Many of you have asked about financial contributions for the Haiti mission work. Please make donations payable to Gateway FWB Church - Haiti Fund 5473 Virginia Beach Blvd., Va Beach, VA 23462. |
Sunday
9:30 a.m. Sunday School
10:45 a.m. Morning Worship
6:30 p.m. Evening Worship
Wednesday
6:45 p.m. Awana
7:00 p.m. Bible Studies
Regular activities
5473 Virginia Beach Blvd.
Virginia Beach, VA 23462
(757) 499-9686
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| Gateway Free Will Baptist Church, 5473 Virginia Beach Blvd., Virginia Beach, VA, 23462, (757) 499-9686 |
01/12/10:
WAVY-10 update
click here for WAVY report - Local Church Helps Quake Victims
All members of our Medical Mission team are safe. Please continue to pray for them. click here or scroll to bottom of page for the latest update |
01/13/10: 10am
Jesse Hales, a close associate of one of the missionaries in Haiti, says on his Facebook:
"april was working at the clinic until 3am and they are back at it working hard this morning"
"there is no damage at the clinic, the houses have the water disconected from the well pump but that is being worked on, part of the
wall at the compound fell down, and some damage to the stairs going up to Joel and Aprils's roof. Part of the wall around our
Despinos school has fell down, and some of the classroom are damaged. our church buildind there is ok."
01/13/10: 10:20am
Freda Cory's parents are in Haiti as part of the Medical Missions team. She said on her Facebook:
"We have not yet heard this morning from the Gateway Mission Team to Haiti. They apparently have a generator and limited Internet
access at the compound, which is how we received information and photos last night. Freda's mom, Phyllis Bass, no longer had a
signal for her phone late last night, and we're not sure when or... if it will return. We will post anything we hear. Thanks to all for the
prayers and encouragement."
01/13/10: 10:35am
Here's a list of the members of the Medical Mission team
Gateway FWB Church in Va Beach, VA
Dale Burden
Dean Bullard
Howard Bass
Phyllis Bass
Christina Christiansen
Shiloh Free Will Baptist Church in Madison, VA
Cary Lane
First Free Will Baptist in Morehead, NC
Jerry Johnson
Pat Johnson
01/13/10: 10:45am
A few quick facts from Pastor Sexton:
- Medical Mission Team scheduled to return Tuesday, January 19th.
- The Hess’s orphanage in Haiti completely collapsed. The 20 children are now living on the Hess’s compound.
- Compound consists of church, clinic and school.
- Mission objective has changed from evangelism, training and medical assistance to relief for the earthquake victims.
01/13/10: 10:48am
Freda Cory's parents are in Haiti as part of the Medical Mission team. She said on her Facebook:
"Prayer Requests Clean water in Haiti for the teams working there: difficult to get anyway, and the earthquake aftermath only
complicates the process....
01/13/10: 11:15am
A short bio of our Medical Mission team:
- Dale Burden, 76. Gateway’s Senior Saints Pastor. 24th trip to Haiti. He has led a team to Haiti on 21 different occasions
over the last 10 years. - Dean Bullard, 46. Owner of Grant Drywall & Plastering in Hampton Roads. 16th trip to Haiti in the last nine years. Very
familiar with the area considering his many trips to Haiti. - Christina Christiansen, 25. Third trip to Haiti. RN at Children's Hospital Kings Daughter, Norfolk.
- Howard Bass, 57. First trip to Haiti. Assistant pastor at Gateway FWB Church, Va Beach.
- Phyliss Bass, 58. First trip to Haiti. Publications Director at Gateway FWB Church, Va Beach.
01/13/10: 11:35am
Watch Pastor Sexton's interviews today on the following
news channels.
CBN at 4pm
WAVY 10 at noon, 5pm and 6pm
KLOVE listen throughout the day
01/13/10: 12:14pm
CNN BREAKING NEWS reports -- Hundreds of thousands of people have died in Haiti's earthquake, the prime
minister told CNN today.
Watch live coverage now on http://CNN.com/Live
01/13/10: 11:42am
Phyllis Bass is in Haiti as part of the Medical Mission team. She said on her Facebook:
"In the midst of the earthquake, 20 pastors were in town for the conference. Howard, Jerry Johnson and Bro. Burden are teaching
today. Howard took lots of Donna William's snacks to pass out. We slept under the stars on Mrs. Gott's sheets. Dean and I are going
to pick up the others now. I will try to get more pics. Thanks for your prayers. The clinic is full"
01/13/10: 11:51am
Short bio of another Medical Mission team member.
Cary Lane, 45. 10th trip to Haiti over the last 3 years. Pastor of Shiloh Free Will Baptist Church, Madison, VA
01/13/10: 11:58 am
Watch Pastor Sexton's live interview on Wavy 10 now!
01/13/10: 12:30 pm
Joya Tynes, member of Crosspointe FWB Church, Suffolk said in an email:
Dean Bullard did a drywall job for a woman that Joya works with two years ago. During that job Dean talked extensively about the
Lord Jesus. He gave this woman his testimony and told her about his heart for Haiti. He went on to tell her stories about his trips
there and said that he makes regular trips. This woman saw the story on the news and called Joya. She put the two together. She
told Joya that she could not remember his name for the last few years but recalled it after the news story aired. She was in tears
and told Joya that "because of this man's life, she was recommitting herself to the Lord Jesus!" She is praying for Dean and plans
on getting herself back to church and getting her life right with God. I wanted to share this amazing story. All glory to our God who is
truly at work everywhere!!!
Also, some time ago Joya had helped to bring together Dean and a Haitian gentlemen. Dean had mentioned to Joya that
there was a language barrier and that he thought some people used it to take advantage of the missionaries. This Haitian
man was willing to help Dean out with learning the language. The man and Dean spoke twice over the phone and nothing
really ever came of it. That is until this Earthquake. The man is so encouraged that someone would care so much for his
"corrupt little country." This Haitian man is also worried about his family in Haiti and cannot get a hold of any of them. He
says that Dean's life is inspiring him to be closer to God. Just another life touched by one of our missionaries and another
heart stirred to get closer to God!
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01/13/10: 1:14pm
Many people have called the church office to see if loved ones are safe. The only updates we've received have been from our own
church members. However, the State Department has set up a telephone number for Americans seeking information about family
members in Haiti. The toll-free number is 1-888-407-4747. Callers may receive a recording because of a heavy volume of calls.
01/13/10: 1:20 pm
01/12/10:
Karl Sexton, Senior Pastor of Gateway FWB Church, speaks with the local ABC affiliate on the evening of the earthquake.
scroll to time 5:28 of the video for the report
01/12/10:
Brian Cory, Financial Manger of Gateway Ministries, speaks to CNN news about his in-laws (Howard and Phyllis Bass) who are in
Haiti with the Medical Mission team.
scroll to time 0:12 of the video for the report
be sure to hit "Ctrl F5" to refresh the information |
01/13/10: 1:48 pm
For pictures, click here
be sure to hit "Ctrl F5" to refresh the information |
be sure to hit "Ctrl F5" to refresh the information |
01/12/10:
for pictures, click here
|
01/13/10: 2:41 pm
Pictures of the Medical Mission Team to help you better pray.
Dale Burden
Cary Lane
Phyllis and Howard Bass
Dean Bullard
Christina Christiansen
Jerry and Pat Johnson
01/13/10: 3:05 pm
Phyllis Bass said via Facebook:
"The satelite phone is up so we will try to call. Howard and I just got back from the conference--it went well but many pastors have
lost homes and church members that they ended it today so that everyone can go home. I "talked" to children &ladies and passed
out treats. We will go back tomorrow for a clinic. The clinic here is closing for the day--April and Christina are exhausted. Thank you
for praying."
01/13/10: 3:19 pm
Short bio of the remaining Medical Mission team members.
