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Below you will find the most recent updates from our teams in Orlando and around the world. If you would like to join us for such an experience please let us know here.
A few words by the long term team that we workeded with in South Africa:
 Yesterday was a special day. The Home that
was built by the YWAM Orlando team was dedicated prayed over. There are
still a few minor things to be done, like a door to be hung, the floor
to be poured in the old room & a few more panes of glass to be put
in. But with the team leaving today for Rustenburg, we wanted them to
be able to bless the home & the people they have worked so hard to
provide a home for.
The Orlando team did a fantastic job with
the help of 2 of our favorite workers, Steven & Simbisiso. I must
say, I think it is one of the prettiest homes we have built. And during
the building process, the team took the time to build relationship with
the ladies that live near by. The kids loved playing with everyone
& would often bring them mangos.
The team decided to take
up a collection to get a home warming present. They were able to get
quite a few necessities as well as some special treats for the kids!
After the prayer time & presenting of the gift, the gogo thanked
the team& told them that before they built the home, every time it
rained she would not be able to sleep. Just seeing her smile blessed
the team. I think they were as blessed as the family. And that´s what
it´s all about!
Posted by
John, Carla & Rae Shaw 3-5-2010 read more posts by the Shaws at http://shawsmissions.blogspot.com/
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| Created by: Creagon Muldoon on 3/8/2010 6:54:44 PM
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Current activity on base: Food and clothing distribution
"All the nations of the world will stand amazed at what
The Lord will do for you...´ Micah 7:16
It has been almost two months since the nation of Haiti was hit
with a devastating earthquake that left millions homeless. Since the ´quake
YWAM Saint-Marc has taken on the task of registering and issuing photo
identification cards to thousands of people left homeless by the
earthquake. Due to such a consistent and high demand for these I.D.´s
registration has been put on hold until a more efficient system of operation
can be developed. This new system should be up and running in a couple weeks.
Until then we have
transformed the arena into a food and clothing distribution center. In the last
two days we have received about five containers/trailers and distributed food
and clothing to over 1,600 refugees. This number does not include the literal
tons of food given to local Pastors for church wide distribution. Here is a
story of how God has provided for today:
 This morning before
distribution we took time to pray together and ask God to supply for us with
what we needed for the day. We began the distribution process at about 9 a.m.
and as time went by and the afternoon approached the food supply began
running low and we had run out of clothes. At about 1 o´clock volunteers began
to worry about the current supply of food and were sure we were going to
run out. We weren´t going to have enough to feed the remaining few hundred
refugees. And then, out of nowhere, I mean nowhere, a couple of trucks loaded
with Mexicans and food shows up! YWAM Mexico has been here in Haiti
distributing food to Port Au Prince and apparently they were passing through
town today on their way to Port Au Prince. As they drove by they saw the
YWAM sign out front and decided to stop in and see what we were up
to. Well, when they discovered we were running a distribution program and
about out of food they unloaded everything they had, right on site! The food
they gave was well more than enough to feed the remaining refugees. It was
a sheer blessing from God. And, while volunteers were waiting with refugees,
praying with them, a person in line claimed to have regained their sight!
So, not only is God supplying food, He´s also healing people as well! And this
isn´t even the clinic! Though numerous accounts of miracle healings at our
clinic have been reported.
Feeding the masses and healing the afflicted...I would say
God is very much alive and at work here in Haiti!
From a nation of Hope,
Joshua Miller
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| Created by: Colleen Crawford on 3/3/2010 9:08:39 PM
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 Youth
With A Mission is partnering with Esbenshades Greenhouses in Lititz,
Pennsylvania to create and ship down hoop houses for the million and
more victims of the Haitian earthquake. Right now, refugees are
swarming hospitals, churches and other public places in search of a
place to stay. Esbenshade’s proven and durable design of a 14×16 foot
tent is the anwer to temporary housing.
Over 200 hundred of these tents are in trailers waiting for
processing in St. Marc, Haiti and will arrive at the YWAM base in the
coming week. It costs $300 for the materials, shipping, construction
and everything! 
Made
of metal and plastic sheeting, these greenhouses were designed by a
team by Esbenshades Greenhouses for the earthquake survivors.Their
website states, “These custom-made homes use proven technologies and
components implemented in successful greenhouse construction, including
pre-fabrication for quick and easy assembly” Each house is 14×16 feet,
which is more than enough room for a typical family of five.
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| Created by: Colleen Crawford on 3/2/2010 5:26:45 PM
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Property Update
 I write all of this as I fly back from Texas where I had several
meetings, sharing the vision of YWAM Orlando and the extraordinary opportunity
of purchasing our new campus that will allow for 10-fold growth. As you
know, we are in contract and are moving toward the closing on June 2nd.
We have seen God provide over $160,000 of the $1.25 million that we need by the
end of May, and we are encouraged but know that we have a long way to go.
Darla and I will be traveling to share current life-changing stories from our
ministry and explaining the details of the campus and how people can partner
with us. If you would like to have us come to your area to share with you
and some of your friends, please let us know as soon as possible.
