Last Day before Haiti!

Bonjou!

It is our final day of preparation and packing before leaving for Haiti! Each morning this week, we have met for prayer together and are all very excited to be part of what God has planned for this week in Les Cayes, Haiti. Tonight we are holding a "packing party" to pack up donated items and supplies for crafts and games. First thing tomorrow morning, we meet up with the college team from Christ Covenant Church at the airport, and the 22 of us will be working together this week.

Please keep us in your prayers:

PRAY FOR HAITI

*for the land, suffering from deforestation and soil erosion

*for racial and socio-economic reconciliation, 85% of the total population lives in absolute poverty, while 0.5% are wealthy and control 45% of the national revenue

*70% of adults are unemployed, and those that are employed have an average individual income of US$250 per year

*60% of adults cannot read or write / more than 50% of children do not go to school

*Haiti imports more than 50% of the food that they consume / more than 25% of children suffer from malnutrition

*50% of the population has NO healthcare

*13% of children die before the age of 5

*25% of Haitians die before the age of 40

*for practical needs to be met

*for spiritual needs to be met: hearts to be changed through the bringing of God's word, worship, and love

PRAY FOR OUR TEAM: Janell Benzaquen / Katherine Benzaquen / Emily Binnie / Carl Crumbliss / Janna Fuccillo / Peggy Gasior / Victor Labrada / Sarah Rodriguez / Joanna Sabater / William Sofield / Valerie Warfel

*safety while traveling

*physical and emotional health

*team relationships, unity with the Christ Covenant team

*hearts focused outward and on our mission

*heightened awareness and wisdom in interacting with a different culture

*protection against spiritual warfare

*for the ways in which God will change each of us, personal growth

PRAY FOR OTHERS on the TEAM:

*Christ Covenant team of 11 and their leader, Jordan

*Frank Moraina, the GCA representative and our leader in Haiti

*the St. Germaine family who will be hosting us

*translators

*house mothers at each site

*you and others supporting us through prayer!

Mesi, Bondye beni!

Breaking Fast with Food & Song

After fasting on Monday, our team gathered to break the fast together over dinner.

Afterwards, we had a great time of fellowship...going over last-minute details, talking about crafts and games we were planning, and learning songs together for worship and songs to teach to the kids in Haiti.

Of course, you know the best songs are ones you cannot sit still for.....so we also "exercised" together!

Final Week!

We are in our final week of preparations for the trip to Haiti! Over the weekend, we sorted through donations received from the Granada Presbyterian Church family and organized them to take with us.

Our team will be fasting today and breaking fast together with dinner tonight, where we will discuss final details and last-minute preparations that need to be done this week.

Each morning this week, from 8-9am, our team will also be praying together. Thank you so much for all the overwhelming support in the form of prayer, financial support, and donations! It is a great comfort to know that the 11 of us going to Haiti this Saturday are the hands and feet of all of you who are supporting and sending us!

New Hope Haitian Church

On Sunday, July 12th, our college missions team and the Granada Church missions team worshipped with New Hope Haitian Church in Homestead. Following the worship service, we were invited to stay and enjoy some traditional Haitian food for lunch.

Prayer Requests

This past weekend, our team came together for a time of prayer. Here are some of the prayer requests shared during that time:

*Carla will be recovering from surgery this month, and the speed of recovery may jeopardize participation in the missions trip

*Jim's work situation may jeopardize participation in the missions trip

*several team members are currently traveling: Joanna, Katherine, and Victor

*prayer for the Haitian children to feel our love despite the cultural and language barriers

*prayer fo

r emotional preparation for interaction with the children, especially given their emotional and abandonment issues

*prayer for adjustment quickly, so we can focu

s on an outward perspective, rather than selfish or inward perspective

*prayer for William as he prepares to preach to the "big" church (1,500 in attendance), not knowing the people or their specific spiritual needs

*prayer for the other student team from Christ Covenant who we will work alongside

*Prayer for the raising of $18,000 in support! We prayed over our support letters and sent them out with confidence...

Hey Peggy!

It's pretty easy, once you're invited.