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• Prayer Requests

Click here to receive our e-mail prayer chain which includes prayers for the situation in Haiti and those submitted by our members and attenders.
 

• Other Ways to Be of Assistance

We encourage you to go to www.mealsfromtheheartland.org/get-involved to offer financial and volunteer assistance as they make plans to package food for Haiti in February.

Prayer Requests

From Kristie Mompremier, now serving with her husband JeanJean, as missionaries in Botoc--near Pignon--  
"Pray that JeanJean and the other leaders will be able to guide people to Christ for their comfort."

Reports from Kristie & JeanJean Mompremier

Received Fri. Feb. 12

Dear friends,

WOW!!  The first day of the prayeer and fasting service was wonderful.  It was one of the best experiences of my life.  There was such a spirit of unity and praise.  More and more people came as the day progressed.  I have no idea no idea how many people were there.  Our worship center is a big, open building and there was no walking area at all.  People spilled out onto the lawn.  All the churches united to give the service.  Justin, JeanJean's brother, told the assembly that this was a glimpse of the universal church that we will see in heaven.  There was a lot of singing and praising; prayers of confession, adoration, supplication, and thanksgiving; testimonies that would make you cry, and many good Biblical messages from local pastors.  JeanJean taught on the reason for fasting and prayer from Isaiah 58:1-12.  He encouraged the people to rejoice that the president of Haiti, Renee Preval, has cancelled Carnival and given Christians the chance to make a new Haiti.  That was a common theme among the pastors--let us look forward to a brand new Haiti that will look to God for their leadership and not look to Satan as their leader.  I wish this poor attempt of mine to describe the service could be better. I wish you could have all been there in person to experience the joy and faith of the brothers and sisters in the service.  There was not a sense of discouragement or hopelessness like the world might expect.  No, God gave His people a peace that is beyond understanding.  The people prayed for you, too!  They prayed for all the people that prayed, cried, donated so much, who just remembered them.  And one more thing that was prayed for was the future government.  The presidential election will be  coming up--pray for a godly leader.  We have two more days of prayer to look forward to. 

JeanJean and Kristie Mompremier

Received Thurs. Feb. 11

Dear friends,

     In all of Haiti's history, there has always been Carnival. Haiti is known for its Mardi Gras celebration that last days, costs the government lots of money, and harms many people. The news glorifies the festival, saying that it is a cultural celebration.  But, they don't understand the devastation that Carnival leaves in its wake. Carnival is a voudoo service--it is worshipping Satan. In the act of worship, practitioners will spend their last dime, harm themselves, or willingly let possession take place. There are always people that die and many others are injured. But, the news only shows the dancing and singing and partying.  People come from all over the world to celebrate Carnival in Haiti.  Carnival was to be this week.

     But, for the first time, Haiti's government has cancelled Carnival.  Instead, the president has called for three days of national prayer.  That isi a miracle, my friends.  That is what we have been praying for since coming to serve in Haiti.  What an opportunity this will be to stand up for the name of Jesus.  The nation of Haiti will be spending Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in fasting and prayer.  For our community, we will be uniting the local churches to pray and fast together.  The community chose to use our worship center as its meeting place.  They chose our facility without us knowing about the decision.  We are so glad that we are able to providde the setting for the services.  Our prayer has always been that God would fill up the worship center with people who are looking for Him.  The community is encouraging those who go to church and those that don't to join together to pray.  We hope that many new people will be exposed to the gospel and that people's faith will be strengthened.  May the whol nation be s the jailer in Acts 16:30 that experienced the earthquake in the prison and called out to Paul, " . . . what must I do to be saved?"  I have been convicted that God can use a major disaster to become a major turning point for Haiti.  Please consider praying and fasting yourselves on these days.  Haiti is still desperately in need of your prayers.

