point between 8:30 and 4:30 Mon. thru Thurs. and during service times on Sunday. We will continue taking donations over the next several weeks. The items which have been donated so far are being sorted and most of it will be packed and taken with the team that leaves this Saturday.

John & Kay

Haiti Update - January 22nd

Early Wednesday morning, Haiti experienced an aftershock which registered 6.0 on the Richter scale. As we reported previously, damage to Joy House had been minimal following the initial quake 10 days ago. However, we received pictures of Joy House late yesterday afternoon which show a significant amount of damage.

In order to begin using Joy House for feeding and medical teams, a tremendous amount of work will have to be completed in order to make the building safe and secure. The damage from the original quake would likely have only cost a couple thousand dollars to repair. Now, in order to get the building to a usable state, the cost will be in the $10,000 to $15,000 range! To return the building and grounds to their "pre-quake" condition will likely cost $25,000 to $30,000!!

Please pray and ask God to provide funds in order to get the compound up and running again. A team of 6 people, including John, will be traveling to Haiti late next week to purchase building materials for repairs and food for distribution. We will be transporting these out to Joy House to begin making repairs. A medical team from another ministry will be arriving at the Joy House property this weekend and will begin treating patients outside because the building is potentially unsafe in its current condition.

We will keep you posted with any new developments.

John & Kay

Update From Alice @ House of Hope Orphanage

We have recieved word that as of Jan 14, Alice and all of the children at the orphanage are ok! The building suffered minimal damage during the earthquake, and Alice had enough food, water, and fuel for power to last 7 days. Please pray that everything is still ok following this weeks 6.0 aftershock..

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Here is a summary of what we have learned over the past couple of days:

Haiti experienced the largest aftershock this morning (6.0) since the original quake 8 days ago. The people are afraid to go inside any buildings which remain standing. Therefore, they are sleeping in the streets and in parks, or anyplace they can find. Food and water are scarce to non-existent. Fear is running high. They have not been able to get their money from the banks because they have all been closed. Banks and Western Union offices are scheduled to begin re-opening Thursday. This will allow them to buy food ... if they can find a place to buy it.

We have been in contact with a missionary who was able to get out to Joy House. The building is standing with relatively minimal damage. A large majority of the buildings in the surrounding area have collapsed or heavily damaged. The missionary was able to leave a small amount of food and water for a few people staying at Joy House and plans to return tomorrow with more.

Norma spoke by phone with Pastor Eddy this afternoon. His church and Lifeline Orphanage which the GPC team visited this past summer are standing with minimal to moderate damage. Everyone there is okay. Joy House bus is parked there and has not been damaged. Eddy has been preaching in the streets each night and 25 people accepted Jesus Christ as their savior last night alone!! He indicated many people are openly praying to God and asking him to save them from this horrible situation.

I was able to contact the director of Christianville compound, approximately 3 to 5 miles west of Joy House. This is where the first 3 GPC teams stayed. All of their buildings are heavily damaged or destroyed. He confirmed Pastor Benito and two other pastors from the area of Gran Savon and their families are all ok. The church building is standing but has suffered serious damage. He also estimates 90% of the homes in Gran Savon have been destroyed and the people are living in open fields. The pastors have been preaching in these communities and have been seeing an average of 100 people per day accepting Christ as Savior!!!!

A small team, including Joe, Norma and John are planning to leave as early as the middle of next week. Our purpose will be to purchase as many supplies on the island as possible to help meet some immediate needs in the area surrounding Joy House. At the same time, we will be assessing the damage to Joy House and making repairs as needed to get up and running quickly. Please pray that the well (our only water source) has not sustained any damage and that it will produce significant amounts of clean water.

Thank you to everyone who has donated clothes, hygiene items, and first aid supplies ... keep em coming! The greatest need for the first trip ... funds to buy food and gas to get the food out to where it is needed most.

