What is going on in Haiti as far as missions work. As we all are aware Haiti is in deep waters so to speak. There are many different ministries in the country of Haiti at the moment so I thought I'd take a look and see what is being said about mission work at the moment. Who knows maybe we can fit in there somewhere.

International missions has 11 people on there team actively working either in and out of Port-au-Prince or on a response team. There Dominican Baptist partners are in Port-au-Prince with a 75-person.

From the earlier report it seems the Haitian team has gone in and home for the past two weeks. One of it's members has organized Doctors and nurses and took them in on right after the quake as well as yesterday on January 25 and will round up others on February 2. Helpers who are not medical personnel hand out food a distant from the clinics being set up.

Baptist World Alliance Mission has a rescue consisting of 5 from North Carolina, 3 from Haiti and 2 from Hungary. They operate a clinic just out side of Port-au-Prince. Hundreds of people wait in the hallway and parking lot. Because of the massiveness of the problem some of them are infected, with broken limbs ,fracture skulls and a number of legs and feet injuries. www.bwanet.org/ At this website you can read about a Preachers family struggle to get out of the rubble.

An estimated 60- 80 percent of Port-au-Prince was destroyed. We know our prayers are needed for those left in Port-au-Prince the rest of the country is effect as well. A School to the North receives there fuel from a company in Port-au-Prince and it is certain other business will be slowed down or even stopped before they are able to continue with business as usual.

One church member from La Romana started a prayer and fast for 40 days. All the church members were not involved but when the earthquake hit others joined in. They are trying to continue the fast and prayer which means a prayer time from 8am to 1pm and a service from 7pm-10:pm.

The Beraca Church began preparations to go to Haiti and continue on with there prayer and fasting. It has struck the church with a sense of eternity being nearer than we might think. On January 19th this Church along with The Good Samaritan Hospital went into Haiti remembering the words of Christ “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” Matthew 25:40.

One lady rescued said that every Haiti found is a miracle. The lady rescued said even through her house fell in on her God placed a hole there for her to crawl out. This church along with Doctors would have returned to Porta Prince on Monday the 25 of January. Some of the Haitian come home with them leaving there relatives in the tents at Porta Prince. The poor and rich are all in tents; sitting, sleeping and eating on the ground. It has been a humbling thing for this church to see and they ask for prayers. Also they have posted pictures on the the web site of what it looks like for those still in the city of Porta Prince.

Ketly and Vital Pierre who minister with the Beraca Church said “This crude reality of the devastation after the earthquake made many Haitians to think about eternity, and today we can testify as we visit with many people in Haiti, that their eternal assurance is in the Lord, the same God who gave them another chance to live for His glory.”www.missionbluefields.org/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=111

With all the news on Haiti our hearts want to run over their and help them dig themselves out. Well at least some of us want to run over there. I was just reading an article from Mission to the World and the coarse they offer for different events in our life.

Their calendars are set and many different issues are being addressed. Valdir Steuernagel gives a definition of why training is needed for missionary work. He states “The price paid for haste is too high to justify running the risk of not designing and implementing adequate training programs. “ The job we want to do in a crisis is serious and intense. We need to be prepared to face what is head.
Here he is speaking of the Latin American missions along side the Northern American and the differences between the two.

On April 14 - 21 2010 there will be Crisis Consulting International Seminars along with other Seminars and teaching courses which can be found on at www.lausanneworldpulse.com. This is the website for the Lausanne World Conferences. This year the Lausanne World Congress will be held in South Africa in Oct of 2010. Thousands of leaders from around the world. Critical subject will be discussed as well as the purpose of the Church in Missions today. This Congress is held in connection with the World Evangelical Alliance. For more information on this conference go to www.lausanne.org/cape-town-2010/about.html.

Be sure to check out the web site on the world pulse, they are covering a lot of issues. Some might be close to you. Others look just plan fun!

Team mission has been around for 15 years.  Each summer they take 100's of teens as well as older people to places of need.  The kids will  "they work hard and they will laugh and have a lot of fun.   They are taking applications now for the summer of 2010.   There are number of things for your Youth group to get involved in.  Camping, building, perhaps even teaching in a Vacation Bible School.   If your Youth are looking for a project it might be worth checking out.
TEAMmission.com 
Teen serve is also aimed toward Youth Groups and keeping them busy.  This mission will have devotions every morning.  This summer 2010 they will be in New London, Wisconsin and Butler Indiana.   Teen serve aims to teach kids how to serve and put into practice Philippians 2:1-5.
"If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus…"
This mission is dedicated to allowing Youth to minister to other as well as know what it means to believe in the saving power of Jesus.
http://www.teenserve.org

In London England, Bob Heppe, Under World Harvest Mission has several months during the year to use the help of American.  World Harvest  works in many areas , London just happens to be the one I worked with.  There is a great need for evangelism among Muslim, Sikh's and Hindus.  Every extra hand is welcome.   It is best if  they are of college age or older.  Each year, groups come and help hand out booklets, talk to people on the streets, learn about different cultures and religions.  Most of the people that have come are challenged to reach beyond themselves and show the love of Christ. 

Check out their website, there is also a group going to Sudan to help the church.
http://www.whm.org

Children love to make things. It also developes their fine motor skill and eye-hand coordination.
Here are a few things you can make with objects in your own house.
Puppets are always a favorite for any age.  You will need yarn, socks, felt pieces, buttons, glue, string and a creative mind.  The sock is to be used as the body of the animal, person, or thing you are creating.
Creating different object out of a craft you may be familiar with is another idea.   The turkey made with tracing the hand can be turned into flowers, people or a number of other things.
Making a mobile is also a favorite and can be done with object you were ready to throw away .  Egg cartons, string,  plastic lids, construction paper, and crayon, make a good beginning to a great mobile.
Children also enjoy anything made of food.   You could make jewelery out of string lickerish and add colored cereal or other candy to look like beads.
http://www.dessertsandnoodles.com/2009/03/10/low-cost-crafts-for-children.html