September - October 2022: Emergency Supplies Airdrop Mission
Updated: Jan 4
Overview
Things continue to go from bad to worse... gangs are trying to shut down the entire country and prevent people from getting to and from, accessing food, fuel, and basic resources needed to survive.
They've shut down roads with burning tire blockades and violence toward anyone who tries to pass by, looted ministries and stores, and blocked access to fuel to power vehicles and generators for electricity.
They claim that they're going to wreak havoc until the current Prime Minister steps down. In the meantime, they are choking the innocent Haitian civilians who are just trying to survive day-to-day.
We're going to use this blog post as a continuously updated source of the latest information with a timeline. Scroll from the newest - oldest details from the top down.
Please join us in continual prayer over Haiti and this entire situation. Things are hitting a head and precious lives are on the line. Thank you!
You can also text “prayerpartner” to (866) 397-2611 to receive urgent prayer updates to your phone 📲.
October 7, 2022:
Thank you for your prayers that opened and protected pathways for a successful supply drop operation. We firmly believe your prayers paved the way. 🙌
We are so grateful for the LIFE-saving supplies for the children with special needs in our care and this was a HUGE and emergency need that God provided.
This being said, Haiti is still in a very very bad place. The fuel crisis has caused a domino effect of further complications and obstacles. In Haiti, no fuel = no electricity. 💡
The latest domino to fall was Culligan Water company being unable to power their plant which means no clean drinking water for many in Haiti.🚰
Now, we're seeing a rise in cholera cases that Haiti hasn't seen in years. We wrote an article further outlining the fuel crisis fallouts, here.
October 4, 2022:
Prayer warriors. Thank you for relentlessly and continually praying for the airdrop of necessities into Haiti yesterday. I believe our collective prayers burned fragrantly before God (Revelation 5:8 & Revelation 8:3-5).
He hears our cries for relief. Please keep praying alongside us for Haiti and specifically for His Gospel to move during this time of crisis. Pray for hearts to be receptive to His Voice and Call. Thank you!!!
-Mike Wilson
October 3, 2022:
Today we come to you in awe and gratitude for God's provision.
The high-risk operation to airdrop 2,000 lbs of supplies (Pediasure, diapers, wipes, medicine) to our village was a SUCCESS!
Six pallets of supplies were successfully parachuted out of a small plane into a nearby sugarcane field in an operation that took the collaboration and selflessness of all involved to make possible.
On September 26th, we reached out to our Prayer Partners and email subscribers asking for help to fill this plane with supplies for a time-sensitive opportunity God had provided. You helped fill the plane with 1,300 lbs of Pediasure and 700 lbs of diapers, wipes, and medicine that will ensure the children with special needs in our care will have LIFE-sustaining nutrition; at least TWO years' worth of critical Pediasure.
(In fact, people donated more supplies than we could even fit on the plane so we were able to donate extra Pediasure, diapers, and wipes to a local US Crisis Pregnancy Center.)
We have a lot of people to thank for making this mission successful...
To the three men who risked their lives to make this supply drop possible... (not naming for security reasons, you know who you are)
To our friend who received all the shipments from Amazon and personally transported and packed them all on the plane...
To those who worked tirelessly to figure out logistics, customs, and security clearances...
To the individuals who donated the plane, pallets, parachutes, and fuel...
To our Haitian leadership and Security on-ground who came together to ensure that the supplies would be safely received and transported once the drop occurred...
To our Stateside Staff who worked long hours behind the scenes to figure out logistics and needs...
To all of you who donated items from our Amazon wishlist and helped pack that plane full of supplies...
To all of you who prayed fervently for God to make a way where seemingly there was none...
THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
Most importantly, thank you to God who makes the IMPOSSIBLE POSSIBLE!
We will be sharing more photos and videos in the days to come. Thank you!
September 29, 2022:
Some not-good updates from our Haitian leadership this morning...
We will not be able to make payroll tomorrow because the banks are still closed. They are letting all the staff know that we will pay them as soon as the banks open and we are able to transfer their money. Please pray for all of the staff because they will be unable to purchase food (which is less and less every day) without getting their pay.
The depot where we get food for our Feeding Programs does not have food currently due to no fuel, no trucks coming from PAP, and looting, so at this point we will be unable to do food distribution next week. We are praying God will provide quickly and we will be able to distribute soon.
Please continue to pray! Thank you.
September 28th, 2022:
Food insecurity in Haiti is tightening as gangs have teamed up to block fuel from the port in Port Au Prince from the rest of the country. They've even gone so far as digging trenches around the fuel port and blockading themselves in.
Because of lack of fuel, trucks can’t get produce from PAP or other areas so finding rice, beans, etc is becoming more and more difficult.
Right now, for us, it is possible to get some foods however it has become very inconvenient to get around the roadblocks and insecurities. Fuel is a huge contributing factor that is making things almost impossible.
"The hunger in Haiti is rising above status quo, no cash flow and no power…this is all adding to the desperation," David, Head of Security at myLIFEspeaks said.
Please continue to pray for a miracle and for God to transform the hearts of those causing these issues.
September 26th, 2022:
Thank you for praying for and with us over the last week as we've been desperately fighting to get access to essential nutrition (Pediasure) for the children in our care with special needs who rely on it to thrive.
