Fall 2004
Dear Friends and Partners in Haiti mission,
Praise God! We know you haven’t heard from us in awhile. It’s hard to write when you have a two-edged sword in BOTH hands! We have sure been battling, both in the spirit and against adverse conditions here.
We had no damage from the recent hurricane, which was another tragedy this country had to deal with. About two weeks later, our area experienced a deluge which sent a wall of water hurling down mountains – washing out land, many trees, gardens, and homes. It also washed away the pipes which supplied our community and many other villages with clean drinking water. Consequently, all of our water comes straight from the river which is contaminated by animals, sewage, and trash. Can you imagine how many 5 gallon buckets it takes to keep the kids clean all the laundry done? Almost 100 buckets a day!!! We’re in the process of trying to obtain new pipes, valves, cement, etc. – a lot of work must be completed before the water will flow again.
A month ago, we were up to 53 kids and 5 adults in the Rescue Center. Praise God, we were recently able to send 13 home. We are down to 40 kids and 4 adults. By God’s Grace, the ones we have are growing, putting on weight and giving us lots of joy. Some of the adults we have need surgery, but country has been in ciaos for over a month. In some areas, especially in Port-au-Prince, civil war is taking place. Travel is difficult and dangerous on most days. Their surgeries are on hold until the situation improves. In 10, almost 11 years here, we’ve seen a lot of uprising and after a while things calm down and life returns to “normal” and goes on.
God has done some remarkable things in and through us. Being on the mission field has frequently stretched each of us to the limit, but praise God that stretching helps us grow in the Lord. By helping the burned and malnourished children become restored so many lives have been touched. Families and villages can see what God has done to intervene to bring help to this area. Thousands of people, over several mountain ranges, know it was God Almighty who sent us and who keeps us here providing for needs. As we see people formally involved in Voodoo come to know Christ, it makes every battle sweet to endure.
We couldn’t do anything without you who are obedient to give as God touches your heart to be involve. We, and those we serve, are grateful for your love and sacrifice. We appreciate your prayers and thank all of you who called and wrote to encourage us recently. Each call and each letter was God’s timing and strength to us.
God is so good, so mighty, so loving, so forgiving, so patient, so all-knowing, so steadfast, so merciful, so kind, so honest, so trustworthy, so honorable, so praiseworthy, so faithful, so holy, so righteous, and it so sweet, so blessed, so rewarding, so satisfying, so enjoyable, so delightful to be His children forever and ever. AMEN!
To God be ALL of the Glory!!!
The Zachary Family