Happy Thanksgiving

Mary and I are spending some time with our children Lori, Scott, Justin, and Kaitlin in Raleigh NC.

As I think about this season, I think about those people close to me which I am thankful for, and thankful that God has allowed them to be part of my life. I am thankful for the wonderful relationships which we have together.

We stepped off the back of the truck on the morning of November 12th into this yard where hurricane Mathew had tore down a house. We met this lady named Madlin who began telling the story of when the storm hit. As she tells her story there is the sound of children playing and a machete cutting wood in the background. Madlin continues her story as she holds a single screw driver and tells how it is the only tool she has today to remove her cooking pots and utensils from the rubble. She shared how her husband is a farmer and he is cutting the trees off the farmland with his machete so he will be able to plant crops. Then her husband Pierre comes up and shares how his goats and sheep were also a part of his family's lively hood and they too were taken away with the storm.

Their story is one of many where entire homes were broken down and destroyed by the storm. I was overwhelmed by the great need there. Today back in America reflecting on what I am thankful for, I am so thankful for the relationships I have with family and friends. But as I ponder these things I am reminded of the world of broken relationships around us. Most live in pristine homes comparatively, but are hurting inside because of broken relationships. Many would even rather not celebrate the holidays because it reminds them of the broken relationships. As overwhelmed as I am with the desperation of the Haitian people and their physical needs due to broken homes, so am I overwhelmed in America with our broken relationships with each other, which is the deeper cause of our division in America.

There is Hope!! His name is Jesus!! He is in the reconciliation business. Someone once said How you respond to an offense will determine your future. Many of us are in the place of broken relationship because of how we have responded to offense in the past. It is not too late! We still have the opportunity to ask Jesus how he would have us respond so there is restoration in our relationships. Responsibility is our ability to respond. If we are followers of Christ, we have the power of the Holy Spirit working in and through us to do His good will, which gives us an ability to respond that others do not have. My prayer during this season is that if you are in a broken or strained relationship that your ability to respond will be increased and today you can make the phone call, send the letter, or visit the relationship for a new beginning.

Praying for you and wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving.

With love in Christ

Emory and Mary

Hurricane Restoration

Hey friends

         I would like to say thank you to those of you have been helping with the fundraising effort. We have reached over half our Goal of 100 shelters to place families back in shelters. And I do not want to limit God and what He wants to do as we make preparation to help those in need. I was encouraged Saturday and Sunday as I visited the southwest of Haiti, by the number of tarps that have been distributed to help people in the relief situation. Again thank you so much for being a voice to those who do not have a voice. Above is a link which will help you understand and share with others the gravity of the need there. Please be in prayer for our transition over the next two weeks. I will return to the states on Friday. Then on the fifth of December I will return and ramp up the rebuilding effort. Mary will follow after the first of the year. Also be in prayer for our provision of a house and transportation for moving building materials.

With love in Christ
Emory and Mary Wilson

Mirror

Hey Friends

            Have you ever seen a need and wondered who is someone that could actually meet that need? When I left for Haiti on October 10th, I was on a quest because several people had asked me who they could give to in order to help the victims of hurricane Mathew.  So I went to the southwest looking for this person. There was very little help there and no contacts which I knew, so when I returned to PAP I looked in the mirror and I found the guy I had traveled six hours to find. God is so funny sometimes. So Mary and I are answering the call of God to return to Haiti for an indefinite amount of time to help those who have lost their homes in the wake of hurricane Mathew. I will be there the first of December and Mary will be there in January. There is a great need there and we need to be there in order to see it through. We have already begun to rebuild homes there. We have a plan to get some families in the village of Anike back in their homes. For four hundred dollars we can buy the materials to help these families as they do the labor to put their homes back together. 

           So many people are asking what they can do. So many of you who are reading this have helped so much already. Thank you so much for what you have done. Prayer is the main thing always because we need discernment as we follow the Holy Spirit in all we do. God has called us to be a voice for those who do not have a voice. We extend that invitation to each of you. Will you be a voice for those without a voice and share with some of your friends who might be willing to give. We have set a goal of 100 homes, but believing God has called us to do more. May God bless you as you serve Him by serving others. Please be in pray with us concerning a place to live and transportation as we seek these out.

Much love in Christ

Emory and Mary

                

Overwhelmed

  Someone asked me what it was like where the hurricane hit. The only word that seemed to come to mind did not have to do with the physical state or the state of mind that the victims were in, but my own inner self and feelings which rose up. They are overwhelmed and helpless. 

    As I process these words, overwhelmed seems to be birthed from the magnitude of damage and destruction left in wake of hurricane Mathew in southwest Haiti.  Helpless comes from seeing the hopelessness and desperation in the eyes of these victims, which causes me to ask what can I do? I alone realize I can do nothing, but knowing I belong to a greater body, (the bride of Christ who is making Herself known to the world and Heaven is declaring her Glory) gives me hope for the hopeless. Realizing God gifted each of us to do different task for a greater purpose and that is so that His creation can Glorify Him. 

     Tuesday morning we loaded the truck with rice, beans, cooking oil, tarps, and water. It was a six hour drive to get to les cayes. We arrived after dark. We woke up before daylight and headed out as the night dawned to daylight, there was destruction everywhere. Trees torn down and stripped of limbs everywhere.  The good thing was that most homes were in tact because of the concrete structures were  strong enough to hold them together. After traveling for a couple of hours we arrive at Kapantye  and then to Anike where there is mountainous farmlands, we began to see total homes torn off their foundation.  Fruit trees and gardens destroyed. This is a place where people's survival is based on what the land produces and their gardens are destroyed with the grain still clinging to the pods, and coconut, banana, avocado, papaya, and mango trees strewn everywhere with premature fruit hanging from the lifeless branches.  As we began distributing food in the area you could see the desperation on the faces, in the eyes and voices of each one. Most did not even have a tarp or shelter to shade them from the sun in a land now barren of shade and life giving fruits and vegetables. One woman took her shirt off to make a bag to put rice in. As we continued the journey of distribution, they were thankful but it seemed a little rice, beans, oil, and a tarp was like putting one of those bandages that do not stick. One man shared with us that it would take him over a year to rebuild and have a shelter for his family. There are thousands of people without power and no hope of even someone planning to help in the foreseeable future. 

    What can we do. I have been talking with pastor CG. Most of these houses have foundations that can be built on. For 150$ we could buy cement to rebuild the walls. For 150$ we can buy metal for the roof to finish two 15x15 rooms. And 100$ will purchase wood, nails, sand, etc to complete the project. We are expecting the homeowners to do the labor and work with others in the community as volunteers. So for 400$US. People can have a shelter. I believe that together we can begin to rebuild 100 of these homes over the next few months. So what can you do? Can you buy the cement? Can you buy a roof, some nails, or possibly a house for 400$? Or it may not be possible for you to do any of the above but you could share this need with some of your friends and pray for us.

 In addition to the above, Mary and I are planning to move to Haiti for some time to see this through along with pastor CG. We will have living expenses and need a vehicle. Please be in prayer with us about these needs, and help would be appreciated.

    You can give via PayPal at christianlightminitries.org or send it to Christian light ministries PO box 23881 Jacksonville. Fla. 32256. 

With much love
Emory and Mary