Haiti Day 11 - The Army, the Catholics and the Baptists - what a mob!

Here we are meeting with the 1st Squadron - 73rd Cavalry, 82d Airborne Division. They are the center of it all. You see lots of civilians in the room - they are from NGO's, missions deployed hospital teams, etc. Great group of people working smart and hard! You should be proud of what all these people are doing. Most were yanks, but an Aussie and a Mick there as well.










We're in Port au Prince now. Been here two days. Assessing if and how much we're needed. Today met with everyone from the Army, to Catholic Relief and Baptist Mission Hospital - the longest serving mission here. Things seem to be opening up down here. We will assess and may stop working at PaP and serve the refugee diaspora to the North.

I can tell you the group of people in that room, about 40, were some fine men and women. Medical teams, Army, NGO's, missions - great people working hard together to do good things. Made me proud. AND the soldiers - from the Squadron Commander down - just awesome men. They were confident, competent, humble, wanted to help, believe in what they are doing and sensitive to the people, the disaster and the mess. A Troop has the hard task of helping dig through a collapsed hotel frequented by Americans. They are recovering bodies, one at a time. It is a hard task they take as privilege. Proud to have worn the uniform! If only all armies had soldiers like that... maybe we wouldn't have so many wars.

Will keep you posted.
Late - must sleep.
Mike - out

Haiti - Day 7

Spent today in Santiago, coordinating an expanding logistics line. We're now supporting dozens of organizations to keep them operating. After last night's Helo Fuel Run, we were exhausted today - actually got a warm shower (ahh), cooked food and slept in a great bed! Nice.

Today has been thinking systemically about manning this machine over weeks, preparing to take the reins of this operation from being #2 to the man to blame! :-) Chad is doing super, as is Kyle and Adam. Our long time friend, Dennis (Portland) has arrived and we spent part of today getting him up to speed and ready to go forward.

Summarizing our missions some still say are fuzzy - "Why the heck are you there!?"
The huge disaster org's (US Army, Navy, Oxfam, World Vision, Samaritan's Purse, etc) are like cruise ships. They come with powerful assets and aid, but it takes time to turn them on, get them turned and moving and then docked and unloaded and systems established to manage what and who go where.

Our role:
1) IMMEDIATELY nimble organic systems that can evolve in hours to the immediate need to help the 500+ existing small mission efforts in the country, and the nationals. We're running everything from fuel to narcotics and bone saws and blades as they dull from so many amputees (horrible to think about). We are now being asked to help the big organizations, such as Samaritan's Purse, who are now asking us to establish and run their supplies for them, because we're established now, have the local DR contacts and routes, UN military relations etc. They called yesterday; Chad procured truck, barrels and fuel, and I took emergency helicopter fuel forward rushing to the border. Upon arrival Adam, who many of you know, had a Haitian truck waiting, and had bribed (I meant paid overtime) to keep the border open so we could get it through. They were glad to help, but his rapport there and being known made it smooth. The helo's had the fuel by midnight and kept running.
2) Our role is already evolving to include and will become the focus in the next few weeks, is to help feed the diaspora. The big guys will take over the front stuff then. We will get supplies to feed towns and villages that have swelled to 3-4 times their normal size as they absorb the diaspora and are so poor there is no way to feed, house, water, cover medical needs (many with lesser injuries). We may or may never reach Port au Prince. It's one of those roles that is born out of the necessity and helps the people in PaP make it happen.
3) A large organization has approached us about helping them get their logistics going and to help them with supply until they are up and running, helping them develop a system. We meet with them late tonight.

I get another warm shower, and another night in a bed...spoiled. Saturday at "oh my it's early and are you sure God is awake?" we'll head back to the border and ship Dennis to Port au Prince. Right now we're getting a large shipment ready. Tomorrow night - more fuel goes.

Thanks for praying!

Fuel to Port au Prince NOW!

Hey, thought I had a down day. Escorting fuel for helicopters down in 45 minutes... haven't even showered! Ugh! So I'll get back about midnight...maybe!

Mike

Tragic Comedy! :-)

Two nights ago, Adam and I came outside the little room we're sleeping in, to cool off as the room had soaked in the heat all day. Like a Biblical scene, we sat on the roof, a "room" of homes here, like ancient Palestine. We sat there in our chairs with the moon and stars so bright.

