On April 21st I was invited to a meeting of Mizpah a ladies group who meets every third Monday at Greenstone United Methodist
Church. After a meeting and a snack I was allowed to share about current events in Haiti and give a ministry update.
Thanks to the ladies of Greenstone for the warm welcome and encouragement!
Yesterday I attended Sunday Service at Mt. Zion Baptist Church to worship and adore our Lord with the wonderful brothers
and sisters of that dynamic fellowship. The message was given by Pastor Kevin Lee who is an assistant Pastor of a Baptist
church in Rochester, PA. Afterwards there was a dinner provided by the deaconesses and deacons of the church. What a wonderful
time of fellowship and renewing contacts with Christian friends!
Time marches on! Tomorrow I will celebrate my 55th Birthday!
President Preval has replaced the former Prime Minister of Haiti with an economist named Ericq Pierre. Hopefully
the severe economic problems that Haiti is suffering from will be addressed. Acoording to my friends down there there
are nolonger food riots going on and a calm has been restored for the present.
On April 12 I was able to visit with George and Joyce Rodgers in Harmony,PA. They took me to a Gospel music concert
in Meadville, PA on Saturday night. The group which sang was the Booth Brothers. They were fantastic! Ronnie Booth
from the group donated 5 of their CDs to our Christian Radio Station in Haiti. If you havent ever heard them I encourage
you to do so--you will be gratly blessed. Pray for the Booth Brothers as they are frequently on the road doing concerts.
On Sunday morning I was able to visit Harmony/Zelienople United Methodist Church. I shared news about Haiti at
both morning services and also spoke during Sunday School. Thanks to Pastor Rich and the wonderful Christians at HZUMC
for their warm welcome!
Apparently the food riots in Haiti have stopped for the moment. The President is apparently going to dismiss the
Prime minister. Pray that the Haitian leaders will do something to help Haiti get through this difficult moment.
While in Pittsburgh I will be worshipping at Greenstone UMC. Hopefully I can arrange to visit other churhes during
my stay.
Well, after a year and a half being in Haiti I finally touched down on US soil as of April 1. Anyone wishing to
contact me here in the states can call 412-766-9162 or continue to send email msgs to
samrice@gospelgrowers.org. I will be making the rounds visiting different churches and supporters during my stay.
Things in Haiti were grim as I was leaving. Food prices have doubled since last year at this time. Last Friday 4 people
were killed in hunger riots in Cayes. Please pray for God to intervene.
On the spiritual front great things are happening. We are in the process of planting 3 new churches in areas to
the east of Dariol where there are few Protestant churches. There is a greater interest in hearing God's word.
Please let me hear from you while Im here. Blessings SAM