Whenever you have a need in your life, or when you are in trouble and need a miracle, always remember that the Lord can use whoever He wants to bless you and get you out of a bad situation. You may be looking for an “Angel,” but God might send a Prostitute… or nowadays, they would say a “hooker!” He can use whomever He pleases… He doesn’t have to use a “saint,” He can use whomever He pleases to bless you, or even to save your life!

In Joshua chapter 2, Joshua had sent two of his men to Jericho to “spy out the land,” to see how they would overtake it. It seems that the two men ended up in the house of a harlot, named Rahab, and they stayed there that night. But, someone told the king of Jericho that they had seen two spies go into the house of Rahab, the harlot. So, the king sent some of his armies to get the spies (Joshua’s men) and bring them to him. Of course, the king meant to kill them…

The Bible tells us that Rahab hid the men, and sent the king’s soldiers on a “while goose chase.” She had hidden the men in the stalks of flax on top of the house. When the king’s soldiers left, she went to talk to the men and told them that she knew about their “God,” and that “their God,” was going to deliver Jericho into their hands. She asked if they would spare her life and the life of her family… and they agreed. She then told them to go to the mountain and hide for three days, and then return home.

The men made her a promise “that when they come to take Jericho, if she would use the same line of scarlet thread (rope) in the window by which she had saved their lives, that they would save her, her father, her mother, and her household.” And they, the two men, said unto Joshua, “Truly the Lord hath delivered into our hands all the land…” Joshua 2:24

So, if you are ever in need of a miracle, don’t put God in a box! He will use whoever He wants to use to bless you, and even save your life in times of trouble! Sherry

Jolina is growing up fast and doing well in Junior High! She understands that her father was killed in the mountains where she was born, and she understands that her mother could not take the stress of taking care of her and nine other children without a father. A relative brought her and her cousin, Daphlina, to us. They were in poor condition, but “love is the best medicine.”

Today, Jolina is a strong-willed young woman. She knows what she wants… to be a Pediatrician, so she will do anything and everything to attain that goal. In sports, she won’t back down against the boys, but when that’s through, out comes the fingernail polish!

Jolina “knows what she wants,” and she will work to attain it. When she plays with the boys, she is like a charging rhino… with fingernail polish! She is “out to win!!!” That’s Jolina and we wouldn’t change a thing! Sherry

In times like these:

This country of Haiti is on the brink of total collapse due to the gangs and political problems. I watch the news here from America and it’s hard to believe what is happening. Our country is changing completely. I look at other countries and what they are going through.

In times like these, we can only trust in the Lord. We cannot let fear grip our hearts. Be careful, fear magnifies itself. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 11 Timothy 1: 7

We will trust in the Lord!

Missionary Bobby Burnette

In Haiti, many poor Haitians believe in leaf medicine, not understanding that harm can follow. Many of the poor mothers do not know the importance of a hospital or clinic, and unfortunately, many believe that going to a witch doctor is the only answer.

Little 6-year-old Dorvenson comes from high in the mountains of Peyi Pouri. Inside the larger area of Peyi Pouri is a smaller village called “Troche.” In this village, the sick people don’t go to the hospital. They “take care of themselves.” If the leaf medicine does not give them relief, they wait for death. Dorvenson’s mother and father separated years ago. His mother left Dorvenson in the hands of his father for 2 years. Therefore, his father, Raphaelit, had to leave Dorvenson with his grandmother, so that he could try to make a living. But his grandmother was negligent in his care.

As the young boy grew, his feet could not hold him up. His lower limbs were giving out. He also developed crusty sores, scabies, and a sickening smell in his feet. In the next 15 days, the infection got worse, so his grandmother went to find leaves to put on his feet… Nothing worked. She was just about to go to the witch doctor when his father learned about the boy’s infection. He didn’t know what to do. He had no money for a doctor and no money for medicine. But someone told him about the Jesus Healing Center and said, “Just go!”

When he arrived, our staff gently welcomed him. They told his father, “Don’t worry about the visit or the medicine.” The doctor and nurses took Dorvenson and began scrubbing the “rotten smelling sores,” very carefully. They put medication on him and gave his father medicines to take home. They taught his father how important it was to “use the medication” he was given and to bring him back in one week. More than that, our pastor prayed with him. Dorvenson will be fine, and he will return for a checkup. But many children die when they are sick because their parents have no money for a doctor, so sometimes “they will wait for death” unless someone tells them about Jesus, the Great Physician.

Thank you, Partners.

Sherry

“Shame is Heavier than a Sack of Salt.” (A Haitian Creole Proverb).

Have you ever done something that made you “ashamed?” If you have never been in this position, you cannot realize how people feel and the load they are carrying. The Haitians say, “Shame is heavier than a sack of salt.” There is a certain area in Haiti where Haitians gather raw salt. They put it in big bags and take it to the market to sell… it is sooooo heavy.

Peter, in the Bible, one of Jesus’s disciples, felt this great weight of shame, when he realized he had denied the Lord. Perhaps you, too, have felt shame in your life or known someone who has… We have a wonderful Children’s Home, here in Haiti, but we have had problems with a few children. There is always “that one,” that thinks he can do something and not get caught. Such as the child we raised from a boy, Ezekiel. He had come here with his brother. Ezekiel was always “strange,” and hard to figure out, but when he got older, he got into trouble. He stole from us, and broke our hearts. We had no more trust in him and, were afraid he would infect other children.

We found out his father was still alive so we sent him back to his father, who rejected him. From then on, he slept wherever he could. We had heard that he picked up jobs here and there, but actually lost track of him, until about a week ago. Bobby and I were walking around the property and came upon the little restaurant, that some of our boys had started. We saw a young man sitting under a tree with his face down. We, at first, thought he was a bandit. I went over to see him but he would not look at me. Someone came up said quietly, “Mom, that’s Ezekiel!”

Ezekiel!! We went over to talk to him… he had lost weight, grown-up, and was living anywhere he could find work. He finally got the courage to look into my eyes and with tears said, “Mom, it’s me. I am sorry. I was so ashamed, I could not come back for years… but finally, I took a chance. I am so sorry and so ashamed.” We welcomed him back, and will be putting him back in high school tomorrow. We will find a part job for him and give him a small salary. We will make sure he graduates, has his diploma, and finds Jesus, again. All this time, he had been carrying that “sack of salt” around on his shoulders! In a moment of forgiveness, the load disappeared.

“And he would have fain filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat; and no man gave unto him; I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee; And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of they hired servants.” Luke 15:16,17

You may be in the position of “carrying that sack of salt,” around, or, you know someone who is. Let’s drop that heavy sack and let Jesus carry that load! None of us are perfect… Love and forgiveness are the best medicines for shame. Have a blessed day, Sherry