You will always find good amidst chaos and turmoil. Our friend Junior sings a song in creole and I am pretty certain it is a song he heard in church. If you know creole, please feel free to translate.

I was in St. Marc, Haiti for 7 days with a missions team from Chicago’s Southland. It was hot, it was dirty and it was a game changing moment for us to bring life. A few of our team members held a children’s conference with local Haitian leaders outlining key areas of engaging children.

The rest of our team focused on rebuilding a wall at a local school which will aid in the children’s and schools safety. The wall was having quite a bit of difficulty staying up after the earthquake earlier in the year. Pics below, thanks in advance for your prayers and support to Haiti, our team members and Touch Ministries.  

Kevin my interpreter

Coke bottles in Haiti

Wall rebuild Day 2 of 5

Group effort Day 3 of 5

Haitians love their cell phones

Boys and girls toilets

We found paradise in Haiti – Derek Wilson, Rey Keyes, Val Rouse

Haitian orphanage boys at play

Touch Ministries Christmas Card

photo by Art from DailySouthtown

Our local press has moved forward and our online push is gaining momentum. Take a minute to see what one man in the middle of America is doing in a town of 40,000 people. “Live Big & Dream Bigger“

Click Here to read story. Special thanks to Becky Schlikerman and the Southtown team for making it all happen.

GesuCristo//Haiti 2010

I Hate Church says “thank you” to the people (see end of post) who make this Haiti campaign move. Your support of GesuCristo and our tshirt initiative puts life in a new light, with a whole new cast and crew. It is much more exciting – like drinking Coca Cola for the first time – finding those fizzy bubbles somehow go through your nose and into your brain.  One time in a dark galaxy far, far away, someone approached me and asked me the all encompassing “life” question. He said, “if you could do anything in the world and not be paid, what would it be?” Yes, I would like to buy a shirt NOW, CLICK ME.

I was completely caught off guard, as the following answers that came to my head will reveal. I remember the following things popping in my head:

by BrianJMatis via Flickr

I think a great question – posed to me the other day – was when someone asked me “what is grassroots?” They were referring to our GesuCristo T-shirt push, concerning my friends orphanage in St. Marc, Haiti. I paused for a second trying to sort out the best way to answer the question when I finally said, “it’s a small group of people moving toward a goal.”  Our goal is $6,000 USD, we are currently at $1,200.
Wikipedia will give you a much more articulated answer: A grassroots movement (often referenced in the context of a political movement is one driven by the politics of a community.

Our goal is to raise $6,000 USD, by selling custom made t-shirts for $19.97 (plus S&H) for In Touch Orphanage. 96% of every purchase is designated toward our orphanage in Haiti.  Let me break that down for you: $19.20 out of $20 is being directly sent to Haiti. This includes wire fees and the best part is we do not have to pay off any Haitian government officials.

CLICK HERE TO DONATE

Most of this money will be instantly liquidated toward the pressing needs of current orphans and now many more who have been displaced from their parents/relatives. The orphanage is currently without petrol to fill up their truck, but they have continued to mobilize their team and aid those displaced. We are seeing resourcefulness take on new meaning and we continue to pray and root on our teams in Haiti.

Psalm 146:9 The Lord protects the foreigners among us. He cares for the orphans and widows, but he frustrates the plans of the wicked.

In Touch orphans safe and thankful

While Unicef, The Red Cross and Samaritans Purse are crushing it on the large front of rebuilding Haitian infrastructure, I ask for you who know me to lend support to what may seem a small speck in a large world of chaos. Carolyn Walker and the team at In Touch Orphanage will now need an enormous amount of aid for the next 3 – 6 months. We want to meet a need and have utilized our talents in support of the homeless, displaced and orphan. I know many of you are looking for something to be a part of, somewhere where you know where your money is going.  Take a look for yourself at the links provided, images and Facebook data and come with us for the next 100 days.

Haiti Team coordinating

Haiti Team // Resourceful

Read Psalm 31 today and thought to include. Maybe you can visualize the hurting as I did.