As we chatted and decompressed from an 18 hour day of chaos, we absolutely lost it at two occurrences....

1. Roosters crowing at 1 AM! ! ! ! Why? Bright moon? But the d*** dumb birds crowed from midnight until dawn and into the morning!

For lunch that day? Revenge - chicken enjoyed with prejudice, great prejudice!


2. As we got over our tears of laughter at the middle of the night foul folly, we lost it again, crying laughing at a cat being, well, "taken"... the howls from this cat were absolutely desperate passion and well, extended. Hmmm. I'll stop there. :-)

Haiti Cursed?

Something pricked my memory to remark on some of the comments we've heard in the Christian press and even from individuals... It regards Haiti's spiritual state.

Some may or may not know that the slave revolt that saw the first African Republic (ironically not in Africa), that saw Haiti born, was led by a slave who supposedly dedicated Haiti to Satan. Whether this is true is speculation. The center of all of this is Voodoo. Many Christians think this is still a predominate cult and pagan faith. I can tell you that in this poverty there is a hard life, before the quake. And yes, crime is real, very real. I suspect there is some voodoo somewhere. Seeing this culture (which gives me a better understanding of New Orleans' African American unique culture), I am amazed at the breadth of their faith. While often a very simple understanding there is a huge presence by every stripe within Christian orthodox belief. From the huge Catholic presence, to Baptists, there are one heck of a lot of churches. I've seen no voodoo, and I've looked where you would find them.

At night, sitting on the roof patio of the home we're using as a base in the village of Fort Liberté, in the dark with no power, lit only by the moon, we listen to these complex amazing and very poor people singing. The Catholic church calls people to pray for 6 AM daily and how many come! The worship of these people as they endure and lament their country, their lost ones, and the ensuing hardship is inspiring for us. Remember, the poor have much to teach us, and we need them more than they need us. Consider what we need from them.

Update From Haiti

Border crossing crowds


Now that you've heard my heart in the previous post, I'll catch you up on what's happening with us.

FIRST - a H-U-G-E thank you for the MANY people who are supporting our community, our wives (Susanne and Cindy) and our kids! From teachers and staff, to neighbors, friends, the coaches and team of Jesuit Lacrosse, tears of relief and joy blur my vision, because of your contribution, sacrifices and mercies. Thank you all!

Our mission evolves: Our simple and humble mission is to get supplies forward to save and sustain lives, supporting dozens of medical and mission medical/relief efforts in Port au Prince and around Haiti. We have three teams: Santiago - logistical sending; the Border - getting it in, transport shifts, and beginning of the distribution, also shipping fuel forward from there, and Port au Prince, where we now have two people on a large mission compound to manage and distribute, as well as begin the chain and link for more orders. As refugees flow out, the mission evolves to support and supply many, many places which are seeing no releif or supply. Very, very poor towns now have large numbers to also feed.

The mayor of the small town we are stationed in near the border has come desperately asking for aid that tops $100K. The plateau hospital and mission teams there have a similar order. We are working to raise those funds - some how - all through generosity, people giving sacrificially to the point of "sacrificing" that others may live. [THANK YOU those who are giving. Reminder - you can give through us, contact Susanne (communitasnola@gmail.com) and she'll help you make a tax deductible contribution].

While it seems SO much is flowing into Haiti, there are so many who are not getting aid. There were over 500 mission teams in Haiti before the earthquake. So many are not on the radars of the global aid pouring in, and all the aid simply is not enough for the needs. Many villages in the quake zone have not yet been reached. Our aid to the front in Port au Prince increases. We're sending more, more often. This is especially true for the food and medical supplies (narcotics for pain, and everything imaginable). We're working to get bone saws, cauterizing units, etc. Another expanding need is fuel, diesel and jet fuel for helicopters of aid agencies. We're trying to get 5000 gallons of jet fuel to Samaritan's Purse, the lead agency in this ordeal. We're also seeing supply requests for a hospital in central Haiti where thousands of refugees has descended and their capacity is more than triple, most with severe injuries. We've gone to larger trucks and more frequently, which also increases the risk of bandits/pirates. So, the UN has committed to help us get relief forward.

UN soldiers from Uruguay helping us late into the night.

