God Is Still Good

Let me begin by saying thank you to Tenth Presbyterian Church for a wonderful evening and your continued support of Door of Hope. Thank you performers from the Curtis Institute of Music- they were amazing musicians. A special thanks to Derek Zadinsky for your inspiration to help Haiti. Thank you Paul Jones for your work in making that concert happen. If you were unable to attend this event here is a recap of what was said: We began our work in Haiti in 2001. Our work has always been located in the Northwest provinces. This is a difficult place to work or live. We worked in various locations and sought opportunities to partner with the ministries that were there. It took 4 years until we were able to find our focus and passion. Although we began in construction and helped out at hospitals, it was in the orphanages that our soul dropped anchor. Door of Hope finds its focus in the plight of the orphan. Some out of pity understand orphanages as places of sadness for unwanted children. We see it as a place of rescue and deliverance from lives of servitude and bondage. For those who have been to Haiti, I am sure you share in the grief and broken heartedness that I feel viewing the images being shown on the TV since the earthquake on the 12th January. Images of unspeakable tragedy that cause me to look away and haunt me in the night. The Haitians have many proverbs that punctuate and animate their culture and language. One is “Je we, bouch pè.” “My eyes can see but my mouth is afraid to say what I have seen.” Let us continue to pray for all Haitians as they grieve the loss of loved ones and seek to rebuild their shattered lives. In all of these events God is still good. The heart of the Door of Hope ministry is located 120 miles north of Port-au-Prince well away from the epicenter of the earthquake. God has placed our ministry in a coastal town named LaPointe east of Port-de-Paix. Our principal partnership is with a Haitian run orphanage and hospital. As removed as we are from the action you see on the evening news, our location has become strategic as many people are leaving the city in need of help. Arriving in vehicles or on foot many are making the arduous 12 hour trek in search of help and hope. Whether in crisis or in the normal course of everyday Haitian life the House of Hope and the CMB Hospital are ready to help. Crisis medical teams are coming in to assist the staff there with the increase in surgeries. Unfortunately, for some they arrive too late beyond help only to die on the very threshold of help. Others have amputations and require recovery. Some of these are children, who we will soon see as we expect to arrive in Haiti on the 18th of February. Thank you for giving me this opportunity to speak this evening. One of the special privileges and burdens of working with poor is to speak for them. In Proverbs 31, the lesser quoted portion of that great chapter says “Open your mouth for those who cannot speak for themselves, and for the rights of all who are the sons of those who are passing away. Open your mouth, judge righteously; defend the rights of the afflicted and needy.” It is an honor for us to partner with Tenth is this work and carry your gift directly to those in need. Door of Hope is committed to a zero overhead component so your gift tonight will go in its entirety directly to help these who are indeed “the sons of those who are passing away.” Jesus told us while He walked among us that “the poor you will always have with you.” This crisis has given us a chance to respond to their need. I am always asked for help when I am in Haiti. Often Haitians ask not with words, just by a simple hand gesture. Tonight I do this gesture in front of you and as for help on their behalf. Thank you. PRAISE GOD- the donations from the evening went over and above what we had hoped and prayed for. Great is Thy faithfulness!

Funds: Mark 14:7

I am often asked how the funds are going to be used on our trips to Haiti: The funds that we collect and bring with us down to Haiti will go to our work at an orphanage on the northern coast of Haiti. The orphanage shares property with a Haitian run hospital. They have seen a marked increase of internally displaced people coming to them in need of medical care from the capital city Port au Prince. Many of these people have been called to come north by family members. Sadly,they come in need of medical care which has put a strain on the hospital's resources as well as the resources of the orphanage. Our funds will go toward meeting the need or replacing these supplies. There are many items being shipped in by request that require a customs tax upon their arrival. Since there are so many things being shipped we will need to help fund some of this influx of supplies. The cost of living has been raised dramatically this includes rice and flour. The cost of a gallon of diesel fuel is at$25.00 per gallon. (In context remember that the average Haitian lives on less than $2.00 a day. In the US it is not hard to find a job that pays $15.00 an hour and we complain when the cost of diesel is at $3.00 per gallon!) Another area of need especially for the orphanage is purchasing propane for cooking meals. Right now it has been hard to get charcoal for cooking since the price of diesel is so high. Most all of the charcoal has to be trucked into the area we work in. In response to this the orphanage has cut down on making meals from 3 meals a day to two. Also now they only have one hot meal day to conserve fuel. The banks are not open everyday and they are reluctant to give out too much money, so there are daily withdrawal limits. These are some of the needs that we will meet. Gail and I have worked with this orphanage for 5 years. 2 years ago we were there for them when the hurricanes ripped through the island of Haiti. This year it is the earthquake. The Scripture rightly reminds us the words of our Savior who said "the poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want...(Mark 14:7).” Would you consider partnering with us in this great work of relief? Please be assured that Door of Hope has worked very hard to build long term meaningful relationships that enable us to use the Lord's money wisely where needed, when needed. Funds are not distributed directly to Haitians but rather to trustworthy organizations that oversee the use of the funds. Gail and I usually visit 3 or 4 times every year this helps us grow our relationships as well as see first hand how funds are being used. We also get to see first hand the gratefulness of those who been helped by people they will never see. What a blessing for us and for you!

Tenth Presbyterian Church Benefit Concert

Tenth Presbyterian church is having a benefit concert to support Door of Hope! Curtis Institute of Music Students will perform a benefit concert for Haitian orphans at Tenth Church on Friday, January 29, at 7:30 pm Come enjoy some wonderful music and support these young world-class artists in their efforts to help ease the suffering of orphaned children in Haiti. The program features the music of Bach, Franck, Hindemith, Corigliano, and others. "Jeb and Gail Bland have a wonderful and long lasting relationship with Tenth Presbyterian Church. Tonight’s concert was conceived to help promote the ministry and vision of the Door of Hope ministry. All offerings and proceeds gathered tonight will go to directly benefit the children running to the orphanage in La Pointe. Everything you give will go to the physical care of the children. In advance, Jeb and Gail bring you the heartfelt appreciation and love from the kids—many whom have been forgotten for years, and some, newly orphaned since the quake hit last week." All are welcome. An offering will be received to support an orphanage in Haiti. This offering is part of a matching fund challenge up to $10,000 USD. For more information visit www.tenth.org . Location: 1701 Delancey Street Philadelphia, PA 19103 215.735.7688

Welcome!

Welcome and thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to visit our new blog. DOOR OF HOPE HAITI is officially up and running! Sadly the recent earthquake in Haiti has become the catalyst to knock us off dead center and make this long required communication piece a reality. That being said we are excited for what the next few months have to hold. A TRIP! We're off to Haiti again. The plans for this trip were already in motion long before the earthquake. If commercial air traffic resumes flying into Port Au Price we have tickets to leave on the 11th of February and return on the 18th. Our hunch is this won't happen. Our back up plan then would be to fly in on Missionary Flight International on the 18th and head home the 26th. When our flight plans have become definite we will post them along with our trip itinerary. Thanks so much for your support and prayers.