Roy & Ruthie Shelpman's Haiti Relief Updates

Dad is in Haiti

2010-05-28T11:23:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone,
This is Kitty , and I received a call from Dad around 1:30 pm ,He said praise the Lord no problems going through customs.
Rachel's house was progressing nicely. It's ready for the windows.
Dad said he was to have a big meeting I think he said tomorrow night or tonight with the residents. He said to say "while the Cats were away the rodents were at play ", and they have to take care of some things soon.Most likely will be tonight. Pray for wisdom.
Was raining as he talked to me . He said the stadium in town looks like a huge tent city same in Jacmel
He might have internet service between 8 and 10 pm tonight and would send out further information.
You all have a blessed day.
Love
Kitty

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

A CAUSE FOR REJOICING

2010-02-18T08:39:00.001-08:00

We are excited to join the BMM staff for morning devotions. This conversation almost turned me into a shouting old time Methodist but I was a shouting Baptist in stead.

Earlier this morning I spoke directly with Pastor Dieupie, (rhymes with Chirpie) Cherubin, pastor of Hosanna Baptist Church in Jacmel, Haiti. Ruthie and her mother reared this young man from the time he was 8 years old. Ruthie sent him to Bob Jones University and helped with his tuition expenses plus Dieupie was on the university's Timothy Program. Last Sunday he was still not recovered completely from the physical exhaustion of previous weeks and considered having another man to preach for him. Gedeon, an unusually talented trumpet player, was with him. When Pastor D indicated he might not preach, Gedeon expressed extreme disappointment because he had invited a friend who needed to trust in Christ. He pled with Dieupie to preach because he believed the time was ripe for her conversion. This young preacher said, "I will do it." He then told me he had never preached with such a knowledge of the unction of the Holy Spirit and this lady made a profession of Christ as did a host of others.

Next we talked about the evangelistic campaign which began Monday night. Dieupie had approached the mayor and asked permission to use the town square for his church to preach the gospel. This area would in regular times been the main site for the town's world famous Mardis Gras Celebration. Permission was granted and God began to work. My friends, Tom and Sarah Bennett of Mission for Haiti, were contacted. Jan Milton of Operation Renwed Hope also participated by sending equipment, transporting my friend of many years, Dr. Frank Garlock, Shelley Hamlton plus Sarah and two other ladies who would join in the special music. Monday night rain threatened to spoil the meeting but Dieupie urged the crowd of 2500 people to wait because he was convinced the Lord would stop the rain-AND HE DID! That evening 40 persons made professions of faith in Jesus Christ. The crowds grew the next night and another 20 responded to the invitation. Last evening between 4 and 5 thousand people were in the public square to hear the gospel and again 20 responded. A woman was there whom many knew was under deep conviction. She explained that today, (as I write), she wanted the pastor and the deacons to accompany her as she burned her fetishes in the presence of her father. This takes real courage but is proof of the reality of her coming to Christ. One night remains and I expect God to work again. I have always been skeptcal of conversions which were connected with some emotional event and later were forgotten. But there is a moving of God everywhere on this side of the island of Hispanola. Haitians have stared death in the eye ball and now understand what James meant in the 4th chapter: "for what is your life? It is even a vapor which appeareth for a little time and then vanisheth away." Many hearts of people have been prepared for the presentation of the saving gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. They are responding to the wooing of the Holy Spirit. On Friday of this week one of our Seminary staff will begin discipleship meetings with these who have made decisions to follow the Lord. Intensive followup will be done by the Hosanna Baptist Church.

Pray for the days ahead for this church and pastor. Historically mountain top experiences are often followed by valleys of defeat. Our prayer is that this is just the beginning of revival among God's people and a great influx of new believers in Jesus Christ our wonderful Lord.

Join us in praising the Lord our God!

Dr. Roy and Ruth Shelpman

Baptist Mid Missions missionaries

to Haiti.

