Peanut butter and backpacks

This past weekend, the congregation participated in a last-minute drive for peanut butter and backpacks that the Haiti team needed to take with them to feed children in that Third World country. The congregation's support blew everyone away. There was so much peanut butter, in fact, that we were able to share the extra jars the Haiti team couldn't accommodate with team leaders heading to Mexico, Guatemala, Ethiopia and El Salvador. The generous donations from Tomoka families — all contributed in one weekend — will now feed children all over the globe! Haiti team leader Kevin Hahn's reaction:

The response was amazing. We got about three times as many backpacks as we needed and four times as much peanut butter needed. The backpacks we are able to take with us. What an amazing God we have! He sure gives abundantly. I’m just amazed how wonderful our church is at responding to a need in such short notice. The children of Haiti will enjoy the peanut butter sandwiches and backpacks beyond what I can tell you.

What a mighty God we serve! Please pray for the Haiti team, which should arrive today on the mission field. 

Life Can Be Really Shaky

The entire world seems to be moving with earthquakes in Haiti, Chile, Taiwan as well as tremors throughout the world. Our lives are shaky even without the earthquakes due to little issues related to marriage, money, broken health and grief. Our faith in Jesus and His unshakeable Kingdom is vital in surviving all of the quakes, small and large, in our lives.

See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, "Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens." The words "once more" indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our "God is a consuming fire." Hebrews 12:25-29

Here are a few more key verses for all of us to read to prepare us for what lies ahead.

1 Kings 19
Matthew 28:2
Acts 16:26
Matthew 24
Revelation 11
Revelation 16

The earth and our lives will continue to shake. The question is, do you have a firm foundation?

Haiti relief

We have a better idea now about specific items that are needed by those at Northwest Haiti Christian Mission who are helping victims of the earthquake. While donations of money are by far the most needed, other items they are seeking include:

• Baby formula
• Peanut butter or any other high-protein food: Protein bars, beans, canned meat
• Any foods that do not have to be cooked
• Medical supplies: Bandages, sutures, splinting supplies, IV fluids, antibiotics, any over-the-counter medicines -- must be dated at least six months out
  

There is no need for clothing at this time.

Items from the list will be accepted this weekend and during the week through Wednesday only so that we can ship the items ASAP. Please put your donations in the large container that is expected to be in the Tomoka Christian parking lot by this evening. You are encouraged to ask your neighbors and co-workers to participate. Please note that money will continue to be accepted beyond Wednesday. Checks may be made out to TCC with "Haiti relief" written in the memo line. Online financial donations are welcome here.

This weekend, Tomoka Christian will offer Haiti T-shirts for sale, with all of the money going toward rescue efforts.

Meanwhile, below are two heartrending blog excerpts by Jody Castillo and Melonnie Kelly, two of our missionaries to Haiti dealing with the devastation.

From Jody - her blog is here

Two orphan boys came back with a tragic story. The quake started and they ran out of the house as it fell and killed everyone in it. They ran to another house that had their friends and only one person came out. A school full of little children fell and everyone died inside. We could barely understand their story through the sobbing. I had to ask three different times to really understand and I honestly may still be missing something. Everyone is mourning as news continues to filter in. Why tell you that? Because I'm trying to make this real - not just something you see on the news. This isn't some distant land - this is my home. The terror in their eyes is something I will never forget and I want you to picture what that looks like. They have had nightmares all day long. They told me they will never be the same. They were shaken and scared and in shock. How many others are that way, those that did survive and will never forget what they saw? How could it not change the life of every single person there? Lord Have Mercy On Haiti.

From Melonnie - her blog is here

We have a truck leaving at 4 a.m. (today) filled with tons of medical supplies. Melissa and Maureen are going with five of our Haitian staff. Please pray for them. I pray God's protection around them all.

We invited all of the Haitian staff to join us in a time of worship and prayer tonight. It was very emotional. Ivenor (my friend and assistant) has not heard anything about his parents yet and is fearing them dead. Watching him cry for them brought Susan and RJ to their knees weeping. Please pray that we can all be strong. There is so much sadness around us. It is hard to stay on top of it.

Please keep praying for Haiti.

"I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward." Mark 9:41

Whatever It Takes!

A team of 24 returned over the weekend from a rain-soaked but action-packed 10-day mission trip to Haiti. Below is an account of some of the team’s activities, written by TCC’s missionary to Haiti, Melonnie Kelly. See photos from the trip here.