Until all have heard,
Michael Berg
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| Created by: Creagon Muldoon on 3/1/2010 7:55:31 AM
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Yesterday we had the privilege of joining
the national director Terry Snow on a trip to Gonaives, a city two
hours north of St. Marc. We were here to scout out land and look for
the possibilities of setting up communities here for the refugees. On
the bumpy, crazy ride up (Terry being a crazier driver than all the
Haitians in my opinion.. After all, he is from Texas…) I hear that we
are also going up there to meet the YWAM staff who lost his wife in the
earth quake and survived with his little four year-old girl. We got to
sit down with him and he started to tell us the story of how he lost
his wife and him and his daughter’s miraculous escape from the rubbles…
Illioney was upstairs on the second floor of their house in Port Au
Prince one seemingly normal afternoon together with his daughter,
Abigail. They were praising God, singing the song ” I’m here to meet
with you, come and meet with me” in their home office as his daughter
wanted to go to the living room and watch TV with her daddy. His wife
was downstairs doing laundry and some other daily chores. Illioney did
not want to watch TV with his daughter, but after her pleading him to
spend time with her, he sat down to watch TV. After only a few minutes,
they realized something was happening as everything around started
shaking. Illioney realized very quickly that it was an earth- quake. He
acted quickly, picked up his little daughter and that is all he had
time for as the walls started caving in just a couple of seconds later.
One small pole kept the rubbles from falling on them and with a cut in
his head and bug wounds on his feet, he managed to climb out as he
realized that his wife was on the first floor. He started shouting for
her, getting no answer and no one wanted to help him dig because of the
shock and being too scared for aftershocks… Three days later he found
his wife dead underneath the rubbles. He managed to buy something
looking like a chest and buried her close to their devastated home.
Their building is believed to have had nine people in it, Illioney and
his daughter being the only survivors…
Abigail kept asking for weeks when her mom would come back and as
Illioney would tell his daughter that her mommy is with Jesus, she
would say that she also wanted to die so that she could be with her mom
and with Jesus…
As I look at and listen to this grieving man, I realize I am unable
to comprehend and fathom what he is going through, but that I am able
to put a face to what has happened to this nation… Seeing the rubbles
is one thing but to hear from one of our own people, as YWAMers does
something to you.
Little Abigail is now suffering from pneumonia and in order for
Ellioney to get her medical care, he had to sell his car. They are
currently living with family up in Gonaives. Please keep them in your
prayers and in your hearts!
From Haiti with Hope, Ruthie
 (Illioney with his wife and daughter a few years ago)
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| Created by: Colleen Crawford on 2/27/2010 5:39:02 PM
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Hey!
Things here are coming along in Port-au-Prince. We have two teams here right now and have one
coming in next week from Switzerland. Also,
we have some medical individuals coming in. Please be praying that we get a generator that
works, not having a reliable one is preventing us from having water, reliable
electricity, internet, etc. I’m really enjoying getting to know Peterson´s
full vision and talking with him about plans here. There is such a need for people to come and
take leadership positions here and to train the Haitians and raise them up to
take responsibilities here.
Chelsea Evans
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| Created by: Colleen Crawford on 2/25/2010 4:50:00 PM
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| Created by: Colleen Crawford on 2/23/2010 5:32:04 PM
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| Completed House in Kruger, Leah Brooks Baptism, and Lighthouse Children Shelter in Rustenburg |
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| Created by: Karl Bratnober on 2/23/2010 3:13:04 AM
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 Our first day at Freedom Park, squatter camp, we went around to the patients houses with the nurses that work at the clinic within the park. We would visit the patients and ask if they needed prayer for anything. Our last house for the day was a house with a married couple. The woman wanted prayer for the pain she was having that started in her foot and went all the way up her leg to her back. The man wanted prayed for pain in his eyes and that he would be able to get a job. So as a team we prayed for both of them. After we prayed Hailey felt like God wanted the girls to pray for the woman and the guys to pray for the man. We separated, Hailey and I began to lay hands on the woman and pray. We ended our prayer and the woman immediately grabber her foot and started squeezing it. Then she stood up and stomped on it. Hailey and I looked at each other not knowing what she was doing. I asked her “does it still hurt?” She looked up and said “the pain is gone!” Hailey and I just started to cry. We couldn’t believe what we had just witnessed! We saw God using us to heal one of His children and even more, we saw that woman experience God, His love, and His power!
One thing God taught me that day was through obedience, faith and prayer someone was healed and free from pain.
- Lyndsey Sharpe
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| Created by: Karl Bratnober on 2/22/2010 4:52:39 AM
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| Today at Freedom Park, I saw a piece of God´s heart that I´ll probably never forget.
As we were walking from house to house, we stopped at one with a young woman, her toddler son, and infant baby. They were all sitting outside. The nurse (we were with) and the lady started talking and it was very apparent that something was not right. We found out from the nurse that just a few weeks ago the twin to the infant baby had died and the mother still didn’t have the money to bury her child. The frustration was very evident on her face, but underneath that was a grief that seemed to weigh her down.
Our team gathered around her and after a couple people prayed, I heard the mother’s sobs and that’s when God broke me. With that glimpse of God’s heart I began to pray out what I felt God speaking to me in that moment: His heart breaks for hers, seen tangibly through my tears, this was not His intent and He feels with her and for her. I felt God’s incredible longing to comfort her and provide for her. I knew confidently that He would. By the end of the day we had gathered enough money amongst our team to bury the baby and allow the mom to receive peace and closure.
I learned a lot about God’s heart for the lost. It’s HUGE! One teeny look into it absolutely broke me, but I saw more than just His grief, I saw His promise of restoration, and to be near to the broken hearted. Now He is crying with her, but someday they will be moving in rhythm together as her mourning is turned into dancing because of His love.
- Valerie Lundberg
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| Created by: Karl Bratnober on 2/22/2010 4:21:18 AM
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