Thanks,
John & Kay

From Pastor Mikes Blog

It has taken me some time to write this blog regarding Haiti’s recent earthquake. I have been in a state of shock. I think I kept hoping they would find massive number of people under pockets of concrete surviving. I been amazed by the stories and have hurt for the losses that keep compounding. I want my words to be brief, but my actions and love to be loud (1 John 3:17-18) . It would just be wrong to a have a blog site dedicated to thinking and living beyond borders and not to mourn and reflect with and on Haiti.

I want to first join with the co-laborers from Grace Point Church (GPC) in praying for the work and people of Haiti that GPC members have been investing their life in for the past 7 years. Their labor has been faithful and sacrificial throughout these years. In my estimate, we have commissioned 35 or more members from our church to serve in Haiti. They have helped to build Joy House, prayed over the voodoo temple, and have started the workings of a congregation. Thank you, John and Kay Rodgers, for being the GPC champions of the Haitians. We stand with you as you collect supplies and return to Haiti as soon as you can to rebuild the work and lives of the Haitians you love so much. GPC stands with you financially and in prayer. Learn more about GPC’s work in Haiti on their blog.

On a national scale, I am thankful for the North American Mission Board’s and the International Mission Board’s disaster relief efforts that they are engaging throughout the nation. No one feeds or serves the least of these better in the name of Christ and in times of crisis than Southern Baptists and their Disaster Relief units. If you would like to give to a fund that 100% will go to helping Haiti survive this crisis, consider making monetary gifts to the SBC Disaster Relief. There are a lot of people willing to take your money to “help” in Haiti. I would like to think it will all get to the right place and do what you intend for a gift to do. I think we have learned from Katrina, there are those who don’t share in the same level of financial accountability as other established relief organizations. Consider the SBC Disaster Relief a solid choice. This is the fund my family will be giving our donations to.

Finally, I heard an inspiring story regarding a missionary who was on the ground capturing the story of Haitian children with Compassion International. It is an amazing story regarding the value of life and writing your last letter. Watch the story and consider going on the Last letter website and typing your own last letter as you live beyond borders. It may be a very healthy exercise for us all.

Click on this link for the video and be blessed

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/34933049#34933049

Here's the latest news:

*Lots of clothes donated today from people at Grace Point and many others expressing interest in helping. Thank You! We have a table set up in the back of the worship center where donations can be left on Sundays or during church office hours during the week.

*News from Christianville which is located approximately 3 miles southwest of Joy House indicates heavy damage to the clinic and the school. News reports estimate 5,000 deaths in Leogane which is only 10 or 15 miles west of Joy House.

*Working on a couple of options to get a small first response team into Haiti in the very near future. We will be going in to assess the situation in area surrounding Joy House in order to prepare for teams to begin going in soon after. For those who have said they are ready to go, please be patient. We will contact everyone as soon as we know when and how we can get in and have the supplies available to meet the needs at hand.

*This is a picture of Jesus Church at Santos which is located just outside the gate of Joy House. The picture is not complete (likely sent from a satellite phone) but there is no doubt it is a total loss. Joe and Norma received news there is a donor who has committed to helping rebuild the church.

*Discovered Daniel works for a ministry which is located several miles west of Joy House past Leogane. I'm going to try to send a message thru their website to see if we can locate him.

We will keep you posted ... Keep praying ...

John & Kay

From Norma Patterson, director of Joy House Ministries via Facebook post:

They are all accounted for but Daniel. Please pray for him. The Mission Center is standing in good shape! PTL!! From whom all blessings flow!! Many houses around us are down. The church building is destroyed.

Hey all, here is a message we received from Roland about the conditions at Joy House in Haiti. Praise the Lord for the good news about the compound, but pray for the neighbors around Joy House.

