HAITI - SHORT UPDATE

MISSION EVANGELIQUE DU NORD D'HAITI TRADE SCHOOL

Friday, April 15th was the Grand Opening Celebrations of the new Trade School in Plaine du Nord.  The second floor of this building will be the trade school:

RACE SOLIDARITE

The Third Annual Race Solidarite was held in Cap Haitien, Haiti on Saturday, April 16th.

 A team from this area was there to help with the race.  

I hope to have some more pictures to share with you from both of these events in the  next couple of weeks.

I plan on travelling again soon - back to Haiti, Colombia, Malawi and Bangladesh.  All of these countries have ongoing projects which will be in my next posting.

Haiti trip - November, 2010

I've just returned from Haiti and the situation is as serious as I am sure you've all been hearing about on the news.  Between the cholera outbreak and the Haiti elections, the destitution of the average Haitian has, if it were possible, escalated even further.

Discouragement and quitting are not options!  Enjoy a few pictures.  I am so grateful to be one of the many volunteers of the "Joy and Hope of Haiti" group.

Moments like this are what it's all about.

Jim and Joan's 30th plus trip and Brian's (centre) first time to Haiti



The Trade School 80% completed

Road2Hope (November 6 & 7, 2010)

What an amazing weekend! Great weather, 4,500 participants, many event sponsors and a few hundred volunteers - net funds raised are split between City Kidz, a Hamilton children's ministry and the Joy and Hope of Haiti continuing school construction efforts in the north of Haiti. Here are some pictures:

Art and Cathy Zavitz at Joy & Hope of Haiti table
   

Selling popcorn and candy floss

Kids 1km race

On Sunday, I ran my first 1/2 marathon in 1 hour, 57 minutes and 29 seconds:

A Remembrance Day “I’ll Always Remember”.

Yesterday, I had the privilege to share a few words and then say grace for some of Canada’s heroes.  What an honour!  This was the eighth annual dinner put on at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in downtown Hamilton.  All of the food and beverages were donated.  All of the services including food preparation, serving and clean up were done by volunteers.  You’ll notice  in one of the pictures the men and women are wearing white shirts and red bow ties (all volunteers).  Also a high school from Hamilton had their youth volunteering.  What an experience for them to meet, greet and serve our heroes.  Before asking God’s blessing on the food, this is part of what I shared from an author unknown.  

"It's the soldier, not the reporter, who gives you the freedom of the press.  It's the soldier, not the poet, who gives you the freedom of speech.  It's the soldier, not the campus organizer, who allows you to demonstrate.  It's the soldier who salutes the flag, whose coffin is draped with the flag that allows the protester to burn the flag".  He closed with "Lord hold our troops in Your loving hands.  Protect them as they protect us.  Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need".

Colombia continued

When Ken Yinger and I returned from Colombia, we brought back information for 22 potential projects to consider.  We identified three projects that are a priority for Colombia and after the banquet in British Colombia last week, we now have funds to finance all three (God is so good!).

We have three mission trip opportunities to share with you. 

**We have the partners in Colombia ready to work with our teams.
** We have the funds raised for the projects.
** We have the Canadian team leaders lined up to go to Colombia. 

The only missing piece of this puzzle is YOU!  Are you interested in going?  Will you commit to going?  Here's info on the projects:

Colombia Trip #1 Opportunity

1. Olaya Church  Project:  WORK TEAM

Men, we need you!

Roll up your sleeves and help to construct a church in the Olaya section of Medellin, Colombia

When: December 4th - December 14th, 2010


Tax Receiptable Cost: Approx. $2,000.00 (price will vary depending on province of departure)

Contact:  Charlotte Kroes: ckroes@mfmcanada.ca  1-888-417-5256

The Olaya Project will construct a Christian church located in the Olaya sector of Medellin, Colombia. The name of the church is Aposento Alto which means “The Upper Room”. It is a fitting name for a congregation in a growing suburb high up the mountains of Medellin.


The church is trying to share the Gospel with newcomers who have been displaced from other parts of the country. Reaching these people with the Gospel is of utmost importance.

Are you willing to invest 10 days of your life to go, give and do as God leads? We need 12 men, ready to roll up their sleeves and get to work.

(First come, first go basis. Space is limited.)

Check the next two blog postings for the other two trip opportunities!

