http://www.thehowertons.blogspot.com/2010/01/prayers-for-ronel.html
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Heartline Update
Dear Heather,
We have a need for medical personel. See John's blog below
January 15, 7:34 PM
It has been a busy day as I have been out and about and trying to look after the various efforts of Heartline Ministries here in Haiti.
We as a group did meet this morning and we have decided to go ahead and on Monday open up a clinic to treat those who have yet to have their wounds and injuries cared for. I spoke to a couple of guys that live in the inner city area where our midwives go and they told me that there are still many just in his area that have not been treated. He as well told me that many of the bodies of those who have died are now just being discovered and that they are being placed in an empty field.
The plan then is for long time friend Dr. Tom McKnight from Niceville, Florida to arrive Sunday on an airplane coming in with doctors. He is bringing with him supplies and money to help purchase other supplies. We as well will gather as many supplies as possible and with other medical personnel treat those who have been injured in the earthquake. The clinic will be open 7/24 but we as yet are not certain of how many weeks we will run the clinic.
We are especially looking for those who have expertise in treating wounds and trauma. We expect to see broken bones and infected wounds and injuries due to being hit by cement blocks. If you are at all interested, please e-mail me and I will put you in touch with our contact person who in coordinating this effort in the States.
Our biggest concern is our ability to stay stocked up on the medical supplies that we will need. We as well have concern about how we can keep the electricity on as we have no city power and getting diesel for the generator is at this time not possible. Yet today when we met we sang, prayed, read God's word and talked and all were in agreement that we should do this. And so we have started to get the women's center ready and we will work feverishly to make this happen.
We can really use your financial help as we add this outreach to what we are already doing. You can donate by pressing here. THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY!!!
We also have moved the children and nannies to the girls' home, which is the most secure of the two houses.
NOT GOOD NEWS
I, a couple of days ago, wrote about our friend Patrick who was trapped for 18 hours under or inside his house that had collapsed on him. Well both he and his wife, Barb were able to make it to the States where Barb had her leg amputated below the knee and where Patrick had his arm amputated. Patrick is now is serious condition with a collapsed lung and kidney failure. PLEASE PRAY!!!
THE STENCH OF DEATH
Today I was downtown and was amazed at the damage done to some of the government buildings and especially the National Palace. And clearly the stench of death permeated the air.
STARTING TO REBUILD
Today, even though we do not have a lot of cash to work with we were able to get 150 sacks or 6 tons of cement, and a couple hundred bars of steel and some other material for rebuilding the walls of the creches. We will need 3000 cement blocks and truck loads of sand and gravel, which we are not able to get yet as they are not available. We still have not been able to remove the debris which is spread across our street as there are no trucks available to haul it away. I was able to get the materials from a place near us where the owners, that I know well said, "John even if you had money we wouldn't take it; pay us in a couple of week." I am very grateful for their generosity.
Rubble from one of our broken walls
Dear Heather,
We have a need for medical personel. See John's blog below
January 15, 7:34 PM
It has been a busy day as I have been out and about and trying to look after the various efforts of Heartline Ministries here in Haiti.
We as a group did meet this morning and we have decided to go ahead and on Monday open up a clinic to treat those who have yet to have their wounds and injuries cared for. I spoke to a couple of guys that live in the inner city area where our midwives go and they told me that there are still many just in his area that have not been treated. He as well told me that many of the bodies of those who have died are now just being discovered and that they are being placed in an empty field.
The plan then is for long time friend Dr. Tom McKnight from Niceville, Florida to arrive Sunday on an airplane coming in with doctors. He is bringing with him supplies and money to help purchase other supplies. We as well will gather as many supplies as possible and with other medical personnel treat those who have been injured in the earthquake. The clinic will be open 7/24 but we as yet are not certain of how many weeks we will run the clinic.
We are especially looking for those who have expertise in treating wounds and trauma. We expect to see broken bones and infected wounds and injuries due to being hit by cement blocks. If you are at all interested, please e-mail me and I will put you in touch with our contact person who in coordinating this effort in the States.
Our biggest concern is our ability to stay stocked up on the medical supplies that we will need. We as well have concern about how we can keep the electricity on as we have no city power and getting diesel for the generator is at this time not possible. Yet today when we met we sang, prayed, read God's word and talked and all were in agreement that we should do this. And so we have started to get the women's center ready and we will work feverishly to make this happen.
