Civil War Erupts in Haiti--Sept. 2022

Dear Friends & Supporters,

Just when you think that life in Haiti can’t possibly get worse, the rule of law has been completely discarded. As the people struggle to survive 30% inflation, with the cost of rice up 40% and flour 68%, the government announced an increase in fuel prices. Haitians took to the streets in widespread protests around the country. Some are capitalizing politically on the discontent with the current government and are calling on protesters to attack banking institutions. (Miami Herald, 9/16/22)

We thank God that He closed the door to the trip we were beginning to plan for Sept. 23rd. He knows all things, praise Him! Currently there is a level 4 Travel advisory for Haiti, urging people not to go. Very few airlines travel to Haiti now and even the missionary flights were cancelled this week. Pastor Bastia was in the U.S. visiting supporting churches in Wisconsin when things fell apart and he couldn’t get home. His flight with MFI arrived safely today in Piñon but there are multiple roadblocks between there and Hinche where his family lives. Pray that he will be safely reunited with his family soon. Please pray for the church as they weather this terrible storm that has ignited the entire country. We are watching things closely and will keep you updated. Meanwhile, please pray for a good solution to this chaos and for a fair and safe election process to be put in place.

We will be having a fundraising yard sale Oct. 21 & 22 to raise money for the needs of the people in Caneille. See attached flier. If you are local, you can clean out your closets and garage and bring over your lightly used items. We are also looking for volunteers to help.

Our next project in Caneille is to landscape the property to allow the water to drain away from the clinic building. When heavy rains fall the soil is being washed away. We have hired an engineer, and his estimate is $22,000 to landscape the entire property. Please pray about this need and give if you are able. If you would like more information, please let me know.

"Be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." Psalm 27:14

Please pray about God's plan for our next medical trip to Caneille, tentatively January 6-16, 2023. Contact me if you are interested in joining the team so that I can keep you informed. We know He will make a way as we pray and wait.

May God continue to bless you as we enjoy all the freedoms we have in America. Thank you for your prayers and support of this mission.

In His service, Julie Gibbs, RN

August, 2022

Smoother Roads and Desperately Needed food for Caneille...God provides through your contributions and prayers!

Dear friends of CHMM,

I have good news to share with you about Caneille! The last letter I wrote I told you about the road blocks the people had made and how this had made it impossible to get food and supplies into the area from the nearby towns. Well, the government actually did something! They took down the roadblocks and have been grading the road. Pastor Bastia tells me that it is much smoother now and makes the commute much faster and easier. Hopefully it will hold up to the rains.

Thanks to so many who donated, we were able to send a total of $4,800 to provide food for 130 families two times July 8 and August 21. The people were so thankful for your support.

I am writing this letter on the new computer that we purchased for the mission. I’ve been using an old laptop (2010) and it can’t handle the updates, so it was time to upgrade. This will make everything so much easier. Thank you for your support of this mission to make it possible!

Our next two projects at the clinic will be:

• creating a way for water to run off the building without causing erosion to the property.

• building an outhouse outside the wall for the patients to use as they wait to be seen by a doctor.

We are getting estimates from Haitian engineers to make sure we do it properly.

I am in the process of planning our next medical trip to Caneille. If the Lord wills, we will go during the first 2 weeks of January 2023! We are going to be flying into northern Haiti instead of Port au Prince to avoid all the turmoil there. I am waiting to hear back from Missionary Flights International, who fly into Cap Haitien regularly. From there we will fly to Pinon and Pastor Bastia will pick us up and drive the 45 minutes to Caneille. This could be a much easier way to travel.

Please pray that we will be able to arrange the flights for January and for those who will join the team. If you are interested in going, please email back. I hope to have more information soon!

In His service,

Julie Gibbs, RN

"Be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." Psalm 27:14

Please pray about God's plan for our next medical trip to Caneille and contact me if you are interested in joining the team so that I can keep you informed. We know He will make a way as we pray and wait.

May God continue to bless you as we enjoy all the freedoms we have in America. Thank you for your prayers and support of this mission.

In His service,

Julie Gibbs, RN

July, 2022

A terrible turn of events for Caneille...

I have bad news about the current situation on the main road that goes between the two major towns, Hinche and Tomassique, where the Clinique d'el Espoir, Calvary Chapel Caneille, and the School of Grace are. To protest their desperate situation, the people have put up 4 roadblocks to keep vehicles from crossing. This means that people are unable to purchase rice, transport their wares to sell or get to work outside their area. The protest is for 2 reasons.

1. They want the road paved because it is washed out in many areas and in such bad shape that even the taxis don't want to travel it. The government had started to repair the road about 5 years ago and then suddenly stopped.

2. They are literally starving to death because of the cost of food.

How can you help?

Please pray that God will intervene and provide for the people of Caneille. HE is able in spite of the road. Pray that their crops would flourish and their fruit trees would have great produce. Pray that there would be an end to the roadblocks and that the government would listen and help the people.

To us, this protest makes no sense and seems to do more harm than good. But to them it is the only way they can get the attention of the government to do something about their plight. The issue goes much deeper than the protest, but too much for an email.

Pastor Bastia feels this may go on for a very long time before any action is taken to help them. They may open the road for a week here and there, but nothing we can depend on. So the bottom line is, we have to postpone the September trip. 😢 I am so sorry, not just for us who are trying to get there, but for the Haitians who desperately need our help.

Please pray for protection for Pastor Bastia & Nounoute as they attempt to get past the roadblock to minister to the church.

Although we are unable to transport provisions to them right now, as soon as that road opens up, we want to be ready. I would like to be able to send money to Bastia ASAP so that he can stockpile food to take in. If you are able to give, you can click on the button below, but prayer is the most important tool we have.

"Be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." Psalm 27:14

Please pray about God's plan for our next medical trip to Caneille and contact me if you are interested in joining the team so that I can keep you informed. We know He will make a way as we pray and wait.

May God continue to bless you as we enjoy all the freedoms we have in America. Thank you for your prayers and support of this mission.

In His service, Julie Gibbs, RN