Sunday
The team had a rainy but fun day. They started with church across the street this morning. It was a special New Year’s service so there was lots of singing and celebrating. A visiting pastor from a Christian college in Nebraska preached with a translator, so we were all able to hear God's Word in a language we could understand.

This afternoon was filled with rain, unpacking and sorting supplies, more rain, setting up tents, cleaning out a storeroom and organizing the pantry, loving on the baby orphanage babies and the Miriam Center kids and more rain.

Tomorrow’s plans include a couple different construction projects, a carnival with the nutritional program kids, sports camp, dance camp and meals on feet — ALL outside activities. It has been raining pretty much since everyone got here.

Monday
Today was amazing! It was pouring out all day long, but that didn't stop the team! They found all kinds of projects to jump in on. They helped out in the Miriam Center, moving beds, laying foam tiles on the floors and loving on the kids. They did hut-to-hut visits in the pouring rain. They held the babies from the baby orphanage while another team painted it. They delivered "meals on feet" to the granmoun (elderly) downtown this afternoon.

Tuesday
The sun was shining this morning (and most of the day) so plans were full steam ahead. The team started off two construction projects today, clearing the property for the new greenhouse we are building and preparing the roof for one more baby bungalow for the baby orphanage. Lots of heavy lifting!

Anyone not involved in construction helped another team run a carnival for the nutritional program kids. All hands on deck and it was a huge success!

The afternoon involved more construction, a sports camp for 100 boys and a dance camp for the girls. Meals on feet (delivering food to the elderly) ended a very busy day.

Wednesday
Another day of changed plans for the team. This morning brought the news that the orphanage trip wasn't going to be possible for today. The mountain roads are just too wet and slippery from all of the rain we've been having. The team was very disappointed but quickly pulled together a new plan for the rest of the week so that the trip could be rescheduled.

They held a sports camp this morning and a street VBS this afternoon. There were hut-to-huts, dance parties in the Miriam Center and granmoun feedings. I was incredibly proud of the way they continued to make the most of every situation and didn't waste a moment.

Thursday
The team had an AMAZING day today! For once the rainy weather didn't interfere. It just made the day more interesting.

The day was spent in Ansefelour. It was a muddy ride there and back with much starting and stopping, pushing and walking. The important thing is we made it! We started with a VBS at the church for 150 kids. We then made our way to the voodoo temple. It was an eye opening experience for all of the new people for sure. They were able to sit in the room where the people go to pray. They then toured the temple seeing where the people stay that move in to pray until their prayers are answered.

The rain stopped a few from trying the mountain but most made their way up to the voodoo monument at the top. It was a VERY muddy hike up there and very slippery hike down. Well worth it as praying in the name of Jesus in the midst of such darkness is amazing.
The day ended with meals on feet. A busy but great day for everyone!

Friday
The team had a good trip to the orphanage. It was 6 hours round trip on the bus so it was a LONG day but good. The field day was a huge success!

Saturday
Today they are heading off to Tortuga for VBS and soccer and will have a Christmas party for the granmoun and Miriam Center kids this afternoon. They leave at 4:30 tomorrow morning to start the trip home.

Report from the Haiti mission field

Members of our Haiti mission team are back, still catching their breath from a whirlwind two weeks of serving. Melonnie Kelly, our lead missionary to that region who now lives and works part of the year at the Northwest Haiti Christian Mission, shared an inspiring personal account of the weeks. Some highlights included a baptism, distribution of shoes, and an emotional experience during prayer time at a voodoo temple as animal sacrifices were taking place outside. Melonnie's blog post is here.

My "YES" Moment

The link below is to an inspiring post, My "YES" Moment, from the blog of Tomoka Christian’s lead missionary to Haiti, Melonnie Kelly. She lives in Ormond Beach but is training for a long-term position with Northwest Haiti Christian Mission.

Read about Melonnie’s "YES" moment here.

Not In Kansas Anymore

No one likes to think about, let alone discuss the reality of, the little island of Haiti. Haiti is only 600 nautical miles from the United States mainland, yet it might as well be across the universe.

Political instability, war lords, poverty, and pollution are all leading to a spirit of hopelessness and despair. This is a nation whose leaders for centuries have dedicated themselves and their nation to Satan.

Jesus said of Satan, in John 8:44, that he was a liar and a murderer from the beginning. He truly has done a number on this once pristine island of paradise.

Starvation, prostitution, and death are a daily way of life. Orphans who are begging, abused, and neglected are learning to work on the streets. These things are painful and unimaginable for our lives of plenty and abundance. How could things be so bad? Perhaps God is bringing judgment upon the nation of Haiti. Why doesn’t God do something for this nation?