Coastal Haiti Mission
February 2023
THE DAYS OF NOAH
“Just as it was in the days of Noah…” (Luke 11:26) Hmm, just what was it like in the “days of Noah?” Well, they ate, they drank, they got married – in other words, it was business as usual. The backdrop in Noah’s time of “life as usual?” Depravity, violence, desecration, debasement, viciousness, corruption, and lust for power (Gen. 6:11&12 TAB). It was past the tipping point. God, In His mercy, would destroy the world.
Having spurned God’s striving to reign them in, mankind had lost its true direction.
Only one man among them was found righteous before God. A man called “Noah.” He and his household, pairs of animals and birds for reproduction and sacrifice would be saved from destruction brought about by a world-wide flood.
Noah was to build an ark according to directions given him by the Lord, Himself.
Talk about persecution! Building a boat too large to be moved on his own property. (It hadn’t even rained yet upon the earth at that time!) I can picture it all now, the accusations and humiliation Noah must have suffered at the whim of his fellow man. A first class laughingstock: “Have you seen Noah lately? You know, the ole’ guy building a monstrous boat in his back yard?” Must have thought he was a prize fool.
But the day came. Noah and his family, along with the animals and birds were safely in the ark. And the rains came, oh, the rains came! The waters of the great deep burst forth and the windows and floodgates of the heavens were opened (Gen. 7:11).
The ark rose. I imagine the neighbors – at that point – had adjusted their opinion of Brother Noah and his amazing lifeboat!! If only they had believed God’s Word that came through Noah, they, too, would have been welcomed aboard the ark.
But now…….
Too late. The horse was out of the gate. This ship had set sail.
“Just as it was in the days of Noah…” As sure as the rains came in the days of Noah, some day (probably sooner than later) Jesus Christ will return to this earth to gather His people from the four winds and take them to heaven.. It will be during a time of “business as usual,” you know – eating and drinking and giving in marriage. And the backdrop will not look like a Norman Rockwell painting of a long-ago time in rural America. Things are changing fast. Our country is in deep trouble. Not because of inflation, not because of hostile enemies, not because of climate change, and not because we may have to chuck our gas stoves. It is because we, at large, have turned away from the God Who made us and prospered us as a nation beyond all expectation. The Name “Jesus” and the mention of our God in general have been put out of the public square. But Jesus is our place of safety. If you are ‘in” Jesus – if you are a Christ follower, than you are in the ark! If you do not know Him there is still time to call upon His Name and be forever secure in His love.
In the Library of Congress in Washington, DC there is engraved in the ceiling part of a poem published in 1850, written by Poet Alfred Lord Tennyson in a memorial to his young friend who passed away unexpectedly in 1833:
“One God, one law, one element, and one far off
divine event to which the whole creation moves.”
Now just what Lord Tennyson meant by “one far off divine event,” is not related in accounts of the poem entitled “A Memorium.” But I think I know, and I think you do too!
Words of Jesus from the 24th Chapter of Matthew
The arrival of the Son of Man will take place
in times like Noah’s. Before the great flood
everyone was carrying on AS USUAL having
a good time right up to the day Noah boarded
the ark. They knew nothing – until the flood
hit and swept everything away.”
“Then, the Arrival of the Son of Man! It will fill
the skies—no one will miss it. Unready people
all over the world, outsiders to the splendor and
power, will raise a huge lament as they watch the
Son of Man blazing out of heaven. At that same
moment, he’ll dispatch His angels with a trumpet
-blast summons, pulling in God’s chosen from
the four winds, from pole to pole.
Walking this way with you,
Connie
Life in the Village
Today is February 3rd, exactly 3 full months without one drop of rain on our village. It is very dry all around us, and no gardens can survive in these conditions.
Last year, we had a flood that washed away all the gardens.
This year, like many years in the past, people are losing their gardens because there has been no rain. It is a sad story, because we know that the whole village relies on the produce from the gardens, and the raising of animals, to survive.
Some of the gardens that I visited would shock you, just by looking at them.
Some of the people in the village were talking about how much they had spent on their gardens, with the hope that they would get a productive harvest.
Unfortunately, the opposite is true.
I noticed a big difference in a garden where the owner watered a part of the garden, because he could not water the whole garden. This will give you a better idea of the terrible results of this drought. (see photos)
Some years ago, we lost many animals due to the lack of rain. It looks like history will repeat itself again this year.
Food for the Needy
This is Milourde Saint-Louis. Milourde’s main activity is to sell milk for some of the people in the village, who then pay her part of the proceeds. She sells the milk in the open market at the nearest town, which is Trou-du-Nord. It is not an easy job, to carry a 5 gallon bucket of milk on her head every morning. Sometimes she carries an additional bucket of milk with her hands. She carries the milk for a distance of 3 kilometers which is about 1.9 miles.
