Greetings from Alabama
We are
trusting that this update finds you
walking
confidently with the Lord. As I was
thinking of what I should share, I had a
sense that a great struggle is underway
for many of you. With our sagging
economy and all of the uncertainties
that many of you reading this are facing
each day, there is ample opportunity to
shift our gaze off of Jesus and on to
the waves that are rolling around us.
We pray that the strength giver, the
Lord, will give you the strength you
need for the days ahead. Some of you
are struggling financially, some with
physical or relational issues and others
with the loss of a loved one. Martie
and I pray that your faith will be
stronger, that your walk will be bolder,
and your light will be brighter all to
the Glory of God!
Life after Waveland
As you
might imagine, we had mixed emotions at
our leaving the camp in Waveland. We
love the people there and miss them
greatly. We also love the volunteers
that served with us for those five
years. (that would be you!) No two
people were more blessed than Martie and
me. We met so many saints who
understood God's call to "go" and obeyed
it. Martie and I were greatly
encouraged by both your friendship and
partnership. Having left our family
behind to serve in Mississippi, we felt
that the Lord had given us an extended
family who came to Mississippi to visit
us.
As we
settle into this ministry in Alabama we
have been a little anxious to get things
moving. Partly because there is much to
do and partly because we would love to
see you come to Alabama to serve along
side us. We have been seeking the Lord
on this because the one thing we don't
want to do is get ahead of God.
Martie
will be home schooling Jessica another
year. We intended to enroll her in
public school, but Martie said the Lord
would not let her do otherwise. Martie
does a wonderful job at home schooling.
Focus on Haiti
Some facts about Haiti:
The people need Jesus. Roman
Catholic 80%, Protestant 16%
(Baptist 10%, Pentecostal 4%,
Adventist 1%, other 1%), none 1%,
other 3% :
roughly half of the population
practices voodoo
The human impact of the earthquake
is immense. Approximately 1.3
million live in temporary shelters
in the metropolitan area of
Port-au-Prince. Over 600,000 people
have left the affected areas to seek
shelter elsewhere in the country.
More than 300,000 people, according
to national authorities were killed
and as many wounded. . Approximately
1.5 million people, representing 15%
of the national population, were
affected indirectly.
About 105,000 homes were totally
destroyed and over 208,000 damaged.
More than 1,300 educational
institutions, more than 50 hospitals
and health centres have collapsed or
are unusable. The country's main
port has been rendered inoperative.
The Presidential Palace, the
Parliament, the Court-House, the
majority of buildings of the
ministries and public administration
have been destroyed.
Orphans
As you know we are partnered
with Bridges of Faith (BOF) .. whose
primary ministry focus is
international orphans. We are
helping BOF by taking the lead to
coordinate with the Haitian pastor
to bring 10 orphans to BridgeStone
for a period of time. After their
visit at BridgeStone the orphans
will return to the orphanage in Les
Cayes (la-kie [pronounced like
pie]). BOF's intent is to bring
orphans on a routine basis once we
have worked out the process. A
number of people have already
indicated an interest in serving
here to help with the orphans while
they are here. Of course we are
anxious to see this move forward and
pray that the Lord will break up the
administrative loggerhead so we can
proceed. I am corresponding with a
pastor in Haiti and he has nearly
all of the passports for the
orphans. The earthquake decimated
the Haitian immigration service ...
not just the destruction of
buildings but many of the employees
lost their lives. So all processes
have really slowed down. Les Cayes
is only 90 miles from Port Au Prince
but it takes 5 hours to get there.
Construction at BridgeStone
We are
also helping BOF with construction at
BridgeStone. In fact for the past two
weeks we have had a team from Mendocino
here building a small log house on
site. I have been working with them
... It was a great time of fellowship
and thanks to their skillfulness we made
great progress. We need more help to
finish the log walls and then to build a
floor on top of the walls, so I am
looking for volunteer groups to come.
Homes 4 Haiti
In
addition to building the house, we also
talked about building modular homes in
Haiti. I am convinced that Pathfinder
has a role in the rebuilding of homes in
Haiti. After the team left for
California, Martie and I drove to
Gainesville, GA .. it took us about an
hour less than it would to drive from
Les Cayes to Port Au Prince ... but it
is 250 miles from here not 90. Thank
you President Eisenhower for interstate
highways! A church in Gainesville is
building modular homes and sending them
to Haiti to be assembled. We went there
to see what they are doing and
understand the process they have
established to get the buildings into
Haiti. We want to identify best
practices before we commit to a solution
for Pathfinder. There are, of course,
many issues that must be addressed ...
construction ... how to build them ...
logistics ... how to get them there ....
and resourcing ... how to pay for them
and recruiting volunteers who will build
them.