In our border area, the Uruguayan battalion here with the UN mission, has been super! They not only committed troops to escort our convoys, but committed troops to help us load fuel. We have had to download our tankers to 8 gallon cans, which are more manageable at the front, to distribute to remote teams, or teams in places hard to reach due to damage. The Uruguayan battalion commander allowed us to use their base for operations and safe storage of the fuel, to bring in civilian trucks to load/unload, and to protect supplies we left on the base, and then he ordered his soldiers to do much of the labor to get the cans loaded. One night they worked until almost midnight helping us. We've stopped to load a depot in a small town, to issue supplies to help a town and suddenly the UN troops show up to provide overwatch. With the growing refugee population, they become more desperate for food, fuel, etc. We would do the same if we could get no food because the flow from Port au Prince is gone.

Our team update:
It's amazing really - a team of a dozen are pushing so much forward when every artery of supply is needed around the country. The UN, the US Army and other agencies continue to be amazed what this hodge podge grass roots effort is doing. I'm proud to be part of it. So, we have two in Santiago.

In a few days, Chad will take over leading the team in Santiago, as the first team prepares to rotate back. Kyle is there and will take over leading the logistic orders, the ordering of supplies, as Chad gets his scroungers going to get it. The guys back in Santiago have developed a relationship with a Christian business man who is getting supplies at super savings for us, and they expand what we can do many times over. Chad and Kyle will manage and be responsible for tens of thousands of dollars a day and have been participating in that effort since we arrived. They are doing great, great work! They are both in their forte roles, though they ache to be forward. Theirs is a role with no glory and little appreciation, yet lives are lost without their contribution. It all starts there! Tonight our friend, Dennis Pilger, is arriving and will push forward to Port au Prince, to join the distribution effort.

The forward team, now establishing themselves for a longer deployment and role, are receiving the shipments forward and distributing them where needed. They will coordinate with dozens of teams in and around the capitol. They live in the roughest locations - sent toilette paper with them! :-)

Adam and I have been at the border, where rapport with the border officials is vital, as well as coordinating with the UN soldiers, the fuel suppliers, the new refugee aid efforts and new medical hospitals in need. Adam went forward today to help Matt coordinate five convoys of supplies and fuel. He is becoming absolutely invaluable in managing this crucial point. He is operating on his own, and navigating complex operations and rapport with many leaders in three different languages. All who know him stand proud!

I am also privileged in this mess, to have our best man and life long bro, arriving today to manage the Army air operations, ever expanding. We're working to coordinate with him in getting vital supplies expedited using his assets and possibly moving some bulk forward using our Army's wonderful assets. This will save tens of thousands of dollars in a short time in trans costs. I look forward to seeing him today and flying to reconnoiter where to best locate their unit.

As Matt (the missionary who has been leading this needs to exit for a few weeks, I'll have the burden, and honor, to take over managing this entire effort. My challenge will become where can I best influence and coordinate this effort spread over hundreds of miles of very primitive roads, a mountain range and the responsibility our role entails? If our Army efforts prove good, we may locate someone there. But Adam needs help at the border. My experience there in such a short time make me a good assistant to him as he manages the border and operations there and I (soon) manage the entire operation. I can coordinate and at the crucial times, assist him in getting surge tasks accomplished.

Last - you need to know about our Miami InnerCHANGE team who is handling the orders from organizations, managing funds transfers (internationally into our accounts, and wiring them forward). They are in Florida but working 18 hour days! ALSO, you need to know about CRM's efforts. Our headquarters people are in full swing to raise funds, to get us what we need forward and coordinating getting the right help in people to us, not just today but in weeks coming.

So, today - Adam forward - sending a convoy, coordinating escort with the UN, planning five convoys form the border, as well as the ones coming from Santiago. Chad and Kyle making it happen...11, now 12 convoys planned from here. They also have to find a company who will allow us to take a jet fuel truck that far forward. Forward team managing the supplies arriving this evening. Me, coordinating with Erik and the Army, and washing Adam's and my laundry, so we can get back forward.

The many phones (minus my iPhone taking Adam used to snap this) for three guys (DR, Haitian and US phones to stay in touch globally...

