| GREETINGS FROM HAITI | |
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03/15/2010 Update:
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We know we are ‘way over due sending out an update, and here is a shortened version of what we’ve been doing: ‘Ti Pas’ - since February 3 Luke Perkins, who spent a year with Karl as an intern and was re-named ‘Ti Pas’ (young pastor), came to Haiti help the new pastor at Quisqueya Chapel and also help with several projects related to relief. He’s been staying with us and his wife Becca is coming for a short visit before he leaves March 25. It’s always a joy to have them with us, and will miss them as they leave. Thank you Luke for everything – you’re such an encouragement during this very difficult time. Time for R&R – because Luke is here, we could go out for some R&R with another missionary couple and take a break from all that has happened here. We were in FL for a week and even spent 2 days at Disney, thanks to the generosity of a church we don’t even know! Before returning to Haiti, we flew to the D.R. to help Convoy of Hope, who delivers the food and supplies we distribute to people. They needed drivers for 8 vehicles going over the border from the D.R. into Haiti. It was quite an experience, but safe, and now we are back and ready to face the many challenges before us. Ed. D.R. - Dominican Republic |
Food Distributions – we are still distributing food at Quisqueya Chapel which is going very well, thanks to Convoy of Hope and a great group of guys who help us. We’ve registered 538 families, which represents over 3800 people. We also give food to several orphanages, schools, a church in the mountains, and people living in 3 refugee camps. It’s a joy to help them as they smile and thank us and God for the food they receive. We are blessed and humbled by these people – enduring so much and yet have smiles for us as they come. Water Filters – also through Convoy of Hope we are distributing water filters so people can have good water to drink. They are very simple to use and are self-contained. We’ve been using one ever since the earthquake January 12, taking water from our cistern. We have not had any health problems and haven’t bought drinking water since that time. The director of a school that had collapsed in the quake asked if we’d help him help the families of his students have good drinking water by receiving a water filter. Once there, it’s typical to begin by singing songs of praise to God, prayer, and for someone to speak, so Karl gave a short message on ‘Living Water’. He then explained how to use the filter, and several of us stood up front to help the people with a ‘hands on’ lesson before giving each family representative the bucket and filter. It was a great morning and a joy to help 130 families have good drinking water. |
 Crowd, buckets, and Karl |
 A lot of buckets! |
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Medical Team – a team of 22 from MA came for a week and worked hard to take care of the 1400+ people. With 5 medical providers, they met the medical and spiritual needs at two different churches and a refugee camp. It was a wonderful week! Report from Ft. Jacques Church – We’ve mentioned Pastor Voltaire and Pastor Gesner in our updates from time to time – their church plant is right in the middle of a voodoo area in the mountains. Pastor Voltaire reports that a man and wife, heavily involved in voodoo recently came to faith in Christ, along with their families. They all took the fetishes that they used in voodoo outside the house and burned it all for everyone to see their conversion to Jesus Christ, and there was great rejoicing! The pastor encourages everyone to keep praying for them, and for the ripening ground of revival here in Haiti. Statistics - 90% of schools were destroyed, but even so, schools are being challenged to begin again by having classes in the yard. Though this will be difficult, it will get children and youth off the streets and give their teachers jobs again. Sleeping Outside – in Port au Prince, approximately 1 million people are sleeping in tents, under tarps, and literally on a sheet or mattress on the ground. There is much fear to be inside their houses and even if the house is OK, people don’t want to go inside. Even with the chilly, rainy weather a week ago, people stayed outside. Obviously this brings a lack of sanitation, disease, malnutrition and other difficulties with people living in crowded refugee camps, parks, yards, and on the streets. A few of these camps have ‘port potties’ and water available, but not every camp has this. Clean up – it is estimated that all the rubble from the destroyed buildings would fill the Super Dome 5 times. It is also estimated that it will take 2 full years with crews working 24/7 to take it away. And that presents another problem – where to put it. Not all the bodies have been removed from the rubble so clean-up will have to be with care as Haitians want to always treat their deceased with respect.
