GEMA, Jose, and Haiti...

Good Morning friends of GEMA USA,
To think a year ago today we all watched in horror and marvel as 155 people were saved when US Air flight 1549 crash landed on the Hudson River and everyone survived. One passenger said, "They were given a second chance in life." I was filled with an exhilarating feeling of gratefulness for life and I wasn't even on the plane.
I would encourage you to read Lamentations 3:22-33 but verse 32 hit home for me, "Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love."
I just got off the phone with Jose Lopez and he was in fact at the Haitian Embassy when I called. His sister was arranging for visas and a team of 4 are heading to Haiti in the next few days. Haiti is giving free visas no questions asked to anyone who is pledging support in any form to Haiti. Jose is not going on this exploratory fact finding and information gathering trip. He said Haiti has been on his mind continuously and he will not stand with his arms crossed. He requested that we all pray for this team that 1. they will be able to contact the family members of Daniel & Christobel, and for their safety. 2. That God will establish a clear vision and purpose on how they can be most effective and most helpful in ministering to Haiti. This is a combined effort with another church in close proximity to Cantico Nuevo.
As I am sure many of you may have seen on the news the devastation is tremendous and the loss of life significant. They lived under such crushing poverty as it was and now the situation has desintegrated. I told Jose that the burden on my heart was really on the orphans. I told him that we would work to support him as best we could with prayer and then establish a plan to see how we could possibly assist further.
I also bring a good message from Jose they are healthy and doing well and feel very blessed and ask for prayer for strength physically and mentally so they can continue on making good progress for Gods glory. There are other good things happening, construction related, they just had a Bible Camp with 200 kids in atttendance. So things are good in Hainamosa.
I also thank you for your support of GEMA USA and for the ministry of Pastor Jose and The Jewels of Christ School and The New Song Church. I pray God richly blesses you in 2010.
Paul J. Miner
GEMA USA Board of Directors