In closing, seems contradictory that we can communicate so often on the net in such primitive settings... technology has been our greatest aid in making this happen with only a few people. It's hardest at the border area, but as you see, we've found ways. We're getting better ways of communicating and in such events as this, there is the never ending "hurry up and wait". In those "waits" we work to communicate back to you. As this tragedy already falls from the headlines, we don't want you to forget and not be moved to action - to giving, to know what is happening in tragedy and the many instances of "Imago Dei" of God's image bearers giving themselves for others here in Haiti.

That's it for now. Humbly in His Tender Grip,
Mike
AMDG

LIght in the dark

Note the LSU shirt on this fellow. This normal occurrence at the border is the MAIN way food now enters Haiti for 9+ Million people!

Dear friends,
I write safely in Santiago this early morn. We returned last night bringing a large Haitian truck back to load critical supplies and get them forward early this morning. We're working to not have to transfer supplies at the border, somehow cutting hours, even a day from our origin to delivery.

Felt warm water for the first time last night - priceless. This morning, awoke at 5 AM to send off the convoy forward, where they meet UN military escort at the Haitian border to push into Port au Prince. We're establishing our own team forward to disperse, as our convoy frequency is picking up and increasing in size and complexity. It absolutely drove me nuts to send them forward and not be with them. Sent Adam, my brother and spiritual son, forward - how I hate to send him forward alone. He's in great company though and hopefully they can get back after arranging more Haitian trucks. Getting them back into the Dominican Republic (DR) is hard and complex at the border. BUT worth the trial run as we push supplies forward.

As I decompress this thus far short experience (How it feels as if we've been here for months already and it's been five days!), is grief - grief at the suffering, grief at the poverty beyond measure, grief at the loss, grief at the world moving on while HUNDREDS of thousands are lost, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS are injured, HUNDREDS OF VERY, VERY, POOR are homeless refugees in a great disapora, never to return home again - home is gone.

I awoke to this poem, this prayer this early morn:
Even where there are stormy skies,
I will look for the sun.
The bright light of the heavens
reminding me that God loves me;
even when I can’t see his face.
Clouds, wind, rain, snow, storms – even the black of night;
nothing can block out this truth.
I look to the sun and smile.

I recall the prophetic poem made hymn, It is Well With My Soul, written by Horatio G Spafford in 1873, after the defeaning loss of the author's family to the sea. He wrote his poem, on the deck of a ship that kindly stopped at the place where they were lost. His words are appropriate for the great, grief I have had the privilege and curse to witness.

1. When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
   When sorrows like sea billows roll;
   Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
   It is well, it is well, with my soul.
   
   Refrain:
   It is well, with my soul,
   It is well, it is well, with my soul.
   
   
2. Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
   Let this blest assurance control,
   That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
   And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
   
   
3. My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
   My sin, not in part but the whole,
   Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
   Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
   
   
4. For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
   If Jordan above me shall roll,
   No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
   Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.
   
   
5. But, Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
   The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
   Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
   Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!
   
   
6. And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
   The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
   The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
   Even so, it is well with my soul.

I am moved also the words of Johnathan Newton, who had previously been a marketer of slaves from Africa. The guilt haunted him for his deep sins and the thousands who died at his profit. He came to know and follow Jesus personally, and carried deep remorse. He found a release in the hope of Christ and wrote this now so famous Hymn, Amazing Grace. Rather than falling into the preconditioned memory of this song, take a moment and read his poem:

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
'Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far
and Grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me.
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

When we've been here ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we've first begun.

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.


May the peace of Christ, the Lord God Almighty rest with the poor, grieving people of Haiti. May we not be seared with callous distraction and forget and fail to act sacrificially for the least of these.

In Christ's tender grip
Mike

Saved Lives

Message from Baptist Mission Hospital in Port au Prince:
"Your shipment of medicine and emergency fuel for our generator yesterday definitely saved many lives! Thank you so much for the sacrifice and hustle to get it to us!"

URGENT - Pray with us. We need to get emergency meds into PaP to a hospital today! ! ! ! !

We need help getting airlift. Working it right now literally. Follow up below.




















We're in border area between DR and Haiti... We're here smoothing border crossing - complex in two 3d world countries - rapport is everything. Pushing fuel, water, food and med's to PaP and expanding now to refugee centers and hospitals (mostly Christian mission) in other places where severele injured taken. Displacement is hundreds of thousands in the diaspora.

