Isaac

"The wind woke us at around midnight. We knew the storm was coming. We kept waiting in anticipation. A hurricane was a new experience for us. Yet I was not afraid. 

We are from an area in Alabama which has frequent tornadoes during hurricane season. Six hours from the Gulf of Mexico, rain, thunder storms and tornadoes are our results when a hurricane hits the gulf.

As the wind howled, I lay in bed praying. Mostly giving thanks that He is our protection, but also calling the names of our Haitian brothers and sisters who were not in  as  safe a place as Roger and I. We had asked about opening the church as a storm shelter. It is one of the safest places here. But we were told no, that it is opened if people come asking for shelter but not before. So different than home where shelters are prepared as soon as it is known a storm is coming and people are encouraged to go there before the fact.

This morning the rain continues but the winds are not as fierce. The only damage to the mission was the gate by the school. One side was blown completely down and the other is off the track. Wilner, Roger, Pastor Wilbur, Pastor Vix a mar, Daniel, Martial and another whose name I do not yet know, got everything back in place before the rain became heavy again. We had to keep our eye on Wilner, as he had back surgery a few months ago. Roger refused to let him lift or push.

Wilner also told us one family in the community across the street had their home blown away during the night. He took them to his house. We also found out today that the roof on the church at Terr Blanche was blown off. It is in the hills above St. Marc."

I wrote the above segment the weekend Isaac went over Haiti.  As of now I do not know of any more damage that the IPHC of Haiti has occurred due to the storm. I give God praise for it but I also wonder about those here in Haiti who do not know the Lord, if their night with Isaac could have been different for them if they only knew Jesus. 

I am not speaking of physical protection though all believers hope that is the case.

( And we should provide it for those who cannot protect themselves.  'Suppose a believer, whether a man or a woman, needs clothes or food and one of you tells that person, “God be with you! Stay warm, and make sure you eat enough.” If you don’t provide for that person’s physical needs, what good does it do?' (James 2:15, 16 GWT)) Bad things still happen to God's people at times due to the nature of this sin cursed earth and because He allows things to occur at various times in order to accomplish His plan for us. "Also, let Christ’s peace control you. God has called you into this peace by bringing you into one body. Be thankful." (Colossians 3:15 GWT) When His peace controls us we can survive every storm!