We can really use your financial help as we add this outreach to what we are already doing. You can donate by pressing here. THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY!!!
We also have moved the children and nannies to the girls' home, which is the most secure of the two houses.
NOT GOOD NEWS
I, a couple of days ago, wrote about our friend Patrick who was trapped for 18 hours under or inside his house that had collapsed on him. Well both he and his wife, Barb were able to make it to the States where Barb had her leg amputated below the knee and where Patrick had his arm amputated. Patrick is now is serious condition with a collapsed lung and kidney failure. PLEASE PRAY!!!
THE STENCH OF DEATH
Today I was downtown and was amazed at the damage done to some of the government buildings and especially the National Palace. And clearly the stench of death permeated the air.
STARTING TO REBUILD
Today, even though we do not have a lot of cash to work with we were able to get 150 sacks or 6 tons of cement, and a couple hundred bars of steel and some other material for rebuilding the walls of the creches. We will need 3000 cement blocks and truck loads of sand and gravel, which we are not able to get yet as they are not available. We still have not been able to remove the debris which is spread across our street as there are no trucks available to haul it away. I was able to get the materials from a place near us where the owners, that I know well said, "John even if you had money we wouldn't take it; pay us in a couple of week." I am very grateful for their generosity.
We hope by next week to stat to actually rebuild the wall. This is dependent on our being able to have the rubble hauled away and if we can buy sand and rocks.
Your prayers and support do matter and Heartline is making a difference!
Friday, January 15, 2010
Heartline Update - PLEASE HELP IF YOU CAN!
Dear Heather,
You are receiving this newsletter as a supporter of Heartline Ministries. The board held an emergency meeting today to determine what steps need to be taken due to the enourmous needs created by the earthquake. We have had so many requests for help we wanted to clarify what we need.
First of all, we need prayer for Haiti and for safety of our people in Haiti.
Second, we are in great need of finances. Currently we have raised approximately $90,000 of earthquake relief funds. We are estimating that we will need around $200,000 to rebuild our facilities and help our workers rebuild their homes. Already the flow of donations has slowed down. We recognize that it will take more people knowing our need than our small base of supporters. We are asking each of you to spread the news of our need by forwarding this email and the information at left to as many people as possible.
For those that don't know, 100% of all funds that come in to Heartline Ministries are spent in Haiti. All state side expenses for administration are provided and performed by various individuals free of charge. The earthquake donations will go 100% to recovery and rebuilding. You can locate our financial information, tax returns and tax exempt information at our Financials and Donations web page.
We already have people with incredible experience in Haiti at facilities that are damaged but still functional that can provide immediate assistance to the Haitian people. All we need is the financial resources to do it. We have several doctors and nurses that will be at our facilities on Sunday to start a clinic.
In addition to emailing everyone you know, we have the following ideas:
Contact your local church and school to ask for prayer and financial support specifically for Heartline Ministries.
Contact your local press and provide information about Heartline and our need. If you are an adoptive parent, the press has been very interested in getting information for stories of how the earthquake is affecting our families.
If you know of any grants, government funding or other organizations that can provide funds please contact them and Tom White, our treasurer at tom.white@heartlineministries.org.
Haiti Precious Haiti
Oh Haiti, how I love and admire you. To those who I will not name (but some have the initials P.R.) who would dare insinuate that Haiti brought this on themselves, that somehow this is God's wrath poured out, to you I say, "God have mercy on YOU! and let he without sin cast the first stone!"
The precious woman that was pulled from the Carribean Market last night who had been trapped for 30 hours said she never stopped praying and thanks God.
When the family of the 2 year old boy pulled from the rubble this morning was asked how in the world he survived 3 days buried alone, they replied, "That's God! That is only God!"
On CNN a young man wanted to let his family in Orlando know that he was alive. He said, "I thank God for life. It is all I have, but I thank God."
