3-1-2010

Hey everyone,

I just wanted to give you all an update on the situation in Chile.

Family: The family is doing well. The kids are back to sleeping in their rooms but still ask if the earthquake will happen again. The house still doesn’t have electricity but the word is that maybe today or tomorrow. The kids are beginning to ask how they can help those in need.

Church: Almost everyone from our church and the churches in Santiago are accounted for without major damages, but the are three churches in the south that we have not been able to communicate with. I know many have desires to help but we will keep you posted as soon as we have an ideas of how to help we will let you know. Please be patient. Also one of our members works with the Red Cross. He is going to call me this afternoon with more information.

God is good. My prayer is that the church will shine in the darkness for the Chilean people growing the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We will be on Skype at home as soon as the electricity come back receiving your calls.

Love you all,
Zane, Tae, Naomi, Isaac, Simeon, Enoch

Monday morning came early as we arose at 3:30 for our drive to Port au Prince.  We were able to secure a box truck, for security reasons, to take us and the food we had purchased.  The tons of rice and beans we had acquired fit very well in the 20 foot cargo area.  There were, however, six of us in the cab.  The trip took about eight and a half hours.  Portions of the road are good and afford a steady speed, but most is gravel wash-board and filled with “cauldron holes,” my word for bigger than pot-holes.  It was pretty rough.  This is the main highway from the north.  Many have wondered why more aid isn’t flown in to Cap Haitian and then transported to the south.  This is one of the reasons; it’s impractical.

Tim is still without internet in Haiti, but is working on relief efforts in the tent city in Port au Prince and with Christians there.  He is doing well, but his camera has been broken.  Hopefully he will find someone who will share pictures with him.  Let's continue to pray for Tim as he travels and does the work of God there.  Also pray for David Dirrim and those others who are working diligently to assist and teach those there.

In Him,
Chris Swinford

We received this on Saturday:

I am Angelica Alaniz daughter of Armando Alaniz. My dad wanted me to update you on his health, after several days of intensive testing of his deteriorating health the team of 5 physicians diagnose him with stage 4 cancer of the colon. This primary score mass grew enough to spread the cancer to the liver and lungs. The cancer deteriorated enough of his blood cells, that he had to have a transfusion of 2 units of blood to replenish the loss.

My dad continues to be hospitalized. Tuesday, God willing, they will do minor surgeryto place a port on his chest of chemotherapy treatment until the cancer is regressed. My family continues to ask for prayers.

Angelica Alaniz

My time thus far in Haiti has introduced me to some wonderful brethren who are advancing the cause of the kingdom and initiating help for the hurting of this country.  The Lord through his servant James tells us what pure religion is all about.  He encourages us to care for the widows and orphans.  Fanrose is one such brother.  Pictured below he is standing with Dale Huff (the director of our school in Cap Haitian.  Over and over the preachers I meet tell me of all the people who flooding into their homes from Port au Prince.  Fanrose is taking care of two children of his deceased brother.  He is active in training preachers and is much respected in the community of brethren in the Cap Haitian area.  Through men like him, the gospel of Christ is being portrayed for all to see.

My first day and experience in Haiti consists in my bus ride across the border from Santiago, Dominican Republic.  As we drove nearer the border in Dominican, we could see the towns and people becoming poorer.  One notices at the border that those who are doing the manual labor and carrying are of darker complexion.  The women are carrying things on their head and it is amazing to see how they balance such large and cumbersome loads.  We saw quite a few rice fields, and recognizing it as a staple, along with beans in the Haitian diet, we can easily understand why there are so many fields of it.  It reminded me of those I have seen in Korea, only flatter.

Greetings Brothers and Sisters,

Tim made it successfully to Haiti to minister and assist with relief efforts there. His bags even made it with him! So far, he is without internet service, but texted that he is safe and sound. We praise God for the successful completion of this initial phase of this trip and will continue to pray for traveling mercies. I'm sure that when he can, he will communicate reports.

In Him,
Chris