February 1 - Message from Linsey Tichenor.

It is disheartening to watch the news and see the coverage of Haiti's disaster lessen daily. Although it has slipped out of media's view and possibly out of yours, it is still very much in our face here.

The other day we were in a shop here and started a conversation with the clerk. I told him that we were missionaries doing water purification here and in Haiti since the earthquake.  His face lit up, he was Haitian. He went on to tell me that his father and brother were killed in the quake but that many of his family were still alive.  He begged me to help them, he kept saying over and over, "they have no shoes, no clothes, no water." His desperation to help his family was heartbreaking. 

This past weekend two medical teams returned to our house after spending time in Port Au Prince and in Jimani, a border town. They shared story after story.  One that has stayed with me is of a little boy, 6 years old, his mother died and his father is missing. He has a broken femur and lays in a make shift hospital bed crying out for his mother. Someone from the medical team would sing to him Jesus Loves Me and he would calm down and fall back to sleep. Another story, a mother walking through the hospital and surrounding area holding a picture of her 4 year old boy asking if anyone has seen him.  One of the team prayed with her and promised to keep looking for the boy while they were there. When they parted the woman hugged her and held on so tight as if she was her only hope of finding her boy.

But in the midst of so much suffering, there are stories of miracles and joy that is unexplained after such a tragedy. The medical clinic in Port Au Prince witnessed a miracle when a pregnant woman came in, they could find no heart beat of the baby. They tried for an hour, and finally just prayed over her. About an hour later the mother was checked again, they found the heartbeat immediately.

In Jimani, the chapel at the hospital is filled with patients. An Irish Chaplin begins to preach with an interpreter and patients raise their hands and start praising God. I have to ask myself, would I praise God in that situation? Would you? If your family was killed and you were left an amputee or a quadriplegic? 

It is humbling to hear the stories, to only imagine the heartache and pain they are experiencing but to still hear the stories of joy, faith growing, and hope in what seems hopeless times.

Our life here has taken a drastic change, just a month ago I questioned our purpose here. Wondered if we came too soon. Of course now I know. While Bowin was in Haiti working with the EDGE teams, I felt a need to do anything I possibly could to help. Although none of it fell under the umbrella of our ministry, it all falls under God's. It has been amazing to watch ministries come together in Santo Domingo to help in this effort. This is Kingdom work, all of it for His glory. 

Bowin returns to Haiti tomorrow to meet up with the second of three teams coming into Port Au Prince during this first wave of relief.  EDGE has successfully installed 9 water systems in the last three weeks.  The response there has been amazing.  Cure International operates a hospital in PAP and after the installation there, called the EDGE team, "a team of angels".  Amazing things are happening in Haiti, here and back home in Louisville.  The Courier Journal has been covering our work in Haiti through a reporter that was on the ground with team one.  Go to our website to read the articles and keep up with our progress in Haiti.  www.edgeoutreach.com  To see pictures from Bowin's time in Haiti, go to his facebook page. 

Thank you all for your support and prayers.  Everyday we are blessed by your emails and facebook comments.  It means so much to us to know we are being lifted up.  Please keep the prayers coming, our work here has just begun.

Specific prayers:
The people of Haiti to come to a deep understanding of God's love for them. 2 Thess 3:5 "May the Lord bring you into an ever deeper understanding of God's love..."

Protection of all those working in Haiti, from illness and physical harm. Psalm 121:8 "The Lord will guard you as you come and go, both now and forever."

Wisdom, as we look to the future of our work here and in Haiti. Proverbs 16:9 "In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps."

Haiti to be transformed and to become a nation of God. Jer 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

For the orphaned children of Haiti, God's comfort and joy. John 14:18 "I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you.

Blessings, Lindsey
 

Bowin and Lindsey Tichenor's Newsletters - Click on the pic to Download or view the PDF.

The Tichenor family lives in the Dominican Republic. Bowin serves as Regional Director for EDGE OUTREACH work in Haiti and the DR. Please support the work they do with your prayers and financial support.

December 19, 2009 Haiti School Installation. (touch)

Bowin sent this photo of the water purification system installed at a school in Haiti. read more here.

 

Dominican Republic/Haiti

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