Region 2: Kids Against Hunger Bagging Project
Over the past couple of months there has been a lot going on, both inside and outside the Miami Valley, in an effort to aid the recovery process in Haiti. In one day, people lost homes, loved ones and the familiarity they had become accustomed to in just living their lives. The Haitian people are very dear to the hearts of several people here at Apex. This coming weekend, ten people from a Region 2 house church will travel to Haiti to serve at the Lifeline clinic in Grand Goave.
To further help the people of Grand Goave, this same house church is working with Kids Against Hunger to sponsor a Bagging Project at Apex on April 24th & 25th. The purpose of the Bagging Project is to provide Lifeline with 72,000-144,000 meals that will be distributed in and around Grand Goave. The team from Apex is responsible for providing the cost of the materials ($18,000 for 144,000 meals) as well as man power. During the days of the project, a mixture of rice, soy, dehydrated vegetables, vitamins, and minerals will be measured, weighed, bagged, and sealed for shipment to Haiti. Lifeline will then distribute these meals to the Grand Goave clinic as well as other local clinics and children’s homes.
Many volunteers are needed to make this project a success. If you are interested in helping, email your contact information to feedhaitiproject@gmail.com.
For more information on Kids Against Hunger and the Bagging Project, visit http://www.kidsagainsthunger.org/.
World Race: Kristen Paulick
Australia
Kristen Paulick, one of the women sent on the World Race, has experienced and learned much since embarking on the World Race in January. She is on a team of 6 men and women from all over the United States. Her team members are: Amy, Erin, Drew, Nate, and Keturah (Keet). Her team will be traveling to 11 different countries in 2010 by discipling, and serving people. The first country they visited was New Zealand.
Kristen served in New Zealand during January sharing Jesus with everyone her team met while backpacking through the wilderness trails. She shared Jesus specifically with a girl named Estella. Estella is from Spain, and was ecstatic to meet Kristen because they both speak Spanish. Kristen was able to talk awhile with Estella, and give her a New Testament Bible to read.
Estella said she would use the Bible to learn English. Let’s pray God captures Estella’s heart.
In an email interview, Kristen told us about the World Race thus far:
What is one specific lesson you have learned while being on a team on the World Race?
The Holy Spirit is a real person with real things to say to our generation. God desires for us to not think about His will for our lives as much as His will for our next ten minutes. We need to be walking closely with the Holy Spirit moment by moment and listen to what he is speaking to us NOW. There are people he wants us to speak to, prophesies he wants us to bring, infirmities he wants us to heal, hope he wants us to bring NOW. But we can’t do that when we are too worried about what he may want from us a year or two or 5 from now.
Kristen worked in Australia for the month of February.
We will be working in a community center on the outskirts of Darwin working with poor Aboriginal families on welfare that come to the center for assistance. This ministry will probably be multifaceted. Some children’s ministry, prayer ministry, hospital ministry, discipleship. . . . the possibilities are limitless! So your prayers and encouragement will be greatly needed and appreciated.
What are the names of the people we can pray for?
Estela, Rupert and Reika, Robbin and David; my team: Amy, Erin, Drew, Nate, Keet, myself; Alison Ingle as she starts raising support for her World Race coming up in October and for financial support to come in for all my teammates as well.
Kristen writes as much as she can on her blog. God has blessed her with eyes to see His beauty, and the skill to write with rich detail.
Follow her, and sign up for email updates at http://kristenpaulick.theworldrace.org
Gateway to the West
Many of us have moved to a new town at some point in our lives. We know what it’s like to find ourselves in unfamiliar territory where we have to figure out a new normal. But more often than not, the adjustments are minimal since we still speak the same language as our neighbors and we are accustomed to the culture.
Many of the people that Oasis International ministers to have lost family and friends as a result of war or disease. The refugees come with fears, grief and broken hearts. When they escape the terror of the war, they end up in a refugee camp, sometimes without electricity, water, decent shelter, or education. Most refugees have lived in a refugee camp for as many as 15 years (usually in a country other than their home country). When they arrive in St. Louis, the U.S. Government provides three month’s rent. During this time they must find a job, set up transportation, and learn English, in addition to learning the customs and laws of a completely new country.
Oasis was started by Mark and Joani Akers in 1989 after Mark received a vision from the Lord.“ God said, will you go anywhere I want you to go and do anything I want you to do? I said yes, but I had no idea what or where He would lead me,” Mark said. “He has lead me around the world and He has had me do things I never dreamed of doing, but I am always willing to answer His question with a resounding ‘yes.’” Oasis is a ministry designated to helping refugees, who are relocated in St. Louis, MO. The organization receives its inspiration from Revelation 5:9 “…He was slain and with His blood He purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.”
To achieve friendship and outreach with the refugees in St. Louis, Oasis provides them with many essential elements. Since many of these people are in refugee camps for excess of 10 years before coming to the United States they have very few personal belongings. Oasis is able to provide them with furniture, household items and clothes. ”I saw them in their new apartments with absolutely no furniture in their apartments except a small bed, a card table and a couple of metal folding chairs; some didn’t even have a lamp,” Mark said. “I was compelled to action to go tell everyone I knew of the difficulties of the refugees.”
