Wiebe Quotes on Time for Family

 

 

 

Very Thought Provoking:

 

If you don’t have enough time for your family, you can be 100% certain you are not following God’s will for your life.

 

Patrick M. Morley

 

 

Source: The Business Bulletin . July 2013

Good News Update July 2013

Dear friends; since our last update the crew has returned from Haiti and the dam is completed as we planned. Thanks so much for all your support in whatever way you have given! This has been an extremely dry year in Haiti! The normal spring rainy season only gave a few showers, not nearly enough to water the crops and produce food for the many families all over the country! The hunger is beyond what has been seen for many years! The floor of the basin behind the dam is seeping water like it did after the initial construction, this water is collecting in the river bed downstream from the dam, more on this later.

 

We need silt from rain runoff to seal the basin, after the initial construction only one rain has “came down” as they call it, or flash flooded. It brought down some silt, but not enough to do the job. With the extremely dry conditions we are still waiting for enough to seal off and then fill the basin.

We need to return soon to complete some downstream erosion control to prevent a reoccurrence the wash out that happened last hurricane season. An estimated 8ft wall of water came over the dam during Hurricanes Isaac & Sandy last fall. This tremendous force needs to be broken up and diverted to successfully maintain what we have. Our plan is to install some Gabion below the dam to take this brunt force. Gabion are large wire baskets which we will fill with rocks and tie together, a very common erosion control technique used in Haiti as well in North American. We have been consulting some US engineers and we think we have a workable solution. We anticipate this taking about 2 weeks for a small crew; our estimated budget is about $35,000. Of this we have a good 40% and we still need about $20,000, we would appreciate those of you who would feel to help with this to do so. Thanks again for your help and support of dear hungry folks, including Church brethren in Haiti.

 

Currently the water that leaks through the dam is continuing to run down the streambed. We are currently diverting that stream into a clean out on the pipeline about ¾ of a mile downstream from the dam. This is not a new idea; it has been done many times since the pipeline was installed. The downside to this maneuver is that a flash flood can fill the cleanout with rocks, and plug the pipe (this has also happened several times over the years). To prevent this, the Water Committee has hired a full time watchman to close the lid if a flood seems imminent.

 

Since the country is so dry, the irrigation system is a real bright spot, since those farmers can keep growing a crop. We are happy with the Water Committee’s performance, and it seems they are taking their job very serious. When we appointed the Committee, some in the community thought it was a power grab by those folks on the Committee, and did not want to recognize them. As they have gone about their work in a conscientious manner and with a visible presence from us on a frequent basis working with them and supporting them, it seems that the community is also taking them serious. They have also used their authority to deny water to those who have not paid their water fees, and to have some vandals arrested recently, which establishes the pecking order, so to speak. This seems to have further heightened the respect the community has for the Committee.

 

On the Mexico front, The cool of winter is over - and the heat of summer is on, recently reported as 120°F! Our involvement at Agua de Vida continues. This past winter we donated a van for Mario & Veronica's personal use and a 15 passenger van for the children. Now they can go on field trip as a family! Or just have reliable transportation again.

 

A new beginning at Agua de Vida is Babies! They have recently accepted 4 babies and with it a new commitment. This also includes higher cost of operations! We are putting out a plea for monthly commitments for the next five months. If the Lord speaks to your heart you can give your monthly donation to GNFI. This will be a blessing to all involved with the children at Agua de Vida enjoying the benefit of faithful givers. May we join God in his passion of loving the children of the world.