She does this because she is a strong lady and a hard worker. She also has to take care of 3 grandchildren, because their mother passed away 4 years ago. Additionally, she has to care for 2 of her own children, who are unemployed and also her husband who is an alcoholic.
This season is very tough for Milourde, because she is not able to find milk to take to market, due to the drought. No one milks their cows during the drought, as this would kill the cows. and if they try to milk them, they don’t get any milk.
The Food for the Needy Program has been the only hope for Milourde and she continues to depend on this program.
I have to keep My eyes open, and ask God to help me have the right discernment on which needy people to help, because everyone is in need, and life is so very hard in Haiti now.
Pastor Coty
Milourde carrying a very heavy load of milk.
Milourde Saint Louis
Back to School After Civil Unrest
Pastor Coty Writes:
Since January, the school children have come back to school with uniforms, because school is functioning again in the country now. The schools had been shut down during the previous several months because of the many protests including road closures that occurred. Some schools tried to have classes with the students not wearing their uniforms, but this just angered the protesters.
Some of the children come from far away. When I can give them a ride back home, their joy is double for that day.
Not room for another person
The School Lunch Program
Pastor Coty Writes:
Like I always have said, the school lunch program is the strength of our school.
We are more than happy to see the kids eat something in school, because we know how hard life is, and for sure they did not get anything to eat at home.
Everytime that I go to buy food for our programs, I am always shocked when I see how expensive the products are. With 100 US dollars, I can buy only 3 small bags of rice, whereas 4 years ago, I could buy up to 5 bags. It’s the same reality with oil, beans and everything else.
Life is more difficult, and we have more children in our school every year. So, I am limited to purchasing only rice and beans. For now, because of the cost, I am not purchasing sardines, even though we like to include them for their protein.
The price of these food products, helps me to realize how difficult life is for my Haitian People and especially for, the poorest ones living here.
Pastor Coty
Pastor Coty Writes:
I am pleased to be part of the process that provides the lunches to the children.
You the family and Friends of Coastal Haiti Mission, who provide the money for me to purchase the food, are a key part of this process. Without you, I would not be able to do my part.
After purchasing the food, I take it to the village. Then I find firewood and bring it to the kitchen.
I am always pleased to provide assistance to the School Lunch Program, because this program is so vital, and meets such a huge need for our school children.
Pastor Coty Joseph
Pastor Coty helping in the School Lunch Program
The Home Lighting Program
The 75 Cyclops lights and the 50 Solar Power Banks that were purchased after the very successful fund raising projects at Christmas time, are enroute to Haiti. This shipment, consisting of 4 boxes, is scheduled to arrive in the City of Cap-Haitien in early March. We will notify you when the shipment arrives.
Discovery of Talents and Skills
Pastor Coty Writes:
Everyone can do something. Some skills are hidden but they are around us.
This young man is in Cahess. He excels at working with wood and makes beautiful furniture.
His name is Phanor. He told me that he went to school in Trou-du-Nord some years ago to learn to be a carpenter. Now he is married and with his skills he takes care of his family, when he can get a job.
It is sad to hear that he cannot find any work from the people in the Village of Cahess. He said his furniture is too expensive for the people in the village and that they cannot afford to purchase this furniture.
He told me that he works for people in Trou-du-Nord and other towns, but now the demand for his furniture is very low.
Phanor is also a fisherman, because when he cannot find a job, he has to do something else to take care of his family.
Proverbs 14: 31
Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.
A prayer for you from the scripture:
Psalms 67: 1
May God be gracious to you and bless you
and make His face to shine upon you.
Thank you, Family and Friends of Coastal Haiti Mission, for all that you do to help the people in Cahess, Haiti. You are making a huge difference for these people.
Please remember, that CHM must continue to send our monthly commitment of $1,100 to carry on the ongoing CHM ministry in Cahess. This is in addition to the cost of the School Lunch Program.
If you desire to help, please send your tax-deductible check to our address and tell us how you want us to use your donation:
Coastal Haiti Mission
C/O Constance Goddard
3048 Spring Fancy Lane
Indian Trail, NC 28079
Or For tax deductible “online donations”, please use our PayPal service. Also please designate how you want us to use your donation.
May the Lord our God, who knows your heart and sees your actions, grant you great joy as you serve Him. Connie, Esther, Pastor Coty, Carl, Dan, and Ken are very grateful for your sacrifice. Ken Johansson CHM Newsletter Editor