You know we’ve been mentioning in our updates the situation with the wall at Quisqueya Chapel, and the need to move all 174 meters of it back in order to widen the road. This is being done all over, so the Chapel is not the only one having to go through this expense and work to do this. We live right across the street from the Chapel and we have to have it done at our house too.
A talented young man from our Chapel family made this video for the Chapel to use to help raise funds for this. It not only shows the wall and gives information about it, but it also shows some of the reality of life here in Haiti, so we thought we’d send it to you. Please be praying for the Chapel and all who are involved to accomplish this task.
Some exciting things are happening that we want to share them with you. We are passing the mantle at Quisqueya Chapel, similar to what happened in the Bible with Moses passing the mantle to Joshua, Elijah passing the mantle to Elisha, and the greatest example of all, Jesus training 3 special men, Peter, James and John, to begin His Church. All these men were trained and mentored to participate in the next step of God’s kingdom work. Passing the mantle – we have done just that. July marks the end of our responsibilities at Quisqueya Chapel and we have passed the mantle to Bobby and Magalie Boyer as the next Senior Pastor. God called them both to the Chapel and we believe they will continue the Chapel’s 40 year ministry of faithfully teaching the Word to people from all over the world.
During these past 10 years at the Chapel, we have had the privilege to minister to many wonderful and committed missionary and Haitian servants. Through assisting some of them, we have seen a wide variety of work being accomplished here, and have been drawn to certain areas of ministry that excites us and gives us a sense how to broaden our focus and continue to serve here in Haiti. We believe He is releasing us from the Chapel so we can come alongside to do for them what Barnabas did for Paul by giving assistance, training, and encouragement. Several of these areas are:
*Pastoral training and teaching
*Agricultural and livestock projects
*Medical clinics
*Facilitating work teams
*Helping Haiti’s future – their children
So – how will we do these things? From assisting others, two organizations have asked us to join them in ministry. One is LACC (Latin America Child Care). For years you’ve read about our helping them in various ways, and now we’ll be more involved with their schools and students and other projects that help their communities at large, such as agriculture, and pig/goat projects. Another organization we’ve grown close to is Baptist Haiti Mission, where Karl will be involved with planning and facilitating training of pastors and school directors and Ann giving administrative help. For both of these ministries we’ll assist with medical and work teams for clinics, construction projects, food distributions, and evangelism. Additional opportunities involve Karl teaching a pastor seminar in the fall in Port au Prince, and Ann has been asked to work with medical outreach in Gonaives, a city that has suffered extensive damage from the hurricanes last fall. In all of these opportunities we will need to communicate better in Creole so we plan to take more lessons when we return to Haiti.
These doors of ministry have been opened to us and we trust the Lord for His wisdom. Your prayers and support have always been important to us, and even more so now as we begin this new season of ministry. We will need to raise more monthly support to replace Karl’s salary from the Chapel ($1800.00). So we are asking you pray for us, believing God will be faithful to meet our needs. Would you pray and ask God if He would have you help in any way? Would you pray that He will raise up others to come along side us as well? If you stand in the gap for us, then we can stand in the gap for others, and you will be standing here with us – for which we will be very grateful. Note: we will be using the same (government approved) 501c3 organization to process our support, IDEA Ministries, address below.
Our furlough is from June 23 – August 26 and hope we see you this summer! Below is our schedule and we look forward to seeing you – come and join us!
July 5
July 19
July 26
August 2
August 9
August 16
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Forestdale Community Church, Malden, MA
Community Bible Chapel, Brattleboro, VT
Danville Baptist Church, Kingston, NH
Advent Christian Church, Vernon, VT
Celebration International Church, Wayland, MA
Living Hope Church, Pawtucket, RI
We are encouraged that God will do many different and wonderful things as we begin this new season of ministry. This is definitely a step of faith for us - some have asked, “Are you retiring?” and we answer, “no, just ‘re-treading’’ our ministry in a different direction. Thank you for standing with us….thank you for being a partner with us….thank you for praying for us.
In HIM, Karl and Ann
Karl & Ann Olsson
Quisqueya Chapel
Port au Prince, Haiti
** We are considered 'self
employed;' thus we pay the full 15% for Social
Security taxes. Gifts are exempt.