- Jerry Johnson, 65. 3rd trip to Haiti. Was planning to teach Preachers and assist in the clinic when available.
- Pat Johnson, 64. 1st trip to Haiti. Was planning to teach the ladies and assist in the medical clinic.
- go to 01/13/10: 11:15am and 01/13/10: 11:51am for remaining short biographies.
be sure to hit "Ctrl F5" to refresh the information |
01/13/10: 3:56 pm
Mrs Burden, wife of "Preacher" Dale Burden called the church office and said:
"Preacher called me. He met with the pastors and they had class and preaching today. April and Christina worked in the clinic
until 3 am this morning. Preacher will go to Chesnel’s church in the morning and bring some meds there, and meet with more
pastors. Everyone is exhausted but well, please continue to keep them all in your prayers.
01/13/10: 3:57 pm
Brian Cory is on the phone right now with Phyllis Bass. Everyone is safe, but tired.
01/13/10: 4:17 pm
CNN BREAKING NEWS reports -- Exclusive: President Rene Preval tells CNN that Haiti lacks capacity to hospitalize
quake victims, asks for medical aid.
be sure to hit "Ctrl F5" to refresh the information |
01/13/10: 6:05 pm
Pastor Sexton and Brian Cory are interviewed by the CBN news team.
God's Miracles Show Amid Tragedy in Haiti
01/13/10: 6:46 pm
Phyllis Bass said via Facebook:
"A few more tremors this evening. Some of the team went to help our translator find his family right outside of port au
prince. We will gather together for prayer and thanksgiving when they return. Thanks for your prayers."
01/13/10: 7:13 pm
Phyllis Bass said via Facebook:
"There are so many needs and so many directions we feel pulled towards. Please pray that we will make wise choices."
01/13/10: 7:45 pm
Phone report by Phyllis Bass on Vimeo:
01/13/10: 7:47 pm
Prayer @Gateway FWB Church on 01/13/10 for our mission team.
01/14/10: 8:30 am
Phyllis Bass said via Facebook:
"Bonjour Christina, Dean b. Burden and I will go to Chesnels church to help pastors that stayed for medical. We cannot
do planned clinic--we have nothing left to treat wounds-that's what people will want. I will pass out items to women and
kids...thanks so much. We are leaving today for Pignon. Will get on later. Just found my video camera-lost it in the
quake...Will try to upload more of Dean's photos."
01/14/10: 9:08 am
Phyllis Bass said via text:
"I am at chesnels clinic with Christina. Closer to Port au Prince. First time we have had phone service....only here we
are leaving for Pignon today."
01/14/10: 9:32 am
Phyllis Bass said via text:
"I have tried to upload pics but the internet is not working well. Maybe tonight in Pignon."
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01/13/10: 9:05 am
Phyllis Bass spoke to USA TODAY via Facebook-messaging.
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/webguide/internetlife/2010-01-13-haitisocial_N.htm
""Facebook has been the only way that we could let people see what is happening," says Phyllis Bass, one of five
members of the Gateway Free Will Baptist Church in Virginia Beach, Va., who landed in Haiti an hour before the quake.
She's using the site to let people know they are safe and to post photos." -USA TODAY
01/14/10: 10:07 am
This article is written in the Daily Press concerning our team:
http://www.dailypress.com/news/nationworld/haiti-earthquake/dp-local_haiti-aid_0114jan14,0,7281534.story
01/14/10: 10:07 am
These pictures, taken by our Missions Team, were posted in the Daily Press yesterday:
http://www.dailypress.com/news/dp-haiti-quake-pictures,0,6377871.photogallery
Pictures are believed to be taken
by Dean Bullard and forwarded by Phyllis Bass.
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01/14/10: 11:10 am
Gateway Mission Team article on home page of PilotOnline.com:
http://hamptonroads.com/2010/01/hampton-roads-groups-assist-haiti-earthquake-relief#primary_tabs.
"The eight missionaries from Gateway Free Will Baptist Church in Virginia Beach got into a truck at the airport. They
were on their way to drop off medical supplies at a clinic before going on to the purpose of this mission - religious
instruction for Baptist Haitian pastors. After driving a few minutes, the earthquake struck. At 5:30, they texted that they
were watching walls tumbling down." -PilotOnline.com
01/14/10: 12:04 pm
Phyllis Bass sent this picture via Facebook:
Sleeping arrangement at the mission cllinic in Haiti
for more pictures click here. Warning: some pictures are graphic
01/14/10: 2:15 pm
Phyllis Bass sent messages via text:
"The Haitians who are taking us to Pignon just came-they said the smell of death has settled on Port-au-Prince.
Christina is staying here to help in the clinic. We are going to Pignon sometime today! Five hour trip. Have no idea what
the communication will be...Gerby our interpreter says we will have to use an internet cafe.
Pastor Peter who is taking us said he personally carried 62 dead bodies yesterday."
01/14/10: 3:35 pm
guardian.co.uk international news reports of our Mission Team
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/pda/2010/jan/14/socialnetworking-haiti
"Missionaries, says CNN, shared some of the first images they saw of people affected by the quake, and the conditions
they're in. Brian Cory, who CNN got hold of via iReport, connected the news organisation with his mother-in-law in Haiti,
who took the photos." -guardian.co.uk
01/14/10: 3:44 pm
K Love reports photos taken by Gateway Missionary Dean Bullard:
http://www.klove.com/News/NewsPhotos.aspx?i=122936
01/14/10: 5:00
CNN reports of pictures taken by Gateway's Mission Team
Phyllis Bass, an American missionary in Haiti, was able to reach her
son-in-law via text message. Using texts, she told of how she saw
dead bodies on the road, and how she and four other missionaries
were helping the injured.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/01/13/haiti.color/index.html
01/14/10: 5:02 pm
Ashley Bullard received the following text message from Phyllis Bass:
"We are half way to Pignon...constant bumps"
01/15/10: 8:45 am
This morning we have received the following text messages from Phyllis Bass:
"We do not have internet here. I am going to try to atach photos to an email."
"The school here has been opened since the quake. Many here have lost family members or have not heard. Pastor
Pete sent the truck back to Port au Prince last night to bring people who have no home. He will be running a truck daily."
"We are fine. The road here was like a desert of ditches. MAF has about 3 planes here. They are very expensive but may
can help."
01/15/10: 8:59 am
We just received the following text message from Phyllis Bass:
"Correction. They are NOT in school. People are leaving Port-au-Prince and fleeing to their home towns. The prison was
destroyed and the prisoners fled. Prices are going up- gas went up $1.50 in one day."
01/15/10: 9:05 am
This letter was written by Christina Christiansen, one of eight missionaries on our Missions Team, and posted early this
morning by Jesse Hayles on Facebook.
"Thru the eyes of a long term christian missionary and a visiting nurse. Within minutes of the earthquake our little clinic
was flooded with haitians seeking medical attention. With most of the building being made out of block one can imagine
the impact and force on the human body. Our first patient was our neighbor who is an 8 year old female was covered with
blocks that fell from our compound wall. Multiple children with weeping wounds and rocks embedded in their skin brought
in by family; while other family member left in the rubble...many dead. Andrew is a three year old little boy, who was
brought in by his mother who's first question was, is my baby going to live. After removing his clothes we discovered, a
ten inch laceration on the abdomen with his stomach protruding from his wound. We were only able to stich up half of the
laceration and have used sterile technique to cover the exposed wound in hope for a surgeon to come operate or for him
to be taken stateside to be treated. While assesing this little boy we had a woman carried in by six men, to find her fibula
bone completly severed above the ankle, and protruding. At the time she had adequate perfusion to her foot, unfortunatly
we were only able to clean and dress the wound and prayerfully send her searching for a Doctor to correct the bone...at
two am a mother brought her 18 month old baby with a deep laceration starting at the hairline and spanding about 5 cm to
the opposite eyelid. His frontal bone was exposed, and rocks embedded in his skin. We were able to successfully clean
and suture the wound, all the while mom is weeping and he is screaming and being held down.