O Lord, I have come to you for protection; don’t let me be disgraced. Save me, for you do what is right. 2Turn your ear to listen to me; rescue me quickly. Be my rock of protection, a fortress where I will be safe. 3You are my rock and my fortress. For the honor of your name, lead me out of this danger. 4Pull me from the trap my enemies set for me, for I find protection in you alone. 5I entrust my spirit into your hand. Rescue me, Lord, for you are a faithful God.   6I hate those who worship worthless idols. I trust in the Lord.

7I will be glad and rejoice in your unfailing love, for you have seen my troubles, and you care about the anguish of my soul. 8You have not handed me over to my enemies but have set me in a safe place.   9Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am in distress. Tears blur my eyes. My body and soul are withering away. 10I am dying from grief; my years are shortened by sadness. Sin has drained my strength; I am wasting away from within. 11I am scorned by all my enemies and despised by my neighbors– even my friends are afraid to come near me. When they see me on the street, they run the other way. 12I am ignored as if I were dead, as if I were a broken pot. 13I have heard the many rumors about me, and I am surrounded by terror. My enemies conspire against me, plotting to take my life.

14But I am trusting you, O Lord, saying, “You are my God!” 15My future is in your hands. Rescue me from those who hunt me down relentlessly. 16Let your favor shine on your servant. In your unfailing love, rescue me. 17Don’t let me be disgraced, O Lord, for I call out to you for help. Let the wicked be disgraced; let them lie silent in the grave. 18Silence their lying lips– those proud and arrogant lips that accuse the godly.   19How great is the goodness you have stored up for those who fear you. You lavish it on those who come to you for protection, blessing them before the watching world. 20You hide them in the shelter of your presence, safe from those who conspire against them. You shelter them in your presence, far from accusing tongues.

21Praise the Lord, for he has shown me the wonders of his unfailing love. He kept me safe when my city was under attack. 22In panic I cried out, “I am cut off from the Lord!” But you heard my cry for mercy and answered my call for help.   23Love the Lord, all you godly ones! For the Lord protects those who are loyal to him, but he harshly punishes the arrogant. 24So be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the Lord!

by D_3 San Francisco

Many of us including myself always find myself confused when trying to support disaster relief. Unicef, Red Cross, United Nations fund etc and what exactly are they doing. We all see them on the news but somehow there is a disconnect between dollar and worker. How do I know which one to support? If you prefer a more grassroots approach then please carry on reading.

Click Here to Donate Now

If you have not committed any dollars to a specific need, allow me to make a plea on behalf of In Touch Orphanage in St. Marc, Haiti. Carolyn Walker,  a long time friend and babysitter of mine long ago is in financial need. [You know it hits home when it's an ex babysitter] If you would like to see for yourself concerning what they are doing, please check out their link In Touch Ministries.

Click Here to Donate Now

Most recently, our clothing business GesuCristo began working with In Touch in producing a garment exclusively sold for their benefit. We recently finished production in the last quarter of 2009 but were holding distribution till after Christmas.  The most recent disaster has fast forwarded production to  gather people like you looking for something/somewhere to pledge support.

Click Here to Donate Now

Each shirt purchased goes directly toward the following needs in St. Marc, Haiti. In addition, they will delegate as necessary funds to be used for earthquake relief. Like I said, most of you may have committed to many projects already but for those who are interested in grass roots efforts then maybe this is for you.

Gesu Cristo Company

2010 marks our 2nd year of passionately creating garments that meets a specific need. Last year we sent profits to the “Never Again Orphanage Project” in Kampala, Uganda. Our motto is 1shirt1cause and this years focus is In Touch Ministries in St. Marc, Haiti.

In Touch is in need of the following items and with the most recent 7.0 earthquake will require much more help. Every shirt purchased will be directed toward the following items. Decide to make a difference and Do Something.

:: Fuel for their Bus ::
:: Food ::
:: Water ::
:: $700 School AudioSystem::
:: $75 Per Student Scholarship Fund ::
++ Earthquake Help ++

CLICK HERE TO DONATE NOW