The school days at the El Shaddai Learning Center opens with devotionals.  Doug Fearing teaches on the Parable of the Talents.

 
Lois Fearing entertains two orphans at the orphanage sponsored by Touch Ministries.

Pictured: Distribution of hygiene supplies to Pastor Cesar’s home.  Left to right: Doug & Lois Fearing, Pastor Cesar, Lyn Barbeau, Niki Briggs from the Portage United Methodist Church.

On February 23^rd 2010, Lois and Doug Fearing joined members of their church, Portage United Methodist, on a Mission Trip to Haiti.  The mission trip had been planned prior to the January 12^th earthquake which rocked Haiti so much of the work the group performed was not earthquake related.  The group primarily stayed and worked with Touch Ministries which operates the El Shaddai Learning Center in St. Marc Haiti which is a Christian based English school for Haitian children, giving them an American education.  In addition they had the opportunity to work with a small church located outside of Port au Prince to supply them with food and hygiene supplies. 

Prior to the earthquake this small church consisted of a concrete floor with wooden poles propping up a cloth tarp roof and it supported about 20 parishioners.  The church, operated by Pastor Cesar, was totally destroyed in the earthquake.  After the earthquake Pastor Cesar used his home and small compound to house and protect many of the parishioners along with spending much of his day rounding up food and clothing to sustain them.  During the same time period Touch Ministries had provided funds to begin building a new church which would house a larger congregation and have a permanent roof.

The new church building is now built and the congregation has exploded to over 150 members and the building is in use all day long as it serves as the nerve center for the local area as refugees have fled Port au Prince in search of safety.  The church has become a center for food distribution, medical assistance, education, and religious worship and fellowship.

The Fearing’s, along with a group from the Portage United Methodist Church, will be returning to Haiti in February 2011 and again will be staying with Touch Ministries.  Part of their mission project on this trip will be to build benches and tables for the interior of Pastor Cesar’s church which remains largely a shell.  As the interior is outfitted with more furniture it will allow for an expanded use to benefit the area.

Fearing’s Audio-Video-Security is working with its vendors and customers to provide the funding to purchase the materials for the benches and tables.  During the February mission trip the Fearing’s and other members of the mission team will be constructing the benches and tables at Touch Ministries and then delivering them to the eagerly awaiting church.

Fearing’s would like to thank all the supporters of this project and look forward to reporting back on the success of the project.  

 
Chaos ensues as volunteers distribute hygiene supplies inside Pastor Cesar’is home and compound.

Pastor Gary and wife Carolyn from Touch Ministries look over the beginnings of the new church construction with Pastor Cesar.  February 25, 2010.

Construction continues as the walls go up at Pastor Cesar’s church.  March 2, 2010

Mission team delivers 200lbs of rice and beans to Pastor Cesar to help feed his congregation. Left to right: Doug Fearing, Pastor Cesar, Pastor Gary Walker, & Niki Briggs. March 2, 2010.

 
The Haitians get building instructions from Pastor Gary from Touch Ministries as construction on the church continues. March 2, 2010.

Pictured: The interior of Pastor Cesar’s completed church. 

Pictured: Food distribution at Pastor Cesar’s completed church.