Story after story could be shared of the devestation and pain we are experiencing in haiti.
Our work began within minutes of the earthquake at 5 pm and we left the clinic the next morning at 330am to soon return
in the morning finding the yard full of patients needing care. Haitians from all over the Port au Prince region have traveled
to find hospitals and clinics either demolished or has run out of supplies.
Our facility is not equipped to handle cases like compound fractures, deep wounds exposing bones and muscle, and
lacerations with the risk of high infection. Another problem we are facing is the need for radiology (x-ray machinery) to
adequately assess internal damage and fractures, and the need for surgeons and orthopedic doctors and supplies. The
majority of our haitian staff is missing and we are unable to locate them...leaving just the two of us to assess, treat,
suture, and brace wounds.
In a country that struggles daily to get a head, or simply struggle to meet their basic needs, this is beyond a tragedy..."
01/15/10: 9:05 am
We Need Your Help
Many have asked what they can do to help with the work in Haiti right now. These are the things that the team needs to
help treat the sick and wounded there right now. If you could bring these items ASAP by the office of Gateway FWB
(address below) it would be greatly appreciated. We are getting these items down to the team within the next few days.
Triple Antibiotic Ointment (Neosporin)
Petroleum Jelly (Vaseline)
Sterile Latex Gloves
Sterile Gauze (4x4 Pads, 2x2 Pads, etc...)
Wound Wash Saline (http://www.walgreens.com/store/store/product/product_details.jsp?id=prod355463) Tefla Bandages
(Non Adhesive Bandages)
Ace Banadges and Wraps
Braces for Thighs, ankles, wrists, and slings
Kerlix Wraps
Medical Tape
Sutures and other wound care supplies
Food Items:
Non Perishable Foods
Rice
Dry Beans
Trail Mix
snacks, etc...
Miscellaneous Items:
Diapers
Baby Wipes
If you are a medical professional and have access to the following items, they are also desperately needed:
Sutures/Suture Kits
**Any items outside of these can be donated to the local Red Cross or Salvation Army as we do not have the means to
transport or store additional items at the mission in Haiti.
Also if you do not have the means to get these items to Gateway, but would still like to help, you can donate money and
we will go and purchase these items to send.
Please make donations payable to
Gateway FWB Church - Haiti Fund
5473 Virginia Beach Blvd., Va Beach, VA 23462.
01/15/10: 11:42 am
Pray for the Johnson Family
Please pray for the Johnson family. Patricia Johnson's mother, Carol Mildrid Basden, passed away last night. Both
Patrician and Jerry Johnson are with the Mission Team in Haiti. They are making there way to Port-au-Prince by truck
right now.
Donate here to the Gateway Haiti Fund
Donate here to the Gateway Haiti Fund
01/15/10: 1:15 pm
You can listen to Karl Sexton's interview with Jay Sekulow: http://www.aclj.org/OnTheRadio/
01/15/10: 6:15 pm
Continue to pray for the Johnson family in Haiti. Mrs. Johnson's mother passed away last night. Jerry and Patricia
Johnson have both been unable to reach the airport today because of a fuel shortage.
Phyllis Bass has informed us via phone that everyone is still safe and doing well. It is still very uncertain whether they will
be flying back home this coming Tuesday. They have started their evening services in Pignon.
Continue to pray for the Johnson family in Haiti. Mrs. Johnson's mother passed away last night. Jerry and Patricia
Johnson have both been unable to reach the airport today because of a fuel shortage.
Phyllis Bass has informed us via phone that everyone is still safe and doing well. It is still very uncertain whether they will
be flying back home this coming Tuesday. They have started their evening services in Pignon.
01/15/10: 6:15 pm
Continue to pray for the Johnson family in Haiti. Mrs. Johnson's mother passed away last night. Jerry and Patricia
Johnson have both been unable to reach the airport today because of a fuel shortage.
Phyllis Bass has informed us via phone that everyone is still safe and doing well. It is still very uncertain whether they will
be flying back home this coming Tuesday. They have started their evening services in Pignon.
Continue to pray for the Johnson family in Haiti. Mrs. Johnson's mother passed away last night. Jerry and Patricia
Johnson have both been unable to reach the airport today because of a fuel shortage.
Phyllis Bass has informed us via phone that everyone is still safe and doing well. It is still very uncertain whether they will
be flying back home this coming Tuesday. They have started their evening services in Pignon.
01/16/10: 8:52 am
Phyllis Bass via Text:
Dean's phone works. He can call the states now. He brought back 11 people last night. He got enough gas to get us
back. Cary is going to fly out of Dominican Republic tonight. The Hess are expecting 5 doctors and 5 nurses today. Their
house is full. We slept well last night only got 1 bite.
Today is market day and Dean is going to get us a fresh supply of food. The pastors are here for the confrence that
begins at 8. They came at 5 and sang and prayed. We are safe. God is good.
Here are some pictures Phyllis Bass sent via email last night and this morning.
Phyllis Bass via Text:
Dean's phone works. He can call the states now. He brought back 11 people last night. He got enough gas to get us
back. Cary is going to fly out of Dominican Republic tonight. The Hess are expecting 5 doctors and 5 nurses today. Their
house is full. We slept well last night only got 1 bite.
Today is market day and Dean is going to get us a fresh supply of food. The pastors are here for the confrence that
begins at 8. They came at 5 and sang and prayed. We are safe. God is good.
Here are some pictures Phyllis Bass sent via email last night and this morning.
01/17/10: 9:17 am
We our planning a flight to Haiti early next week to drop off medical supplies, food, and water to the mission clinic.
Please continue to pray for our Mission Team as we work on getting them home safely.
We our planning a flight to Haiti early next week to drop off medical supplies, food, and water to the mission clinic.
Please continue to pray for our Mission Team as we work on getting them home safely.
01/17/10: 1:07 pm
These pictures, that were received via email shortly ago, show the church service this morning in Pignon, Haiti.
These pictures, that were received via email shortly ago, show the church service this morning in Pignon, Haiti.
be sure to hit "Ctrl F5" to refresh the information |
01/17/10: 6:06 pm
This video is a brief look at the last 5 days of our Missions Team in Haiti.
This video is a brief look at the last 5 days of our Missions Team in Haiti.
01/17/10: 8:04 pm
Please pray for our Mission Team in Haiti as they make their way back to Port-au-Prince this evening. They have a long
night ahead of them in hopes to make an early morning flight out of Haiti tomorrow. If all goes as planned they will arrive
in West Palm Beach tomorrow much thanks to Samaritan's Purse. http://www.samaritanspurse.org/
Please pray for our Mission Team in Haiti as they make their way back to Port-au-Prince this evening. They have a long
night ahead of them in hopes to make an early morning flight out of Haiti tomorrow. If all goes as planned they will arrive
in West Palm Beach tomorrow much thanks to Samaritan's Purse. http://www.samaritanspurse.org/
01/18/10: 8:04 am
Latest message from Phyllis Bass via email:
Praise the Lord, our Mission Team has made it to Port-au-Prince and are on a private plane waiting to head back to West
Palm Beach.
"God is so good. Please share this photo of our amazing plane. We are the only 6 on a private plane."
Latest message from Phyllis Bass via email:
Praise the Lord, our Mission Team has made it to Port-au-Prince and are on a private plane waiting to head back to West
Palm Beach.
"God is so good. Please share this photo of our amazing plane. We are the only 6 on a private plane."
01/18/10: 8:28 am
The Mission Team waiting in line at Port-au-Prince airport
prior to boarding their plane.
01/18/10: 8:34 am
Please pray for Rick Edwards as he left early this morning carrying 12 containers of medical supplies from Norfolk to West Palm
Beach. He had an interview at the airport this morning with Wavy TV 10 before leaving out.