John & Kay

WELL; AS FOR JOYHOUSE IT NOT TO BAD COMPARE TO OUR NEIGHBORS; PART OF THE FENCE IS DOWN, THE BACK WALL OF YOUR ROOM IS CRACK, THE GATE STILL STANDING, THE ROOF IS IN TACT ( OR IN PERFECT CONDITION ), ONE OF THE BACK WINDOW IS DOWN, AND THE BEST THING IS :
ALL OF OUR COLUMNS REMAIN STRONG AND IN GOOD SHAPE(PERFECT CONDITIONS).

THE DOCTOR'S HOUSE IS DOWN ONE PERSON PAST AWAY.

THE CHURCH BUILDING IS DOWN,

ROSE-MARI'S HOUSE AND MAGGY'S ARE OK ; MOST OF

THE BUILDINGS AROUND US ARE DOWN

ACCORDING TO ROOSEVELT'S AND CH ARLY'S INSPECTION.

I WILL SEND CHARLY DOWN AGAIN WITH CAMERA TO TAKE SOME PICTURE.

ROLAND

Today's Developments:

Roland sent email stating he saw Eddy, Matthew and Roosevelt today. Roland was also able to see his family are all ok. He indicated Eddy's house has suffered major damage.

Kay spoke with Jean Claude last night by phone. He is in Florida (he was there during the Earthquake) and has not been able to contact any of his family in Haiti.

Norma received an email from a doctor in Gressier saying things are bad in Gressier but worse in PAP.

We have heard American mission teams currently in Haiti are being told they will have to leave as soon as the bottleneck at the Airport is resolved. The evening news reported on several mission teams who were told they would be leaving today but were eventually told it would likely be tomorrow before an aircraft would be available.

Some things I failed to mention in last night's update regarding needs:

Hygiene items: soap, shampoo, toothbrushes, toothpaste, washcloths, etc.

Water Purification: small lightweight filters, iodine tablets, etc.

Medical: Latex / non-latex gloves

According to many news reports, most people of now gone over 48 hours with very little or no food and water. The devistation is so overwhelming and widespread which is making distribution of supplies virtually impossible. Several plane loads of supplies are sitting on the tarmac at the airport with no way to effectively get them out to the people. Please pray significant progress will be made quickly to help alleviate some of the suffering.

John & Kay







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Late this afternoon, we received an email from Roland. He and his family are ok but their home was lost. Roland is now working from the U.N. camp at the Airport. At this point, we have been unable to make contact with any of the other guys ... keep praying.

Kay and I met with Joe and Norma this evening to evaluate next steps. At this point, the airport is closed to all commercial air traffic and when it re-opens, the flights will be reserved for search & rescue and professional medical teams. Franklin Graham of Samaritans Purse said tonight they have 2 large aircraft packed and ready to deliver food, medical supplies, and water filtration systems which they planned to take in to PAP tomorrow. However, they were notified the airport was closed this afternoon. Therefore, for the immediate future, it appears we will not be able to get in country.

What can we and our friends and family do to help?

1. Pray, Pray, Pray

2. Collect summer clothes - good condition - all ages and sizes.

3. Collect first aid supplies - gauze, tape, alcohol swabs, ibuprofen, aspirin, antibiotic creams, hand sanitizer, etc.

4. Purchase MRE's (Meals ready to eat) to be used by teams when we are able to go 5. Donate funds - When we are able to take in a team, funds will be needed to purchase supplies and food for distribution. Donations can be made to Joy House using Pay Pal on the Joy House website: HaitiJoyHouse.org or checks can be made payable to Joy House Ministries and mailed to PO Box 6643, Springdale, AR 72766.

We are hoping to make contact with either Pastor Benito or someone from Christianville in hopes they can go to Joy House and give us a report on the condition of the compound. With the epicenter of the quake being within 3 to 5 miles of Joy House, the potential for damage is enormous. However, God is in control!

If you have a strong interest in going to Haiti to help with the relief effort and could do so on short notice, please respond to this email. We have had several express an interest during phone calls and want to be sure we have all the information in one place.

Please call or email if you have any questions.