Everyone is aware of the horrific earthquake January 12 and the devastation that it brought to Haiti and her people. The clean-up process and finding a new kind of ‘normal’ will take a very long time. The people continue to struggle to find food, housing, jobs, schools for their children, and medical care. There is a lot of work to be done on many different levels, but we remain committed to do what we can to be a part of helping Haiti and her people recover.

Right after the earthquake we met people working with Convoy of Hope who were interested in distributing food to the people right away – Quisqueya Chapel became their venue and we were asked to be in charge of this project which we gladly accepted. We began 5 days after the earthquake and continued until mid-March. Then we were asked if we would distribute water filters for people to have safe and clean drinking water, and we are still doing this. Then a huge 40’ container was literally dropped in our lap and is on the Chapel property, now with food, water filters and buckets, and alot of room for more!

The container really moved us to begin praying seriously about God’s plan for us with COH - we felt like we were on the sidelines just watching God ‘do His thing’. We continued to meet other COH people (including its president/CEO), we were encouraged by their plans for Haiti, and sensed we should continue moving forward. We began to have discussions with some of them, and the international director came down to talk seriously about our becoming a part of Convoy of Hope. As we prayed we could see God’s leading, and agreed to join them as COH Field Associates - Haiti.

We never would have expected this as we began to distribute food January 17 , but God had a plan that unfolded before us. So what happens now?

*  501c3 organization - our 501c3, Berean Mission Alliance, remains the same as well as all our other contact information.

 

Greg Venturella / COH International Director (l)
Kevin Rose COH Field Operations / International (r)

*  Who are we working with? - we are working with Kevin and Aimee Rose, Field Operations Director, International, who live near us in our neighborhood. They are an exceptional couple, we appreciate them very much, and really enjoy working with them.

*  What about SIG Ministries - we think this is a huge expansion of SIG , more than we could have imagined. Now we will have the means and support to do far more through COH than we ever could on our own. We have people along side us and behind us to help and guide us which is beneficial to us and the work COH does here. We look forward to sharing more with you as time goes by. We are very excited about this opportunity and so grateful this door has been opened to us.

COH team hard at work

Right now – please pray for us. We have just set the dates for our furlough, June 23 – August 31. We already are committed to attend the CCCC Annual Conference (where Karl has his pastoral license) in Springfield, MA, Ann’s 50th high school reunion in GA where she will speak at a prayer breakfast, and COH conference in MO. We also will be speaking in churches and other venues, and are looking forward to sharing Haiti’s story of the earthquake and how this trauma brought about new opportunities to our work here in Haiti.

Please find attached some photos to show you COH’s stamp on our lives. Please check out their web site as well, to learn more about this organization.