     We have been seending money and supplies to the churches of Pastor TessiChrist, Smith, and Raynold in Port-au-Prince.  They are so grateful for all the help that has been given to their congregations.  We will be sending another load of charcoal on Sunday as that is still a big need.  The pastors do ask for people to pray for the sicknesses that are sppreading.  Many, many peopple suffer from GI problems such as diarrhea due to the lack of good water.  People suffer respiratory problems as well from the stench and  dust that still hovers in Port.  Also, the flies and rats are becoming major problems, as well.  The government is not allowing construction to begin since the clean-up is far from over and codes and regulations need to be instigated.

     Many of you have told us how you are praying for  our full house.  We appreciate that so much.  One of the little girls at our house turned four today and had her first birthday party.  Many people here don't keep track of birthdays as it is difficult to get presents and to celebrate.  But, Tana and Kerri and their friends made a cake, decorated the house, and wrapped up some presents for Judiana.  I don't know if she'll settle down to sleep after all the excitement!   I can't say enough how blessed we are to have such good people with us.  We have sent several of "our people" to Port so that they can salvage what they can from the rubble of their houses.  Many refugees in our area are seriously considering building here.  UCI may have a lot of opportunities to help with construction in the near future.

     JeanJean, along with the Haitian board, have been praying diligently about how to transition from relief to development. They have several ideas on how to help find work for those who have been displaced.  They have been considering training people in agriculture and microfinance along with trainingi on the Bible.  Please pray for these decisions.  We want to be good stewards of the relief money that you have so graciously given.   

     The pastors from other communities that hav received relief monies from UCI last week returned with their reports.  I haven't added up all the families that have benefitted but I know that it touched hundreds of people in far-off communities that are often forgotten.

     I don't want to make this update too long, but I need to let you know that UCI's on-going ministries are doing well.  Without our board, we would not have been able to do both the regular ministries and relief.  We are so grateful for the men of the board.  We have been able to start two new nutrition centers which brings the total to sevenplaces where kids are nourished physically and spiritually. 

     I told you in a previous update that our youth group went and prayed with the families who lost sons in the quake.  They brought an offering as well.  From seeing how blessed the people were, the youth group has decided to try to raise money by selling coffee.  They have made 30 lbs. already.  They hope to use this money to bless others who are unable to help themselves.  The group also spent all day Saturday helping a family that lost a son in the quake to rebuild their house.  We are also up to 54 houses that have received cement floors.  Saul, our agricultural specialist, is planning on training 10 to 20 men/refugees on how to raise crops to make a good profit.

     There are so many other things to report but we'll leave you there.  God bless you!

JeanJean, Kristie, Tana and Kerri Mompremier    

"Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Phil. 2: 9-11

Sent Sat. Jan. 30, 9:55 p.m.

Dear friends;

     On Friday we had a day of prayer with the pastors and ladies that are in the United Christians International Association.  The focus was on the people that are suffering in Haiti and how to counsel them in their grief.  The theme of the day was Romans 8:28.  "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."  We also took a lot of encouragement from verses 35-39, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? . . . . "  God does not do anything that is bad.  The pastors and women had been feeling overwhelmed with all the needs in their community but left encouraged.  It is such a comfort to know that we aren't alone in all this turmoil.  We hope to meet often to share the burdens and help each other to deal with the demands.  The Holy Spirit is our Comforter!
     UCI was able to give money to help these pastors.  The money will be used to buy food to help families that have welcomed refugees into their homes.  Because of the many people that have donated so generously, we are able to expand our sphere of influence.  On behalf of the many, many people that are able to eat, find housing, and have clothes and other necessary items, we want to say thank you!  Thank you for your prayers.  Many people are able to see God's grace through all of this.
     We continue to send food and charcoal to people living under sheets in Port.  We have listened to people that lived in Port for awhile after the quake.  They said that many times they were able to receive food but had no way to cook it.  There is no electricity or gas in many parts of the city.  Wood and charcoal are the only ways to cook, but there are few trees in the city.  We are sending down another truck load of charcoal to the churches. 
     A kind of sad/funny story happened Thursday.  We have a lot of airplanes flying overhead since the quake.  On Thursday, 2 Ospreys flew overhead at a very low altitude.  I hope I'm naming this plane correctly.  It is the plane that can take off and land like a helicopter but can cruise like a DC-3.  It is a big military plane that has a distinctive, loud sound.  We had never heard it before.  When it went over our house, all the Port-au-Prince people came running out of the house in a panic.  One poor girl even peed her pants!  Everyone was scared that it was another earthquake.  From what people tell me, the noise of the quake and aftershocks, or at least the noise of houses cracking, crumbling, disassembling, was almost as bad as the shaking.  When the people heard the Ospreys, they thought another quake was coming.  When I say all of the people, I mean every single one of them, at least at our house, ran out of the house and they looked down at the earth and didn't even think to look above. Everyone laughed afterward, even the girl with the wet undies, but it is still sobering to know how affected they were.
     But, God is good--all the time--and He knows and loves His people.  Our 4 weekly services continue to have high attendance of people looking for their answers and comfort from God.  People are experiencing His peace that is beyond our understanding.
    
