Enjoying Texas

We are visiting family in Allen, Texas outside of Plano. Yesterday, we played water volley ball with my brother Tim and his wife. Today I went riding bikes with my daughter Rachel. On our ride we saw a baby bunny, Cardinal, Mallard ducks, Great Blue Heron, and 9 turtles on a log. It has been years since I have seen some of this wild life. There is no wildlife to speak of in Haiti. I sure love God's creation.

Traveling

The Lord is good!

We are on our U.S. travels. We spent two weeks up at Elim Fellowship in their missionary apartments. We thank the Lord that they are available to Elim missionaries. The weather was from cold to warm to cold. It was never hot and didn't break a sweat the whole time I was there. Of course, I wasn't very active either. Yet, in Haiti you don't have to move a muscle and you sweat.

We visited several churches around Lima, Ny and we are now on our road trip. We are presently in Mountain Top, Pennsylvanian. We shared with a church group here. From here we are going to New York City to share at Rehaboath  church in Brooklyn. From there we will be going to Delaware to speak at new church pastored by Bob Muncy.

We have already been blessed and encouraged by many people and trust that we were a blessing and encouragement as well.

Busy with Groups

Life here continues to be busy.  Right now we have a team of 5 from NY state welding trusses for the Croix des Mission church. They will have 4 completed and hope to start the 5th by the time they leave on Friday.  We are excited to see these finally come together.  We thank each of you who have prayed and given towards this project. 

We have another team coming in April to put these 5 up and hopefully to weld some more.  We are still in need of funds for this project, so keep praying with us about this.  We'd like to see it completed!

The Croix des Mission church has been holding daily evangelistic services for the past 40 days and over 40 have received Christ as Savior!  We were there for service on Sunday and there were over 600 in attendance!  We praise God for the good work He is doing in this area.

On another note, we are planning to be in the NY area from May 20th - July 10.  We'd love to see you and visit in your church while we're there.  We are looking for a vehicle to use while in NY, especially on the weekends to visit churches.  We will also need a place to stay from June 3 - July 10.  If you know of someone who can help meet these needs, please have them contact us by email as soon as possible at newlifemission@yahoo.com

 

Land of Never Ending Adventure

Greetings to all from the land of never ending adventure.
Being a missionary in Haiti is such FUN.  We never lack for exciting things to do.
The past 10 days have gone something like this:

Rachel arrived for a 3 week visit! Yeah!

JP Kim arrived from Maryland to help distribute some goats.

We drove south and into the mountains for 3 hours, parked, hiked straight up for 30 min at 1PM in the hot sun. 

I got dizzy and we stopped several times, but I made it to the church!

Held a service that evening and Roger preached.

Hiked down in the early morning coolness (much easier)...with 55 goats!

Loaded the 55 goats into the big red truck and drove 3 more hours over bad mountain roads and through a river to another church.

Pastor Carrenan gave a teaching on goats and then we distributed the goats to folks from 5 different churches in that area.

Was great to see everyone excited to start raising goats.

Held a service that evening and again on Sunday AM. Roger preached at both.

Slept on a blanket on a hard cement floor and the night club next door played LOUD music until 4 AM.

Didn't really sleep too well!

Then drove 4 hours home.

Was great to be in my own bed again!  But for only 2 nights.




Then we were off again.  This time to the beach near Jacmel.
Arrived about 10AM and began setting up a large tent.  It's about 14 ft square.
Worked all day in the hot sun and we all got a bit sunburned.
But we had a lovely place to sleep that night...with the sound of the waves and the gently ocean breeze.
We all slept well, even though we were on mats on the ground in a tent.
Spent the next day relaxing in the shade.
The third day at the beach we spent putting up tent number 2.
Started early and then relaxed.
These tents will be used for our pastors retreat in August.  We will have 14 pastors there for 3 days of teaching and relaxing.
Traveled home yesterday and had a good nights rest in our own beds again.
Yes, we're tired, but we had great FUN! 

Blessings to all,
Roger, Margaret & Rachel Clark
PS - Rejoice with us...today is our wedding anniversary...24 years of fun and adventure! Can't wait to see what the next 24 will bring!

Trip & Graduation

It has been a while since I have posted an update. Much has passed. We have had several groups come and go. We have built 3 of our 12 steel trusses for our Croix de Mission church in Haiti which is pastored by Jeanty Osnac. We still need funding for the last 6 trusses at $1,200 a truss.

Last week we came back from 5 weeks of visiting friends and churches on the West Coast. We were in California and Oregon. It was a blessing to see old friends and speak in several churches. People were very good to us.