Working to smoother transport, eliminate number of people handling goods, and shorten time, and costs to get it there faster...complex in Haiti!

Working to get people permanently at PaP distribution compound and possibly me to US Army Helo operations. Erik, my best man and brother, is running Army Air operations starting tomorrow. He's working to get us choppers on regular basis for Emergency lifts and possibly some/all cargo runs.

For such a time as this! So many people, relationships, and experiences and skills just right for right job.

So, Adam may stay at border to manage crossing, me to Army Air, Chad and Kyle in Santiago, taking more major role, as present staff rotating forward/back to Continental US (CONUS). More coming down... Dennis, our dear friend in Portland, arriving tomorrow. Yea! He comes with wealth of experience here.

More later - out.

Day 3 - Haiti.

For now: We've been going since we arrived. Gotten in two loads since in two days. Fuel going in is crucial as is food and water, along with medicines. While the port is opening up, and this is good, it is like Katrina. We can understand this in New Orleans from the breadth of our story. The massive effort cannot help all, especially the small efforts, or remote efforts. We have to remember this was a wife ranging disaster.

Here is a message we got today: "Thanks for the efforts you made to get fuel to us here at the Baptist Field Hospital. It arrived just in time to keep the generators running. Your efforts literally saved lives. "

So, as the main efforts in the city open up, we're getting desperate calls from other places. There is a hospital in the central plains that is known for being a good one. It has a lot of mission doctors, etc. The US Army med-evacs were bringing some of the worst to there, as the ones in the city were decimated and the ones operating are overwhelmed still. This hospital has triple it's capacity, along with 700 refugees. They need everything we can imagine, including hundreds of sleeping mats, food, and fuel for their generators. So, having our lines into Santiago is great. The missionary we're working with, has the connections through the border easily and with the UN military battalion here. They are now escorting our runs down.

The route makes more sense now - closed routes, mountains, etc. It also accesses the city from the north side, because the south side is cut off from the north. The mission is going to evolve from immediate medical to refugees - tens of thousands returning to the towns they came from - common in very poor nations that people leave the provinces to the cities to look for opportunity. Now, they are returning to their homes. We're presently in Fort Liberté on the North Coast, which is a great place to manage the entire route, but hundreds of refugees arrive daily (200+). Adam and I are here, and Chad is the scrounger in Santiago, and Kyle is helping with the orders coming from more than 500 mission stations/medical hospitals, etc. They are working same hours there to get this stuff forward.

To all of you, thanks for allowing us to leave, stepping up to cover for us while gone, our wives and families for letting us go, and to those around the world, literally who are financially supporting us and praying for us.


Nineteen hour days, no electricity, cold water when it runs (no, you can't drink it), and some of the strangest things to eat! But in closing, in the night without electricity, you hear the people singing songs to God. Amazing.

Will upload photos when back in Santiago. They are amazing.




Check out this article today on BBC
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8477770.stm

D Day - deployed to Haiti

Hey guys,
We're here. Briefing tonight. 2 AM now, packed to ship out in the morning.

Chad is staying in Santiago to be a scrounger... Kyle will stay with him. They have to locate a warehouse that we can stage out of, and get sources for large amounts of food (rice, beans, etc), medical supplies, and we have several sources for other things already set. They will be in email and phone contact.

Adam and I push forward into Haiti. We're establishing a point where the large items can be downsized and broken into smaller convoys which travel at night to make them not noticed by pirates. As supplies even into remote areas is so degraded (no fuel, food coming from the city and port now), they will be more desperate. Yes, the convoys are armed. BUT no white people - quiet... look normal! :-) We'll be out of contact until we find what the situation is, and can get to a satellite location. We should ("should") have phone contact most of the time. We are expanding this to get at least one large convoy, which is then trans-loaded into smaller convoys on the Haiti side, going every day. We're at $20K/day right now, and will expand as we get funding in country.

The goal: Keep the mission agencies on the ground supplied, so they, who have the relationships, know the people, are trusted, etc, can do what they do best, better than anyone else can do. The supplies coming in through the US are going to the mega corporations and agencies, and the many missions teams with the people are last in line and rationed in what they can get. Hence, very short on supplies of every kind. Can't elaborate on that right now. We're keeping them supplied so they can function. The UN was decimated, lost 125 of its people in the quake. So, the central control is still chaos.