Before and After Pictures

2010-02-17T04:17:00.001-08:00

Haiti Crusade

2010-02-13T14:03:00.001-08:00

> Praise God—another miracle! Susan Jones now has her passport in hand
> ! With the snow snorm in Washington, D.C. and government offices bei
> ng shut down—we were told nothing would be happening before next Tue
> sday. God intervened—as only He can do—and Bob Inglis' office in
> D.C. as well as the Passport office opened yesterday with a two hour
> delay. The Passport office had a tremendous backlog of work to do—b
> ut were willing and able to find Susan's passport in time to process
> it and send it out by 4:00 yesterday, to be picked up by Federal Ex
> press. Susan had to jump through hoops because of unbelievable roadb
> locks getting the passport to the Greenville Fed. Ex. office since;
> but God is faithful and it was found and she was able to go pick it
> up.
>
> Pray for the people of Haiti. The Haitian government has declared
> this week-end as days of prayer and fasting for all of Haiti. This
> is unheard of there. The Haitian authorities are asking all of the
> world to join them in prayer. We have reports that even witch
> doctors are accepting Christ as Savior. The witch doctors are saying
> they cannot get contact with the evil spirits since the quake. They
> believe the evil spirits have left the island and are in chaos.
> Praise be to God!
>
> Many Haitians are getting saved—with over 100 professions of salvati
> on at the Hosanna Baptist Church alone. Please pray for Pastor Dieup
> ie of Hosanna. Pastor D has contracted malaria, and is very ill. He
> is to be the preacher at the crusades next week. The crusades will b
> e from Monday thru Friday evenings at 6:00, Feb. 15-19. WE NEED THE
> PRAYERS OF GOD'S PEOPLE. May God be glorified in our evangelistic ef
> forts.
>
> Shelly

SPECIAL MEETINGS IN JACMEL WITH SHELLY & DR GARLOCK

2010-02-12T18:02:00.000-08:00

FROM SHELLY HAMILTON:
Our team will be in Jacmel, Haiti for a week with Monday thru Friday evening crusade meetings (February 15-19). Hosanna Baptist Church, where Dad ministered while in Haiti, has been given the downtown arena area to use for a Christian crusade. Pastor Dieupie of Hosanna Baptist has been a hero with the mayor and people of Jacmel, as he and his church have become the distribution center for all the food and supplies brought into Jacmel.

This week of February is usually the carnival for Mardi Gras in Haiti. This carnival is dedicated to worshipping Satan and the evil spirits. Thousands of Haitians come to the downtown area in Jacmel for this important week. God has given us this opportunity to usurp Satan's seat and bring in the gospel.
We are VERY excited.

The musical team going in for the crusade consists of Dad, Linsey Haught, and hopefully Susan Jones, as well as myself and missionary friend Sarah Bennett of Mission for Haiti.

Thank you for praying for Satan's hands to be tied, God's safety, and for the souls of many to come to trust in Jesus as Saviour.

Rejoicing in the Lord, Shelly

Statistics on Jacmel

2010-02-01T20:04:00.000-08:00

Out today from the UN in Jacmel-- statistics ON Jacmel, which is a city of 34,000...

1,785 homes completely destroyed

4,410 homes partially destroyed

87 commercial businesses destroyed

54 schools destroyed

24 hotels destroyed

26 churches destroyed

5,730 families displaced

Death count approaching 3,000 (nearly 10%)

QUICK ACCOUNTING REQUEST

2010-01-26T10:27:00.001-08:00

Thank you for your concern for Haiti. The accounting department at the Baptist Mid-Missions who has to process between 8,000-9,000 donations per month has asked to make the change to any future gifts for the Shelpman's rebuilding project in Haiti as follows :

Shelpman: Building

Baptist Mid-Missions
PO Box 308011
Cleveland, OH 44130-8011
Phone 440.826.3930
Fax 440.826.4457
or Pay Pal
(Please- if checks have not been mailed, please make the change prior to mailing, this will make the accounting process more expeditious.)

