Mail and dreams

Hello,

I am writing tonight with two things in mind. The first is our headquarters in Lynden is located on a rural country road. Occasionally the local teens like to play pranks. A typical one is to knock down or smash a mailbox while traveling 50 miles plus as they go by. The other is to stick a firecracker or other such explosive in the mailbox and blow it up. Melissa told us that is what happened on Saturday. So besides having to replace our mailbox, we also need to let you know that if any of you sent any mail the last few days, including automatic bank checks to our home address could you please let Melissa or Dustin know. If you sent them to our PO Box there would be no problem. We would really appreciate it you can contact them at, melissaleland@newgenerationhaiti.org

You can also reply to this email and we will forward it on.

Sorry for the inconvenience, we just have no way to know who's mail would have been in the mailbox. I would like to strongly encourage everyone to use our post office address in the future it is; 

New Generation Ministries 

PO Box 42

Lynden, WA 98264

Thank you so very much !

The second thing I would like to share is a small dream I have for the children. Thanks to many of you we now have about 5 boxes of children's books collected. We also have puzzles, games, color books and various leftover VBS crafts for children. I let a couple of children come into my home at a time and spend time drawing, reading or playing. It would be nicer though to have a room set up just for these activities. I have also wished we had a room set up to pray with the children in a semi private place. As I have put more thought and prayer into this I believe I have found a solution. Nathan, Mike and I use our own places for an office, rather than the room here in the children's village designated for an office. Sooooo.... My heart would be to turn the designated office into a library/game/prayer room. So here is where some of you come in. I need a little help, not much. First I would need some wood for book/game shelves. The current window we have in the office has opaque amber colored glass, great for privacy, but it lets very little light in. So I would love it if someone would help me change the amber glass out for clear glass. I also would love to paint the room. Painting the room would obviously require some paint, but I would also love to bless the children with some painted murals in the room. Which leads me to another way you can help, I would love it if any of you would feel led to come help me paint some murals. I know some of you are very talented in this area and would enjoy helping paint the room. I would be open to art work that fits your talent. We do have a projector too, if that would help. Any takers????? Please let me know :) I am excited to get started. 

Blessings,

Chris

Helping Papa Mike

Greetings,

We really appreciate all of the people that have supported us over the years by giving financially, going on trips, or lifting us up in prayer.  To show our appreciation, we would like to invite you to a BBQ.  This is not a fundraiser.  This is simply an opportunity to bring together all of you that have a heart for Haiti.

We are excited to share with you all that has been happening in Haiti.  We have had an eventful summer and Mike will be here to update us and to share our vision for the coming months.  We will be providing the dinner.  Bring your kids, bring your friends, bring your neighbors, leave your check book at home.

The BBQ will be held on Saturday, September 6th at 5:30 p.m. at Henry's Pond in Lynden.  9030 Guide Meridian Rd.  Lynden, WA 98264.  (Henry's Pond is just a couple of miles from the Canadian border, so we hope some of our Canadian friends will join us!)

We look forward to seeing you all on the 6th! 

The Lelands

Our swarm of honey bees. They decided they like it on our porch.They are already building a comb.Trying to figure out how to make a bee hive, so we can put them in a safer place.

I know this is blurry, but I thought it was cute. This little boy built his own guitar and was playing it during worship just to the side of the tent.

So hungry for Jesus

I want to share with you a fun thing we have been able to do the last couple of mornings. The community of Pass Rein is so hungry for God and trying so hard to figure out life differently, that besides meeting for church every night, they also wanted to have a men's conference and a women's conference and this week a marriage and family conference. So yesterday Nathan, Mike and I, and today just Mike and I sat with them and let them ask questions, any question they wanted to. We have had a lot of interaction, a lot of oh my's, a lot of hard life questions and a lot of laughter​. It has been great. The youth have now come to Nathan and said they want a conference too, so they can learn about life. Please, please pray for these families, that their eyes, ears and minds would be open and that they would understand the things of God. Not life like Americans, Canadians or even Haitians, but Kingdom life, life like God created them for, like Haitian Christian men and women. 

Thank you again for helping us to put Bibles in the hands of the Haitian believers. You have helped to give 100 bibles towards our goal of 300. What a huge blessing.

Eating at my daughter Becca's house in Gonaives at her new table made by Scott.

The table is 15 feet long and really built well, to withstand teenage boys :)

Jacob has been teaching the older boys how to work out. It has been a good way to relate to them. 

Tyler, Christina and Jacob building up Janae's two front teeth.

A Very Cool Little God Story

Hello,

I wanted to share a "rest of the story" as Paul Harvey would have put it. 

