As many of you already know, Otterbein was planning to send a team of seven people to Haiti beginning on January 24 to distrubute animals from our Gift Giver emphasis at Christmas. We also were going to learn more about the country and work of Pastor Martinez Jovin to determine if and how we might partner with them in the future. Pastor Dirk and John Horton (one of our Elders) spent time with Pastor Martinez and his wife Emma a couple of months ago during their trip to Haiti.
Pastor Martinez and Emma have a home in Port au Prince and that was going to be the staging area of our team when we arrived. We have been trying to reach Pastor Martinez to see if he and his wife are okay and to try to discern whether it is best for us to delay our trip to Haiti. We have not been able to connect with them, but we have heard through a third party that they were seen at an orphanage and appeared to be fine. We do not know the status of their home nor do we know the full impact of the earthquake on his church and in the lives of believers that they minister to in Haiti. We would like to encourage you to PRAY FOR PASTOR MARTINEZ AND EMMA AND THE PEOPLE OF HAITI. Pray God's provision and protection for them. Pray that the help and assistance needed for the people of Haiti can arrive quickly. Pray God would reveal Himself in powerful ways in the lives of people who are seeking Him. Pray God will help to use this tragic situation for good.
At this time and in light of the news reports we are seeing, we are planning to delay our trip to Haiti. As more information becomes available, we will evaluate how we at Otterbein can come alongside the people of Haiti and Pastor Martinez and the churches he serves.
You may also remember that on Sunday we shared we have a team headed to the Dominican Republic (the Dominican Republic and Haiti share the same island) this Saturday . We have been in contact with people in the Dominican Republic and they have communicated that they were not significantly impacted by the earthquate. They are planning for us to arrive as scheduled this week. Please pray for the Dominican Team as they make their final preparations to go.
If we hear additional information from Haiti or have suggestions about how you can give and pray more specifically, we will post additional information.
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