Thank you in advance for your sacrificial giving.

Pastor Josh Shelpman

Praise! Marines reached Grand Goave yesterday with supplies

2010-01-22T05:50:00.001-08:00

Dear friends,

We spoke this morning with our young pastor in Grand Goave. The US Marines came to Grand Goave yesterday and left food supplies with Life Line mission. This large mission complex is well equipped to service the town and every 3 days will distribute the foodstuffs to our citizens. Our family in GG was thrilled. Pastor Son Son also indicated he thought the road to Jacmel had finally been opened to auto traffic. We trust that report is true. The tremor yesterday did not cause more damage.

The Shelpmans

Dr Roy & Ruthie Shelpman
Serving with Baptist Mid Missions
Grand Goave, Haiti

Fw: Marines reached Grand Goave yesterday with supplies

2010-01-22T05:03:00.000-08:00

Dear friends,

The Shelpmans

Dr Roy & Ruthie Shelpman
Serving with Baptist Mid Missions
Grand Goave, Haiti

AMAZING HOW GOD WORKS EVEN FROM SOUTH AFRICA-

2010-01-20T14:00:00.001-08:00

This is an amazing letter. This brother read the blog material and , you read it yourself. I shall answer him tomorrow.

Dad

Dr Roy & Ruthie Shelpman
Serving with Baptist Mid Missions
Grand Goave, Haiti

Subject: FROM SOUTH AFRICA: ABOUT HAITI

Dear Roy,

This may sound strange, but please accept this is as strange for me as it is for you.

I am pastor of a small congregation in Cape Town South Africa. I somehow found your story on the internet and I do believe that your name was given to me. It is a long story, but believe me when I say I am a reformed pastor busy with an MTh study. I only say this because I see myself as intellectual-orientated, but I had some strange experiences last Sunday and was led to commit myself and to commit our congregation (who are small, and poor) that we must give towards the Haiti disaster. We have a week of Outreach top our community next week.

I knew I was over the top when I realised that I have not the faintest idea who must receive this gift that we plan to give. Last night I was reading a document on my computer and one thing led to another and in a very strange way I got on the internet and to your blog written by, I belief your children. I tried to respond on the blog, but is was not possible, so I contact your congregation's pastor who send me your mail.

I read the devastating experiences that you and your wife experienced and I am praying for you.

Please respond to me before Sunday. I do believe the Lord has led me to you and that you are the person that must receive our gift. This is the only the second time in my life that I can remember now that I experience this. Please accept this as coming from our Lord. I cannot promise much, but help me by explaining your needs and the losses you have incurred. I also need the webadress where I will be able to go back to your blog or get more info about your ministry and experience during the disaster.

I know I must tell your story to the congregation this coming Sunday. I would love to have some pictures if possible.

I pray for you and your wife and are hope you are safely back in the USA. I also pray for the people in Haiti.

Kind Regards

Leon Venter

Pictures of Grand Goave House destroyed

2010-01-20T13:54:00.001-08:00

Dear friends and family,

Below are three pictures:

1. This is what our house looked like prior to the earthquake.

2. This front pillar was seriously damaged by the first shock and later at midnight will dramatically weaken the structure.

3. At 2:30 AM another strong tremor causes the house to pitch toward the Caribbean Sea.

Dr Roy & Ruthie Shelpman
Serving with Baptist Mid Missions
Grand Goave, Haiti

The Sunday After the Earthquake- Blessings from Dieupie (Ruthie's adopted son and Pastor in Jacmel)