So the story starts... with God drawing a man to the well. A man who does not know God.There are two natural springs that I know of in Pass Rein. The springs are places that draw community for obvious reasons. One of them is located across the road just outside our church meeting tent. When church or bible study are happening anyone at the spring getting water cannot help hearing what is going on. Frequently we pray quietly for the people at the spring or well. Yesterday morning Mike was preaching in Pass Rein and Nathan was preaching in Poteau. While Mike was preaching a man came to the well  and as he was drawing water he said he could feel the presence of God. So he stayed by the spring and listened. He said as he listened to the white man, God showed him that our church was in the center of Pass Rein (a mountainous village of about 3000 people). He said he could see flames of fire in the spiritual realm over the church. Then he said he could see the flames of fire spreading out over the village and valley. He said he knew it was the spirit of God. The rest of the story is... that He came back to church that night, last night and gave his life to the Lord.

God is soooooooo amazing!!!!

When I was reading in the bible today this was the verse I read; Isaiah 9:2-3

 

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil.

God just keeps blessing and we are sooo very privileged to be a part of it. Thank you sooo very much for your prayers, and help both physically and monetarily. We could not AND can not push through the darkness without you. Your response was great for bibles, I wish that every one of you who helped to give bibles could stand with us and see the smiles break out and the joy take over as they hug their bibles to their chests. A sneak preview of heaven :)

Blessings and thanks

Chris

Huge Victory !

Hello,

Thank you for praying for us. Everyone here is slowly but surely getting past their sickness. Stephanie and Jason made it home safely as did the Teen Challenge team. So we are down to one family from CTK Snohomish visiting now. Tyler and Jacob have worked on the electric and plumbing at my daughter Rebecca's house. They are working on the electrical for Dita's home today. 

On Saturday evening in Pass Rein 25 more people gave their hearts to the Lord. Last night there were 6 more salvations and we prayed for at least 30 people all together. These salvations in themselves are huge, and I know that God sees us all the same, we are all sinners and need to be saved, but we are so excited to share about one salvation in particular. We live and minister in an area where the surrounding villages are among the top voodoo villages in Haiti. Three of the villages are the ones that were advertised as destinations to see voodoo during Haiti's annual carnival. Two Sundays ago a man came to the church service in Pass Rein. He came again yesterday, and 

​ received salvation.​ It turns out that this man is the boko  (head witch doctor) for the area of Gonaives and Enerey. For those of you who have been here, when you are on the mountain behind the orphanage and look down onto the valley as far as you can see, you are looking at about 1/3 of the area he is over. He wept and wept for all that he had done. God is so amazing, to think that He would save us when we are so evil, He loves us and forgives us when we are at our worse. I think God has big plans for this man. He has influence in areas we would never be able to speak into. Please pray for him and his family. The enemy will not be happy  with his decision and he will have to find another way to make an income and support his family. It will change absolutely everything for them and many others.

We have had so many salvations lately in Pass Rien that we have a good problem that you can help us with. We could really use more bibles for all of the new Christians. We are able to purchase a new complete bible in Creole for $10. If any of you would like to help us, you can go to our web site newgenerationhaiti.org. On our web site you can use credit card, pay pal or your bank. You can also send a check to our ministry if you would prefer. The address is New Generation Ministries, PO Box 42, Lynden, WA 98264. Again thank you so much for your prayers and help.

Blessings,

Chris

Jim Glynn and Teen Challenge sharing in Marose

Team Challenge praying for people in Pass Rein

Jacob teaching baseball

Doesn't he have a great smile. He is one of our newest, he says he is 6yrs looks like 4 yrs to me. 

Nathan's grandmother is in the middle, her sisters on either side. She is 82, her sisters are 80 and 84. The life expectancy for a Haitian adult is 52. Amazing!

Nathan and his grandmother :)

Hello,

It is hard to believe we have reached the midpoint of summer. I am not sure I am ready for fall and back to school yet. Our summer got off to a late start this year.

I know it is also the start of back to school supplies being both available and on sale. We would greatly appreciate your picking up some extra supplies for our children when you pick up supplies for your children. There will be over 800 children this year that you will be helping to go to school. 

We have a small team coming today. They have had some flight delays. Please pray for safe and on time travel for the rest of their trip. They will be doing some medical outreaches. Stephanie will also be updating the medical records of the orphans in our Children's Village. I am looking forward to spending time with her. She lived with my daughter Rebecca and her family for a year and then with our family for a year. She also spent 2 months here in the Children's Village.

