Seems like you can find anyone in Haiti, even a fort in the clouds…

We took a little trip today, Anna, Anna’s dad, Jeff Jennings, myself, and the most daring chauffeur in the Western Hemisphere, my dad.

A comment on the blog today

My name is Benjamin Johnston. I am 6 years old. I just had my birthday party and asked my friends to bring money to send to you. I got $180.00. My mom is going to send it to you on paypal in a minute. I want the money to go to help babies and kids who are either hungry or hurt from the earthquake. Thank you. -Benjamin

These are my favorite gifts.

Mark 10:13-31 (The Message)

^13-16The people brought children to Jesus, hoping he might touch them. The disciples shooed them off. But Jesus was irate and let them know it: “Don’t push these children away. Don’t ever get between them and me. These children are at the very center of life in the kingdom. Mark this: Unless you accept God’s kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you’ll never get in.” Then, gathering the children up in his arms, he laid his hands of blessing on them.

To Enter God’s Kingdom

¹⁷As he went out into the street, a man came running up, greeted him with great reverence, and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to get eternal life?”

^18-19Jesus said, “Why are you calling me good? No one is good, only God. You know the commandments: Don’t murder, don’t commit adultery, don’t steal, don’t lie, don’t cheat, honor your father and mother.”

²⁰He said, “Teacher, I have—from my youth—kept them all!”

²¹Jesus looked him hard in the eye—and loved him! He said, “There’s one thing left: Go sell whatever you own and give it to the poor. All your wealth will then be heavenly wealth. And come follow me.”

²²The man’s face clouded over. This was the last thing he expected to hear, and he walked off with a heavy heart. He was holding on tight to a lot of things, and not about to let go.

^23-25Looking at his disciples, Jesus said, “Do you have any idea how difficult it is for people who ‘have it all’ to enter God’s kingdom?” The disciples couldn’t believe what they were hearing, but Jesus kept on: “You can’t imagine how difficult. I’d say it’s easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye than for the rich to get into God’s kingdom.”

²⁶That set the disciples back on their heels. “Then who has any chance at all?” they asked.

²⁷Jesus was blunt: “No chance at all if you think you can pull it off by yourself. Every chance in the world if you let God do it.”

²⁸Peter tried another angle: “We left everything and followed you.”

^29-31Jesus said, “Mark my words, no one who sacrifices house, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children, land—whatever—because of me and the Message will lose out. They’ll get it all back, but multiplied many times in homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and land—but also in troubles. And then the bonus of eternal life! This is once again the Great Reversal: Many who are first will end up last, and the last first.”

Lapli ap tonbe…

It’s raining tonight. Pretty hard for pretty long. Pray for those who are sleeping in the streets, sleeping in tents, sleeping under tarps, sleeping under sheets.

Here’s another tent city we passed.

A little taste of a drive through Port-au-Prince…minus the smell

what you can’t see is the bed of our pick up loaded with medical supplies courtesy of the US Airforce. They were extremely generous with their time and resources these past few weeks, seeing hundreds of patients at the RHFH clinic. The AF doctors we worked with represented the United States well, volunteering to come to Haiti and assist in relief efforts.

By the way, Anna’s father and Jeff Jennings made it to Cazale safe and sound. Anna is currently giving them a tour.

Also, we received the first items from the Walmart wish list today. Praise the Lord!!!

Do you want to see what an answer to prayer looks like?

Something like this.

Thank you to all who have prayed and sought the Lord on behalf of RHFH. We are thankful for the new land purchase and the many opportunities it affords us. We ask you continue to pray God would supply wisdom to the RHFH staff and the board as we make decisions on developing the land to better serve the people of Cazale and its surrounding villages.

We are thankful for all God is doing and look forward to partnering with you in the future as God enables us to bring Him glory as we build new facilities (a new hospital, clinic, rescue center, and depot) and demonstrate lovingkindness to those in our community.

Tent City Popping up in Sous Piyant…

For all those who have been clamoring for my dad, well here’s the big man in the flesh…well flesh in video that is

Kind words are like honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones…

That’s from Psalm 16:24

And the staff here at RHFH seems to be a gift from God, an answer to prayer.

In the last 3 days, 1600 patients have come to the clinic, and 1600 have experienced the kindness and thoughtfulness of our staff as they extend mercy and grace to those who are suffering.

RHFH employed 75 people prior to the earthquake. Those numbers have increased as a result of hiring additional staff to attend to the needs of patients transferred to us via the USNS Comfort.

Whenever you read this, you can be assured members of the RHFH staff is working as we provide 24-7 care for the severely malnourished children we house.

It is humbling that God has crossed our path with so many wonderful and compassionate Haitian people, to partner with us to impact our community in a meaningful ways.

They work tirelessly and serve relentlessly.

Here are 2 of my dad’s right hand men.

Pierre needs your prayers…and sensory stimulating toys

RHFH assumed care for this young boy yesterday, as a physical therapist working on the US Navy Comfort ship brought him to us. It was evident the PT and his staff cared for Pierre with sincere tenderness and kindness. RHFH is grateful for the opportunity to continue to serve this young boy as he recovers. The PT took time to educate our staff how to administer therapy treatments and maximize the potential he has to recooperate.

I tell his story in the video.

Here’s what the RHFH staff sees when they roll out of bed on clinic days…

We gave out 500 cards this morning. Many people sleep overnight in front of the clinic in order to secure their spot. The misery these people carry is unbearable. It just shouldn’t be, but it is, and RHFH serves them as God enables us. Clinic begins with prayer and devotion at 7am and usually wraps up around 6pm.

**Warning: There is one lady in line who is only partially clothed. Lori reports that she is HIV+ and has shingles, and so wearing a shirt is uncomforatble for her.

**I know you are being inundated with videos today. When I came down I brought a video camera with me to leave here. Like I said before, words fail, so maybe video can help you wrap your mind around what is happening here.

Anna updates us on Darlens…

Darlens is a young boy, likely around 3 years of age, who came to us weighing 11.4 pounds. Both parents died in the earthquake, and so his aunt brought him to RHFH. Anna and I were discussing what a conundrum Haiti is. Anna said something profound, in that, if his 2 parents would not have died, then he would have (in the sense that they did not care well for him or attempt to get help for his malnutrition). I must agree with Anna though, that he is pretty stinking cute.