Oasis not only wanted to provide material things for the refugee community but also actually befriend them. Instead of simply passing out food and water then never seeing these families again, they try to connect with them and even offer free English courses. Since Oasis is located in the same city as the refugees they can keep in contact with them and play a bigger role in their lives. Although a huge undertaking requiring immense trust in the Lord by Mark and Joani, they were confident that the Lord would provide them with the seed they needed to sow into this ministry. The Akers needed furniture to proved the refugees with, vehicles to transport it and also a warehouse to store supplies in. The Lord was faithful in providing all of this to the Oasis ministry. As we know, the Lord’s love and provision does not stop at a certain point and the Akers have been blessed beyond what they could have imagined entering into this ministry. “I had no money but in two weeks God gave me $40,000 to put down on our building,” Mark said. “I still didn’t have a budget to pay the mortgage but every day, every month has been a miracle of God’s provision.”
Apex has partnered with Oasis International after prompted by a house church to send a team to assist in their mission for one weekend. While there, the Apex group completed a myriad of things, including participating in a neighborhood outreach. During this outreach Apex was able to help Oasis pass out food, medical supplies and flyers. They held a praise and worship session and also had many fun activities for the children. Also during the weekend trip, in which 30 people participated, group members were able to help on a farm and harvest fruits and vegetables. Another team went back in December 2009 to do repairs needed in Oasis’s building. Mark and Joani truly feel blessed to be able to work with the refugee population while being obedient to God. A saying that can be heard almost daily by Mark and Joani, “We really do have a wonderful life!”
World Race Update: Hope Manley-New Zealand
Recently, we were able to get in touch with Hope Manley, who is off in New Zealand participating in the World Race. It’s pretty crazy what technology can enable us to do these days. We have a video to share with you on how Hope’s been able to share the gospel, what God has been teaching her and how we can lift her and her team up in prayer. So take a couple minutes and listen to some of the things God’s been up to in New Zealand.
You can follow Hope Manley and her team Trumpets of One by subscribing to her blog:
http://hopemanley.theworldrace.org
It’s so encouraging to hear how people are out in the world trying to love as Jesus does and the people that need Him aren’t just continents away, but our neighbors, friends and family too. Even if it takes a lifetime, I want to learn to love others as Christ has loved me. Would the world be a better place if we lived like that? Maybe. But I know I would certainly hear His name spoken more often.
Songs from the weekend of Feb. 13/14
- Mighty to Save written by Ben Fielding & Rueben Morgan of Hillsong – you can find this song on the Apex Band’s “LIVE” album.
- You Are written by Olivia Tew.
- Beautiful written by Phil Wickham – this song can also be found on the “LIVE” album.
- Hosanna written by Brooke Fraser of Hillsong United.
- Rescue written by Jared Anderson of Desperation Band.
On Cats and Dogs
Has anyone ever asked you if you were more of a cat person or a dog person? Every once in a while someone inquires which category I fall into. I am, undeniably, a dog person. This is no arbitrary preference, I assure you. I was once a cat person, but as my roommate and a few friends can attest, I had a very bad cat. He was a little destructive. Scratch that, he was very destructive. I have a new mattress as a result, and because of this cat I will never own another one again. Ever.
In a similar vein, have you ever given much thought to the differences between the attitudes of cats and dogs? I think that may be one of the reasons my cat and I never quite saw eye to eye on things. I once heard it depicted like this: when you feed, shelter, take care of and love a cat, it thinks it must be god; but when you do the very same things for a dog, it thinks you must be god. So taking that thought in a slightly different direction, how is it that we find ourselves relating to God? Does He provide for us, sustain us and love us because we are great; or because He is? Are we wanting to be praised for our accomplishments or would we rather hear God’s name made much of?
If it’s God who I long to see praised, I can’t remain silent. His goodness drives me to speak of Him, and what Christ has done to redeem people who are lost and in desperate need. But am I allowing myself to be driven by God’s grace? Do I long to see the Lord praised by people beyond my own community? Do I want to go to where His name has yet to be heard, or has convenience become too attractive?
I can’t define myself by or confine myself to my current location, but I can’t overlook it either. There are so many people…and God alone is worthy of each person’s praise and adoration.
Haiti One Month Later: A Tent Drive
It’s hard to believe it’s been more than a month since the January 12th earthquake rocked Haiti. I remember we first heard about it in the context of humanitarian organizations sending over aid. Satisfied that needs were being met, my husband and I donated once toward the cause and then for the next three weeks, rarely thought about Haiti at all.
We thought we had done all we could do.
But then, I started reading the Twitter account of Shaun King, a minister in Atlanta, who has been tweeting to bring to light the injustices and horrible conditions the Haitians have been facing. He wrote that many families, some with infants, are sleeping on the ground at night with only sheets over their heads for protection.
A doctor who is currently in Haiti tweeted, “people are refusing the leave the hospital because they don’t have tents. They are afraid to face the rain.” Last week, after the first “light rain” of the season, Haitians were living in inches of mud already – and there are still 5 months of storms approaching.