Wiebe Quotes Allen on Missionary Methods

“From what has already been said it is manifest that St. Paul did not go about as a missionary preacher merely to convert individuals: he went to establish churches from which the light might radiate throughout the whole country round. The secret of success in this work lies in beginning at the very beginning. It is the training of the first converts which sets the type for the future. If the first converts are taught to depend on the missionary, if all work, evangelistic, educational, social is concentrated in his hands, the infant community learns to rest passively upon the man from whom they receive their first insight into the gospel. Their faith having no sphere for its growth and development lies dormant. A tradition very rapidly grows up that nothing can be done without the authority and guidance of the missionary, the people wait for him to move, and, the longer they do so, the more incapable they become of any independent action. Thus the leader is confirmed in the habit of gathering all authority into his own hands, and of despising the powers of his people, until he makes their inactivity an excuse for denying their capacity. The fatal mistake has been made of teaching the converts to rely upon the wrong source of strength. Instead of seeking it in the working of the Holy Spirit in themselves, they seek it in the missionary. They put him in the place of Christ, they depend upon him.”
(Missionary Methods: St. Paul’s or Ours?  page 81.  Roland Allen © 1962.)

Source:  Bob Goodnough - flatlanderfaith.wordpress.com

Wiebe Quotes on Which Side of the Peer Group You Stand

In December I attended the baptism of one of my good friends from a neighboring tribe.  I watched her sober face as she knelt and said her vows, and thought back to my own baptism day.  For me, it was a joyful day full of praise and thanksgiving.  I loved God with all my heart, and had only a dim realization of the magnitude of what I was promising.  I think the seriousness of her vows was far more real to my Kenyan friend.  For me, to put on a covering was to be one with my peer group.  For her, it meant to stand out from everyone in her peer group…

Kenya, East Africa

The Christian Mission Voice

May 2013

Wiebe's Quotes on Six year old Haitian girl weighing 23 Ibs.

Here is an article I recieved six days ago from Wiebe's Quotes. I believe the last time I contacted Keith the hunger situation has abated somewhat in their area. However we need to rememer how good we have it and not forget that we may be able to help others. At least I need to remember that. It never hurts also to sigh a prayer for a family like this even though you may never see them. The end of the world will come not because of injustice alone, but because people lack faith in God.......

Last week we had a 6yr old stick thin girl of average height come in to the clinic and she weighed 23 lbs. 23!!! 23 lbs on this growth chart is the weight of a thin 2 yr old! http://www.pampers.com/en_US/article/images/articlemedia/WeightgirlB-36m.gifLet me tell you… a 23 lb 6yr old is a sight that you don’t want to see. When her clothes came off I went out to the ambulance garage and bawled like a baby. Mostly out of frustration at everything. Why does this happen to a family? How can we help people be self-sufficient? Why am I able to eat so well and not they? What can be done? Why is it always so political? Why do we have to be so careful on who and how we help? Did Jesus send them to us? If so then what then does Jesus want us to do? What would he do?  The whole family of 8 is in bad bad shape. The local brethren with whom we consult on these kinds of matters said that the family had descended too far and they now need survival help. So even though we don’t have program for this, we concocted a nutrition program where they will come in every 2 weeks for weighing and checking and then leave with food. Just pray that they don’t fall sick. If they do… they could die easily as they have no reserve. The girl’s big eyes haunt me every day. 

Pray for us,

Keith Toews

Administrator- Confidence Health Center

Oriani, HAITI

Tel (011) 509 37 83 9058

www.chcenter.wordpress.com

Articles on Haiti Hunger

Here is an excerpt of an article sent to me with a link to the whole article below. This was news about two days ago. 

Three years after an earthquake killed hundreds of thousands and international donors promised to help Haiti "build back better," hunger is worse than ever. Despite billions of dollars from around the world pledged toward rebuilding efforts, the country's food problems underscore just how vulnerable its 10 million people remain.

In 1997 some 1.2 million Haitians didn't have enough food to eat. A decade later the number had more than doubled. Today, that figure is 6.7 million, or a staggering 67 percent of the population that goes without food some days, can't afford a balanced diet or has limited access to food, according to surveys by the government's National Coordination of Food Security. As many as 1.5 million of those face malnutrition and other hunger-related problems.

"This is scandalous. This should not be," said Claude Beauboeuf, a Haitian economist and sometime consultant to relief groups. "But I'm not surprised, because some of the people in the slums eat once every two days."