Haiti, you who have suffered so much and endured so much I know you will survive. I know you will continue to pray and have faith as these your countrymen have done. I love you all. I am honored to watch you suffer with such love and dignity. I am honored to hold one of your precious treasures in my arms today. My sweet Daniel. I thank you for him. I thank you that he has your love and courage and honor coursing through his veins. I will do my best to raise him to honor you all. Precious Haiti, you have my prayers, you have my love, you have my respect. God be with you in the horrific days that are yet to come. God help you. God comfort you. God sustain you.
Heartline Update
Blog read our:
Archive
January 15
QUICK UPDATE
8:26 AM
The American children, 12 total, of the three families (Buxmans, Tluceks, Livsays) working with us were able to fly out of Haiti last night on a military flight to New Jersey. They were escorted out by visitors who as well left on the same flight.
We at the women's center have turned on the generator to give water to the neighbors.
Viola, one of the cell phone companies here in Haiti, is now working.
The Heartline Group will be meeting at 9:00 AM to pray, praise, review and plan. Please pray with and for us.
We do not yet know if Beth, Byron, and Morgan are able to come in today.
We will start to generate clean drinking water, with a system from Hay's Pure Water for All Foundation, which was given to us by the gracious people at World Wide Village, to give to those that do not have clean drinking water.
Leaving for our meeting.
Please pray!
John
Livesay Family Update
Best Wake Up Call Ever!
God is good!
This morning at 6:05 am we received a call that the Livesay children (Paige 15, Isaac 8, Hope 8, Noah 5 and Lydia 2) have been flown out of Haiti by the US Embassy. They are traveling with two beautiful adoptive moms (Kristin Howerton from California and Erin Lancer from New York).
The children will travel to Texas to be cared for by their older sister, Brittany Benard, and their grandparents, Randy and Carolyn Porter. Troy and Tara Livesay will remain in Haiti to continue relief efforts.
Their daughter, Phoebe - 3, and their niece, Annie - 2 (being adopted by Tara's sister and brother-in-law, Tina and Matt Cleary) are in the adoption process and do not have US passports to travel out of Haiti. Efforts are being made to expedite adoptions.
Please continue to pray for safety and provision for the Livesays - both in the US and in Haiti. Being separated will be very difficult for them, but having most of their "tribe" safe in the US is a huge releif for the family.
Praising God for all He is doing,
Randy & Pat Mortensen
Donations can be made via our website by clicking here:
Please mail checks to:
World Wide Village, Inc.
2515 White Bear Avenue, Suite A8-205
St. Paul, MN 55109
Donations received for earthquake relieve will be used solely for the recovery and rebuilding of Haiti.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Heartline Update
Dear Heather,
The following is John's latest blog. He is not able to prepare any emails as his time is needed to care for the children and people in our organization. check out the links at left for information. Please make people aware of our organization and need. Many people do not know where to donate and want their money to be used 100% in Haiti. All donations we receive for Earthquake relief will be used solely for recovery and rebuilding in Haiti.
HEARTLINE UPDATE
It has been a busy day trying to stay on top of things here at Heartline and to still have time to respond to emergencies.
We will tonight have about 15 people sleeping at our house as some simply have lost their homes and for others it is not safe to return because of structural damage.
We are starting to see people on the streets with their mouth and nose covered with a cloth or a mask as the stench of death is beginning to hang in the air. In our particular area it is not as bad as some places where bodies are stacked on the side of the road and still buried in rubble. Today as I was on the road, I was passed by a police pickup truck that was stacked with dead bodies.
I will not post any pictures of this and I assure you that a photo can not communicate the pain and despair that so many are feeling as we are now entering the days of discovery. These are the days when people discover that their homes have been destroyed or some of their missing friends, neighbors, and family have been killed. And some discover the joy of having found loved ones.
Some of the comments I have had spoken to me today by people that we are involved with are:
• I have had many friends die.
• Most of the houses in my area have been destroyed.
• My house has been destroyed
• I have no place to live and sleep; I am on the street.
• I can't find my...
• I can't believe the widespread destruction.
• My area has the bad smell of death.
• I have lost everything
One of our security guards can't even talk as he has lost his voice due to the shock of losing so many in his neighborhood.
HEARTLINE
My priority is the care of the children and the well being our other missionary families and of our workers.