Last weekend Nathan, Mike and I went to Arcahaie for a crusade and wedding. Mike preached twice and Nathan preached once. Nathan also led worship once and directed the choir. There were 5 salvation's the night Nathan led worship and Mike preached, also about 25 came forward for prayer. This particular church does not usually have ministry time afterwards so it was a new experience for them. 

Rebecca took possession of her house in Gonaive on Monday. We are working out the legal paperwork at the moment so she will be able to start taking children who are still trying to finish school, but are aging out of the Children's Village soon. 

Everyone here is also working hard to finish Dita's transitional home for the girls before the school year starts. They are pouring the ceiling/roof today. After the cement is set they will start laying the blocks for the walls of the second story. 

I think we may have seen the world record for the most live goats carried on a motorcycle. Would you believe 14 goats. It was an unbelievable sight. 

My waiting list for sponsoring an orphan has been fulfilled. 

I have three new orphans to sponsor out, so if any of you are interested in sponsoring an orphan please send me an e-mail and I will send you a photo and give you more information. 

Thanks so much for all of your prayers. 

Many Blessings,

Chris

Chris holding Jonas' baby boy.

Jonas and Nathalie with their baby boy.

Mike with Jonas' baby

Dita's home, our transitional house for girls aging out of the Children's Village.

The back of Dita's home.

The front view.

A side view.

With grateful hearts

Hello again,

Hope you are having a wonderful summer Sunday. Mike is preaching in Marotte and Nathan is preaching in Pass Rien. And I am home with my 8 year old son Joshua. He has the chikungunya virus which is spread from mosquitoes. Most of Haiti has it or had it. According to what I've heard It came from South Africa. I thought we had managed to avoid it, but I guess not. You mostly get a fever, rash and bad joint pain. So we would appreciate your prayers please. 

We had a great night in Pass Rein. Nathan led worship, Mike and Rusty preached, Joann and Mike from the Anacortes team shared their testimonies. And best of all five women were prayed over and set free. I am constantly in awe over God's love. He continues to allow us to participate in bringing his light and glory to the Pass Rein area. 

So I am sitting here with my 6 year old daughter and I asked her what else did the team do lately? She looks at me and says, painted my nails, sang songs, played with me and played with Dieka. I guess her perspective of the important things the team did is very different from mine.  Hmmm I wonder what God would deem most valuable. Something to think about.

Yesterday, Nathan and Mike rented a big bus and took the teachers and school directors from all of our schools to a beach near Arcahaie. Nathan's wife made a beautiful meal for them to eat. They talked about how the school year went and what they want to see for next year. Then they spent the day relaxing. It was constructive, but also a thank you to them for the work they do.

Mike also took the team to Saint Marc yesterday, they were such a blessing to all of us in the Children's Village. He will  take them to the airport Tuesday morning. Please pray for safe travel for them and for on time flight connections. 

On another note, a very exciting note for both us personally and for the ministry. My son Jacob and his wife Amber along with their family of 3 and 1/2 little ones arrive in Haiti Tuesday, along with my daughter Rebecca, soon to be followed by her 9 year old son (who will be staying with his other Grandpa and Grandma for a week or so). Her husband Andrew will follow in about a year. He has

some commitments to finish up with first. We are excited personally to have some of our children and grandchildren ministering with us. It has been so hard being far away from family. But, we are also excited for the ministry as the two families will be running transitional housing for our aging out orphans. Jacob and Amber will be running Dita's home and the ministry for the girls and Rebecca and Andrew will be running the home and ministry for the boys. We are excited because they are not just providing a house, they are providing a true transition into adult life. This program is offered to those children that are trying to finish high school or vocational training. They will also receive training in cooking, cleaning, laundry, purchasing food, budgeting and inductive bible study, along with other life skills. We are so thrilled to be able to offer a life giving alternative to being put out on the streets.

The venture of transitional housing was the focus of our May fundraiser headed up by our daughter Amber, she along with Mia, Jesse, Jacob, Melissa and Dustin and a few others, worked hard to raise funds for this project. This project was also the focus of our very faithful friends, Bob and Rose Crabtree's mission store. They hold a mission store for us each summer with a particular theme. They invite their friends to a picnic lunch and share, sometimes they have a store set up of actual items needed, this time they focused on transitional housing and it was very successful. We received many notes telling of how enjoyable the time was. Rose asked our son's Jacob and Jesse to speak. Jacob spoke on the transitional home and his family's calling to minister in that area. Jesse, whom we adopted from Haiti 25 years ago, spoke from both his heart and his perspective. We are very proud of them. We are also very grateful to Bob and Rose and their friends for their help and support.

Thank you for reading my thoughts and thank you for your prayers and support.

