How do you plan a trip to Haiti after an earthquake?

from e-mail sent out Wednesday, January 13, 2010:

Greg Roberts, our church missionary, was planning to leave Monday for a medical trip to Haiti. The plan included four medical clinics and assisting with a couple of surgeries in the country.

Yesterday's 7.0 earthquake radically changed those plans.

Today, Greg spent a lot of time with Chris Keylon and other members of the Chadasha Foundation, working on plans for going to assess the situations in Port au Prince.

First, they "somehow" managed to get the last two seats on a plane flying out of Knoxville tomorrow morning. Then they were able to rent the last truck available for rent in Santo Domingo. Wonder how that happened.

While they were rejoicing over those things, they were visited by a gentleman who is part of a major ministry that serves in disaster relief. He was in Sri Lanka after the tsunamis hit and other places around the world. He shared with the men going on this trip to Haiti the things they must look for and not overlook. He told them things they must avoid. He shared advice with them that will be truly priceless.

As an aside before he left, he shared with Greg and the others that his ministry is partnered with 15 other ministries that pour over $500 million dollars each year into assisting around the world and that he was there to tell them that these ministries are behind what Church of the Cove and Chadasha is doing.

While our guys were celebrating that news, a phone call came in and was put on speaker phone so all could hear. Stanley Brock of Remote Area Medical Missions told Greg and Chris and the others that RAMM is considering them to be their assessment team, too. And, by the way, next week, they would be sending a team of seven doctors and a C-130 airplane loaded with all the medical supplies they could get on it. Some of those supplies will include a couple of four-wheelers and motorcycles to help the guys get around.

Whew! Greg made it to church a little early to meet with the elders to have them pray with him about the trip, seeking God's discernment. While in that meeting, his phone rang. Chris Keylon was on the line to share with him that Lonnie, a gentleman from Huntsville, Alabama, that they've been talking with had put $140,000 into a bank account for them to use for missions in Haiti. With that money, the plan is to purchase a car -- possibly a "new" car with a dent -- somewhat inexpensively and a flat-bed truck as well. Then, instead of renting a car for every trip, the teams can drive these vehicles.

Meanwhile, Stanley Brock of Remote Area Medical told the guys that RAMM would station one of their planes in Ft. Lauderdale or Miami for the use of these teams flying to render aid in Haiti. (Imagine paying $49 for a flight to Haiti instead of several hundred!)

As the infomercial goes, BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE!

After arriving at home tonight, Greg got a call telling him that Lonnie in Huntsville has an acquaintance who is a Defense contractor. They had someone drive from Huntsville to Knoxville tonight to deliver to Chris a satellite phone for their use in Haiti.

When God plans a trip, it's not only planned, it's financed and supplied supernaturally!

You can still help. Donations can be made on the church website, there will be some trips coming up soon, and the most important of all, you can pray. We invite you to set aside some time each day to pray for Greg, Chris and their companion, Brian, as they assess the need and envision God's plan for us there. Ask God to give them discernment and wisdom in planning.