More later. Got to sleep!
Mike

DEPLOYING TO HAITI IN 24 HOURS!

Dear Friends and Family,
If you're reading this, you support us here in New Orleans, or pray for us, for are friends, family and those in our lives here. Due to time constraints, we're sending a mass email to all of you. So here goes...

We're deploying four of our team/community here in New Orleans to Haiti in 24 hours.

Why: You've seen the news - 200K dead and climbing. There are 20K/day dying from injuries, infection, etc.
How: We got a call from a sister team/community in Miami. They were approached by people in Haiti and The Dominican Republic to help. Our team there has been able to get in a couple of convoys of fuel to two field hospitals on the verge of running out of fuel for their generators. But the needs are so immense they need more boots on the ground.

BUT it got the attention of the UN and the US Army's 82d Airborne Division. The Army is supplying security and the UN is looking for fuel trucks.

What: We're going to establish a marshaling point, hopefully a warehouse. From there, some people can purchase supplies (Medical, Rx, Food, Water and Fuel). We'll then convoy it and while they are gone, begin marshaling supplies for the next run. The convoy will make the 12 hour trip to Port au Prince, and drop it to a distribution point we're setting up. We expect a couple of us to be in Port-au-Prince running that site.

Expect Chad and Kyle to be in Santiago operating the logistics point and Adam and I in Haiti (for the French speaking and liaising with the US Army). BUT that can change when we hit the ground. We could all four end up in the Haiti distribution point. We'll see!

Tonight, we spent several hours getting poked with the tropic regimen for deployment to a disaster zone... Ouch! Sore! Now it's time to wash, pack and get ready to go.

When: We deploy Friday 22nd, and return a month to six weeks later. For many, this will be huge. For our own families, for our work here in New Orleans and for the kids we coach.

Some other details:
1. We expect to have communication with people back here.
2. We may be gone 4 weeks, but maybe 6 weeks.
3. This will impact our work with lacrosse, but our parents, coaches and guys are super.
4. This is fluid and we don't know what to expect yet. We may deploy two women in our community, but we need to assess the situation, discover what logistical situation we're in, etc.

What can you do?
1. Pray for us, regularly!
2. Help The people left back here (if you're local). They'll need help with keeping the grass cut, playing with the kids, meals, etc.
3. We need money! ! ! ! If we raised a $1M, it would not be enough... the needs are so huge. We'll use the funds to get us there, keep us there, and then for supplies! 100% of the funds will go to the deployment.

You can contribute in several ways and every donation will get a tax deductible receipt from our 501 (c) 3 organization. Here are the details on how to do that:
1. Checks made out to “Communitas New Orleans”. Mail to 2539 Octavia Street, New Orleans, LA 70115-6535
2. Wires can be sent (but they cost $15) Email communitasnola@gmail.com Our people staying back in New Orleans helping with the kids, working, managing donations, etc will get the routing process if you want to wire money.
3. Online at www.Paypal.com Can use debit or credit card, or paypal account. Email address is communitasnola@gmail.com In the instruction field leave mailing address for receipt – otherwise we won’t be able to know who it’s from that we can send a receipt for your taxes.


Look, we don't really "want" to go. We have lives here, families and responsibilities. Yet, the need is compelling and our Miami team is begging us for help. This is what we're about - Christ with flesh here and now. We don't feel like heroes or special. We don't know what to expect. We simply got a phone call. Your friendship and support is so appreciated. Your prayers are coveted.


Love always,
Mike Brantley

Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Psalm 28

¹ To you I call, O LORD my Rock;
do not turn a deaf ear to me.
For if you remain silent,
I will be like those who have gone down to the pit.

² Hear my cry for mercy
as I call to you for help,
as I lift up my hands
toward your Most Holy Place.

³ Do not drag me away with the wicked,
with those who do evil,
who speak cordially with their neighbors
but harbor malice in their hearts.

Lord, God, have mercy on Haiti. We ache to see the hurting, the grieving, the loss.
I ache for the parents whose children are no more, who purpose for life appears gone.
I ache for the people who perished who did not know You.
I ache for the country, so, so poor, where the educated people, in the buildings, were the ones who died in the greatest numbers.
I ache for the suffering they endure today, the children without parents, the people still not knowing if their loved ones live.