Much of the crisis stems from too little rain, and then too much. A drought last year destroyed key crops, followed by flooding caused by the outer bands of Tropical Storm Isaac and Hurricane Sandy.

Here is the link
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/two-thirds-of-haitis-people-face-hunger-and-malnourishment-as-problems-worsen-in-storms-wake/2013/06/10/9253ec30-d1a1-11e2-9577-df9f1c3348f5_story.html

Help Haiti Distress

For those interested in our conference to help our church in Haiti. Get your deacons to phone Daryl D. in W. KS in Scotts ___.  He is a committee man that can give the latest info. Our congregation has went through these channels and found ways we can help in the present situation. I only post this to encourage others to find ways we can help. Thanks.

Hunger Distress in Haiti

I thought to mention that there is a hunger distress in Haiti. It also involves our church members with around 70% or more affected. Last years hurricanes and a dry spell have affected parts of the country. Read the last report of the clinic posted today. I have more information but I do not feel it necessary to post it here at this time. Pray for this need and our brethren there. If you or your congregation want to donate contact the Haiti Liaison committee for the particulars. I think the bottom line is to pray and get informed from the right sources and share the concern with others.  Thank-you.

Clinic News from Oriani Haiti

What people say…
-No I don’t want to be a Christian yet. I want to play and gamble some more. And, I’m still too young. – Redin (57 yrs old)

-I come from a far area that is 5 hrs walk. This clinic is my only hope! And God! God first, then the clinic. – Sylvie (a frail woman with a skinny and sick 4 yr old child)

-I can make a semp (incantation and sign) and have the Devil show himself in a bodily form to you. “what form?” He is a spirit so I never know what form he will visually show. Sometimes a body of a lion with the head of a cow. Sometimes a huge writhing snake that will stand head high and look me straight in the eye. You would be VERY scared! It takes a brave man to be in voodoo. I am brave and I can talk to the Devil. “why do you do this?” For power, and because he does things for me. Helps me or my children get healed, or he gives me money in gambling. “so why aren’t you healthy, fat, and rich?” I am really not in that anymore, because the price the Devil demands is high. Everything he gives me demands a sacrifice. To get money he takes my health. To give me long life, he demands me to sacrifice my child to him. Everything is a tradeoff and it is not worth it. – Woolow (a young man who used to work with a voodoo priest)

-The children who come to school are so hungry they sometimes just cry. They can’t study or concentrate. We teachers are about the same. When I don’t get supper and then no breakfast the next day, then by 11 am I am almost too weak to stand before my class. – DieuFe (our best-paid church school teacher who makes 3 dollars and 50 cents a day, which is not enough to buy clothes and food for his family of 10)

-A man Jesus came to me and bathed me and then covered me in powder and then asked for my hands. When I gave him my hands he squeezed them so hard that my bones still hurt. I now have a magic belt-buckle that can make me invisible.– Daniel ( a wild young man who was demon possessed until we gathered a group of church brethren to pray for him. He got delivered, PRAISE BE TO GOD! It took 5 men to carry him in to the clinic and he walked out normally.)

-I don’t want to be healed if I fall sick. Why do we want to stay here on this earth? In Heaven with God there is no hunger, pain or sadness. Why do we fight to live here? I don’t understand that. “ok but what about your family? Think of them!” Why? If they know I am in heaven and am just waiting for them to come join me, won’t they be happy? We need the eternal view! – Fre Junel ( a nice young healthy family man who looks “beyond”)

-Pray for us all in this time of hunger and desperation. Focus your prayers that the women of the community and even our church ladies won’t sell their bodies for food or money, and that the men won’t be tempted to steal. – Fre Julian (he told me this yesterday with tears in his eyes)

-Yeah I know my Bible stories! “yeah? ok who were Jesus’s disciples?” umm… I can only name a couple. “ok who?” umm… Adam and Eve. – Ognel (a young man who knows EVERYTHING)

