Bethesda Evangelical Mission

 
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Did you know

BEM has been involved in the lives of the Haitian people Since 1984?

Did you know

BEM has a group of 35 Churches all around the southern peninsula of Haiti?

Did you know

BEM is dedicated to the education of Haitian children through their 12 Schools in the region, K-12?

Did you know

BEM has an Orphanage called HELO where kids find a Home, Education, Love, and Opportunity?

Did you know

BEM has a Micro Loan Program to assist Haitian entrepreneurs advance in business?

Did you know

BEM is engaged in Digging Water Wells to help combat the problems of drinking unclean water?

Did you know

BEM has 7 Mission Trips a Year to Haiti and more to be added?
Contact BEM
Email PastorLubin@bemhaiti.org
203-676-2848 / 203-668-6435
Relief Supplies For Haiti
List of Items Needed
List of Drop-off Locations
 

Record Journal Article by Jim Wood

Monday, 03 May 2010 11:07

Experiencing Haiti for the First Time

Upon arriving in Haiti I was surprised to find no real reconstruction effort that was visible. There was little in the way of heavy machinery and little in the way of building materials. There were 22 two of us including my 22 year old son JB and it took us two hours to drive from the airport in Port au Prince to the city limits and for two hours we saw homes and buildings in rubble. Tent cities and tarps were everywhere. Tarps up over rubble for make shift homes and hundreds of people living in tents in the middle of the major road/highway leaving Port au Prince.

The only real effort to improve the situation seems to be coming from local church groups like Maranatha and Bethesda Evangelical Mission (BEM). We worked with BEM a Christian based church with a network of 40 churches throughout Haiti that serve anyone in need. These small local churches with ties to the US bring groups down to provide medical aid and relief in the form of construction, wells and supplies.

In Les Cayes where we stayed, BEM built a school there (one of twelve) which has over 800 student enrolled in Les Cays alone. The church and school there provides education and has installed a well to provide clean, safe water for the community. This area was once stepped in Voodoo, prostitution and gambling, but now the church is the focal point of the community. It provides a safe haven. While we were there 10 couples were married in a special wedding ceremony and over a 100 people baptized in a local river.

Our team efforts were two fold one team provided medical care to those in areas served by BEM including one church with a recently established orphanage for children who lost their parents in the quake in Port au Prince. Their beautiful faces and smiles melted my heart. I got to play kick the can and pick me up and swing me around. No language skills necessary.

My son JB and I were part of the construction team working with local Haitians to help complete their new church on the outskirts of Les Cayes. We were able to witnessed not only the completion and installation of a new well (financed with a $4,500 donation from the US), but people coming from all over the neighborhood to draw water from it.​Prior to the water flowing from the well the water that runs in the ditch on the side of the road served as bathing water, water to wash cloths with, the bath room and yes drinking water. Hard to believe I know, but there is a whole cultural transformation that is needed too.

It was wonderful to serve and be part of such a team. While in Les Cayes we stopped and dropped off over $20,000 in donated medicine that we brought with us to the Les Cayes General Hospital. The Humanitarian Aid that is needed in Haiti is overwhelming. Yet they are our brothers and sisters too. We are called to care for one another, the question is are we listening?
It will take 20 plus years to rebuild Haiti to where it was. I don’t think that is good enough. These small churches in Haiti and the US are working together to transform lives helping to make people self sufficient, productive and healthy. Now that’s progress! Thank you for the opportunity to share my experience with you. God bless, Jim Wood
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April Trip Final Update

Monday, 26 April 2010 11:51
 
 
 
 

Thank you for making the April trip the success that it was…

"I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can close" Revelation 3:8,

As I reflect on the verse above, many stories came to my attention, such as the fishes and loaves, the sick man who was carried on the roof of the house where Jesus was teaching at, last but not least the recorded in the book of James that simply stated that “Faith without work is dead.”

Since the devastating earthquake of January 12, many countries have reached out to give a hand to the impoverished Island, millions of dollars have been raised from different groups and organizations, some sent heavy materials, emergency rescue workers and other much needed technicians, but over all the City of Port-au-Prince it still looks like a war zone. By now we expected an emergency operation like the sound of bulldozers demolishing partially collapsed buildings while others make plans to rebuild according to code this time, but instead we notice the tent cities, some look weak or just have a couple of sheets together to be out of the sun. I’m concerned about the upcoming hurricane and rainy season, if something is not done soon the outcome could be another catastrophic situation.

Our April 2010 team however just as many other BEM teams landed at the Toussaint Louverture international Airport with an attitude to make a difference. The very same night, we started to sort our fishes and loaves (meds) preparing for our first clinic at the church of La Croix. Instead of carry our brothers and sisters on the roof to Jesus; we brought what Jesus has given us to them. The roofs of opportunity were opened for them, we basically activated our faith by synchronizing it with our work and we repeat it three more times during the week in Brefette, at the HELO orphanage and the Church of Sud at Bonne Fin.

Before we left La Croix, we witnessed fresh drinkable clean water being spring up from the ground and the people were so glad for something as simple as clean water. As the medical professionals told us, basic hygiene and clean water are the beginning steps toward good health. In addition to La Croix, the village of Brefette and the HELO orphanage will also be the recipient of their own wells as soon as next week.

In the Spiritual side, 11 couples were united in Holy matrimony and 114 people were baptized in the water. One event none of us can forget is the last night prior our departure, when the church of La Croix and the church of Les Cayes joined to say thanks to the Lord and the team for coming to serve the Haitian Communities. The praises were truly glorious, it was a none-stop praise experience for at least 3 hours; according to Pastor John it is a spirit that has been elevated since the earthquake.

