Food Shipment (Caleb top, Andy bottom)
It has been one month and a day since Andy Pratt, Chris Thompson (my dad), and myself, Caleb Thompson, heard news of the earthquake in Port au Prince and felt called to serve. Our first plan was simple: Andy and I would get ourselves into Haiti somehow, maybe backpacking in from the D.R., and link up with Pastor Dan Irvine. Through many turns God eventually showed us that, first, there was an urgent need for food for the whole population of La Gonave and second, that we could supply this need by container ship with the help of many friends and His guidance.
We are not trained missionaries. We are regular people who live a normal life in upstate NY. We were when we started and will be when we’re done. But God opened some big doors for us and our friends, and all I can say is that we walked through them. We have learned (or have been taught) how to ship containers full of food from Florida to St. Marc , Haiti. We got two of these containers and some drums of fuel on the first relief ship into that port since the quake. There is already another container on the next boat, and there are at least two more being planned and funded as I write. What has been created here is not just a relief shipment but a system for shipping relief in through a back door and straight to the people and missions not already being helped by the bigger organizations.
When I say we at this point, I no longer mean Andy, Dad, and I. God has raised up a whole team of saints; those who give, those who pray, those who lead and administer, and those, like Josh, who come and will come to serve on the ground. The first container full of food would never have been purchased, and therefore this mission would have ended before it began, if our District Superintendent, Pastor Paul James had not agreed to give funding almost before it was raised. “Ready, Fire, Aim!” (His own words on the matter.) That same Wesleyan District of New York and New England is still behind us and the third container is of their doing.
Calvary Chapel from Spokane, Washington, felt a similar call from God and is now in every sense our partner in Christ. They funded the second container quite literally overnight and have given us prayer and leadership, especially through my own uncle Pete Thompson. Now they have even given us a brother on the ground, Josh Nerren.
Our third partner is Youth With a Mission (YWAM) in both Montana and St. Marc. Without them, we also could not be where we are or go where we are going. Terry Snow, the YWAM director in St. Marc for over twenty years, has navigated us through the Haitian customs process and has likely saved us at least $9000 in import taxes and who knows how much delay and headache. His ministry is very literally a Godsend. The YWAM base in Montana has put together an 18 person team, headed by my sister Veronica Thompson, to raise funds for the next several containers and they are a good way toward their goal. God knows how to put the right people together to do his will.
Now our containers are in St. Marc, cleared through customs and we are almost ready to distribute when this national weekend of prayer for Haiti is finished and the dock yard opens again. Pastor Dan was ready with a two-pronged distribution plan before Andy and I even landed on the container ship, but we’re still asking for prayer in this. God has helped us every step of the way so far and I know he’ll see this through. However, He has also asked that we continually give this ministry back to Him and that we remain flexible to His will. Please pray that not just Andy and Josh and I, but every person who is involved will be ready to hear and obey as we take His supplies to His people.
HS.
Caleb Thompson