Our new clinic inauguration was a great success. We had almost 500 people show up and we served rice and beans for about 350. It was all done Haitian style. A service was held in front of the clinic, thanking God for what has been accomplished. A sermon, singing and speeches by many notable people. We were privileged to have several special visitors one of whom was CSI director who opened the service. The next Monday we opened the doors for the poor, the sick and the curious. We were swamped till 7pm. The whole first week was chaotic with EVERYONE coming. Even had people who were paralyzed for many yrs who were carried in on beds to get healed at the new clinic. Was kinda heartbreaking to see that and then see their disappointment when we tell them there is nothing we can do for these extreme cases. Our first baby born to the new clinic (a girl) was named Benjiana, after her parents Benjamin and Juliana. Cute eh? We have seen a lot of serious stuff lately again. Knife fights, demon possessed man, huge MRSA infections, fingers cut off, strokes, extreme blood pressures, etc etc.

Heather is going back to visit Alberta for the month of June, then coming back to take her place here as nurse again. Here is her bloghttp://www.haitianinspirations2012.com/ . We are so happy for her commitment here. RN Kristi Friesen from Manitoba is coming to fill in for Heather for the 6 weeks. We have hired Nurse Jitan, a Haitian RN, and she is taking a lot of the work pressure off of Heather. We are hiring another assistant now as well. This makes us a staff of 8. Six are paid workers (Haitians). It has taken several months to build the block wall (2253 blocks plus a rock foundation) around the property, but now it is finished and the rolling gate will be installed this week. That all cost a lot of cash. What a TREMENDOUS relief to not have to look after a mason crew of 10-12 workers every day and keep them paid and etc etc. I now feel I can breathe again, and I can start spending more time in the clinic.

We thank all of you donors who made this new clinic possible. But please don’t forget us now… because operating costs are still a weekly worry. Why is this clinic so necessary? Because this clinic is now the ONLY health provider for a HUGE area that is 4-6 hrs walk in all directions. Within this area there are 4 nice(ish) Haitian government and private hospitals and clinics that are all closed due to the Dr’s not coming to work, or they stole the meds, or the government doesn’t pay the workers, etc. It’s beyond awful the way the system is dysfunctional here. When the people see a place that is consistently open, has meds, has nurses, and operates with the love of the Great Physician… it makes Clinique Confiance en Dieu a popular place. And we are happy to be here working and doing in Jesus’ name what God has given us to do. It is exhausting but incredibly rewarding work. God has opened so many doors with these dear people and at the same time they have taught us so much about faith and giving Him our all, that we feel we are the ones who have been blessed.

Other than that… our family is still very happy here and since our current schoolteacher has offered to come back to teach our children next fall, we see God is still keeping our way open to stay.

I could write a lot about the tremendous hunger in some areas of Haiti now again, but I won’t. I don’t want to desensitize you to this need by constantly talking about it. But it is a yearly cycle here and now it is extra acute. Pray about it. Pray for these people. If you feel to donate to the clinic or to this community, we will be happy to channel your funds to where you want it to go.

Last night a group of us were singing the song… “I Am Sending You” (to the barren lands and dry, to the hungry,… etc.) Because we live that song and feel the cries around us, we broke down and wept during that song. Was just too real.

May God bless and keep you all in His will and may you also be rewarded for the place you are filling in His kingdom,

Keith Toews

Administrator- Confidence Health Center

Oriani, HAITI

Tel (011) 509 37 83 9058

www.chcenter.wordpress.com

Wiebe's Quotes on Haiti

-I don’t want to be healed if I fall sick. Why do we want to stay here on this earth?

In Heaven with God there is no hunger, pain or sadness. Why do we fight to live here?

 I don’t understand that.

Question: " Ok but what about your family? Think of them!”

 Why? If they know I am in heaven and am just waiting for them to come join me, won’t they be happy? We need the eternal view! – Fre Junel ( a nice young healthy family man who looks “beyond”)

Keith Toews

Administrator- Confidence Health Center

Oriani, HAITI