Saturday June 9th we had our 23rd graduation class from New Life Bible School. Seven graduated with a diploma in theology and nine with a bachelor degree in  theology. A total of 16 men and women equipped for effective service in Christ. We thank God for over 350 alumni who are serving in various areas of ministries, lay leaders, evangelists, pastors, teachers and as apostles. Our alumni our ministering to thousands of people on a weekly basis all over the country of Haiti and in other lands.

We are looking forward to the coming of Hope Chapel from Eugene, Oregon led by pastor Kent Brown. They will be distributing goats to needy families as a source of food and income. Also, they will build 40 benches for our churches that lack seating for their members. How would you like to go to church and not find a place to sit or have to bring your own chair. This is a common occurrence any many Haitian churches. Oh yes! No comfy pews or cushioned chairs.

April 30th Update

Greeting in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ!

The past three weeks has been very busy for us. Three weeks ago we had John Wicks, our engineer, in to do welding on the trusses and get set-up for a group of 22 people. Beside this, he installed the counter tops and installed a sink for the new kitchen we put in this year for our guest house.

For the last 10 days we had a group of 22 with us. They worked very hard despite the high humidity and rain we had. There were welders, carpenters, masons and other skilled people in the group. In 10 days they finished laying all the blocks that needed to be laid in the church. Praise the Lord, no more block work! They also cut all the steel needed for 5 trusses, and welded three trusses. Also, they made great headway on two other trusses.

This was a great feat since they had to cut several of their days short due to rain. The traffic was horrendous because of the mud, rocks and water in the streets due to all the rain which resulted in trips across town from 1 hour to 2 hours one way; rather than 45 minutes. Also, one day they had a city wide strike that blocked the only road we could go on with Mack trucks and burning tires at different intersections. This caused the group to lose 3 hours of work as we waited for the government to get things under control. Oh yes, one day we had to take them to a friends guest house to take baths because we ran out of water at our house. These are some of the challenges one can face on a mission trip. Yet, they all thanked God for the good food that Margaret prepared for them everyday.

What is our next step in the re-construction of New Life Church of Croix des Mission? The next steps is to finish the 9 remaining steel trusses. We have enough money to fabricate 2 more trusses; therefore, we need money for 7 more trusses. Each truss costs us $1,200 in material. Also, we will need money for purlins and tin. 

We are praying that God provides this need so that the people in this church don't have to continue to suffer under the sun and in the rain. Also, we need certified welders to come down and weld these trusses for us. Maybe you know of one and you would be willing to help him get down here.

Group of 23 people

I know it has been a long time since I have had an update. We are now in the midst of 10 day team working with us. They left early this morning to the work site. We had to squeeze them in like Saradines in our long-bed flat truck. Besides the 23 people in the truck, they had all their tools with them which took up the whole middle between the two benches. We are looking forward to a great week with them.

They will be working on our mother church in Croix des Mission, Port-au-Prince, which is pastored by Jeanty Osnac. It is a church of some 800 people. They are working at putting on the roof this week. They will not get it done, but will finish up some walls and begin to put up the trusses.

We thank God and those who give to our ministry and work alongside of us. God bless each and everyone of them.

The New Year

We are now into 2012. We thank the Lord for bringing us through another year. We have been truly blessed in many ways this past year. We had some good family time as my daughter spent Christmas and the New Year with us.

I am writing this on the second anniversary of the Haiti earthquake that killed so many people and brought such destruction. The government has planned special events all week. Yet, what is most encouraging is the special services that are taking place through out Haiti today. The church is testifying of God's grace and spending much time in prayer for the country of Haiti. The earthquake brought many to Christ and rejuvenated the faith of many. I pray that this be the year when God pours out His Spirit in a mighty way in Haiti.

There is much hope in Haiti today. Most people are pleased with the new government that was elected this year. They seem to be moving Haiti in the right direction. More than 50% of the rubble has been removed, over 100,000 people are back in homes, and 6 tent cities and there people have been relocated. This month they are to begin re-locating those in the biggest tent city which is located in the middle of the city next to the presidential palace. There are over 900,000 children going to school for free in the country through the education program of the government. Yet, there is still so  much more that needs to be done because the needs are so many and so great.

We as New Life Mission of Haiti have our challenges ahead of this year. Our biggest challenge is completing the re-building of our mother church. Another challenge is that we are in a legal battle over one of our church properties. Then there is the daily demands of our neighbors, churches, schools, feeding program, and co-workers in Christ.

We thank God for all those who support us through their prayers and gifts of love.

Haiti and Its Challenges

It is great to back home in Haiti after our visit to the states. Yet, Haiti is a land of many challenges. The first day after getting back, we had to clean the house from top to bottom. There was a layer of dust over everything about an inch thick. The house was locked and not in use for two months, but no glass in the windows. We live in a house open to the elements. Yes, there is no air conditioning.