I will be going to Haiti with a team
from Mendocino to work with
Samaritan's Purse in November for 2
weeks and then again with a
different team for one week in
January. During those times I hope
to increase my understanding of the
cultural and physical factors in
building homes there. Right now the
focus is on 'Relief' the Samaritan's
Purse shelters are essentially
Haitian FEMA trailers. Not intended
to be permanent solutions but
temporary relief from the elements.
As I
type this I am thinking about the words
of caution I have already received from
well meaning people who see
insurmountable problems ahead. After
sharing what we were going to do, one
friend asked; "Are you crazy?" That
would be a 'No'. I am reminded of
Joshua and Caleb ... 2 of my favorite
guys. They knew there were giants in
the land ... they had seen them just
like the others had ... but they also
knew that their God had known about the
giants before Moses led the people out
of Egypt. Folks, there is nothing too
hard for God. If God is for us ... who
can be against us! If He is in it, God
will make a way. Those are not just
words to a song ... they are fact.
Hallelujah! (BTW, if He isn't in it, I
want no part of it)
My Challenge to You
My
purpose is not to raise an expectation
in your mind that will not come to
pass. We believe that Pathfinder is on
the right path ... just as we were in
Waveland. The Lord has set our feet on
it and we WILL walk in obedience to His
leading. My question to you is 'Will
you join us?' I pray that you will. I
have found that I don't need to
understand everything in order to act.
What I need to do is act on what I do
understand ... . What about you?
Friend ... there is much to do ... if we
spend our life only on things that have
no eternal consequence .. . we are
wasting our lives! I shared with the
men in Gainesville, Ga that when I was
in Ocean Springs in the days right after
Katrina a volunteer asked if I could
give him a sound bite to take back to
his church. I said, "Tell your people
that it is better to come here and do
something (for the kingdom) than to sit
at home and do nothing." You may not
feel led to help Pathfinder at this
time... but God is leading you to do
something .... somewhere.
Prayer Requests
Carol Wasielewski -
Carol worked with us for some time at
Pathfinder and at Shoreline. She
recently had surgery for cancer and is
recovering. Many of you have walked the
difficult path she is on. Pray that the
Lord will strengthen her spiritually and
bring healing.
William Bradley -
William lives in the county just south
of BridgeStone. The doctors found a
tumor on his liver and suspect it to be
cancerous. Pray for physical healing
and spiritual strength.
Celebrate Recovery in Waveland
- Pastor Ben attended the CR conference
in California this month. Old Spanish
Trail is ministering to the people in a
new way through Celebrate Recovery.
Pray that the Lord will continue to
bless that ministry and raise up leaders
to help expand their outreach.
Orphan Project - Pray
that the Lord will smooth the way for us
with the American Embassy in Haiti so
that we can obtain tourist Visas for the
orphans.
Homes 4 Haiti - We have
already seen God's hand in this. Pray
that God will give us discernment and
wisdom as we move forward with this
project.
Haitian Elections -
Elections will take place at the end of
November (after I return). We know that
the Lord raises up and casts down. Pray
that the elections will be non-violent.
Pray that the new president will have a
tender heart toward the Lord and will
ease the processes that are impeding the
aid the people need.
Construction at Bridgestone
- We need skilled volunteers to help
finish the log house. Pray that those
volunteers will say 'yes' to the Holy
Spirit who even now is stirring their
hearts.
Pathfinder Mission - My
brother, Don, told me some years ago
that I should ask God and tell people
about what our ministry needs are. We
need your prayers, service and financial
support. We believe that it is the
Spirit and not us that motivates
believers to act on Pathfinder's
behalf. Our telling you of our needs is
just closing the loop on what the Spirit
has already begun in your heart. If you
are so led, please say 'yes' to Him and
support this ministry in the way that He
leads you.
This is
our new mailing address
Pathfinder Mission
P.O.
Box 2745
Clanton, AL 35046
Charley
By His Grace
and for His Glory
Charley Elgin
Pathfinder
Mission
www.pathfindermission.org
228.493.1081
Isaiah 58 Rebuilding Houses -
Restoring Lives