Starts at 1:45
01/18/10: 9:12 am
Christina Christiansen is a registered nurse who attends Gateway FWB Church. Christina chose to stay in Haiti to continue to
help in the missions clinic there. She posted the below on her Facebook page.
Christina Faye Christiansen: I am humbled and so encouraged by all of you. I feel so loved, cared for, and know without doubt
people are praying for us. God has been so close to me; it brings tears to my eyes just writing about His faithfulness to me. I
have countless stories of God giving us wisdom, energy, and the exact supplies when we need it! Please keep praying for the
people of Haiti!
01/18/10: 9:52 am
From Phyllis Bass via email:
"We are preparing to land now"
Dunkin donuts and coffee on a private jet. Thank you to all
who helped get us out. We are so thankful that Pat Johnson
will get to go to her mother's funeral tomorrow. God is so good. Eph. 3:20
01/18/10: 10:07 am
"Bro. Burden slept on the flight home"
01/18/10: 10:37 am
Just talked to Rick Edwards: The Mission Team is pulling up at the airport now and he is there to meet them. He has booked a
flight with US Airways for them. The four from Gateway are scheduled to Fly out of West Palm Beach at 3:00 pm and arrive in
Norfolk at 7:14 pm tonight.
01/18/10: 10:54 am
Pat and Phyllis couldn't believe the elaborate bathroom on the plane.
We are so thankful that Pat will be able to go to her Mother's funeral tomorrow
01/18/10: 10:59 am
Phyllis Bass: "It was great to see Rick Edwards when we arrived in W Palm.
He had our tickets to Nor all ready and we have already checked in. Thank you."
01/18/10: 1:34 pm
From Phyllis Bass via email:
"Jesse, who is standing between Howard and Rick, happened to run into Rick here at the airport and was miraculously able to
find someone to drive the Johnsons to Miami to catch a flight to RalDur that Rick reserved for them. He is here in the states to
facilitate supplies going into PaP. He has a house on the Mission compound with Joel and April."
01/18/10: 4:37 pm
Please pray for John Bottoms and Joyce Baker as they are due to arrive in West Palm Beach tonight at 9:15. Both are scheduled
to fly with approximately 1,000 pounds of medical supplies to Port-au-Prince tomorrow morning. When they arrive they will be
working with Christina Christiansen at the medical clinic outside of Port-au-Prince.
John Bottoms is from Gateway FWB Church in Virginia Beach, VA
Joyce Baker is from Faith FWB Church in Little Washington, NC
01/9/10: 8:18 am
Just talked Rick Edwards via phone:
Rick has loaded John Bottoms, Joyce Baker, and the 1,000 pounds of medical supplies on the plane to Haiti. They should be
taking off soon.
There were over 35 people waiting to board the plane to Haiti.
Because our Team had medical supplies that were allowed to
board over the others.
01/19/10: 9:05 am
Karl Sexton via Facebook:
"What a wonderful "Welcome Home" we had for our missionaries at Norfolk International last night! We had over 100 people to
show up with posters, balloons and plenty of cameras. Praise the Lord for watching over them and bringing them home safely.
Please continue to pray for Christina who stayed behind and for John and Joyce who will join her in Haiti today. Still so much to
be done!"
Here are some videos and pictures from last nights "Welcome Home."
01/19/10: 11:13 am
John Bottoms via Facebook: On the plane taxiing towards takeoff for Haiti!
01/19/10: 4:48 pm
John Bottoms via Facebook: "In haiti now"
01/19/10: 5:17 pm
Rick Edwards has made in back safely to
Norfolk International Airport after transporting
approximately 1,000 pounds of
medical supplies to West Palm Beach yesterday.
01/20/10: 8:03 am
Watch Preacher Burden and
Phyllis Bass on CBN. (start at 19:32)
01/20/10: 8:58 am
John and Joyce have arrived safely at the clinic
and are doing fine as of this morning.
Please pray as they are in need of a doctor
at the clinic.
01/20/10: 8:56 pm
Rev. Jerry Johnson of First Free Will Baptist Church speaks with WRAL
01/20/10: 9:11pm
Fox 43 TV- "Local churches do their part for Haiti"
01/21/10: 9:00 am
Preacher Dale Burden on WTKR (begin at 55 seconds)
01/21/10: 11:12 am
We are in need of medical supplies and food items for Haiti.
We are looking specifically for the following food items:
Dry Rice
Dry Beans
Non perishable canned items
01/21/10: 4:31 pm
John Bottoms' Facebook email to his mother:
"Hey... this is John I am just using aprils's computer. It doesn't usually have a good connection but I wanted to let you know that I
am ok. I experienced my first earthquake yesterday, but we are all ok. It was just a strange sensation. We are helping a lot of
people in the clinic and getting people from hours away that no medical person has seen them since the earthquake last
Tuesday. I am helping to organize that."
"Well I have to go, but I will talk to you later and keep you updated. I am very safe and secure so don't worry! "
01/22/10: 9:44 am
John Bottoms via Facebook:
"In Haiti right now and seeing a lot of patients and helping to organize a lot of things for the Hesses and not only their community
here but the entire country. We felt the earthquake yesterday but none of our group was injured... just a very strange feeling!
Continue to pray and I will update you guys on the things we... need soon. We just do not have a lot of time to communicate!
Thanks for all prayers and support."
01/22/10: 6:37 pm
Christina Christiansen via email:
Hi Pastor Karl,
"You said it perfectly and I claimed it yesterday...for such a time as this God has chosen to use a feeble vessel... I am filled with
joy and life being here and it is all due to Christ...He has protected my mind and heart to allow me to be tender towards my
patients, yet claim truth and God's character when I see pain and loss. "
Christina
01/23/10: 8:24 pm
Tim McCreight talked with John Bottoms via satellite phone today.
John said everyone there is fine. People coming into the clinic has slowed down significantly. They have now begun to go to the
surrounding cities and transport people that are injured back to the clinic. This is a very time-consuming process because of the
conditions of the roads and all of the traffic due to international military personnel, etc.
Our team is very busy, working long hours each day. Many of the churches associated with the clinic are badly or completely
destroyed. Over the next few weeks, time will need to be put into repairing/rebuilding these churches.
The wall around the compound where our team is staying was rebuilt today. They have had contact with some American
hospitals and food suppliers but received only limited assistance at best. Some pressing needs would be as follows:
1. Medical supplies
2. Food container
3. Large tents for Haitian people whose houses are not livable to stay in at night
4. New laptop in order to communicate better (current one has crashed)
5. Money to rebuild churches, etc.
Please pray for the following:
1. Continued safety for our mission team
2. Better organization on the part of the Haitian government so that supplies can be distributed more effectively
3. Good contact person to help us get food for our distribution points
01/24/10: 2:27 pm
Hey family!
So, here's an update since I've not communicated much...
I'll tell a story of one patient I have grown the love...
Avele is 8 months old that was a victim of the Earthquake; he wasn't found for two days. Mom kept saying that the Lord revealed to
her that her son would be a preacher when he grows up and felt in her heart that he was still living. The father had said that we
need to be thankful for their other child and their protection, yet the mom was persistent that she knew Avele was still living. The
father was finally able to get to he second story and found Avele crying...he suffered burns along his left leg, part of his right leg,
and left arm from being in direct sunlight for two days.
He didn't have anything to eat and drink or two days and survived. This family has trusted the Lord and are currently staying at our
facility until mom and Avele have recovered.
It can be frustrating at times that I can't communicate in Creole, but it has been so neat to connect this these people in other
ways. During the daily times I have been spending with these people we're praying together and teaching each other English and
Creole.