Colombia Trip #2 Opportunity

Colombia Biblical Seminary

WORK TEAM

When: January 12—26, 2011

Tax Receiptable Cost: $2,000.00 Approx. (price will vary depending on province of departure)

Charlotte Kroes: ckroes@mfmcanada.ca  1-888-417-5256

Roll up your sleeves and help us refurbish the Colombia Biblical Seminary for God’s glory!

 
The Colombia Biblical Seminary is a training ground for more than 200 students from many denominational backgrounds. The seminary is more than 60 years old and many of the buildings are in need of repair. Available funds have been spent on teaching students, however, they need a good place to study and minister.


Many seminary students are serving in churches and in front-line ministries that take the Gospel to areas not yet reached for Christ.

Will you invest 2 weeks of your life to go, give and do as God leads? We need 12 people who will roll up their sleeves and get to work.

(First come, first go basis. Space is limited.)

Colombia Trip #3 Opportunity

ACCA Prison Fellowship

WORK TEAM

Roll up your sleeves and let’s get to work, investing in the lives of the people of Colombia.

When: March 21 - April 1st 2011

Tax Receiptable Cost: Approx. $1,700.00

(price will vary depending on province of departure)

Contact:  Charlotte Kroes: ckroes@mfmcanada.ca  1- 888-417-5256 

The ACCA (Prison Fellowship of Antioquia) is a ministry that changes lives. This group ministers to men and women who are living in Colombia’s grossly overcrowded prisons. More that 40 ex-prisoners are now pastors on the outside. Additionally, ACCA ministers to family members of inmates. Perhaps the most amazing ministry is with the widows and orphans of the sixty pastors who have been assassinated by the drug cartels.


Are you willing to invest 12 days of your life to go, give and do as God leads? We need 12 men, ready to roll up their sleeves and get to work. Please help us help ACCA expand their ministry.

(First come, first go basis. Space is limited.)



In Vancouver, October 20th to October 25th

Twice a year, One Mission Society, Canada (OMS)/Men for Missions have board meetings and this year, I am privileged to be participating in the board meetings in Vancouver, B.C.   Our meetings start early in the morning October 21st and end October 23rd.  There is much to be thankful for and there are a lot of requests for help from many mission fields.  Please pray during the time of the meetings.   There are many decisions to make.

On October 22nd, there is a banquet planned.  If you live in or are visiting the Vancouver area on Friday, please plan to come.  Even though the October 14th deadline for reserving a ticket has passed, there is still room to come.  To reserve a ticket, call Kim at 1-800-784-7077.

Art.

Meet Gerardo "Papa" Pino, Colombia

Back in August, I promised to write more about my experiences in Colombia.

Meet Gerardo "Papa" Pino

From left to right:Art, "Papa" Pino and Jeannine Brabon

There is quite a story about Papa Pino written in a book called "The Lord of Bellavista".  Bellavista Prison in Medellin was one of the most violent and bloodiest prisons in Colombia.  (You may have read the article about Jeannine Brabon in my August 18th blog posting).

Papa Pino was imprisoned 18 times for armed robbery.  In March, 1988, his life was transformed by God once and for all......look at his smiling face.  His weapon has been his precious Bible for 22 years and counting!

I highly recommend all of you read the book "The Lord of Bellavista".  Papa Pino's conversion experience is in this book and many other incredible stories.  We have copies available here at our office.  If you'd like to read this book, please let me know (donation contribution - $10.00) and we will send one to you.

Check out this short video clip - Untold Stories of Colombia:  http://www.tangle.com/view_video?viewkey=7005af52bc9e778a058b

Art. 
     

A Saturday Spent with Friends at a Wedding

Art and daughter, Raquel (sitting down) and Amanda's colleagues at wedding reception

On Saturday, September 18th, I had the privilege to join in the celebration of Amanda and Jimmy's wedding.  Amanda and her colleagues from St. Peter's Residence at Chedoke, Hamilton helped our family through a number of difficult years.  The staff at St. Peter's cared for and loved on my father until he passed away in 2009 after enduring years of Alzheimer's disease. 

When Amanda asked me to officiate at their wedding, I felt honoured and moved.   I explained to her that I was ordained mainly to minister in jails and that I seldom do marriages.  Being part of this special day, with such special people is a day I'll always remember.  The staff at St. Peter's have become like family.  My daughter Raquel joined the celebration and remembers the care give to her Papa.  Blessings to you all at St. Peter's.