Blessings,

Chris

Mike planting coconut trees and cherries around the inside perimeter of the Children's Village.

One of our helpers.

Coconut trees produce 50 to 200 coconuts per tree per year. 

Our June team  from Anacortes CTK.

Joanne frosting the birthday cake.

Three goats playing on the statue of Dessaline's in the downtown center of Gonaives.

Hello,

I wanted to send out an e-mail thanking everyone for praying for me. I am still trying to catch up on things. It has been almost 4 weeks since my surgery and I am finally feeling back to normal. I think I felt better the first week instead of the next two. Probably because I rested more and had less to do during the first week. I am so grateful for your prayers. Between the long intense pain episodes and losing my vital signs in the ER, I know your prayers were covering me and that God was protecting me. I also really appreciated all of your notes letting me know you were praying. Mike shared them with me. We are so glad to be back together again as a family. God is good and works everything for our good. 

We had a great team from Anacortes arrive Monday. They have been very loving and serving. On Tuesday the team spent time with the children. Playing guitar, singing, painting the girls fingernails. In the afternoon they went into Gonaives to the market and into the city center to see a little bit of history.

On Wednesday, Rusty and Mike helped my Mike fix one of our water tanks. We have only had two 1000 gallon tanks the last couple of months. It will be so nice to have 3 tanks again. The team also helped organize all of the donated clothing that arrived in the container. Thank you so much for all of the clothing you donated it is much appreciated. The organizing took a couple of hours and I appreciated the help very much. With out their help it would have taken me a day and a half. In the late afternoon we had a birthday party for the May and June birthdays. We missed the May birthdays because I was so sick and then had surgery in Florida. So we combined the birthdays. After the birthday party 1/2 of the team went to Pass Rien with Nathan for bible study and the other 1/2 stayed here in Marose for church. Rusty preached and the girls shared their testimonies. They did a great job. 

Today, the team started off the day by helping to pass out clothing and shoes to each of the children. They spent time with each child helping them to find things that fit and that they liked. It took almost four hours to help everyone. Even the mama's (nanny's) picked out some things. Afterwards some of the team took the children to the river, or maybe I should say the children took the team to the river. It is lower than it should be this time of year, but they still had fun. In the late afternoon the girls on the team met with the older girls in our Children's village. They shared with them about life and life choices. We have been having some great devotions up on the roof each night. It is so cool and refreshing up on the roof. Tonight after devotions the team spent time praying for us, which was really nice.

Tomorrow the team will travel up to the mountain village of Perou. They will pass out some more clothing and shoes and they will also pass out some Days for Girls kits that they brought from their church. They will also spend some time praying for Wadner and visiting his family. If they have enough time they will visit one of the areas in Perou where sugar cane is made into syrup. Please pray for the team as they travel and minister in Perou. In the evening they will be going to all night prayer and worship in Pass Rein. Again the team will pass out clothing and shoes. Please pray for the team as they minister and for Nathan, Mike and Rusty as they preach. Also pray that the Spirit moves and hearts are made new.  

Again, blessings to each of you as you pray for and come along side of us to help the poor, the needy and the orphans. 

Many Blessings,

Chris

Update ... June 2nd

"The power of prayer to God, is so much more productive than all of our human resources or mental efforts could ever be." 

    We have endured the fierce battle daily, and have seen the strong tide of darkness being pushed back all week. We had such an amazing Sunday. We started at 6:30 am at the church at Pass Rien. People from 4 churches gathered to be baptized. Even though they had attended classes, I shared with them about the spiritual significance of this obedient outward display, and the transformation that Jesus and the Holy spirit were doing inside of each one of them. We had a big parade 100 strong, with marching band for about 1 1/2 miles down to the river. We baptized about 40 mostly young people. One demon manifested but was quickly extinguished in the presents of the Holy Spirit. What a great witness for the community looking on. We marched back up to the church for a 3 hour service which included our Good Shepherd coral, a couple of singing groups, an "over the top", glorious worship time by Pastor Nathan, and a message by yours truly. We had an amazing ministry time that lasted 2 hours and delivered 5 ladies and brought 13 new people to salvation in the name of Jesus. It was so powerful that you could just feel the presents of God. Altogether we saw 35 salvations this week, and many deliverances and healings. 

  "This is the power of your prayers for this ministry!" You have persisted in prayer until the Lord would graciously move in victorious power over the strongholds of Haiti. Thank You and Bless You....Mike

P.S. Chris is doing very well and looking forward to joining us in Haiti on Saturday. Thank you all again for your amazing outpouring of love and support and prayers for Chris and I and this ministry. We could not do this without you................Bless You................Mike