2010-01-20T09:23:00.000-08:00

The day after the earthquake people sees differents up comings. some people look very quick to famine the country will know they were right it is now hard. others see the problem they will have to find a place to leave they are right the problem is over welming I myself feel like hiding just not to face the situation, other people like Sara from Mission for Haiti, dr Garlock a visitor to haiti at that time and many others that God would draw to hime as many as possible. so some of us preachers were praying and prepring along. the sunday after this uge eathquake was unusual. While many were asking were was God, many more saw him clearly. our churhches have never had more people than that day. In Hosanna in particular the service was a real truly and deeply worship one. I preach from Jean 14:27 making a diffrence betrween the peace of God and the peace of this world and finish my message showing that having peace with God is prerequisit to having the peace of God. So make peace with to have his peace. it was a clear and simple messag. We spent about 25 minutes in the invitations to give time to 15 people to come in front to make peace with God. the congregation sung to the Lord with their whole heart to magnify his name. The name of the Lord was magnified. In the after noon I met with brother Yva the Leader of Lavanneau Church, he told on his part the service was just a feast. the Poeple praise God the fact that he has given protection to the twelve american who were the day before at the same time 5PM over the top of the church to put up the roof. God has blessed Mission for Haiti. they are not in Jacmel by accident. the Lord knows they are there. that almost the whole community came to chruch many of them were there alrady since they live there having lost their house. After the preacher, which was about a bigger earthquake to come 20 people got saved. Before the night service at Hosanna brother Mirthyl reporterd what happened in his church 11 people got saved. I want to thank all of you who have been praying for us preachers in Haiti. we still have a lot to do. we are planning an open air service for the end of the this month please keep praying with.

As far as the need really do not know what to say or to do. I have more than 30 people sleeping at the churhc yard every night. problems to eat and problems to sleep. please pray with us.

Dieupie

"In All My Years of Ministry I Have Never Been Shaken Like This"

2010-01-19T14:23:00.000-08:00

Our family was able to have a conference call just a few minutes ago. It was just great to hear his voice. As he described the absolute devastation his voice was trembling. He said "in all my years of ministry I have never been shaken like this...it didn't really hit me until I realized that we could have been killed." Please pray for him as he rests tonight. He may try to send out a personal email later tonight. Please continue to pray for him as he copes with this traumatic time in his life. If you are in Greenville South Carolina, Dr. Frank Garlock will be giving a report of his experiences when the earthquake hit. Shelly Hamilton (his daughter) emailed a few minutes ago to invite folks if they are able to come to Calvary Baptist Church in Simpsonville SC.

I WAS ABLE TO TALK TO MY DAD

2010-01-19T11:46:00.001-08:00

I was able just talk to my dad. He sounded emotionally spent. Ruthie is actually doing better than him. Ruthie said that the word with the Hatians is that nearly 1 million Haitians were killed. (obviously that cannot be confirmed for some time). He said that the stench was horrible. Ti Paul (their assistant/driver) took them to the port au prince at 3:30 this morning. He said that there was no traffic. He said that in Port Au Prince 90% of the building are gone. Dieuppe (Ruthie's adopted son who is a pastor in Jacmel) told him that he needed to get out to regroup. He told Ruthie that it would be fine if she wanted to stay....she quickly told him she was coming with him. This has really shaken my dad. As we can all only imagine. They fear that Port Au Prince is going to go chaotic before too long. The Haitian people know only political unrest. I would encourage you to please pray for the Haitians. Please also pray for Hantz Bernard with Bibles International. He is leaving on Wednesday with MFI (Missionary Flights International). Pray for his safety as he hands out Scripture passages while he is there and surveys the immediate needs. He has personally lost much in this quake. He and his wife have much family there. We were able to get him a satellite phone to communicate. Pray that God would use him while he is there. This is going to be an opportune time for the people of Haiti to hear the Gospel. --- Thanks again for praying. I will try to pass another message on tonight.

DR ROY AND RUTHIE ARE ON US SOIL!!!!

