Dominican donations arrived!

We received word from our missionary friends in the Dominican Republic that the donations they had for Pastor Noel and Marie were delivered yesterday. But their journey to deliver the supplies was not without its problems. Here are some excerpts from their message to us -

"We made the trip to deliver the donation to Pastor Noel and Marie yesterday but it did not go as we had planned. We spent a lot of time planning, using our contacts to ensure that we would not have problems crossing the border, yet that is not how it worked out. We had taken our [Canadian] work team that is here with us. Our contacts in Dajabon had received permission from Dominican Immigration for us to cross without problems. However, when we arrived, they saw those foreign passports and [the difficulties started]. They wanted about $400 in “fees and tax” for the team to go across and back again. They took a look at our $2000 worth of [supplies] and told us that the donation was too small and did not qualify as a donation so they had to tax us. Then we asked if our driver, and Paul [who has Dominican residency] and Pastor Eddy (who is a Haitian pastor who has a church in Ouanamithe and Dajabon) could go across with the donation and not be charged any fees or tax. The reply was yes – no fees, no tax [for those with Dominican or Haitian passports or Dominican residency]......So, this is what happened yesterday at that crazy border. Pastor Eddy, our driver and Paul went across to Pastor Eddy’s church in Ouanaminthe and took the donation there. Because we could not cross with the team, we felt it best [for those delivering the supplies] to be as quick as possible [making the delivery] since the team was just “hanging out” in Dajabon waiting [so the supplies were just left with Pastor Eddy in Ouanaminthe]. Pastor Eddy talked with Pastor Noel and Marie by phone and when we left, Marie was going to go to Eddy’s church yesterday afternoon to pick up the supplies."

I called Marie Noel this afternoon and she confirmed that they had been able to drive to Ouanaminthe and pick up the food, clothing and medicines delivered by our missionary friends. They were so thankful and very grateful for all the efforts of our new friends, their Canadian work team and the Canadians back at home who sent the money for them to purchase the supplies in the Dominican Republic. They had already begun to distribute what they had received and the people were very thankful for this outpouring of help.

Again, we know that the need in Northern Haiti will be ongoing and help is still needed but it is wonderful to know that people all over North America and even in the Dominican Republic want to help and are willing to do whatever it takes to make it happen.

A challenge - give it up and give it away

This morning I had a challenging thought and I wanted to share it here. At this time of year it is traditional in many churches to think about giving up something as a way of sharing in Christ’s suffering on our behalf. And while I think there is merit in pondering His atoning work and perhaps even sharing in it in some small way by denying ourselves something, I thought it might be even better to take it a step further. Christ gave up His life SO HE COULD GIVE IT AWAY. So in our giving up of something, why not take it a step further? Why not give it away? Give up that latte or that lunch. Give up that dinner or that dress. Give up that movie or that magazine. But then take the money you would have spent on those things AND GIVE IT AWAY. In that line of thinking, I’d like to offer a suggestion.

In October of 2008, Pastor Noel asked us for help to purchase a piece of land on which he wanted to build a home for orphaned and abandoned children. As a result of some wonderful donations, we were able to give him the money he needed and the land was purchased. Just recently, Pastor Noel asked us for help again. In light of the recent disaster, he would now like to begin building this home for children on the piece of land purchased 1-1/2 years ago. We know the need for this type of housing has obviously increased in recent days and we promised him we would do all we could to find the financial help necessary to begin this construction.

So what’s my suggestion? Give it up, and give it away. Give up that latte or lunch, dinner or dress, movie or magazine, or whatever you would give up, and then give away the money you would have spent on those things so orphaned and abandoned children in Haiti can have a home. And if you’re willing to do something like this, why not take it even one step further? Why not challenge your friends and family, church friends and neighbors to do the same? If you think this is a good idea, share the idea with someone else! Maybe all you could give up is a lunch at McDonalds. You might think your $4.00 lunch at McDonalds won’t go very far. But just think what would happen if a thousand people gave up their $4.00 lunch at McDonalds or their $5.00 foot long at Subway? Little is much if God’s in it. God can multiply 5 loaves and 2 fishes. So even the little you could give up can be multiplied beyond what you can imagine and God can and will do amazing things if we’re willing to give Him the little we have.

Luke 6:38 - Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

So how about it? Are you up to the challenge? I know I am! If you are too, send us an e-mail and then let other people know. It would be great to share our ideas and suggestions with one another. And it would be fantastic to see the start of that home for orphaned and abandoned children in Terrier Rouge, Haiti when we go back there on March 10th! So let us hear from you - info@hishandsforhaiti.org.

For Him and for the children,
Jamie Charles
His Hands for Haiti

Earthquake update - good news! 2/11/10

We have good news to share today! We talked to Marie Noel again last night and school in Terrier Rouge opened on Monday. Marie said that not many of the children had returned to school yet because they are still afraid but, in time, they will begin to return back to their normal attendance. She hoped that by next Monday, more children will return but at least the schools are open and operating so the children can attend now and we are very grateful for that! We also spoke to our good friend Stevens Charles last night and he confirmed Marie's news, saying that all the schools in the area were reopening and children were slowly returning. Please pray that their fears will soon be overcome and all the children will eventually return to school.