The way the Haitians cope is amazing...all around they go on living like nothing happened. My hope and continued prayer is that
there is a spiritual revival in this land. One woman with a deep infected wound came in with matching in her hair...a voodoo
practice to ward off bad spirits. Many Haitians have been deceived by Satan and voodoo for years.
I have met with the Lord in such sweet ways; tonight I sat on the roof on a rocking bench and watched a beautiful sunset. God
painted a beautiful sunset!
I have continued to experience the sweetness of Christ throughout the day with my interactions with the patients and in my quiet
moments with Him. I know people are praying for me; thank you seems like not enough.
with much love from Haiti!
Christina
01/24/10: 8:32 pm
Help Gateway ship 40,000 pounds of supplies to Haiti
Dry rice
Dry beans
Any non perishable food
Cases of water
Durable tents
01/24/10: 8:41 pm
Watch our mission team on the news tonight:
Fox 43 at 10 pm
WAVY at 11pm
WTKR at 11pm
01/25/10: 8:07 am
To my church family,
The hymn that has come to mind time and time again during my time here is "It is well with my soul"
Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say, it is well, it is well with my soul... The haitian people that I see have been so
accepting of what has gone on these last two weeks; they are customed to pain and tradegy. They live each day for the day and
don't think about tomorrow because today has enough worry of it's own. They have enough food for the moment and work for the
day, and sometimes not even that.
The hymm has also spoken to me...the things that I have seen often I don't want to recount, yet at the end of the day I can claim
God's goodness and say wholeheartedly "it is well with my soul".
Psalm 51:14-16
"Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High: And call upon me in te ay of trouble; I will deliver thee, and
thou shalt glorify me. But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thu shouldest take my
covenant in thy mouth..."
There is no doubt that God grieved as He knew many Haitians would die during the earthquake and spend eternity without Him,
yet also in love He desires to get the attention of th Haitian people by this tradegy. It is my prayer along with so many Haitian
Christians that God brings a revival to the people of Haiti. I want to personally thank you, my church family, for the investments ya'll
have made in the lives of the people here. Thank you!
I can't wait to be back at Gateway, but til then It is well with my soul!
With Much Love,
Christina
01/25/10: 8:07 am
01/26/10: 7:48 am
Pray for Joyce Baker today as she is due to arrive back in Norfolk
today at 1:08 p.m.
http://www.wavy.com/dpp/news/local_news/nc-nurse-returns-from-haiti
01/26/10: 7:48 am
I have the best news to share; three of our patients that have been hospitalized in our clinic accepted Jesus as the personal Lord
and Savior this morning. The pastor spoke with them today and we've decided to hold daily Bible Studies with all the patients.
One boy, James, was Rastafari (sp) and shaved his head completely after making the decision. I sang a Creole worship song
with him and the other patients this evening. Many Haitians know all the worship songs and sing with passion, yet fail to have
ever made a decision for Christ. This has been our ultimate desire for the people we see; to share Christ with them and see
decisions made for Him. It was so neat to know that now James is a brother in Christ, not just another Haitian that is teaching
me a Creole worship song.
hope things are going well on the homefront!
Christina
2/1/10: 10:25 am
Pray for Dean Bullard and Tim McCreight as they are on their way to Haiti this morning with nearly 1,000 pounds of food and
medical supplies.
2/2/10: 11:19 am
Dean Bullard and Tim McCreight safely arrived with all their supplies at the Hess' medical clinic this morning at 8 a.m.
2/2/10: 2:37 pm
Christina Christiansen has made it home safely to Virginia Beach. Christina will share her testimony Sunday night about her trip
to Haiti.
2/2/10: 2:37 pm
Christina Christiansen has made it home safely to Virginia Beach. Christina will share her testimony Sunday night about her trip
to Haiti.
2/4/10: 12:38 pm
Per Stephanie McCreight's talk with Tim yesterday:
When they got to Chesnel’s church yesterday, He was having Bible study. He then showed them what needed to be repaired at
his church. They will have to tear down three sections of the walls and rebuild them. The adjacent wall belonging to the neighbor
will also have to be torn down and rebuilt before it falls on the church. Tim and Dean are going to try to get this done while they
are there.
Chesnel’s school is also completely unsafe right now. It split in the middle and will have to be torn down and rebuilt. Also, the
office is destroyed as well. Tim and Dean have a block-layer that is going over today to give them an estimate for these repairs. It
will definitely be costly—somewhere in the range of $2000-4000 for the church and school and $800-1000 for the wall.
Tim and Dean took food to Chesnel today for him to distribute to his congregation. Chesnel also gave some food to his unsaved
neighbor. Pray that God will soften his heart because of Chesnel’s kindness.
Joel and April are doing well but are very tired. They have had several groups with them over the last few weeks that came to help
in the effort. They are very grateful for their new computer. Now, they can have better contact with us through email.
Tim says that the situation there is not as bad as he had expected. Many Haitians are selling food on the side of the streets as
they have always done. This is a very good sign. However, the food that our church is sending will be very timely as many people
are still homeless and jobless.
2/4/10: 4:06 pm
Per Stephanie McCreight's talk with Tim today:
I spoke with Tim today, and they made the food delivery to Chesnel. They also worked on Joel and April’s plumbing in
their house and visited with some of the Haitians that the Hess’s know. They hope to meet with Operation Blessing
tonight or tomorrow to get more food supplies.
2/5/10: 2:33 pm
Praise the Lord our 40 foot container arrived on our property this morning. While we have already loaded the container
with 30,000 pounds of rice, beans, canned goods, and tents, we still have room for at least another 10,000 pounds of
supplies before the container leaves for Haiti this coming Tuesday.
Please help us fill this container for Haiti.
2/8/10: 9:15 am
Letter from the Hess family in Haiti:
Hello everyone,
We have tried so many times to sit down and give you all the full scoop on what has been going on, and it seems there is always
a emergency that makes it impossible. So again I will try today, we will see how it goes. Since Jan 12th, our world here in Haiti
has been turned upside down, for us and the Haitian people. It was a little after 5 pm and Emma, Berta and I were at Sonya’s
little mud hut in Lahatte having bible study. Sonya’s little grandbaby was lying next to the house in a little basin sleeping and
began to cry, she got and went to the baby. As soon as she came around the house and sat down, her world changed. We were
studying Abraham and his faithfulness to God, Emma and Berlin were running around the house playing, when all of a sudden
the ground began to sway underneath us, all was silent, just swaying.. Emma ran to us, and we were all thrown together, when it
sounded like thousands of horses stampeding together, the swaying became more forceful with the noise and then the shaking
began. The most incredible thing I have ever experienced. The women ( not knowing what a earthquake was) were just calling on
the name of Jesus, Emma was asking if it was Jesus , we prayed, and held onto each other. We watched sonya’s little mud huts
crumbling around us, listened to the nearby orphanage walls crumbling, children screaming and running, a brand new cement
home, cracked and fell into a heap. Within seconds we were on our way home to check on our loved ones. I had no idea if Joel
and Michael were inside, if they were harmed, if our house was standing… The thing that was the most amazing to me was that
the Haitian people were all within seconds in the street praising God, there hands in the air, saying things like “ you are God,
thank you Jesus.” I cannot tell you the relief I had in my heart when I rounded the curve in the road behind our property and I saw
the house standing. Joel and Michael were standing in the street with the neighbors, all in shock. Joel and Michael were upstairs
in our room, trying to get Michael to sleep. By the time Joel was able to make it downstairs, the earthquake had stopped.
Within minutes everything shifted into high gear. Our compound wall had fell onto our neighbor girl, and she was covered in
blood and rocks, grabbed the clinic keys, and off to the clinic I went. By the time I arrived at the clinic there were over 30 patients
all with bleeding wounds waiting for me.