The children are well and being cared for at the Buxman's home, where they are basically living outside as the children's homes are not yet secure. We are working to secure them but it is slow going as we can't even remove the rubble as there are no trucks on the road to cart away the debris and we also are not able to get supplies such as sand, rock, cement, steel as there are no trucks to transport the materials here and we do not have the cash to pay for the supplies. We have money in the bank, but we have no access to it as the banks are closed.
We as well have a responsibility to our incredible workers who still are coming to care for our children, in spite of some having lost their homes, family members, friends and neighbors. Yet they come because they love the children.
We also have a responsibility to the women in our women's program, who as it is live desperate lives. They are starting to trickle into the women's center with stories of having lost much or all that they had.
We expect to spend tens of thousands of dollars to have those who are directly involved with Heartline to rebuild their tiny one to two room homes or to help them secure new homes.
So many want to come and help but at this point it is not possible for you to get here and the best thing that you could do is to donate to help Heartline help others. It will be days perhaps until we have access to money You may press here or here to donate. Your generosity will help to help those who are so desperate. These are people that we personally know and are involved with regularly. Please imagine and multiply it over and over again, a woman with 5 children, no husband, and now no place to live. YOUR HELP MATTERS.
If you have written to me and I have not responded, please forgive me as I have been extremely busy.
I have received numerous requests from news organization to comment on the situation but have decided not to do so as many are already talking about what is happening here.
Thank you for your love, care, concern, and prayers.
We are doing our best to stay encouraged and to honor God by working hard to make a difference.
Endeavoring to be the hands of Christ in Haiti,
John McHoul
http://haiti-relief.org/
go to the above link to donate
Heartline Update
Below are updates John and others have provided via their blogs. Communication is difficult and they do not cell phone usage and the internet is only working occasionally. The number one need is money. Not only do we need to rebuild walls, but many of our employees (we employee approximately 100 people in various capacities) are now homeless and will need massive help rebuilding. Please donate at www.haiti-relief.com or www.heartlineministries.org. Materials are very difficult to find and everything that is needed is going to take money that we simply did not have yesterday. If you have specific questions please realize that John is not able to respond. You can contact tom.white@heartlineministries.org if you need specific information.
We have had lots of inquiries about traveling to Haiti to help. This is the only comment we have received on visitors: If you don't speak Creole/Kreyol and don't have the ability to work with injured people - you should NOT come. We cannot feed you and we don't have a place to house you.
See http://jmchoul.spaces.live.com/blog/ for John's blog.
World Wide Village Update
World Wide Village Incorporated
Haiti Update - 1/14/2010 - 7:30 am CT
After nearly 24 hours without communication to Haiti, we have received word:
The Livesay Family is fine!
Their house has power and water. The water is contaminated. However, in God's infinite wisdom and provision, just last month World Wide VIllage partnered with Pure Water for All (www.hayspurewaterforall.com) which provided us with water purification systems. Each system is capable of purifying water for up to 5000 people per day. We currently have several systems available for use and the Livesays are using it to purify water for their family and others in the area. Please consider a donation to purchase additional systems at a cost of $500 each.
Plans are underway to mobilize medical teams through the WWV Community Health Initiative to arrive in Haiti early next week or as soon as the airport is functional. Currently mobile "tent clinics" are operating with available medical personnel. Medical supplies are running low and our teams will take in as much as possible. In Tara's words, "It looks like half of Port au Prince needs some type of amputation. There are literally thousands of dead bodies stacked alongside the roads of the city." Please consider donating to purchase necessary medical supplies.
Please pray for health, stamina and direction for relief teams as they mobilize to go to Haiti.
Looking to God for direction,
Randy & Pat Mortensen
Donations can be made via our website by clicking here: I can't get the link to copy, but you can use my link to the right.
Please mail checks to:
World Wide Village, Inc.
2515 White Bear Avenue, Suite A8-205
St. Paul, MN 55109
What can we do?
SEND MONEY!
They do not need people hopping planes so that there are more bodies to feed and care for. They need money. Prices have already skyrocketed on basic supplies. Licia has over 70 children in her rescue center that need to be fed daily. Lori, I'm sure, is flying through medical supplies that will soon become scarce. If you want to give to Licia and Lori follow the link to the right. If you want to give to World Wide Village and the Livesay's follow the link to the right. Both are listed under 'if you have money to give do it here". I would trust both of these organizations with my last dime. They are doing good work with little overhead and truly helping the hurting RIGHT NOW! If you don't trust giving to them text 'haiti' to 90999 and it will be a $10 donation on your cell phone bill to Red Cross. Anything, seriouslyANYTHING, you are willing to give will help. PLEASE PLEASE HELP!!!!!