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Our TV – God really does care about the ‘little things.’ After the earthquake, the TV wouldn’t turn on, which didn’t surprise us, and we resigned ourselves that it was finished. Last week there were 3 crisis counselors at the Chapel (we were able to meet with one of them 2x – so very helpful and encouraging). Another counselor happens to be a techie, looked into the back of the TV and said right away, ‘I see the problem’ - and with a little solder (which a friend had recently sent down to Karl), it was repaired. We are so happy – wow!! On the other hand, we just heard from our TV cable company, and it will be a very long time until we have cable again. Direct TV is available, but it’s too expensive here. We do have DVDs and yes, videos, and now will be able to watch them. Electricity – in our zone we’ve had electricity every night for the past week – after almost 2 months with none. It is such a blessing to have it – we, with everyone else are encouraged to see something ‘normal’ return. Hallelujah! Relief – you have been so very very generous sending us relief funds to help us help others. So far we’ve helped 3 people replace their homes and they are so grateful for this. Also, we gave some wonderful Haitian youth from the church a (deserved) fun time with a pizza party, and helped Ronald, the piano player and worship leader for the Chapel, to go to the States and take care of his wife’s recent medical problems. She and their young daughter evacuated to the States shortly after the quake. This is a common situation that wives/mothers with children left Haiti for the sake of the children. Time Warp – we feel like we’re in a ‘time warp’ as everything revolves around the quake, and will continue for a very long time. We continue to be blessed and humbled by the people of Haiti – they amaze us with their perseverance and desire to live. There is no ‘normal’ now and a new ‘normal’ will evolve at some point in time. When will people feel safe to live inside their homes again? When will the refugee camps be empty? When will people have jobs again? How will the farmers have seeds for April planting when all they have to eat is what they farm? Questions without answers -
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 Remains of Adoration School |  Adoration School destroyed |
 Handprints of the students of Adoration School | |
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MORE STORIES: A Young Couple – were driving down a road when the earthquake began to shake their car. The husband shouted to his wife ‘Get out, get out of the car’ and when they got out, they watched a house fall on top of their car. But they were safe. Rocks to Sponge – we saw a photo of a woman singing in a church service - her story: she was teaching 25 elementary children when the earthquake hit and only 5 of the children survived. She herself was trapped in the rocks and stone unable to move. She cried out to God that if He would save her life and help her get out, she would serve Him for the rest of her life. With some effort she began to move forward, and as she did, the rocks turned to sponge and she pushed them aside and crawled out of the school through a very small hole. Those on the outside saw her exit and were very surprised as she was a fairly large woman. But she answered them saying that God had changed the rocks to sponge and she just pushed them aside as she moved toward the hole. What a glorious church service that must have been!!!!! I Had Nothing – a man told us that he had nothing before the earthquake, and he still doesn’t have anything, but ‘I have my life – God spared me’ - gratitude for the gift of life. I Lost Everything – a woman told us that she had a nice house but lost everything she had, but had the response, ‘I have my life and that’s everything’ - gratitude for the gift of life. |
Another vehicle – Early in January we were writing an ‘after Christmas/New Years’ email but it never was sent because January 12th came. In that update we had included a note about our need for another/newer vehicle. We realize that this isn’t the best time to be talking about buying another vehicle, but we realize more and more that our current one, a 1995 Montero which we bought used about 9 years ago, is getting very tired from these rough roads and needs replacing. We would like to buy either a good/used vehicle, or new – however the Lord provides, to meet this need for ministry. We have someone interested to buy our Montero, have saved $1200. and will begin checking options soon. We’ll keep you updated on this, but we covet your prayers for this important need.
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Obviously there are so many things to pray about, and we thank you for all your prayer support. We have needed them and are strengthened and encouraged by them – don’t stop as this will be a long road to recovery. Thank you for standing in the gap for us, so we can do the same for others. May the Lord bless you abundantly as you have blessed us. |
Blessings:
* God’s presence in our lives Prayer Requests:
* for softened hearts to claim Christ in their lives |
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Gratefully His, Karl and Ann
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Karl & Ann Olsson Port au Prince, Haiti We are considered self
employed; |
eMail Us: kaolsson@hughes.net
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