2010-01-19T07:31:00.000-08:00

MY DAD JUST CALLED. THEY WERE BROUGHT IN TO A MILITARY BASE SOUTH OF THE MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. THEY ARE TO BE BUSED TO THE MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. HE WAS PLANNING ON FINDING SOMEONE TO GIVE HIM A RIDE. MY SISTER TOLD HIM THAT MY BROTHER SCOTT AND WIFE DEANNA ARE ALREADY ON THEIR WAY AND ARE ABOUT 150 MILES FROM THE AIRPORT. HE WAS OVERWHELMED AND BEGAN CRYING. THEY HAVE BEEN THROUGH A GREAT DEAL AND JUST IMAGINE SEEING THE MASS DESTRUCTION. I IMAGINE IT WILL BE MUCH HARDER FOR RUTHIE AS THIS IS HER COUNTRY AND HER PEOPLE FOR THE LAST 30+YEARS. ....AS I AM WRITING THIS....DEANNA JUST CALLED AND SAID THAT MY DAD AND RUTHIE ARE STILL AT THE AIRFORCE BASE AND MAY TAKE SOME TIME GETTING TO THE OTHER AIRPORT. THEY PLAN TO MEET AT THE DELTA TERMINAL. PLAN FROM THEIR IS TO TAKE THEM TO MY BROTHER'S HOUSE FOR THEM TO REST AND BEGIN TO COPE WITH WHAT HAS TRANSPIRED WITHIN THE LAST WEEK. MY BROTHER GOT HIM A LAPTOP....SO HE SHOULD BE IN CONTACT WITH YOU ALL WITHIN A FEW DAYS. WE WERE ABLE TO CONVINCE HIM A YEAR AGO TO INVEST IN THE CARBOBNITE DEAL SO HE CAN GET ALL OF HIS COMPUTER FILES BACK. I WILL LET YOU ALL KNOW WHEN I TALK HIM. HE SAID HE HAS PICTURES SO I WILL TRY TO SEND THEM OUT TONIGHT WHEN THEY GET BACK TO MY BROHTER'S HOUSE. THANKS MUCH JOSH

JUST TALKED TO MY SISTER IN LAW

2010-01-19T06:48:00.001-08:00

LAST WE HEARD FROM MY DAD- HE THOUGHT HE WOULD BE LEAVING PORT AU PRINCE SOMETIME AFTER 6:45 WE ARE STILL UNSURE WHAT CARRIER HE WAS COMING OUT ON THE PLAN ORIGINALLY WAS MFI (MISSIONARY FLIGHTS INTERNATIONAL OUT OF FT.PIERCE) BUT WHEN DEANNA HAD TALKED WITH THEM A FEW MINUTES AGO THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM THAT HE WAS ON THEIR PLANE. WHEN I TALKED TO THE STATE DEPT. THEY SEEMED TO THINK ---THAT WHATEVER FLIGHT THEY COULD GET THE US CITIZENS ON THEY WERE PUTTING THEM ON THOSE PLANES. I WILL LET EVERYONE KNOW WHEN WE HEAR FROM MY DAD. THANKS AGAIN FOR YOUR PRAYERS. -JOSH

THEY ARE IN PORT AU PRINCE

2010-01-19T05:57:00.001-08:00

(FROM MY SISTER KITTY IN GEORGIA)Dad called at 5:50 am and he and Ruthie are waiting to get on Plane not sure where they will arrive in the USA but he will call when they reach USA
Keep praying

Please Pray For Safety As They Travel

2010-01-17T12:49:00.001-08:00

MY DAD IS TRYING TO GET OUT OF THE COUNTRY ON TUESDAY OR SOONER IF POSSIBLE. PLEASE PRAY.

Message From Jacmel- Daniel Telfort (teacher at the Bible college)

2010-01-16T21:57:00.001-08:00

Pictures Posted to your right "Jacmel Photos"
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Mark Jacobsen <luvhaiti@bellsouth.net>
Date: Sat, Jan 16, 2010 at 12:08 PM
Subject: FW: By God's grace, we are still alive.
To: pastorshelpman@gmail.com
Dear Pastor Shelpman,

I have appreciated getting the updates about your dad. I am a BMM missionary who worked in Haiti in the early 90s, and now work with Haitian immigrants in FL. I appreciate the friendship and occasional fellowship that I get with your dad and Ruthie.

