Gracette, Haiti Report: How clean water transforms a community

Friday at noon. We are about an hour into a medical clinic in Gracette. This is the community where we have installed enough water filters so that all of the nearly 6,000 inhabitants have full access to clan, safe drinking water. Prior to Impact Nations coming the area was rampant with water borne disease, including cholera and typhoid. These are killers. After the first hour of the clinic, Kelly our medical director has reported that the people are remarkably healthy, especially compared to last year's clinic. This is such goods news. The water filters are having a big impact on Gracette and the surrounding communities.

Yesterday was a great day. We went back to the town where we had prayer walked around a largely deserted market on Tuesday. This time is was packed with hundreds and hundreds of people--buying, selling, bartering, visiting. It was a very boisterous place. We broke into three teams and began to pray for the sick. Inevitably, whenever we started to pray for one, five more people would surround us to watch. After the person was healed, then severe one would want prayer too. About an hour in, one of the teams found them surrounded by a particularly large crowd. Garret, a young man from Albuquerque, stood on a small mound and began to preach. Immediately people gathered around to listen. After a few minutes he invited the crowd to open their hearts to Christ. Hands went up all over. Then the team began to pray for the sick. Garrett said it was as though heaven suddenly opened. All around them, people were healed with little more than a touch. Up the hill at the other end of the market, we heard the excited shout from the crowd around Garrett. This was his first time to preach outdoors, but it would not be his last. In the evening we went out with Raymond again singing into the megaphone. Before long there was a parade of people following. Again Garrett saw the opportunity and began to preach the Gospel. And again, men and women turned to Christ.

Besides ministering in the he market, our team went into the community with 20 water filter systems--enough to provide clean water to about 500 people. At each home the filter was demonstrated and they were taught how to maintain it. The demonstration also included instruction in hygiene. Each family committed to share the filter with 2-3 other families. DD and her team will go back to follow up to make sure it is being shared and that they understand how to use and maintain the filter. After the demonstration, our team would share the Gospel and then pray for the sick among the families. Once again, there were many healings.

We finished this long day with an outdoor celebration next to the local church. I preached on the authority of Jesus and how He healed with a word. Among those who came forward to receive this King of Kings was one of the church' smooth key leaders. We can never tell what the Lord is doing.

A tired and happy group got back to the guest house for supper at about 9:30. As we were headed for bed,  I asked Garrett how many people he thought that he had prayed for personally that day. He thought for a minute, then answered, "I suppose I prayed for at least 100 people today."

A full and fruitful day indeed.

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This morning's clinic was over after just two hours. Last year in the same community, we ran the clinic for over 7 hours; however, this year there was very little sickness. No children were treated for diarrhea; for the first time that we can remember, going back over 10 years, no antibiotics were prescribed for children.The only difference is that now everyone has access to clean, safe water.

We are all very excited.

In a few days David Pearson will be flying to Nepal, hopefully with enough filters to provide safe water for 40,000 people. Without these filters, almost certainly cholera and typhoid will become epidemic. David is going with someone from Uganda Water Project. I called our Indian friend and partner, Randeep Mathews who left today with a medical team. He and David will link up. We live in a remarkable time when, more than ever before in history, we have the capacity to rescue lives.

Thank you for your prayers and support.