For many of you from different churches who was praying for us, a number of you supported us with your finances, some of you even came early in the morning at White Oak to send us off, our Web designer Ryan Pitt at core-id.com worked indefatigably hard to keep the rest of you informed of the situation on the field, and all of the BEM friends on facebook who frequently left encouraging words to us, we will be forever grateful for your support and participation.

Our next medical/construction trip to Haiti is September 21- 28, we aim to visit the same churches we visited this past April. If you know of some medical professionals, construction workers or if you or a group of you wants to sponsor a well to provide clean drinkable water to a community in need, please feel free to let me know, we need at least 15 more people for the success of that trip.

I can still hear the voice saying clearly: "I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can close." I happen to believe that God is true to His word and is ready to present you with new opportunities. He wants to open new doors before you. It doesn’t matter what’s happening in the world around you, God’s Word remains true! If you haven’t allow me to encourage you to start with something in your community or local congregation, ask God to show you where to start He will show you that door of opportunity to advance His Kingdom.

The trip was a great success, we did it because of you…..

Your Servant
  Pastor Lubin
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Solar Cooking in Haiti

Wednesday, 14 April 2010 12:13

It was a joy to cook in the Sun on Friday.  For most of the week there was too much cloud coverage for solar cooking to be successful, but Friday morning was bright and sunny.  I brought with me two boxes of Near East rice pilaf. I asked the kitchen staff for a couple of eggs and some ground coffee.   I brought a couple of black cooking pots, a black coffee pot, some Reynolds oven bags (to protect the pots from the  wind) and three solar cookers - one purchased from solarcookers,org - the others made from “Reflectix” attic insulation.

The rice pilaf, the eggs (which I cooked in a black can without water) and the coffee were done in two hours. I added the coffee grounds after the water had heated (after an hour). I gave rice and one of the eggs (they shared the  just to taste it) to the cooks and their children.  They were very excited to see the solar cookers and the squealed in delight when they felt how hot the food was and how good it tasted.  With joyous enthusiasm they said, “Bravo, Pastor Bill!”

I gave them plates of food which they ate with great delight saying, “se bon!” - it is good!   When Pastor John returned, I gave him some rice pilaf, the other egg and some coffee.  He enjoyed them all.  I made the coffee with regular tap water (which I’d otherwise never drink) and knew that if the water reached 150 degrees it would be pasteurized and it wouldn’t be a problem.  I drank most of the pot (with great relish) and I’ve been just fine.

Also, I hooked up my small 45 watt solar panel on Friday.  I used my inverter and plugged in lamp with a florescent bulb into it.  It worked fine.  When I return in August, I will bring some extra wiring.  The batteries I ordered in Hartford should be here by then and I can make a permanent installation.  That will be a great blessing here.  The electric company cuts off the power several times a day with no warning.  We ate several evening meals by candle light and rejoiced when the electric power came back on.

My vision is to supply this area with the raw materials and have Haitians make, sell and distribute as many solar panels as possible.  They can be made out of cardboard and reflective mylar, or out of Reflectix insulation which can be purchased in rolls at Home Depot.  They can be made and sold for about $10.00 per unit.  Ideally each family would have a couple of these so they can cook a couple of types of food at a time (I used three).

I also hope to raise money to supply each church in BEM with a solar panel so they can have light at night and fans by day as they worship.  If each church has a couple of them they can hook up a sound system as well.  They units cost about $500.00 a piece (including batteries, wires, shipping, etc.)

Please pray for the success of this project. If you are moved to support this solar project, money can be sent to BEM via this website. We have churches in villages that have no electricity and the church can be a source of light in so many ways.  The continued cutting of trees for charcoal in Haiti is a terrible problem.  This can be reduced with the introduction of solar cooking.

In the Sun - for the Son!

Pastor Bill

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Update Sunday April 11th 2010

Sunday, 11 April 2010 20:54
 
 
 
 

An update from the April 2010 team in Les Cayes, Haiti.

This update is brought to you by Debbie Molloy a great servant of the Lord.

Today was an amazing day. We woke to our first fully sunny morning and we "looked to the hills from whence our strength comes". Little did we know, how well that strength will be needed and used today.

As we had nearly completed the steep and rocky climb up 6,500 feet to the Church in the mountains where our clinic would be, the clutch of the truck broke right in the front of a Catholic church. Out comes the priest and offers to take our supplies and a few people up the last half mile in his truck, that was God's merciful provision for us.

We arrived to find a church already filled with 100 people patiently and gratefully waiting for us. With the help of the whole medical team, and two great construction team members, 4 of us were able to see 175 people of the mountains in approximately 4 and a half hours.

I was so blessed to see an 80 year old woman who was in Port-au-Prince during the earthquake, she slept in the street for 10 days and grieved the loss of her son who have been shot. I was in awe of her fortitude and grace inspite of her great loss as she humbly asked for my help.

We were in the village of Bonne Fin Which means "good finish" and indeed it was a good finish to our medical Clinics. We have been able to give care to 650 people in four days but each of us were the ones blessed.

We walked down to the bus under a magnificent starlit sky to the truck that was still being repaired. We were blessed with a calmness of spirit and patience that allowed us to wait until pastor John and our rescue bus arrived. We were not dismayed.

We fit 25 of us into a 14 seats bus and safely came down off the mountains laughing or sleeping. No adversity during the day was able to overcome the strength of our spirits. We were blessed with a great day. I thank God for every aspect of each day I've been privileged to experience here in Haiti.

I will surely be back as soon as I can.

  Debbie Molloy A P R N
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