When I read that you had no news about the school in Jacmel, I felt I ought to forward this email to you, from another friend who was teaching in the seminary at the time of the earthquake. He also attached some pictures of the damage in Jacmel.

We continue praying! Thanks for what you are doing.

In Christ,

Mark Jacobsen

From: Daniel Telfort [mailto:dtelfort25@hotmail.com]
Sent: Friday, January 15, 2010 11:59 AM
To: Daniel Telfort
Subject: By God's grace, we are still alive.

Dear prayer partner,

It is with great grief and sorrow that I write you today to let you know how I and my folks are surviving through the earthquake that beats upon my country this past January 12, 2010. Haiti has never been damaged in such a heavy way. It is by God’s grace only we came out alive from that terrible catastrophe.

I was in Hinche, my hometown, just to spend Christmas with my mother. Classes at the seminaries resumed on Monday, Junuary 11 both in Port-au-Prince and Jacmel. So, I have been back to Jacmel since Sunday evening (10^th). Everything went well on Monday. Tuesday was just another day of work. It was about 4:50 pm while I was teaching a class when the earthquake began. From the first three second I understood it was an earthquake, but I thought it would not have lasted. But after 5 to 6 second I realized the seriousness of it and immediately tell m students to rush outside. The building where we met was being shaken so harshly that I thought it was going to fall flat. The earthquake lasted for about 15 to 18 seconds. It amazed me that the earthquake came about as I was explaining to my students the necessity of showing the atheists (people who say that God does not exist) how and why they are wrong and are heading to hell. Fortunately everybody got out safely and there is no big damage done to the building and the church which is right beside. However, it was during the aftershocks that we started to realized how God Almighty has spared our lives and the church building: Jacmel’s downtown is almost completely destroyed, two young men from the church in Jacmel (pastor Dieupie) died. Many people lost their home, several hundreds of them poorly sheltered in the little aerodrome in, Jacmel, the road from Jacmel to Port-au-Prince is blocked big rocks are found all over the road. It may take several weeks, even months for that road to be repaired.

Then we heard about Port-au-Prince. When I try to call some of my folks from the Seminary in Port-au-prince, I could not get hold of them. Finally I got a little bit of news: at least two building are seriously damaged, pastor Pierre-Pierre came safely miraculously and the worst is that two students died and several others are injured. According to the government’s estimate 100 000 people die, corps are laid along many streets of the capital city. In fact more than half of the city is destroyed. There still are people who are crying for help from under the fallen houses and walls. This morning, I got news from my Pastor in Port-au-Prince about my church: a deacon with his daughter (about 8 years old) were killed in the earthquake; a Sunday school teacher (a young lady) dies as well. We will know more about people who die from the disaster later on.

I thank God that everyone in my family came out safe. Now the big question is how we are going to survive these difficult days. The Lord knows all about it: we have very little access to food, water and gas. Even when Port-au-Prince would have some of those things, trucks cannot get to the regional cities to bring them to us. I need much prayer: it has been already hard to live in Haiti and unless God steps in and do something, it will be even harder in the days to come.

By the way Dr. Garlock and Sarah Bennett are fine.

Please, pray that God might have mercy on my country and help my people see the necessity of living a life for God, receiving Christ as their Savior. Please take sometime to look at the pictures taken in Jacmel.

God bless you and God bless Haiti!

Daniel Telfort

STEP
Attn: Daniel Telfort
Unit 2109-UEBH
3170 Airmans Dr.
Ft. Pierce, FL 34946
Phone: (509) 3-879-5097 or (509) 3-436-2544

URGENT CALL TO PRAYER

2010-01-16T17:51:00.001-08:00

This message is from Ruthie's Nephew about the orphanage where they are trying to adopt two children.