Love to you all!

Kristie, JeanJean, Tana and Kerri Mompremier    

Sent Sat. Jan. 23, 8:19 p.m.

Dear friends;

     In the last couple of days, 2 planes came in from FL with supplies and money for us to distribute to refugees.  The community has a committee in place that has identified the families that have opened their houses to people from Port-au-Prince.  They have been dividing the supplies and delivering money.  The money is given to the families so they can start to participate in taking care of their families.  The committee has a list of 887 people that our area has received!  And every day the list gets longer.  It is wonderful to have the community band together.  From our experience, people of the community have given of their own stores.  We have received cabbages, oranges, sugar cane, coconuts, etc.--whatever peoplee have to share, they are sharing.  UCI has also been able to hand out a lot of food to families in need.
     Since the response has been so great, we are going to be able to expand our influence.  JeanJean has been in contact with all of the pastors that are associated with UCI.  Each community is in a similar situation to ours.  We will be able to send money and food to these churchs as the need is assessed.
     Today, one of the pastors that we know in Port came back for a funeral and stopped at our place on his way back from Port.  He has been  in the city with his church members since the quake.  He gave us a report of his church today.  Their church is barely standing and no one dares to enter.  But, Pastor Tessechrist has opened up the yard.  He has about 200 church members sleeping on the ground.  He says that they pray every night that it doesn't rain.  They eat day-to-day.  Many people go long distances to stand in lines waiting to be handed some food  Then they have to take it back to the church and try to find charcoal to cook it.  And then they have to divide the food up between everyone that is there.  We thank you so much that we are able to send them food from the relief money.
     In one of my newsletters, I wrote about a young man that came back from Port with severe shock.  He has since gotten some treatment at the hospital.  He was released yesterday to return to his parents' home.  He sent a message to us saying that he wanted to pray with us to receive Jesus.  We traveled to his home this evening.  He is living with 18 other people in a little 12' x 12' house with dirt floors and a roof that leaks.  All of the adults of the house came to listen as we read the Bible, sang songs, and prayed with this young man.  When JeanJean asked the young man, Jean Renel, if he wanted to pray, 6 people in the house committed their lives to Christ!  Please pray for this family, the Saintils, who still have to deal with sickness, the trauma of surviving the quake, poverty, and a father who believes in voodoo.  While we were there, we felt another aftershock.  But, it didn't cause the people that surved the quake in Port to become scared--rather they felt that God was displaying His grace.
     We have 35 people in our house and probably more coming but God has sent us such great people.  Everyone wants to help out.  I haven't washed a dish since all this happened!  Everyone is family already. But, keep praying as we just don't know what the long term looks like.  But it is always good for all of us trust our tomorrows to God.
     I wish I had a photo of the Wed. morning prayer and fasting and our Friday early morning service.  There are so many people turning to God at this time!  People that haven't set foot in church are desperate for Him.  People that have let their faith slip are convicted to give all of their lives to Jesus.  People are praying and believing in prayer.  I wish it didn't have to take an earthquake for this to happen, but I know that God is in total control and that He loves us all.

God bless all of you!!

JeanJean, Kristi, Tana, Kerri and the rest of the extended Mompremier family.