God has opened up doors for us to have the ability to transport 2,000 lbs. of urgent supplies for our Family Home kids.
If you’re subscribed to our Newsletter communications you know about this but for security reasons, we’re intentionally not publicizing to best ensure the safety of all involved until the operation is complete.
This is a HUGE answer to prayer and GOD IS ON THE MOVE! Thank you for your prayers and please continue to cover this opportunity & operation in prayer. We will update you as soon as everything is all clear.
A lot of things still have to fall into place but God is literally and figuratively splitting seas to make this happen… Please pray for the safety and protection of all involved. Thank you!
September 21st, 2022:
Positive Update: Thank you for praying!
Through an organization that our partner, the Tim Tebow Foundation, connected us to we were able to secure two cases of Ensure that will last us for two weeks as well as more diapers! The Ensure can be used in place of the Pediasure for the time being.
This buys us much-needed time to hopefully find a longer-term solution for the four special needs kiddos who rely on Pediasure for nutrition.
Praise the Lord for His provision and a huge thanks to the brave men (Claudy and Abnel) who courageously acted to make this possible.
Things in Haiti continue to be on-edge and dangerous but the flooding and rain from the Hurricane have helped extinguish (literally and figuratively) some of the violent protests and manifestations in the streets. Thank God for the rain!
Thank you for your continued prayers.
September 20th, 2022:
1 PM:
We have the possibility of getting a few packs of diapers and some Ensure today through some miraculous circumstances. We are choosing not to share more to keep our team and families safe.
Please continue to pray for our staff in Haiti and in the US. This situation is physically and emotionally exhausting. Our Haitian leaders face a barrage of negative and hopeless moments and our US staff is feeling the weight of not being able to offer any comfort.
Ephesians 6:12
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
12 PM:
We are desperately trying to get more Pediasure for the children with special needs in our care who depend on it for nutrition as they cannot chew, swallow, or digest whole foods. We were able to find ONE can several days ago for $40. We are now COMPLETELY out as we have no way of accessing our cases of Pediasure sitting in Customs in Port-Au-Prince awaiting release. Even if they allowed us to come to get them, trying to get there would be a death sentence.
Haiti is essentially a war zone right now under gang control. The awful part is that it's innocent Haitians, children, and families who are suffering.
The city of Leogane, where Neply is closest to, is now under gang control and protestors have attacked and burned businesses, the police station, and have shut down roads.
Because there is no fuel to power generators for electricity, the cellular companies have resulted to powering off for hours at a time in an attempt to conserve fuel. This means that during these outage periods, we have no way of communicating with our Haitian leadership on-ground.
We are working behind the scenes through every option possible to get Pediasure to our children and their families.
Please PRAY over this situation and for the people risking their lives to make it happen.
September 19th, 2022:
Please pray for Haiti today as roadblocks, burning tires, and gunshots are throughout the capital of Port au Prince and the southern peninsula. We desperately need to find Pediasure for the special needs children myLIFEspeaks cares for. The roadblocks and violence have made getting supplies to our area impossible.
We cling to 1 Peter 5:7,
"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."
Thank you for praying with us.
September 15th, 2022:
Between astronomical inflation rates, protests in the streets over fuel prices, and gangs controlling the capital and surrounding areas, Haiti is spiraling into destruction.
The blatant disregard for life is on full display, and sadly it’s innocent lives who are getting targeted or caught in the crossfire.
(Photos by: Reuters and AP/Miami Herald)
Most Haitians are just trying to survive day-to-day with life-threatening obstacles lurking around every corner; whether it be physical dangers or the lingering struggles of food insecurity and lack of fuel for generator-powered electricity.
Food costs have increased by over 50%. Fuel costs are up 400%.
Through an earthly lens, Haiti could seem hopeless.
But Haiti is not a lost cause. Our cause is helping people encounter and know the love of Jesus Christ.
That is our hope for Haiti. Jesus.
And in the midst of such darkness… there is a light that is steadily gaining ground.
In the face of impossible circumstances, our Haitian leaders have stepped up to make ministry happen and build up disciples around them.
Through the faith and witness of LIFE Academy Teachers, two assistants decided to join them at church and step deeper into their own faith in Christ.
Bergedia, and our Physical Therapy team at LIFE Therapy Clinic, have changed the narrative of patients coming in thinking their injuries, ailments, or accidents are due to VouDou curses… and instead challenged them to consider maybe God is allowing this to happen to show His Power and glory.
Gerald and his team who tend our Community Garden, Happy Grove, have reaped an abundant harvest that has helped feed the village when food has otherwise been scarce.
Carmela, and our LIFE Clinic staff, continue to serve and treat patients while telling them about the hope we have in our Ultimate Healer, Jesus Christ.
Adam, who leads our community outreach and feeding program shared how the kids and families we serve are seeing how God is providing food for them in a time of great food insecurity and need.
Our Security Team members have shared with directors David and Marcelin that even in these hard times they see God providing because none of them would be where they are today if it weren’t for His Provision.
God is still moving and He is calling Haitian hearts to His own. We can’t stop fighting now… the battle is more important now than ever.
Souls are on the line - so we push forward in and through Christ.
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. - James 1: 2-3