“Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.” – Proverbs 27:1

One of my favorite things about serving God is that HE KNOWS how to move you out of your comfort zone. I was returning home from work on the evening of January 12 when Haiti was struck with a 7.0 magnitude earthquake that literally shook the entire island country to the ground. Later that evening I began to see the first images from Haiti as they flashed across the television screen and on the internet. Now, I know that disasters happen all the time in different areas of the world. This time though, God got my attention. I knew right away that God wanted me to do something. The conviction was overwhelming. Within hours after the news broke, I received a message from a missionary friend of mine that has a work in neighboring Dominican Republic. He asked if I would be interested in helping lead three relief teams armed with medical supplies, food, water and the Gospel of Christ into Haiti. Less than 12 hours after the earthquake God had moved me to action and then less than two weeks later I found myself in the middle of a war zone known as Port Au Prince, Haiti.

While on the ground in Port Au Prince I had the opportunity to work with a man named Pastor Edmond. Overall, Pastor Edmond, during his life’s ministry, has been used of God to plant multiple churches, schools and orphanages. In all, his ministry provides for approximately 5,000 people in Haiti. At the time I am writing this update, the death toll in Haiti is around 240,000 people and climbing. Among the dead include many teachers & workers in the aforementioned schools and orphanages. My team was located at the orphanage that sits along the North wall of the Port Au Prince airport. In a week we used that location to distribute supplies to approximately 5,000 families in the surrounding community and the kids in that particular orphanage. (CLICK HERE to see the orphanage on Google Maps)

I honestly could write about the trip to Haiti for days. I’ll say this and move on. Haiti needs help. The memory of the destruction in Haiti will only be surpassed in my mind by the stench of death in the streets. However, God has a plan. The doors to Haiti are open like never before. As Christians and ministers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ we must do our part to meet both the physical AND spiritual needs of Haiti. According to James 1:27, it is our duty to help these people in need.

Just real quick…

Since returning to the US, I have been 100% in campus ministry. We are very close to being ready to apply for “Official Student Organization” status at Marshall University. Please pray for the group as I submit the application and group constitution that it will go through and we will be able to start recruiting during the summer orientation periods. We settled on the name “Merge Campus Ministries” this past week in our weekly Bible Study group. You can find us on Facebook under the same name or at www.mergeministries.org (under construction).

I know that’s a lot to pray about but I thank God that He knows our ever need and will meet them according to His will.

Amazed by Grace,

T.J.

PS – You can read more about the trip to Haiti and Merge Campus Ministries at my personal ministry website, www.operationwatch.com. I send out prayer letters once per quarter, but update that site on a regular basis.