God is always on time! He had worked out His plan well in advance. We had a group from GFW church in Va beach, that were to
spend the night at our house and continue on to there destination the next day. Just so happened they had a RN with them. They
were in the car on the way to our house when the earthquake hit. Im not sure what time exactly we met, but remember I was in the
middle of suturing a patients head, when she walked in and said My name’s Christina, how can I help. She was like the angel of
mercy! We never looked at each other, or stopped for small talk, we worked all thru the night and into wed. It was about 4 am
when we made formal introductions.
That first night, I cannot begin to tell you the horrible cases that we had. Fully exposed bones, amputated fingers, hands, large
head wounds, large gut wounds… not our typical clinic day. We prayed much those first few days. I can tell you that I could feel
the Lord’s strength, and wisdom. There is no way we could have gotten thru those first few hours and days without Him to lean
on. Our suburban instantly became “ the ambulance” for Haiti, with Joel running to ten buck two searching for those who were
injured. The hours and days passed without our knowing, no sleep, living on beef jerky those first few days. The team that had
stayed that first night with us contacted there church and they got right on getting supplies sent us. By the beginning of the next
week we were beginning to receive some things we needed.
Into the next week we were feeling tremor after tremor. Grabbing the kids and running outside, sleeping on cots under the stars.
To begin with we had all our household, plus some injured people, some fellow missionaries and some of there orphans, other
visitors.. our house and yard looked like a army camp. FYI the shower or toilet are not the ideal place to be during a earthquake!:)
By Thursday, we had a hospital in our church, with over 30 patients. These patients came to be very special to Christina and I.
Little Ramses with a broken wrist, back injury and good spirits. Little baby four months old 3 degree burns from being left for
dead on the roof. Leon silie, a little 11 year old boy, with cuts, lacerations all over his little body, and Dayana with a open gash 4
days old full of maggots. Some of these have returned home, and some are still in our care. I think we have 10 left in our
“hospital”.
As most of you know as of a week ago, the Lord worked a miracle and Michael was able to get out of the country on a
humanitarian Parole visa. I flew him and Emma to my parents, got them settled and flew right back. I won’t have time in this letter
to explain the “miracle of Michael”, that will come in the next one. I will be going home shortly to see my little ones and to begin
Michaels paperwork ( please pray)
We have so many adventures to share, unfortunately they cannot all fit in this email. Maybe someday we will put it all in a book for
you. One last thought, no one is ever prepared for a natural disaster, as such such was our case. And living in a country like Haiti,
it definatly has been a even harder, and challenging situation. However, it has been amazing how we have seen God’s hand at
work every single step of the way. When I look back into the few months before I can see how he prepared the clinic with certain
things we would need, how he orchestrated a nurse to spend the night with us, just that night in particular, how he brought
Gateway FWB across our path that week, how he helped Michael get stateside, protected our family, the clinic did not have one
block crack, was in perfect condition so that those who were wounded could be treated… I could go on and on about how God
has been working. The best news of all is that 2 women in my studies who have been under conviction, accepted Christ, days
after the earthquake!!!
Ok, we promised to finish this letter long ago. We want to thank you all for your many many prayers, and for those of you who have
raised money, sent money, and supplies. We cannot thank you enough.
The Hess Family,
Joel, April, Michael and Emma
2/8/10: 9:15 am
2/8/10: 9:15 am
Operation Blessing just installed a $15,000
water purification system by the medical clinic
in Port-au-Prince
2/10/10: 9:00 am
John Bottoms, Dean Bullard, and Tim McCreight all made it home safely from Haiti. They arrived at Norfolk Internation Airport
around 8 pm last night.
2/10/10: 9:37am
The 40 foot container has made it to the Florida port. It will be loaded this Friday and is scheduled to arrive in Haiti the following
Friday. Thank you to everyone who helped and donated.
2/19/10: 8:09am
Christina Christiansen on CBN (begins at 2:09)
2/25/10: 9:14 a.m.
Please pray from John Bottom while he continues to help at the clinic. John arrived back in Haiti today.
The Mission Team waiting in line at Port-au-Prince airport
prior to boarding their plane.
01/18/10: 8:34 am
Please pray for Rick Edwards as he left early this morning carrying 12 containers of medical supplies from Norfolk to West Palm
Beach. He had an interview at the airport this morning with Wavy TV 10 before leaving out.
Starts at 1:45
01/18/10: 9:12 am
Christina Christiansen is a registered nurse who attends Gateway FWB Church. Christina chose to stay in Haiti to continue to
help in the missions clinic there. She posted the below on her Facebook page.
Christina Faye Christiansen: I am humbled and so encouraged by all of you. I feel so loved, cared for, and know without doubt
people are praying for us. God has been so close to me; it brings tears to my eyes just writing about His faithfulness to me. I
have countless stories of God giving us wisdom, energy, and the exact supplies when we need it! Please keep praying for the
people of Haiti!
01/18/10: 9:52 am
From Phyllis Bass via email:
"We are preparing to land now"
Dunkin donuts and coffee on a private jet. Thank you to all
who helped get us out. We are so thankful that Pat Johnson
will get to go to her mother's funeral tomorrow. God is so good. Eph. 3:20
01/18/10: 10:07 am
"Bro. Burden slept on the flight home"
01/18/10: 10:37 am
Just talked to Rick Edwards: The Mission Team is pulling up at the airport now and he is there to meet them. He has booked a
flight with US Airways for them. The four from Gateway are scheduled to Fly out of West Palm Beach at 3:00 pm and arrive in
Norfolk at 7:14 pm tonight.
01/18/10: 10:54 am
Pat and Phyllis couldn't believe the elaborate bathroom on the plane.
We are so thankful that Pat will be able to go to her Mother's funeral tomorrow
01/18/10: 10:59 am
Phyllis Bass: "It was great to see Rick Edwards when we arrived in W Palm.
He had our tickets to Nor all ready and we have already checked in. Thank you."
01/18/10: 1:34 pm
From Phyllis Bass via email:
"Jesse, who is standing between Howard and Rick, happened to run into Rick here at the airport and was miraculously able to
find someone to drive the Johnsons to Miami to catch a flight to RalDur that Rick reserved for them. He is here in the states to
facilitate supplies going into PaP. He has a house on the Mission compound with Joel and April."
01/18/10: 4:37 pm
Please pray for John Bottoms and Joyce Baker as they are due to arrive in West Palm Beach tonight at 9:15. Both are scheduled
to fly with approximately 1,000 pounds of medical supplies to Port-au-Prince tomorrow morning. When they arrive they will be
working with Christina Christiansen at the medical clinic outside of Port-au-Prince.
John Bottoms is from Gateway FWB Church in Virginia Beach, VA
Joyce Baker is from Faith FWB Church in Little Washington, NC
01/9/10: 8:18 am
Just talked Rick Edwards via phone:
Rick has loaded John Bottoms, Joyce Baker, and the 1,000 pounds of medical supplies on the plane to Haiti. They should be
taking off soon.
There were over 35 people waiting to board the plane to Haiti.
Because our Team had medical supplies that were allowed to
board over the others.
01/19/10: 9:05 am
Karl Sexton via Facebook:
"What a wonderful "Welcome Home" we had for our missionaries at Norfolk International last night! We had over 100 people to
show up with posters, balloons and plenty of cameras. Praise the Lord for watching over them and bringing them home safely.
Please continue to pray for Christina who stayed behind and for John and Joyce who will join her in Haiti today. Still so much to
be done!"
Here are some videos and pictures from last nights "Welcome Home."
01/19/10: 11:13 am
John Bottoms via Facebook: On the plane taxiing towards takeoff for Haiti!
01/19/10: 4:48 pm
John Bottoms via Facebook: "In haiti now"
01/19/10: 5:17 pm
Rick Edwards has made in back safely to
Norfolk International Airport after transporting
approximately 1,000 pounds of
medical supplies to West Palm Beach yesterday.
