Canaan

I have mentioned the tent community, Canaan that we have been doing some work in a few times before. We had been there to visit in November, went back to paint some of the wooden shelters that were already there with 2 teams, we were there with another team to pray with some people, and just recently, we were there for what we thought would be a church service, but ended up being a wedding (Kylie asked if she could attend a wedding of her cousins' cousin when we are back in Pennsylvania and I had to explain to her that people don't normally go to a wedding they aren't invited to esp to a wedding of someone they don't know...that onlyhappens in Haiti, I wrote a previous post about this wedding).
Here is what we know about Canaan:
Not a single person/home existed on this beautiful piece of land that covers hundreds of acres at the base of a mountain before the earthquake. We know that every family that lives there now is there because of some of loss due to the devastating earthquake on January 12, 2010. The people living in Canaan have one of three types of housing; a tent constructed from very small tree trunks and tarps, an shelter built from tin sheeting, or a wooden shelter that resembles a small one room house. God has brought AWAKENHAITI to a specific smaller community within Canaan in order to walk alongside them and to support Pastor Nathan in his ministry there.
Pastor Nathan began ministrering to some of the church members from his church in Delmas who moved to Canaan after the quake. Slowly, he went from visiting and praying with people to preaching. Others began hearing and accepting Christ. Now, there are approximately 50 families attending church there. Pastor Nathan also saw a need for children to attend school. He gathered some teachers and children came. Now there are about 80 children ages 3 years-4th grade attending school there. The children are not being fed at the school currently. This is necessary for the children to concentrate, as well as culturally in order for it to be a reputable school. There is little money because families cannot pay school fees. This leads to a lack of supplies and unpaid teachers. Eventually the teachers will leave to find a good paying teaching position. Currently the church and school meet in tents. We see that it is vital to begin developing a church and well-functioning school in order for this community to grow and thrive.
The community has two small wells to draw water from, however, it is not drinkable. They have to buy drinkable water from a water truck that drives through daily. There is little opportunity in Canaan. No opportunity for work. People must travel to buy food and supplies and to look for work. There is no shelter from the sun. The wind can be very powerful as Canaan sits at the base of a mountain with nothing to slow it down. The temperatures in the tents easily reach well over 100 degrees during the daytime.

We have been in prayer over this community since we first visited. We have asked God to lead us, give us wisdom in how to help this area, give us discernment in whether we should even be doing anything there. After all, we can't save all of Haiti, we can't spread ourselves thin just throwing resources around for a day and not making a lasting impact...but, we continue to be drawn there.

Our prayers have led us back to the guiding principles we set when our team started this organization:

*continually seek God, his wisdom and his guidance

*Act boldly in obedience and trust the holy spirit for results

*focus on activities that will have significant and sustainable impact

AND our prayers have lead us to scripture that we have read over and over and over...

Isaiah 58 ... what has stood out to us most...

True worship is more than religious rituals; going to church every week, reading scripture regularly, fasting, etc. These things are good, but more, it is a relationship with God. We are saved by faith in Christ, but our faith is made real as we reach out to others...as we have compassion for the oppressed, the poor, the orphan, the helpless...as we love people the way Christ loved.

So it is by faith we move forward to reach out to those living in Canaan. This is a big project. This is a huge project. Team April will be the first phase in this, they have raised funds and will construct a building in which to store supplies for the church and school. The second phase will be a church/school/community gathering pavilion. This will start this summer. This is so vital to this community. Plans are being drawn up, but funds for this project are still needed. We are taking a step of faith in this knowing God is asking us to and knowing He will provide what is needed. Following the pavilion, homes for families within the church.

Did I mention this is a BIG project? But we serve a BIG God and a God who can do all things, who can provide all things.
We are ready to take this step, in faith!
~Deb