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Helpless
I feel so ridiculously helpless. So many hurting and no real way for help to come. I feel sick. I imagine Mother's holding hungry and hurt babies not knowing if food or water will ever come. I see husbands outside homes in which their wives have died. The power of the devastation is overwhelming. My kids don't get the magnitude of it, but Gabe asked in the car on the way home from school, "Mom, was this God's will?" Daniel began to cry and said he wanted to go there. Me too little man, me too. A country I love, that so many love, and that holds so many precious people is throbbing with the aftershocks of extreme devastation, and I am supposed to go to dinner and then teach kids club at church. How exactly do I do that? Anything other than crying and wailing at this point is fake. And this is where faith becomes real. When there is no emotional payback and you must CHOOSE to believe that God is good and God is love. Right now I am empty and dead inside, but I am choosing to believe. And I am asking God to please have mercy, please show yourself in this, please help, please comfort.
"Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." Many today are in the dark but hoping...
Update from Heartline
January 13 6 AM Earthquake Update
Tom White,
Treasurer
John asked that I forward on the following email he sent to me this morning. Please be in paryer. Thank God all our people and children are safe. Please consider a donation as we do not have the resources to handle this need. You can donate by going to http://www.heartlineministries.org and clicking on the Earthquake donation button in the Earthquake update section.
John McHoul
Quick Update
All the children are fine.
They and the night workers and e Tlucek clan stayed at the home of the Buxmans last night. They stayed in the yard due to the mant aftershocks that we had.
The main damage that we sustained was to the walls around the houses. The wall on allfour sides of the boys' house has collasped. There is significant damage to the wall on two sides of the girls' house and at the women's cenetr and at my house.
We. of course, have no city power and no water due to broken pipes.
The inside of all the houses are littered with broken glass, and whatever was on the shelves noe is on the floor.
This morning at 1:30 I accompanied Troy Livesay to Bring two of our medical people and some medical supplies to a friends place who had set up a clinic in the street to help the many, many who were injured due to falling cement blocks and debris.
Along the route so much seened normal and then we would hit stretches of severe damage and of houses and businesses completely destroyed. We saw car on the side of road crused by falling debris. The three story police station which is about three miles from our house is completely destroyed.
People were told not to sleep inside so the strrets were packed with people sleeping and sitting. It at times was difficlt to get by them.
We have started cleanup by piling up the falling walls to make some kind of security wall around the houses. I have hired some of the local guys to help with this.
Our plan is to at least get then girls' house secure and have all the kids stay there. But the nannies at this point are saying that they will not sleep inside. It is possible that all will spend another night in the Buxmans' yard.
We will work on securing food drinking water for the children.
Heartline and its people have been blessed to have sustained relatively minor damage, especially compared to others who have suffered the loss of homes and others who ave been injured and other who have lost loved and others their lives.
I understand that Port au Prince and the surrounding areas have in many places been destroyed. The picture of the damaged national palace perhaps is indicative of the condition of the country
Our greatest need is for money to rebuild the walls to secure the homes and to make various repairs. I know that this seems so minor compared to he loss that others have suffered.
Your prayer are greatly needed.
I will update later today when I have a chance to use the internet of others that work with us. Our internet is done.
John
Haiti's 9-11
Please, just pray for them. The home where I stayed when I went is completely collapsed. Thank God the boys that live there are out and safe. The Livesay's are safe. The McHouls are safe. Daniel's orphanage is safe. Don't know about the clinic in Cazale.