We came back to find mice living in our photocopier in the Bible school, which as you can imagine, is not a good scenario. Then soon after we found a rat in a cupboard on our porch. Then the following week, we found a rat in our guest house. When I chased it with a stick and cornered him on the back porch, he leaped off the porch, only to land on his feet two floors down in the yard and run away.

We have been gearing up for the school year. I have been preaching in Haitian churches, and publicizing the Bible School since being back in hopes of a good group of first year students. Margaret has been overseeing a three day seminar for our elementary school teachers.

Yesterday, I was talking to the pastor of New Life Church of Demier and asking him how construction of the church and school are coming. We had left a Haitian team to work on it while we were gone. If you remember, this is the church that takes two hours by car and a three hour walk to arrive there from where we live. He gave a good report on the progress being made. We have erected two school buildings, in the process of building a bathroom, and half way done with re-building the church which will also be used for two classes during the week.

Yet, with progress, there is always challenges. The challenge we are facing now is that because of the large tin roofs the water is washing away the land around the school. You must understand that the church and school are on the very top of a mountain. To combat this problem, there are two things we can and must do: first build a water tank to collect the water off the roofs, but it will not be able to hold all the water;  second, build a graded retaining wall to stop the erosion. Of course this all requires money which we don't have at this time.

Be in prayer for the Bible school, our elementary school, and the on going construction of the Demier church location.

We thank all those who remember us in prayer and give towards the work here.

State Side

We wanted to update you in what were are doing. We are presently in the states visiting family, friends and churches. We are outside of Rochester, New York. Western New York is sure beautiful. We are keeping our supporters abreast of what we are doing and getting some needed rest. We will be returning to Haiti on August 2nd. Pray for our health as we are dealing with several health issues. We thank all those who pray for us and financially support us.

August Update 2010

Dear Friends, Family, and Ministry Partners,
We greet you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ! We thank God for you all, and pray that He will bless you in every way.
We thank the Lord for the group that came from Abbeville. LA. Their church is part of WME. They truly had servant’s hearts and were a blessing to many. Most of the people on the group were very skilled. They accomplished more than we thought they would on our church building. Lord willing the next group will do the remaining pillars and begin on the walls.
This week we received some food aid for our churches and will be distributing it in the weeks to come. So many people are desperate. Still about 1.5 million people are displaced and living in tents and shelters covered with tarps. Yesterday, we had a hard rain and high winds. Many of the tarps and tents were torn.
We have built two homes and one room of a house for one of our pastors so that he can get out of his tent and the rain. As funds come in we will continue on this pastor’s house. We hope by the end of the year to have built 8 homes.
We continue to make minor repairs on our home and Bible school building. Bible school will open on September 6th; pray that God sends many students who are zealous for Him.
There will be Presidential and Parliament elections in November. Pray that God raises Daniel's and Nehemiah's to lead this nation in the way of the Lord. Haiti needs a strong Godly leader who will not miss manage all the aid being given for Haiti 's reconstruction.
Thanks once again for your prayers and financial support of our ministry.


Yours in Christ,Roger & Margaret Clark

Update July 24th 2010

Dear Friends and Family,

We want to thank you all for your prayers and support of us and the Lord's ministry.


Soon after we got back to Haiti we began to prepare for our next work team which arrived on July 8th. It was a group of 12 Full Gospel Community Church in Warsaw NY. They worked very hard on our New Life Church in Croix des Mission and accomplished much despite the 100 plus degree temperatures. We thank the Lord for their service to His kingdom.


The past twelve days have been tough for Margaret and I. Margaret had a relapse with her back and has been in bed all day except for short intervals where she walks around the house with the help of a walker. On top of this, our missionary chiropractor has left for a month vacation. Yet, God is helping us. He sent a visiting chiropractor just a couple of days ago who gave her one treatment. Also, a missionary friend has loaned us a portable traction table which we are using daily to decompress Margaret's back. With this and prayer she is improving. Believe together with us for Margaret's complete healing. Pray as well for me, as I have a lot of aches and pains in my legs and knees.


We have been working on making repairs and improvements on our home and Bible School building. We thank the Lord for our engineer (construction manager) who comes to supervise all our construction teams.


Besides, our church reconstruction. We are in the process of rebuilding one of our pastors homes. We hope he will be able to move in within a couple of weeks.


Pray for the many Haitians who are still living in tents and make shift homes. It has been raining almost every night and hurricane season is fast approaching. Pray that God gives the Haitian government and international community wisdom in rebuilding this nation. We know that God is on the throne and He will do great and mighty things for this nation.
Yours in Christ,

Roger & Margaret Clark