Dear Keith & Tana,

URGENT CALL FOR PRAYER

We received word from Pierre this morning that the situation in the orphanage is becoming dire. We would like to ask EVERYONE that receives this to use this information to get on your knees before our Lord and ask Him to provide.

We have one nanny that is deceased and the orphanage needs her body to be removed.

The orphanage has no drinkable water.

In addition they need:

formula for babies
medicines
IV fluids (one child is currently on an IV)
charcoal to cook
diesel
cash to buy supplies if they find them. They are running out of cash and there are no banks open to get cash, so it needs to be delivered by someone already on the ground or by helicopter.

Others are beginning to rob them of what supplies they do have.

There are helicopters flying over the orphanage and they have made a sign on the roof that says they are an orphanage and need help.

The staff is also working to get together all the paperwork for each child that has an adoptive family in a way that it can be attached to their body if there is an opportunity to evacuate.

For His Glory is doing everything we can on this end to contact people who may be able to help. Please pray. Currently, that is the best thing you can do to help. Kim is doing everything she can, and respectfully requests that adoptive families do not call her at this time. We realize this is a very difficult time, however she needs her phone and time available to do everything she can to make contacts to try to help the children and staff at the orphanage. We will give you any updates we have as soon as they are available.

Trusting in Him,

For His Glory

From Dr. Roy Shelpman-Latest Update Saturday 9:45am

2010-01-16T17:34:00.000-08:00

We are grateful all of us escaped what could have been our deaths. Even our young people in PaP were safe and Providentially prevented from being at their schools when everything collapsed. In the event you did not receive the description of what happened at Grand Goave, Pastor Josh Shelpman has posted several items on his Face book you can access. My laptop is somewhere under the rubble. Many single houses in our town fell but very few deaths have been reported in our area. The aftershocks continue well after they should have stopped. We had one two minutes ago. One is not to be in a building, Just then another one, when these things occur. We have ceased operations on removing rubble and most likely will wait until Monday to begin. A sister town 11 miles away lost over 400 people and they were buried in a mass grave.

Many have eagerly offered to come immediately to help us. We do not want to appear as ingrates but frankly, all area missionaries are in one accord, this is not the time for teams to come. Food supplies are tight, transportation is still difficult to the airport and accommodations are nil for now. To be brutally honest, we are barely able to take care of ourselves and our neighbors.

The Haitians have ministered to us and what a blessing they have been.

I must stop for others are waiting to use the computers. Please do not send anything to Haiti. It will end up in customs. If you wish to help then send a gift to Baptist Mid Missions Shelpman Account, Haiti Relief. BMM PO 308011 , Cleveland OH 44130

Roy and Ruthie Shelpman
BMM in Grand Goave, Haiti

From Dr. Roy Shelpman -First Email from my dad on Thursday

2010-01-16T17:30:00.000-08:00

Dear family and friends,

I am at a local cyber cafe run by Christian friends. On Tuesday I was at my computer and Ruthie was in the living room with one of our residents. At approximately the quake and centered in Petionville north of the capitol. I thought the house was headed for the mango tree not fealizing the entire ground was moving. It was a 7.3 quake and we have several tremors over 5.3. After one moment the quake was over and I ran to the living room where Ruth was under bookcase and crying. Frantz and I pulled her out and we headed down the spiral stairway. We had a total of 40 tremors as of yesterday. The devastation in Port is horrific. Our national highway has been hit severely and we have not attempted to head for the capitol. We ran down stairs we joined our other residents and rode out a number of tremors. We decided to sleep in the SUV that night and at midnight there was a terrific tremor and for the first time I was sure the whole building would go down. We had slipped up for food items such as permis, passports, a few other items but left my pc because at that point I believed it would stand. At midnight the severe tremor was a precursor of what would happened at 2:30 AM. The tremor was intense ande then we heard the house go down. Immediately men came running from the village calling my name

and they had thought at least some of them thought we slept inside. Who was sleeping? We assured them we were ok and we moved our vehicle up with the rest of our village area. Young people sang most of the night. Gasoline shot up to $10 per gallong for the motorcyle group. People are greedy anywhere there is a tragedy. We had a number of deaths in our town but nothing as devastating as other areas. For now I shall try to come back tomorrow and give a little more detail. If any relief money comes in Larry, we need it ASAP.