Just remember that without natural disaster this country was poor and hurting. They have no way to deal with this. They have no medical care to take care of the people who are injured. They have no fire dept to go out and rescue people from rubble. They have no money for food or water that is now in even more desperate need. I can't convey to you how completely devastating this is. I am wordlessly crying prayer to God to please have mercy, to please show himself in this and please help them. Please pray with me.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Natural Consequences
Gabe is always the last one in the car. Any time we have to be anywhere we all ALWAYS end up sitting there waiting for him to get "one more thing". It is annoying and rude and I have yet to figure out a way to make it stop short of driving away and leaving him at home which I think CPS would take issue with. In the morning before school is the worst - I mean he is seriously not motivated to get there anyway (and yes he does it even if we are going somewhere fun). The other kids who are ready and waiting and DON'T want to be late to school end up having to rush to class because he stalled. Last week with his therapist she mentioned something about secondary benefits or a pay off for certain of his behaviours. Not this one. But on Wednesday morning as he is the last one dressed and downstairs I can see it coming and it occurs to me - he likes being in charge of when everyone leaves. When everyone has to wait on him it makes him feel important. He KNOWS we can't go without him. So at breakfast I calmly say to Jason - when you guys are ready to go just head on out. I'll take Gabe whenever he's ready. Now let me also preface all of this by telling you that the night before we had talked about how he is always running behind and we were going to start getting all of his stuff packed up the night before, pick out all his clothes and in general leave nothing to do but eat and get dressed. Of course by the next morning what he picked out to wear wasn't his favorite or wasn't fitting right or whatever. And woudn't you know it, "oh yeah I need pictures for my star of the week poster". So, sure enough Jason heads out with all the kids. Gabe has just barely finished breakfast, has no shoes on and no pictures. I sit calmly with Sweat Pea drinking my coffee and say, "just let me know when you are ready to go, but just know that I am not going to write you a note to be excused for being late." He disappears to get stuff done. He starts complaining about his belt, that it isn't tight enough and I suggest he go get one of the 3 other belts in his drawer. He says he doesn't want to waste time going upstairs, but it makes perfect sense to him to start a search for the leather punch we use on the horse tack. Yes, this is the kind of crazy we live with(: I enjoy my coffee and let him look. He can't find it, gives up and goes to get pictures. He finds some and then heads upstairs, presumably to get one of those other elusive belts. At this point 20 minutes have passed since everyone left. He will not be late if we leave right now. I say nothing because I know if he knew that he would sabotage it. He says, ok let's go, so I calmly get the baby in her car seat, grab my coffee and head out. And we sit...for about five more minutes. I'm fine - I have coffee, and music. I am not stressed. I hear him yell for me from the back door, "MOOOOOOMMMMMM!" I roll down the window, "yes?" He screams with tears and all, "This belt is too tight!" I suggest that he could wear any of the other 5 pair of pants in his dresser that are self tightening and do not require a belt. He disappears. And we wait... Now he is late. He finally gets in (with a completely different pair of jeans on). I don't pull away quickly as I normally would when everyone had been waiting. I just calmly ask, "is that everything?" Yes "Do you have your pictures?" Yes "Do your pants feel good?" Yes "Can you think of anything else you might need?" No
By the time we pull up to the school and he sees that the usual car rider line is gone and he must go in the front door he starts crying. All of a sudden he doesn't feel good, he is going to be sick. I tell him that surely if he throws up in school the nurse will call me and I will come and get him. Finally, he is honest, "I don't want to go in crying!" And I say, "well pull yourself together, you have everything you need, your pants feel good and you probably only missed morning seat work." At this point he looks really pitiful and I actually am starting to want to rescue him. He gets out and walks in. He looked so small and sad walking in there all by himself, but I refused to go in and make an excuse for him. It was HARD. When I got home I emailed his teacher and told her it was an unexcused tardy and that we were trying to let him experience some natural consequences.
This morning he was the first one in the car.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Question
Does God ever say, "meh" or, "I could go either way."?
I'm reading a book right now the gist of which is to purposefully do all things to please God. So, as I go about my day I am to ask myself, "does this please the Lord?" I get the idea, and I don't disagree. But I do wonder if God really is concerned about every little thing I do or say. I mean, on the one hand I know He cares because he loves me and created me and has a beautiful plan for me, but does he care if I put mascara on one day or what kind of car I drive or if my toilet is clean or any number of other mundane things that happen in a day? I certainly don't want to do things that I know would displease him, but can some things be just neutral or does everything boiled down, at its core, have some moral significance? What do you think?
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Other Blog
Been posting a bit over at my other blog if you want to follow along.
http://www.lovehopes.wordpress.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
