Help, we need help!

In 5 days we will leave for Haiti and suddenly we have a lot more adversity than usual: we need prayer!

Last week I had to stay in bed all week with sever back ache. I have this often and have had two operations on my back already, but this time it was heavier than the last couple of times. We even had to call the doctor for additional prescriptions for medicines to be prescribed.

Johan, who is always strong and full of energy, was battling a severe bout of diarrhea. Each day this week he became more tired, the conversations became shorter, and we were both physically so drained. We rarely get diarrhea; I think we have really built up a vast resistance against all kinds of bacteria and viruses, but his diarrhea is still not over and eats his energy.

Then also as a bonus my beautiful new Lenovo laptop crashed with everything on it that we will need in Haiti. It's a new laptop! I bought it five months ago in the Netherlands! Friday I was on the phone all day to get it fixed.

It seemed the problem was the built in ventilator, which did not work anymore so the laptop was overheating and crashed. Friday afternoon, just before closing time, we managed to get the notebook to the store. The young man who helped us was so happy when he saw my notebook: "Wow you have the new Lenovo, which we do not have in Brazil yet! Did you know that it is also used by NASA? They never break down, the best laptops in the world together with Sony ...”

"Uhmmm well, this is broken ..."

"Well that's a miracle that we never really see here. We sell many brands here, but all the people working in this store buy themselves a Lenovo because it really is the best, superior quality, does not break down…”

"OK, when can we get it back?"

"Well, if the fan is really broken it will take about 2 weeks!”

"What? We need it to take with us to Haiti!”

"Well, no, that's impossible. If it really is broken and we need to order new parts, those parts need to come from China... we do not have them in stock."

Oh no.

I have wonderful material in French and Creole for our students, like a little booklet specially written for the children in Haiti to help them overcome the trauma. Phyllis Kilbourn sent it to me, a famous WEC missionary who has a whole series of books to her name, all about children in need. It is really beautiful. I certainly can see how the students could start using it with the children in the camps; I would like to have at least 1000. For my classes I have handouts how cholera is preventable, and we also want certain parts of the book series "Where There is No Doctor," in French and Creole printed. Johan has already sent all the handouts of his classes for the French translation. Everything was supposed to be printed in Haiti but now we just heard that the print shop in Haiti, who would do it at a very reasonable price, cannot do it anymore. We now have to do it all this week in Brazil! Oops...

And financially we are also struggling; we still need more money to pay for all our costs!

Will you pray for us? So much opposition at once is not normal. Like the Lenovo salesman said: "This really never happens!"

We are going to Haiti because we believe that God is leading us there. We are going so that we may teach young people to let their light of Christ shine forth in their camps and neighborhoods. We hope to give many practical lessons so they will grow in their faith and knowledge of God, but also that they will be able to reach out to children in need in a practical way. I believe we now are in a spiritual battle and we need more prayer. Will you stand in prayer for us?