BY HIS HAND
Dear Friends of Sea Hope,
We started 2023 with three planned trips to Haiti. One was to be a medical clinic, one a dental clinic, and the other a vision clinic. Two of those trips were canceled due to the ongoing security situation in Haiti. In the place of those two canceled trips God gave us three other missions. Looking back, 2023 was our most productive year.
2023
We did a medical supply trip in February, a medical clinic trip in June, an emergent food and school supply trip in October, and then an emergent food and supply to a Children’s Home trip in December. In each case God abundantly supplied the need for Sea Hope and for the people in Haiti.
OIS - Children's Home
After we returned from the October trip, Pastor Brent Stancil contacted me. He and his wife Valerie operate International Orphanages and Schools (www.IOS.vision). He told me their Children’s Home was almost out of food and he did not have a secure way to send more. He asked if we would be willing and able to carry some food and other needed supplies to the home. The home has 16 children, plus there were 7 infants who needed diapers and formula. Initially I was a bit hesitant since we had done 3 trips already and I was not sure we could get a crew together before the end of the year due to Thanksgiving and Christmas. But God would not let me have peace until I agreed to go.
Pastor Stancil did not have the money in hand to buy the food. I told him to use what money they raised to purchase food and material for the Children’s Home and that Sea Hope would attempt to raise the money for the infants’ needs. I asked a missionary in a second town if he also needed infant supplies and he told me his church had 5 infants. So I asked those of you on my mailing list to help out....I try my best not to ask for money unless it is truly a need....and you graciously responded. Our first response was from a pastor who called me shortly after my email request went out and promised $3,000. Mary started ordering, even though we were in North Carolina. More money kept coming and she kept ordering. Ponce Baptist Church picked up the orders in Puerto Rico, and then organized the diapers and formula according to age needs of each of the ministries that were helped ! Because of your response those infants now have at least 6 months supply of diapers and formula, plus other items such as wipes, bibs, and bottles. All I can say is thank you. I know that’s not much, but God has the record. He abundantly supplied the need for the Stancils’ and for Sea Hope.
This new port in Haiti we went to was very sheltered and secure. It was a little awkward getting into but it really is an overall nice facility. It takes us an extra day going and coming, so our operating costs are a bit higher, but it really is a nice port. My fears about finding a crew were totally unfounded as we had 14 volunteers, including 4 first time people. One even came from Alaska. We were just blessed.
We currently do not have any planned trips for 2024, but we are asking God to use us and trusting that He will.