They are afraid for good reason. The hills of Haiti mean landslides when the rain comes. Without proper shelter, people on the ground can easily be washed away – or drown in the mud. More rain also means standing water, which leads to waterborne disease and parasites. The misery and discomfort the people are now facing is only going to get worse, and they are asking for the one thing they know will help. Tents.
To answer the call, King established aHomeInHaiti, which aims to provide tents to the 200,000 families who still need them. Visitors to the site can donate money or buy tents directly online that will be shipped to Haiti.
Region 3 Tent Drive
In just a few days, it will begin to rain regularly in Haiti. Could you imagine living outside, permanently, in the rain, with nothing but cloth sheets held up by sticks to protect you? Currently, this is set to be the very harsh reality for over 700,000 Haitian men, women, and children who still have nothing to protect them from the elements.
Region 3 is partnering with aHomeInHaiti and collecting tents from Apexers over the next three weeks. We are challenging each house church to purchase and send at least one tent each from aHomeInHaiti to provide a Haitian family with a home.
Folks may also buy tents locally or donate used waterproof tents.
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Step-by-Step Guide:
1. Pray for the Haitians – the struggles there go far beyond the coming rains. Pray for protection for the women and children, strength and compassion for those who are there helping, peace among survivors, and renewed faith and hope!
2. Visit aHomeInHaiti.org and donate money (used to buy tents) and/or tents with your House Church.
3. Tweet, blog, talk, facebook, text and make a lot of noise about the needs of the Haitians, and the chance we have to meet those needs. Bring up the drive at your house church meeting and let your friends and family know what’s going on.
4. Drop off a clean, used or new waterproof tent to Apex during the next three weeks.
5. E-mail erinnefullam@gmail.com if you have any questions or want to be more involved.
Leave It All Behind
Just over a week ago, John and Debbie, a couple who lead an Apex house church, took off on the last leg of their flight to Haiti. Once there, they began working with a medical team of three other ladies to help support a clinic in Cite Soleil for several days. While John and Debbie are in Haiti, they are updating their blog when they can to share with those of us who are still state-side little snippets of what’s happening with the people they have gone to love on. I am encouraged and challenged by these two, and many others, who have left the comforts of their home and country to go use their time and talents to help a hurting people. Here are a couple pictures and highlights of what they have experienced so far:
Please continue to pray for the people of Haiti. Every day we arrive to long lines of patients waiting in front of our clinic in Cite Soleil. The conditions here are getting worse and we are seeing many malnorished and very ill people. Many who survived the earthquake lost their homes and jobs… many schools and businesses are closed, some permanently. Those who lost jobs cannot afford food for their families. There is much suffering and the approaching rainy season will only make things worse.
We were able to go to a church service at the location where the clinic will be held. The service was held outside because the people are afraid to go inside after the earthquake. “It’s not the same country, you are not the same people, but even if you have trouble you can still have the peace of Christ.” Were the words of the pastor. The message was on John 14:27 and the words of Jesus.. “I am leaving you with a gift- peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give isn’t like the peace the world gives. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”
What are we willing to give to share the love of Christ? And what is it that we are reflecting to the people God has placed in our lives? Stress? Fear? Or is it a peace that can only point to the assurance found in the arms of a Savior?
This little light…
Thirty years ago, Bob DeVoe ventured to Haiti to help oversee the construction of a clinic for the people there. During the last three weeks of the building project Bob’s wife, Gretchen, was able to join him. During their time in Haiti, the couple completely fell in love with the Haitian children, people, and the country itself. Their passion for Haiti was the beginnings of the Lifeline ministry, which strives to meet the physical and spiritual needs of the world’s impoverished and hurting people, through serving and exemplifying Christ, in hopes that one day those who are lost in the darkness of this world, may know and rejoice in the glorious light of Christ.
Lifeline has been pressing on to help the people of Haiti in any way they can. Below is an update from Gretchen on their relief efforts:
Today was another glorious day in the service of the King here in Haiti…we had 5 more containers of relief food come today (20 foot containers). The food is being distributed by Jason Rew and Frantzy Desir who are now overseeing the distribution since J.D. Hite and Nick Lamatrice left. Jason said we are now feeding over 9,000 families in the Grand Goave area, through our distribution process and most of what they are receiving right now is through the U.S. military and other relief organizations such as PAM (a world food relief organization).
Yesterday we received a phone call from a staff sergeant based in Carre Four, not far from the Lovelink Children’s Home. They have 250 pallets of donated food through the relief agencies and he called Bob because he heard we are skilled at distribution of food effectively and efficiently. Made us feel like our hard work has paid off! But we give our Lord all the credit for guiding us in the organization process. Anyway, they want to use our Children’s Home for food storage and our school across the alley from it for distributing to the families of the community there. So it is our plan now to have the 2000 students come class by class and get a portion for their families. This will saturate a good part of the immediate community, including some of our church people. And hopefully we’ll be able to keep it flowing as long as the Lord and generous organizations provide!
The Lord can make such beautiful things from ashes. Please continue to pray for the people of Haiti and that they might find their hope in someone who is greater than themselves, and greater than those who came to help. There is nothing God cannot use to glorify His name. And that is something truly beautiful.