"Ike" update..

We are receiving many emails from well wishers in North America, thank you for your prayers and concerns.

In our area, this evening, the weather has stabilized, though we continue to receive rain. There are reports that the public electric company is out surveying the damage here in the mountains but we don't anticipate a quick recovery. Most of the main lines are down and they will have many broken poles to replace. We and others fortunate enough to have generators are running them for short periods each day. Fortunately, roads are clear of trees and brush so we are able to get to the store and the schools that are open have remained on their normal weekly schedule.

We are hearing from friends in other parts of the country that are still receiving heavy rains and wind. There is much flooding in areas near Port de Paix, Gonaives, St. Marc and Jeramie. Haiti has been hit hard. Many have lost their lives, their possessions and their homes.

The Haitian schools open tomorrow. Gramothe is ready and food supplies have been delivered for their lunch program. The MTM Dumay school is also scheduled to open tomorrow. We are waiting to hear word from the school director about the status of the area with the passing of hurricane "Ike". More about a dry food distribution that Willem as able to do there on Friday in the next post.

Again, thank you for your many prayers for Haiti. Please, keep praying that the Haitian people would somehow see God Almighty glorified through this tragedy that has covered their land.

Sincerely,
Willem & Beth

Gustav, Hannah & here comes Ike...

Thomassin 46

Thomassin 46

Thomassin 48

These were common scenes as I drove the boys home from school this past Tuesday as hurricane Hannah blew into our part of Haiti. Port Au Prince was calm, but the further I drove into the mountains towards home, the worse things became. Suddenly, all those scenes from t.v. newscasters standing in hurricane force winds reporting as debris flew past, came to life in my head!

Though we didn't recieve the rainfall that other places in Haiti did, we got wind like never before. The big difference that we can figure is that Hannah blew in from the north instead of the south, which is the usual path that most of the hurricanes follow. We'll be without electric for a while, however, we are quite blessed when we look at places like Gonaives that are under water, much like the floods of 2004 with hurrican Jeannie.

Gramothe is faring well. The people are able to get out & move about & mostly only the bannana & plantain crops have been harmed. We are still waiting for reports from Dumay, but know that they would have been threatened by the swelling river that is nearby. Schools in Haiti open September 8th, that's next Monday. Ike is forecasted to hit us Friday or Saturday. Rain is falling now, it looks like a wet week ahead.

Thank you in advance for your (continued) prayers for the people of Haiti.

Sincerely in Christ,

Willem & Beth

NEXT MEDICAL TEAM TO MOUNTIAN TOP MINISTRIES...

The next medical team coming from the Terre Haute, IN area to Mountain Top Ministries is scheduled for...

Monday, September 15th to Monday, September 22nd.

Space is available if you or someone you know is interested in joining this team. For more information, contact MTM today.

THANK YOU!

A really big thank you to all of those who attended the July 25th MTM Reunion in Terre Haute. It has been estimated that about 250 were in attendance with freinds traveling from as far away as Hamilton, IN, Eureka, IL and Coatesville, IN. We are grateful to all who made the effort to be there to join us in a great time of fellowship!

Our time stateside is quickly coming to an end & we are greatful to those of you who have hosted us in your homes, shared MTM with your churches and with your friends. Many more will now be praying for this ministry, lots of students at the MTM Gramothe & Dumay schools now have sponsors, some others will be traveling to Haiti for the first time in the coming months & many others will be partnering with MTM in other ways. By working together, we get things done!

Since you are reading this blog, you've most likely gotten to it through the new MTM website. We are excited about the new web site & encourage you to utilize it to it's fullest! It is also hoped that you will find it to be a helpful tool to share Mountain Top Ministries with others. Keep checking back here to see what's new!

Again, thank you for blessing our family, the ministry of Mountain Top Ministries and the Haitian people. May God bless you abundantly!

Sincerely,
Willem & Beth

YOU ARE INVITED....

FRIDAY, JULY 25TH

6:30 p.m.

MOUNTAIN TOP MINISTRIES REUNION

World Gospel Church

U.S. Hwy. 46, Terre Haute, IN

For more information or directions call Willem or Beth at

812-239-3565 or 812-239-3449.

This event is to bring us together for a time of fellowship. We will enjoy a meal together, be informed by a brief program and MTM will present ministry opportunities.

Bring your trip pictures, your sponsored student profile and anyone that you would like to introduce to the ministry work of Mountain Top Ministries.

See you there!

We're in Indiana!

After a hasty flight to Miami since our flight to Fort Lauderdale was cancelled, we were on our way to a couple days' stay at Tybee Island, GA. Our family had a great few days there resting & enjoying some of the sights & activities before beginning our drive to Terre Haute.

(Sorry, no pictures...I'm working on a different computer & having some "technical" difficulties!)

Soon we'll be in a wonderful condo that has been provided for our summer stay. Praise God for his provision of a comfortable place for our family to rest in while we continue in ministry to those around us! A great big thank you to all of you who helped to make these accommodations to happen for us.

The following are some of our upcoming dates. If you are able, please feel free to join us in the services!
*Interview with WPFR radio station-FM 99.1 (TBA)
*Farmers' Chapel Church, Terre Haute, IN-June 29th, a.m. & p.m. services
*United Methodist Church on Fruitridge & Maple Ave., Terre Haute, IN-June 6th, a.m. service
*Coatesville Christian Church, Coatesville, IN-July 6th, p.m. service
*Mt. Pleasant U.M. Church, Terre Haute, IN-July 13th, a.m. service
*Oregon Baptist Church, Terre Haute, IN-July 13th, p.m. service
*July 17th-20 we'll be traveling to Dubuque, IA for a fundraiser & church services
*****Friday, July 25th @6:30 p.m. be at the World Gospel Church, State Road 46, Terre Haute, IN for the first ever MTM Reunion/Fundraising event. We will be sharing about MTM, giving you all time to fellowship & share about your part of Haiti with each other as we "break bread" & reminisce together. You won't want to miss this event! Be watching for more details.
*Sullivan Baptist Church, Sullivan, IN-July 27th, a.m. service
*Clinton Baptist Church, Clinton, IN-July 27th, p.m. service
*Cross Tabernacle, Terre Haute, IN-July 30th, p.m. service
*Terre Haute 1st Baptist Church, Terre Haute, IN-August 3rd, a.m. service
*King's Highway Tabernacle Church, Terre Haute, IN-August 3rd, p.m. service

Stay tuned for more!

DO YOU KNOW THIS MAN?

He is now your brother in Christ!

Sainristil Tilus gave his heart to Jesus yesterday, testifying that he was turning from a life of serving satan with his witchcraft to serving who he now knows to be the One true God of the world!

Praise the Lord!

Sainristil is pictured above with his wife (a long time Gramothe church member) & 2 of his 15 children. His youngest child, Sofia, is presently being adopted to a family in Terre Haute, Indiana.

Church leaders pray with Sainristil before he prays to ask God, in the name of Jesus, to forgive him of his sins & to come into his heart as Lord over his life.

The Gramothe church was very excited about this conversion as they have prayed for this man for many years!