01/20/10: 8:03 am
Watch Preacher Burden and
Phyllis Bass on CBN. (start at 19:32)
01/20/10: 8:58 am
John and Joyce have arrived safely at the clinic
and are doing fine as of this morning.
Please pray as they are in need of a doctor
at the clinic.
01/20/10: 8:56 pm
Rev. Jerry Johnson of First Free Will Baptist Church speaks with WRAL
01/20/10: 9:11pm
Fox 43 TV- "Local churches do their part for Haiti"
01/21/10: 9:00 am
Preacher Dale Burden on WTKR (begin at 55 seconds)
01/21/10: 11:12 am
We are in need of medical supplies and food items for Haiti.
We are looking specifically for the following food items:
Dry Rice
Dry Beans
Non perishable canned items
01/21/10: 4:31 pm
John Bottoms' Facebook email to his mother:
"Hey... this is John I am just using aprils's computer. It doesn't usually have a good connection but I wanted to let you know that I
am ok. I experienced my first earthquake yesterday, but we are all ok. It was just a strange sensation. We are helping a lot of
people in the clinic and getting people from hours away that no medical person has seen them since the earthquake last
Tuesday. I am helping to organize that."
"Well I have to go, but I will talk to you later and keep you updated. I am very safe and secure so don't worry! "
01/22/10: 9:44 am
John Bottoms via Facebook:
"In Haiti right now and seeing a lot of patients and helping to organize a lot of things for the Hesses and not only their community
here but the entire country. We felt the earthquake yesterday but none of our group was injured... just a very strange feeling!
Continue to pray and I will update you guys on the things we... need soon. We just do not have a lot of time to communicate!
Thanks for all prayers and support."
01/22/10: 6:37 pm
Christina Christiansen via email:
Hi Pastor Karl,
"You said it perfectly and I claimed it yesterday...for such a time as this God has chosen to use a feeble vessel... I am filled with
joy and life being here and it is all due to Christ...He has protected my mind and heart to allow me to be tender towards my
patients, yet claim truth and God's character when I see pain and loss. "
Christina
01/23/10: 8:24 pm
Tim McCreight talked with John Bottoms via satellite phone today.
John said everyone there is fine. People coming into the clinic has slowed down significantly. They have now begun to go to the
surrounding cities and transport people that are injured back to the clinic. This is a very time-consuming process because of the
conditions of the roads and all of the traffic due to international military personnel, etc.
Our team is very busy, working long hours each day. Many of the churches associated with the clinic are badly or completely
destroyed. Over the next few weeks, time will need to be put into repairing/rebuilding these churches.
The wall around the compound where our team is staying was rebuilt today. They have had contact with some American
hospitals and food suppliers but received only limited assistance at best. Some pressing needs would be as follows:
1. Medical supplies
2. Food container
3. Large tents for Haitian people whose houses are not livable to stay in at night
4. New laptop in order to communicate better (current one has crashed)
5. Money to rebuild churches, etc.
Please pray for the following:
1. Continued safety for our mission team
2. Better organization on the part of the Haitian government so that supplies can be distributed more effectively
3. Good contact person to help us get food for our distribution points
01/24/10: 2:27 pm
Hey family!
So, here's an update since I've not communicated much...
I'll tell a story of one patient I have grown the love...
Avele is 8 months old that was a victim of the Earthquake; he wasn't found for two days. Mom kept saying that the Lord revealed to
her that her son would be a preacher when he grows up and felt in her heart that he was still living. The father had said that we
need to be thankful for their other child and their protection, yet the mom was persistent that she knew Avele was still living. The
father was finally able to get to he second story and found Avele crying...he suffered burns along his left leg, part of his right leg,
and left arm from being in direct sunlight for two days.
He didn't have anything to eat and drink or two days and survived. This family has trusted the Lord and are currently staying at our
facility until mom and Avele have recovered.
It can be frustrating at times that I can't communicate in Creole, but it has been so neat to connect this these people in other
ways. During the daily times I have been spending with these people we're praying together and teaching each other English and
Creole.
The way the Haitians cope is amazing...all around they go on living like nothing happened. My hope and continued prayer is that
there is a spiritual revival in this land. One woman with a deep infected wound came in with matching in her hair...a voodoo
practice to ward off bad spirits. Many Haitians have been deceived by Satan and voodoo for years.
I have met with the Lord in such sweet ways; tonight I sat on the roof on a rocking bench and watched a beautiful sunset. God
painted a beautiful sunset!
I have continued to experience the sweetness of Christ throughout the day with my interactions with the patients and in my quiet
moments with Him. I know people are praying for me; thank you seems like not enough.
with much love from Haiti!
Christina
01/24/10: 8:32 pm
Help Gateway ship 40,000 pounds of supplies to Haiti
Dry rice
Dry beans
Any non perishable food
Cases of water
Durable tents
01/24/10: 8:41 pm
Watch our mission team on the news tonight:
Fox 43 at 10 pm
WAVY at 11pm
WTKR at 11pm
01/25/10: 8:07 am
To my church family,
The hymn that has come to mind time and time again during my time here is "It is well with my soul"
Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say, it is well, it is well with my soul... The haitian people that I see have been so
accepting of what has gone on these last two weeks; they are customed to pain and tradegy. They live each day for the day and
don't think about tomorrow because today has enough worry of it's own. They have enough food for the moment and work for the
day, and sometimes not even that.
The hymm has also spoken to me...the things that I have seen often I don't want to recount, yet at the end of the day I can claim
God's goodness and say wholeheartedly "it is well with my soul".
Psalm 51:14-16
"Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High: And call upon me in te ay of trouble; I will deliver thee, and
thou shalt glorify me. But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thu shouldest take my
covenant in thy mouth..."
There is no doubt that God grieved as He knew many Haitians would die during the earthquake and spend eternity without Him,
yet also in love He desires to get the attention of th Haitian people by this tradegy. It is my prayer along with so many Haitian
Christians that God brings a revival to the people of Haiti. I want to personally thank you, my church family, for the investments ya'll
have made in the lives of the people here. Thank you!
I can't wait to be back at Gateway, but til then It is well with my soul!
With Much Love,
Christina
01/25/10: 8:07 am
01/26/10: 7:48 am
Pray for Joyce Baker today as she is due to arrive back in Norfolk
today at 1:08 p.m.
http://www.wavy.com/dpp/news/local_news/nc-nurse-returns-from-haiti
01/26/10: 7:48 am
I have the best news to share; three of our patients that have been hospitalized in our clinic accepted Jesus as the personal Lord
and Savior this morning. The pastor spoke with them today and we've decided to hold daily Bible Studies with all the patients.
One boy, James, was Rastafari (sp) and shaved his head completely after making the decision. I sang a Creole worship song
with him and the other patients this evening. Many Haitians know all the worship songs and sing with passion, yet fail to have
ever made a decision for Christ. This has been our ultimate desire for the people we see; to share Christ with them and see
decisions made for Him. It was so neat to know that now James is a brother in Christ, not just another Haitian that is teaching
me a Creole worship song.
hope things are going well on the homefront!
Christina
2/1/10: 10:25 am
Pray for Dean Bullard and Tim McCreight as they are on their way to Haiti this morning with nearly 1,000 pounds of food and
medical supplies.
2/2/10: 11:19 am
Dean Bullard and Tim McCreight safely arrived with all their supplies at the Hess' medical clinic this morning at 8 a.m.
2/2/10: 2:37 pm
Christina Christiansen has made it home safely to Virginia Beach. Christina will share her testimony Sunday night about her trip
to Haiti.
2/2/10: 2:37 pm
Christina Christiansen has made it home safely to Virginia Beach. Christina will share her testimony Sunday night about her trip
to Haiti.