Lord, somehow make sense, bring about good, as it is so hard to see right now.
Use this somehow.
Lord, be present in real ways people cannot deny.

Oh that one day You will end the creation's groaning.

Pat Robertson Makes Fool of Himself...

Today, a friend of mine, Matt Chapman (NieuCommunities San Diego) emailed me to check out Don Miller's comment on Robertson's bafoonery. Robertson, in true form, actually said the people in Haiti got what they deserved in this earthquake.... God's judgment. The a** hole actually said that. This is the same moron who said that New Orleans got what it deserved in 2005 with Hurricane Katrina.

Mind you, there is sin here in New Orleans. Robertson is referring to the French Quarter, but he hasn't a clue what he's talking about. For sure there is one street, eight tiny ancient blocks long (each square bloack is the size of today's suburban yard) where it is licentious for sure. But I've noted something... Every city has the same thing... You just spread it out along interstate exits in your suburbs and in your own less publicized red light districts. When Hurricane Katrina came along, it wiped out an area the size of the UK...328,000,000 trees for some comparison. Rue Bourbon (Bourbon Street) was fine and operating within days. yet, approaching five years later, the city is maybe 1/4 into a true recovery. The poor, the middle class, the wealthy all suffered, 2000 lives lost over ten parishes (counties) and three counties in Mississippi on the coast.

Now Haiti: Yes, there is witchcraft there and there are evil people who dedicated it to Satan at one time. Are we so naive as to not think there are demonic powers in every US city? That they have not also dedicated their cities to Satan? San Francisco? Washington DC? Portland? Seattle? New York? Chicago? Atlanta? And even, hush, Dallas? The majority of people in Haiti are poor people trying to make it. The death toll could easily be well over 100,000 people. The very weak economy is now destroyed. The pain from this will be decades in a place already so sad. This is God's judgment? Really?

While the Lord judged Israel, as He told them He would, He showed such mercy to those who did not know Him. His character will judge sin. Yet, would He unleash such wrath on everyone in Haiti? Sure, earthquakes are part of the fall's consequences, and they befall us all. Does that mean every event is judgment? If VA was hit with a nuke missle, would your beloved state be in a state of judgment? Heck you have most of Washington's suburbs, in your state! Surely, the mess of a government we have inherited deserves such wrath, no?

Mr. Robertson, what makes me most sad is how you don't have the reaction, character of Jesus after so many years you claim to have followed. Where is the mercy, the grace, the pity, the move to action? Rather than being part of the solution, joining the many Christians there, the ministries operating there, you tick and cluck your tongue. You judge and arrogantly pass condemnation. Where is the humble servant's heart Jesus so modeled and calls us to? Where is the sacrificial giving away of one's self? I've seen your palaces there in Virginia. You've left quite a monument to yourself. If only you could learn from Mother Teresa, but you would never take counsel from a Catholic, egh?

Shame on you, Robertson. You prove the stereotypes of why people think Christians are idiots. Isn't it time you retire and just shut up?

Now, the rest of us: Maybe we can actually read God's Word, His whole Word and actually act like Jesus. Lord have mercy. Christ have mercy. Lord, have mercy. May we sacrificially give and contribute to relief of these poor suffering and grieving people. May the Lord Himself visit Haiti and bring the grace beyond measure, the peace beyond understanding, the love of Christ to the lost, the hurting, the suffering. May He favor these people and bring healing, wise leadership and a real change to the painful past. May His name be renown, in spite of butt heads like Robertson.

Empty, unqualified words

After being gone for a week, My Google Reader, which notifies me who's made a Blog posting since I last checked, saving me hours of looking at the dozens of personal, mission-work related blogs to see who's written lately, told me of the many postings made during my absence. Some were personal, and always fun, some were work related. Of those work related, some were great, some "yea, okay", and some were, well...

I think what causes my eyes to roll to the back of my head and get stuck are the people who post about things which they do not live, and therefore know. If I read Dicken's Oliver Twist, do I understand runaway kids? Uh, the answer is no for those who haven't walked that ground. BUT, yet there are those banging cymbals, posing and proposing about things of which they don't know. They write with such authority, posturing as experts. Ugh!

Oh, how the internet has helped and, well, shown how stinking shallow, consumeristic and emty our words actually are. We talk the talk, but the walk is a bit short.