Newsletters

February 2012

Greetings from Southeast Texas!  I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season with family and friends as I did.  I was struck this year by the fact that I may only have a few more years with all three of my kids home for Christmas.  They sure grow up fast! 

We have spent the last few months finishing up some projects here at the Restore building and doing a remodel on a home owned by an elderly couple in our church.  It has been nice to do some recharging of our batteries physically and reacquainting ourselves with our home church after all the travel in 2011. 

As I plan our efforts, goals, and priorities for 2012, I find three areas we intend to focus on here at Restore this year.

First, our goals in the response to the Haitian earthquake have been met in every area but one.  The largest project we chose to take on after the initial response was a complete tear-down and replacement of the facilities of Macedonia Baptist Church in Petit Goave, Haiti.  We have spent a significant amount of time and finances on this project and have completed the church facilities and the security of the entire property.  The church has been meeting in these facilities since mid-year and has grown to nearly fill this new auditorium.  The only work that remains in the church building is to complete the American-style bathrooms.  Currently the only facilities on the property are a couple of outhouse-style buildings in the rear.  Part of the reason we chose to devote so much time and money towards Macedonia is because it serves several crucial rolls of ministry in the Petit Goave area.  First, it serves as a “mother church” for around ten other small churches that have developed as a result of Macedonia’s ministry.  Second, there is an annual pastor’s “convention” at Macedonia that serves as a training time for area pastors and a way of sharing resources and information.  Third, Macedonia has one of the best Christian schools in the area.  This Christian school serves many purposes.  Obviously the educating of young people is a luxury in Haiti because there are no government schools.  To be able to educate them from a Christian’s perspective is necessary to the future of this ministry.  Also the school provides a financial stability for the church and serves as a draw to parents to attend on Sunday.  The school building was almost completely destroyed in the earthquake, causing the death of one student.  We have redesigned this building to hold well over 100 students and have installed the footers and built the block walls using Haitian church members.  The next step of construction is to pour the concrete roof.  We will do this in a way that allows for a second floor to be added to this facility in the future if needed.  After the roof is poured, the walls will need to be stuccoed inside and out and then the floors need to be poured and smoothed.  In the U.S. this work would take a few weeks, but in Haiti, all concrete is mixed by hand and this will take several months on a project this size.  We also have acquired desks, pews, lighting, plumbing fixtures, and other supplies here in the States to be shipped via containers to Haiti upon completion of the facilities.  $50,000 needs to be raised to complete both the construction and the shipping.  This is a project that we need to raise 100% of the money prior to re-deploying to Haiti, so our goal is simple:  we need to raise $50,000 in the next several months and complete this ministry in Haiti. 

Secondly, we are going to spend a significant amount of time and effort this year raising funds for our monthly expenses and further staffing of Restore Ministries.  The Lord has blessed our efforts to raise funds for specific projects but we have not done a deputation type fundraising effort to fund our basic monthly expenses.  It has been difficult to plan meetings around the country when you do not know where you will find yourself responding at a moment’s notice.  Pray for us as we search for ideas and opportunities on how to accomplish this. 

Thirdly, we need to raise funds for our physical needs here on the Restore property.  We have been donated an amazing number of tools, pieces of equipment and supplies, however, the maintenance and upkeep of equipment, trucks, trailers, etc., has proven difficult.  Much of the equipment donated to us has seen extensive use and, while a blessing, requires attention and funds to keep in good operating order.  Our facilities here at Restore are 11,000 sq ft of building in need of remodel.  God blessed us with a building that has potential beyond our dreams, however, we need to raise funds to change it from a worn out building to a fully functioning ministry.  Over the next 12 months I will be sharing what the needs and plans are, concentrating on one area each month.  We will also have a list of needs and wants, both large and small, in each newsletter. 

Finally, I want to bring us back to the needs in Haiti.  I recognize that most of our country is upset with how the billions of dollars have been spent and used in Haiti, and that much of the attention and urgency has been lost, however, as Christians our goal is not to rebuild the country of Haiti.  Our goal is not to feed millions of Haitians.  Our goal is not to create a competent government.  Our goal is not to train Haitians how to better treat their land.  Our goal is to try to effect true change in Haiti.  Our goal is to bring the Gospel to hurting people and to show the love of Christ through humanitarian effort the way Jesus did when He was on this earth.  Imagine the difference in Haiti if Christians in the U.S. got a burden for the souls of the people we saw suffering after the earthquake.  Imagine one church and one school funded and energized as a result of the efforts of their brothers and sisters in the U.S. coming to their aid in their time of need.  Imagine young people being trained in Christian service.  We have this opportunity.  You have this opportunity.  Will you join us?  Thank you for all you do.  Keep us in your prayers.  We love and appreciate you.

In His Service

Greg Rife

 

 

March 31, 2011

Bon Jour and Greetings from the hot, dry, dusty country of Haiti!  I am writing this letter from our base of operations here in Petit Goave, Haiti where our earthquake response and reconstruction project has just begun its 2nd year.  Over the last week, we have visited most of the ministries that we have supported since the earthquake, and we are glad to report that each ministry is doing well.  Reconstruction has not gone quickly – there is still much to do – but progress is being made at each location.  As you know, most of our effort and funds have been directed towards Macedonia Baptist Church in Petit Goave.  We are planning over the next two weeks to complete the walls of the auditorium here at Macedonia, and begin roof trusses and metal roofing over the rest of the month.  We spent the day today moving about 1,500 cement blocks from our base of operations to the construction project.  These blocks were made (by hand) one at a time out of concrete, mixed by hand, and sun dried for two days in the Haitian sun.  Another 1,000 will be made and dried this week and then transported to the church to finish the walls.

The focus of this letter is very simple:  WE MUST RAISE $5,000 IN THE NEXT 2 WEEKS IN ORDER TO COMPLETE THE BASIC CONSTRUCTION OF MACEDONIA BAPTIST CHURCH AND CHRISTIAN SCHOOL.  For the last year the school, which financially supports the church, has not operated due to losing their facility.  Since the beginning of the Haitian school year is coming quickly, the school needs to be roofed by the end of this month in order to begin hiring teachers, finding students, and making all the necessary preparations.  I know we have been raising money for Haiti for some time but the needs here are great.  Construction material costs continue to rise and, most importantly, the opportunity to influence this great country towards Christ and towards a better future is great.  Many of us receive tax returns this time of year and I am asking for your family to consider giving a gift to these Haitian brothers and sisters in Christ so that we can support their efforts to not just recover from an earthquake, but build their future.  Every dollar of this $5000 will become block, trusses, roofing, etc.  We are here and able to finish.  Please ask what God would have you to do.

Our efforts here in Haiti will be in direct proportion to the sacrificial giving of Restore Ministries’ supporters.  Our response and impact in Haiti has been a blessing and an honor for Adam and me and my family.  Words in a letter cannot express our gratitude and our feelings of humility that God has chosen – through those of you who are reading this letter – to use Restore Ministries to help bring healing to the counrty of Haiti.  Thank you for your efforts.

In His Service,

Greg Rife

*For older posts on Haiti, please click on the link “Haiti Project” above. 

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