2/4/10: 12:38 pm
Per Stephanie McCreight's talk with Tim yesterday:
When they got to Chesnel’s church yesterday, He was having Bible study. He then showed them what needed to be repaired at
his church. They will have to tear down three sections of the walls and rebuild them. The adjacent wall belonging to the neighbor
will also have to be torn down and rebuilt before it falls on the church. Tim and Dean are going to try to get this done while they
are there.
Chesnel’s school is also completely unsafe right now. It split in the middle and will have to be torn down and rebuilt. Also, the
office is destroyed as well. Tim and Dean have a block-layer that is going over today to give them an estimate for these repairs. It
will definitely be costly—somewhere in the range of $2000-4000 for the church and school and $800-1000 for the wall.
Tim and Dean took food to Chesnel today for him to distribute to his congregation. Chesnel also gave some food to his unsaved
neighbor. Pray that God will soften his heart because of Chesnel’s kindness.
Joel and April are doing well but are very tired. They have had several groups with them over the last few weeks that came to help
in the effort. They are very grateful for their new computer. Now, they can have better contact with us through email.
Tim says that the situation there is not as bad as he had expected. Many Haitians are selling food on the side of the streets as
they have always done. This is a very good sign. However, the food that our church is sending will be very timely as many people
are still homeless and jobless.
2/4/10: 4:06 pm
Per Stephanie McCreight's talk with Tim today:
I spoke with Tim today, and they made the food delivery to Chesnel. They also worked on Joel and April’s plumbing in
their house and visited with some of the Haitians that the Hess’s know. They hope to meet with Operation Blessing
tonight or tomorrow to get more food supplies.
2/5/10: 2:33 pm
Praise the Lord our 40 foot container arrived on our property this morning. While we have already loaded the container
with 30,000 pounds of rice, beans, canned goods, and tents, we still have room for at least another 10,000 pounds of
supplies before the container leaves for Haiti this coming Tuesday.
Please help us fill this container for Haiti.
2/8/10: 9:15 am
Letter from the Hess family in Haiti:
Hello everyone,
We have tried so many times to sit down and give you all the full scoop on what has been going on, and it seems there is always
a emergency that makes it impossible. So again I will try today, we will see how it goes. Since Jan 12th, our world here in Haiti
has been turned upside down, for us and the Haitian people. It was a little after 5 pm and Emma, Berta and I were at Sonya’s
little mud hut in Lahatte having bible study. Sonya’s little grandbaby was lying next to the house in a little basin sleeping and
began to cry, she got and went to the baby. As soon as she came around the house and sat down, her world changed. We were
studying Abraham and his faithfulness to God, Emma and Berlin were running around the house playing, when all of a sudden
the ground began to sway underneath us, all was silent, just swaying.. Emma ran to us, and we were all thrown together, when it
sounded like thousands of horses stampeding together, the swaying became more forceful with the noise and then the shaking
began. The most incredible thing I have ever experienced. The women ( not knowing what a earthquake was) were just calling on
the name of Jesus, Emma was asking if it was Jesus , we prayed, and held onto each other. We watched sonya’s little mud huts
crumbling around us, listened to the nearby orphanage walls crumbling, children screaming and running, a brand new cement
home, cracked and fell into a heap. Within seconds we were on our way home to check on our loved ones. I had no idea if Joel
and Michael were inside, if they were harmed, if our house was standing… The thing that was the most amazing to me was that
the Haitian people were all within seconds in the street praising God, there hands in the air, saying things like “ you are God,
thank you Jesus.” I cannot tell you the relief I had in my heart when I rounded the curve in the road behind our property and I saw
the house standing. Joel and Michael were standing in the street with the neighbors, all in shock. Joel and Michael were upstairs
in our room, trying to get Michael to sleep. By the time Joel was able to make it downstairs, the earthquake had stopped.
Within minutes everything shifted into high gear. Our compound wall had fell onto our neighbor girl, and she was covered in
blood and rocks, grabbed the clinic keys, and off to the clinic I went. By the time I arrived at the clinic there were over 30 patients
all with bleeding wounds waiting for me.
God is always on time! He had worked out His plan well in advance. We had a group from GFW church in Va beach, that were to
spend the night at our house and continue on to there destination the next day. Just so happened they had a RN with them. They
were in the car on the way to our house when the earthquake hit. Im not sure what time exactly we met, but remember I was in the
middle of suturing a patients head, when she walked in and said My name’s Christina, how can I help. She was like the angel of
mercy! We never looked at each other, or stopped for small talk, we worked all thru the night and into wed. It was about 4 am
when we made formal introductions.
That first night, I cannot begin to tell you the horrible cases that we had. Fully exposed bones, amputated fingers, hands, large
head wounds, large gut wounds… not our typical clinic day. We prayed much those first few days. I can tell you that I could feel
the Lord’s strength, and wisdom. There is no way we could have gotten thru those first few hours and days without Him to lean
on. Our suburban instantly became “ the ambulance” for Haiti, with Joel running to ten buck two searching for those who were
injured. The hours and days passed without our knowing, no sleep, living on beef jerky those first few days. The team that had
stayed that first night with us contacted there church and they got right on getting supplies sent us. By the beginning of the next
week we were beginning to receive some things we needed.
Into the next week we were feeling tremor after tremor. Grabbing the kids and running outside, sleeping on cots under the stars.
To begin with we had all our household, plus some injured people, some fellow missionaries and some of there orphans, other
visitors.. our house and yard looked like a army camp. FYI the shower or toilet are not the ideal place to be during a earthquake!:)
By Thursday, we had a hospital in our church, with over 30 patients. These patients came to be very special to Christina and I.
Little Ramses with a broken wrist, back injury and good spirits. Little baby four months old 3 degree burns from being left for
dead on the roof. Leon silie, a little 11 year old boy, with cuts, lacerations all over his little body, and Dayana with a open gash 4
days old full of maggots. Some of these have returned home, and some are still in our care. I think we have 10 left in our
“hospital”.
As most of you know as of a week ago, the Lord worked a miracle and Michael was able to get out of the country on a
humanitarian Parole visa. I flew him and Emma to my parents, got them settled and flew right back. I won’t have time in this letter
to explain the “miracle of Michael”, that will come in the next one. I will be going home shortly to see my little ones and to begin
Michaels paperwork ( please pray)
We have so many adventures to share, unfortunately they cannot all fit in this email. Maybe someday we will put it all in a book for
you. One last thought, no one is ever prepared for a natural disaster, as such such was our case. And living in a country like Haiti,
it definatly has been a even harder, and challenging situation. However, it has been amazing how we have seen God’s hand at
work every single step of the way. When I look back into the few months before I can see how he prepared the clinic with certain
things we would need, how he orchestrated a nurse to spend the night with us, just that night in particular, how he brought
Gateway FWB across our path that week, how he helped Michael get stateside, protected our family, the clinic did not have one
block crack, was in perfect condition so that those who were wounded could be treated… I could go on and on about how God
has been working. The best news of all is that 2 women in my studies who have been under conviction, accepted Christ, days
after the earthquake!!!
Ok, we promised to finish this letter long ago. We want to thank you all for your many many prayers, and for those of you who have
raised money, sent money, and supplies. We cannot thank you enough.
The Hess Family,
Joel, April, Michael and Emma
2/8/10: 9:15 am
2/8/10: 9:15 am
Operation Blessing just installed a $15,000
water purification system by the medical clinic
in Port-au-Prince
2/10/10: 9:00 am
John Bottoms, Dean Bullard, and Tim McCreight all made it home safely from Haiti. They arrived at Norfolk Internation Airport
around 8 pm last night.
2/10/10: 9:37am
The 40 foot container has made it to the Florida port. It will be loaded this Friday and is scheduled to arrive in Haiti the following
Friday. Thank you to everyone who helped and donated.
2/19/10: 8:09am
Christina Christiansen on CBN (begins at 2:09)
2/25/10: 9:14 a.m.
Please pray from John Bottom while he continues to help at the clinic. John arrived back in Haiti today.
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