WE lost most of our walls even one half of the huge sea wall felland. our house. The walls represent a loss of $60,000 at current costs. The house, we are gradually digging out many valuable items and will do more tomorrow when the tremors are supposed to stop. These aftershocks are even being rated by the Richter scale. People are waiting to use this machine.

Thank you for praying for us.

RoyShelpman

About My Dad

2010-01-16T01:00:00.000-08:00

They have several ministries that they oversee/minister: a orphanage for older kids who are nearing being independent, Ruthie started many schools in the mountains and across the country, they just recently started (1.5 years ago) a Bible college/seminary in Jacmel where they train national pastors (we still have no news on this), some of their kids normally are in Port Au Prince during the week. My dad is 74 years old and Ruthie a few years younger. My Dad has had heart problems. We did not have contact with them until Thursday morning. They lost everything but everyone is safe. They still continue to get the tremors. There is much damage and they are in desperate need of financial help. If you or your church would like to help please give confidently to: online (through paypal) or

Dr. Roy Shelpman Earthquake Relief

Baptist Mid-Missions

PO Box 308011

Cleveland, OH 44130-8011

Phone 440.826.3930

Fax 440.826.4457

Practical Way To Give

2010-01-15T23:40:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends- Here is a giving opportunity. We are getting my dad a satellite phone. They rent for about $40 a week and then minutes that start at 1.39/min. If you or your church would be able to help with this you can contact Larry Beckmen at Baptist Mid Missions and let him know that you would be willing to give toward this. His email is: lbeckman@bmm.org the initial cost with minutes will be close to $500 . God willing Hantz Bernard will be able to get the phone at least to Port Au Prince. He may be able to pay someone to get the phone to Grand Goave where my dad is. If you or your church could help with the cost of the phone or the cost to pay someone to get it to my dad. Please contact Mr Beckmen at his email address or at the Baptist Mid Office. If you are able to help Hantz Bernard rent a satellite phone as well that would be a huge blessing as he will be on foot travelling trying to get an idea what the greatest needs are. A satellite phone is a practical way that we can keep close contact with them to know their needs and keep them safe. Bibles International is the organization that Hantz is working with.

Bibles International
	609 36th Street SE Grand Rapids MI, 49548-2317
Phone:	(616) 942-7712
Fax:	(616) 956-0958
Email or Questions:	inbox@biblesint.org

Dr. Roy Shelpman Earthquake Relief

Baptist Mid-Missions

PO Box 308011

Cleveland, OH 44130-8011

Phone 440.826.3930

Fax 440.826.4457

First Unconfirmed Message That They Were Alive

2010-01-13T07:39:00.000-08:00

From: Gretchen DeVoe [mailto:Gretchen@Lifeline.org]

Sent: Wednesday, January 13, 2010 7:39 AM
To: VW Peters; mjdepew@verizon.net; pastorjosh@gmail.com; Larry Beckman
Subject: Message from Haiti

I’m writing on behalf of the missionaries living down by the ocean here in Grand Goave; they forgot to write their name on the email list. Anyway the message is they lost their house last night but they are fine

Gretchen L. DeVoe, Administrator

Lifeline Christian Mission

184 Olde County Line Road

Westerville, Ohio 43081-1034

Ph (614)794-0108

Fx (614)794-0109

Mobile (614)306-3372