UPDATE (NEWSLETTER)

Leave a comment

January 16, 2010 by nhhm

Friends of NHHM:

We have seen the hand of God the past 2 days. Scott Salvant and Mickey Salvant arrived to Dominican Republic without any idea how they would make their way to Haiti. Scott had contacted Chris Zinchuck, director of the Youth With A Mission (YWAM) base in Richmond, the day before leaving because he knew Chris had spent a year in the D.R. He asked Chris for a contact in the D.R. Scott spoke to the YWAM director of the D.R. briefly. He could not promise Scott anything. So Scott and Mickey left in faith knowing that God would provide a way. When they arrived in the D.R. there was a group waiting for them from YWAM. They took them to their base and gave them food and shelter.

A young man who had been planning to leave the D.R. decided that he would like to stay and help Scott and Mickey as a translator which was much needed since neither know Spanish. Yesterday morning they set out to a border town called Elias Piña. The team had a contact there named Pedro and they reached out to him for help. Apparently Pedro, a local gas station owner, is a very well connected man and respected in Elias Piña, because he welcomed them and took them all over town to buy much need food and supplies.

Meanwhile, Jean-Claubert, NHHM’s orphanage director, was on his way to the border with our big flatbed truck. The road was dangerous but he made it to the border safely. The border crossing is a foot path crossing only. They would not let him pass with the truck. Jean-Claubert, Scott, and Mickey connected at the border very quickly despite their lack of communication between one another. The group pleaded with the mayor to allow the truck across the border. The mayor said no. Pedro then called the Governor of this area, Governor Medina. A few moments later the truck was in the D.R.!

They quickly went to fill the truck with all the supplies they had. Rice, beans, medical supplies, tools, etc. The law is that no gas can pass over the border but yet they filled 4 containers of diesel and 2 large propane tanks. They finally finished and it was time to cross over into Haiti. It was 4:30pm. The border had already closed at 4:00pm. The officals said that they would get them through! So they went through the border as night began to fall.

Reaching an UN outpost on the Haitian side, our guys were told that they should not travel the road to Port-au-Prince; that it was too dangerous. They said bandits would overtake them and steal their supplies. After a brief discussion and prayer, wisdom told them to stay put for the night. They prepared to sleep on top of the truck and supplies. Then Governor Medina invited them back to the D.R. to stay in his office. They went back over and were given food, coffee, and mattresses. During the talks with the Governor, Scott found out that he was the man in charge of all the medical relief to Haiti! Scott began to tell him things they need based on reports I saw on CNN.

This morning they went by the hospital and the pharmacy opened just for them to take whatever they needed. They then made their way out of the D.R. to Haiti, not just 2 men with backpacks, but 12 men (2 doctors, 2 engineers), and 2 trucks.

I will let you know as soon as they arrive in Santo at the orphanage. I just got a text message that the UN convoy they were with was too slow so they went on without them. The kids at the house are still doing fine. Many of their families have come and are reporting that they have lost their homes. Some staff still have not made contact including our teacher, Miss Pharah. Please continue to pray.

God bless each one of you.

April Salvant
New Hope Haiti Mission