Santiago Story from tom hinton on Vimeo.

Heart and Soul

My time has been a mixed bag of emotions.  The first I ever came to Haiti was in 1981.  I spoke at a countrywide youth convention.  Ron Hittenberger was interpreting for me.  As is the case many times, the lights went out while I spoke, about five times.  One time when the lights were out, we heard a hissing sound like an angry cat.  All we saw was the shadow of something coming toward us from the back of the building. The Haitian youth panicked and began to scream and pray loud.  Ron said, “Keep on speaking.”    And I did.  When the shadow came close to us, rising up, lurching at us, Ron put out his hand and said “in the Name of Jesus,” and the body of a young man twisted and contorted fell to the ground as if hit with a sledge hammer.   We encountered a demonic spirit.

Clean up is slow

In 1982, I wept with friend Dwight Westover as we looked at what seemed to be a thousand lights (or more) that represented so many more people.  Dwight died in a plane crash several years later.  I preached his funeral.  I thought of him and his heart for the lost.  I mourned his loss in Haiti.  I can’t explain it.  It just hit me.

Driving through earthquake-ripped Port Au Prince has reminded of the heart and soul of human suffering.  This city is shut down,taken over by large agencies that have resource answers and structure initiatives.  As I had breakfast with development workers from Denmark, France and Canada I heard their

Remembering

overwhelming frustration of what to do, when and with whom.  This is all complex.  No easy answers in this second phase of relief work.

I had a meeting with Guy Thomas today.  It was great to connect to the Foursquare leader of Haiti.  I took him with me to a meeting at the airport where I had connected with Missionary Aviation Fellowship.  (MAF).  I could not bring Guy a cup of cold water but I did connect him to water filters for the people that attend his church.  Clean water means better health.

When people ask me what  I do, the simplicty of it all surprises even me.  I connect people to people to resource and along the way I make freinds and together the Kingdom is advanced.  It was a cool feeling to watch a new friend drive with enough water filters for his entire church.

YOUR GIVING TO BARNABAS TASK HAS MADE A DIFFERENCE IN HAITI.

I will write more as time and Internet permits.

Haiti's greatest day is before them from tom hinton on Vimeo.

After arriving back from the Dominican Republic, I had the privilege to speak on Human Trafficking,  on Nov. 13, helping a couple raise funds to adopt two orphan children.

Orphanages must release orphans at a certain age. Human Trafficking vilolators know this. Thus children become children at risk.  I have been looking for a lighthouse photo for a long time. what better way to invest than to help the cause of the couple.

Connections

Being in Santiago with John Kindler and Peter Conner has been a delight.  Great to have friends with me.  We are watching the favor of God create some things that are pretty cool.  After arriving at our hotel at 5 am, we slept a little, prayed together and went out to Cien Fuegos in the afternoon.  It was significant time to observe where people lived in comparison to where the potential of a water plant would be placed which is part of a three fold community development project. We then had a meeting with a lady  we had connected to on the plane, on the last return home from Santiago. The lady brought a friend.  We freely discussed the high priority of planting a church in Santiago, the cornerstone of everything we are doing.  We also discussed community development in Cien Fuegos.

New worker for Barnabas Task

This morning we had breakfast with Paul Allyn, an 28 year veteran independent missionary who has given his full support to help us establish the first Foursquare church in Santiago, a city of one million.  Peter went to Cien Fuegos with a new faithful worker that will be a great asset to Barnabas Task. His name is Jose Lino. He is a strong believer and will assist in bringing influence  to Cien Fuegos.  He was a surprise. John and I had a meeting with Osvaldo Torres , the pastor that we worked with when bringing the last medical team.  We have been invited to speak to the entire group (16)  of Neighborhood Association presidents. This meeting is significant in that we will begin dialog for community development in Cien Fuegos.

Taxi driver

During the medical clinic we gave out small teddy bears and other stuffed animals.  After arrival I needed a taxi to another hotel to confirm some plans. The taxi driver who stopped had a small stuffed octopus on his dashboard.  After asking, the taxi driver explained that there was a medical team that came to Cien Fuegos about a month ago, placed a roof on a house and were full of God’s love. He explained the meaning of the colored  beads on the octopus.  In fact he shared that he had given his life to God.  I then told the taxi driver that it was Barnabas Task that brought the team and that I knew the director of Barnabas Task!

New Followers

Last night was a special night.  John and I went to the home of Penelope Bravo, a sales person from the Hotel Almirantes.  She has been a key person of contact for any hotel accommodations.  She gave her life to Christ the first week of July.  Last night, her husband and mother became followers of Christ. As well, a friend from San Francisco, Dominican Republic became a follower. It was the first time she ever visited the home.  Penelope and her family are planning to attend the first “Getting to know meeting,” which is Friday, Dec. 18.  (El primer Encuentro de Conocer) They have asked that I dedicate their two young children to the Lord.