We also learned today that our new missionary friends in the Dominican Republic are making plans to go to Terrier Rouge this weekend to bring them some much-needed supplies. We are so thankful to them and to their supporters, as well as the brothers and sisters in the Dominican Republic who are reaching out to our friends in Haiti to bring them this help!

In October of 2008, Pastor Noel asked us for help to purchase a piece of land on which he wanted to build a home for orphaned and abandoned children. As a result of some wonderful donations, we were able to give him the money he needed and the land was purchased. When we spoke to Marie Noel last night, Pastor Noel asked us for help again. In light of the recent disaster, he would now like to begin building this home for children on the piece of land purchased 1-1/2 years ago. We know the need for this type of housing has obviously increased in recent days and we promised him we would do all we could to find the financial help necessary to begin this construction. If you would like to donate towards the cost of beginning this home for children, please send us an e-mail at info@hishandsforhaiti.org or you can log into PayPal and send your donation to that same e-mail address.

Also, many of you have already sent us financial donations towards the added cost of purchasing food and other necessities for the displaced people who have come from Port-Au-Prince and are now looking for help in Terrier Rouge. And while we are extremely grateful what's already been given, we know that this need will be on-going so we're asking for continued support to meet this need in the long term. We have also been overwhelmed at the outpouring of support in the form of new sponsorships for the children already pictured on our website and, again, we are extremely grateful for that. Our hope is that the children remaining on the website now will also find sponsors BEFORE we return to Haiti just one month from today as we anticipate new children being enrolled in the schools who will need sponsorship support. As we have been saying since the beginning of this crisis, the crisis in Northeast Haiti is still growing, and will continue to grow, so our friends continue to need our help.

A new tax relief law allows people who contribute to Haiti earthquake relief by March 1, 2010 to take a tax deduction for the contribution on their 2009 tax return. This means donors can receive an immediate tax benefit, rather than having to wait until they file next year's return. Donors may deduct these contributions on either their 2009 or 2010 returns, but not both. As you are aware, we are a registered 501c3, tax-exempt, non-profit organization so donations made through His Hands are considered tax-exempt and we do issue a receipt to all donors. Media attention is beginning to wane as time passes, but we will continue to serve the pastors we have partnered with in Northeast Haiti long after Haiti has left the news and the last reporters have gone home. We are in this for the long haul and we would appreciate your participation with us to help the pastors to help the people in their communities and, of course, to help the children in the schools. If you wish to make a financial donation through PayPal towards the cost of food for the children in the schools we're working with or to help with food, clothing and other necessities for people who have been displaced by the earthquake, please send us an e-mail at info@hishandsforhaiti.org or log intoPayPal and send your donation to that same e-mail address.

Please join us as we pray for the people of Haiti in this time of disaster. As we have more specific information about the children in our program, we will post it here.

Thank you for your concern -
His Hands Support Ministries

Earthquake update - 2/5/10

We were recently contacted by a missionary couple in the Dominican Republic who, like His Hands, are also affiliated with Missionary Flights International. Working through Marie Noel's nephew here in the United States, a plan is being arranged for the missionary couple in the D.R. to bring some much-needed supplies to Pastor Noel and Marie. We are extremely grateful for this gracious offer of support and we hope to be able to meet our new missionary friends in person one day! Also, many of you have sent us financial donations towards the added cost of purchasing food for the displaced people who have come from Port-Au-Prince and are now looking for help in Terrier Rouge. And while we are extremely grateful what's already been given, we know that this need will be on-going so we're asking for continued support to meet this need in the long term. As soon as we learned banks were open again in Haiti, we sent the first installment of financial help to Pastor Noel and we will be sending more in the coming weeks as donations are continuing to come in. When we last spoke to Marie, schools were still closed, but she was hopeful that they would open on Monday, February 8th. If we hear that they have opened again, we will certainly post that information here. We have also been overwhelmed at the outpouring of support in the form of new sponsorships for the children already pictured on our website and, again, we are extremely grateful for that. Our hope is that the children remaining on the website now will also find sponsors BEFORE we return to Haiti in March as we anticipate new children being enrolled in the schools (after they are able to open again) who will need sponsorship support. The more children we can find sponsors for now, the easier it will be to find sponsors for any new children added to the program during our next visit to Haiti. As we have been saying since the beginning of this crisis, the crisis in Northeast Haiti is still growing, and will continue to grow, so our friends continue to need our help.

So how can you help? If you wish to make a financial donation, you may certainly do so and we plan to use it to help Pastor Noel (and the other pastors) purchase food for the refugees from Port-Au-Prince as well as food for the children in the schools once school reopens. A new tax relief law allows people who contribute to Haiti earthquake relief by March 1, 2010 to take a tax deduction for the contribution on their 2009 tax return. This means donors can receive an immediate tax benefit, rather than having to wait until they file next year’s return. Donors may deduct these contributions on either their 2009 or 2010 returns, but not both. As you are aware, we are a registered 501c3, tax-exempt, non-profit organization so donations made through His Hands are considered tax-exempt and we do issue a receipt to all donors. Media attention is beginning to wane as time passes, but we will continue to serve the pastors we have partnered with in Northeast Haiti long after Haiti has left the news and the last reporters have gone home. We are in this for the long haul and we would appreciate your participation with us to help the pastors to help the people in their communities and, of course, to help the children in the schools.