01/29/2010

REV. TINA LESLIE, Executive Director, NHCM Canada

It is long past time to send you another update on how things are going with the mission... Things have been moving along very quickly. I am standing here, at 3:00 a.m. in Toronto Pearson Int’l airport. We have to be here three hours early, and my flight leaves just after 6:00 a.m. Even the ticket agents look sleepy!

I am flying out to Miami, to go just outside to a commercial airport called OpaLocka. Glen Hyde, of Angel Flight 44 has arranged for a couple of air lifts of emergency medical supplies for our mission and another orphanage down in Port au Prince. I will be meeting up with a small team and for the rest of today, I will be working on the loading dock, sorting out which boxes of precious cargo should be loaded first, and which can wait until Sunday morning’s flight.

One of the men I will be working with is Buddy Shipp, whom you may recognize as the American Samaritan. He is bringing along a photo journalist. Together, they will be providing churches in Canada and the US video streaming of the work being done in Haiti. I do not know a lot about video streaming, but hopefully, I will be able to put some of it up on our website. Their job is to come to Haiti on behalf of other ministries and assess what the needs are, and how the churches at home can best reach those most in need.

Before I write further, I should let you know that all is well at the mission. The different members of the surgical team have arrived by flying into the Cacaos Islands, and from there, to Cap Haitian. I have not heard how many hours, exactly, it took them to bounce along some barely discernable roads through steep mountain passes to arrive at the mission, but it usually takes between 8-15 hours depending on the weather.

Maureen managed to get word out that all is well, and the operating room is working, and many people are getting critically needed help. She asked us to pray for them, as well as our patients. Our patients have been through so much. Most have lost everything, as well as family members, and some, having surgery, have lost even limbs. They are, truly, trauma victims. The doctors, nurses, and missionaries looking after them, after so much disaster, wounded people, and fear all around them, are beginning to feel a little like trauma survivors themselves. I am hoping, by the ministry of the Word of God, and prayer, to do something to help that. Please pray for them throughout your day.

God has been so very good to us!

At the ministers’ conference which we were in Texas to attend when the earthquake happened, I was called up to the platform, and the leading ministers at the conference and with the laying on of hands, prayed for us, for Northwest Haiti Christian Mission Canada, anointing us for the work that lies ahead of us in the wake of this disaster, among the people of Haiti. The entire assembled congregation of ministers, numbering in the thousands, stretched out their hands toward us and prayed. The power of God flowed out to us like waves of the ocean. It was something which was life-changing. Sitting under the Word of God, learning, and having our spirits filled with the nourishment from heaven, prepared us for today.

After the service, we were congratulated by the ministerial staff from Kenneth Copeland Ministries Canada. They gave us a cheque, which will cover most of the shipping costs of two containers! Also, KCM Canada has given us a spot on their website, so that people who are coming to them to give to Haiti, can give to us through them. The link to this page comes up every few seconds on the home page of their website. It is so very comforting receiving the prayers and support of brethren in the Lord.

According to our Lord, it is even more than just the good feelings that come from having brethren in support of what we are doing. Jesus said that where two or three agree as touching anything that they ask, it shall be done by our Father. (Matthew 18:18-19) We stand in agreement with many for the healing of those who suffer, the salvation of those who are lost, and the love of God through Jesus Christ to reach even the tiniest person He sends to us.

On the last day of the conference, we got a call from Health Partners International, Canada. There is a very small mention of us in their press release if you want to look at it. Air Canada donated air transport for the six pallets of medicine Health Partners International gave us for our work. They delivered them to Port au Prince airport late Saturday evening. God is so very good. We will use these antibiotics, acetaminophen, and other things, to help the wounded and the sick, while we minister to them the Words of Life, and the love of God.

There are so many things I would like to tell you about, but time and space do not permit it right now… of the school that raised money and sent it to us, that we might get supplies to Haiti,… of churches who have sent the offerings of love from all the people of their congregation, to bring food and medicine, and the Gospel to those who suffer -of a new Christian, who sent a candle with a letter telling the Haitians that it’s light will remind them of the love of God reaching them in the darkness… of the tireless work of volunteers like our Geoff who re-designed our website, set up online giving, and has been working on building a French website for us (because like Canada, one of Haiti’s two official languages is French), … of Ray, who stays behind, helping Bev with bookkeeping, writing receipts,… of Georg and John, who step over so many things cheerfully, and make room for just one more mat or jar of peanut butter in the warehouse so that as soon as the shipping lines open for business again, containers of food and supplies can be ready to leave for Haiti,… and my dear husband, Bev, who puts up with his wife being away months at a time when he cannot come with her, so that the elderly, the babies, the children who might have died, will have the care his wife might have been giving him – people whose mighty works are written in Heaven in the Lord’s Book of Remembrance (Malachi 3:16). Our Father has such wonderful and amazing children!

So, now, here in the darkness of the morning, with sleepy and irritable airline staff, and I await a plane to Florida, so that after sorting boxes, making manifests, packing an airplane, I can get into a cargo plane, sit on the floor, and be strapped down like the rest of the luggage – to go to Haiti. It looks like I am alone. But that is only to those who cannot see. I sit here wrapped in the love of my Father, the power of the Holy Spirit, the authority of the Word of God and His love for man… and the love, and faithfulness, the work of so many hands and hearts of my Family, the Body of Christ, - you, my dear ones. Thank you. I know you are not in the natural, able to go to Haiti this morning. But you are going, nonetheless.

I am believing for God, by His Holy Spirit, to accomplish great things in Haiti. Many have said that Haiti is under a curse because they dedicated their land to the devil. Well, if a land can be dedicated to the devil, then they can repent and dedicate it to the living God. He is so very good.

In Haiti, I will be praying for the sick, praying for the missionaries, doing ground inventory of the medical supplies being flown in, checking on the delivery of containers being gradually released from the port, and looking for opportunity to teach about the real coming of our Lord, and about His coming in the heavens to catch away His church. People who love the Lord need not be afraid of His coming. Many in Haiti are afraid, and mostly because they cannot read and have not been taught the Word of God about these things. We as Christians have a most blessed hope. It will be a privilege to share that hope.

The great thing about the things we learn from the Word of God is that those who know them best are usually the most eager to hear of them again! It is a win/win situation no matter what!

I will try to write as electricity and internet connection permits over the days ahead. In His very great love, Tina