Guidance for the Discerning

As we invested prayer and planning in the time leading up to 2011, we felt God's assurance that he will establish the ministry of Hope Force in the coming year. Proverbs 24 talks about a house being established through understanding. The scriptures also explain that knowledge of God is understanding. Proverbs 9:10. Once we possess understanding, we will need discernment in how to incorporate it into our decision-making processes.  

God has promised guidance to the discerning. As we move forward in a pathway of service, we realize there are three attributes that we must possess: courage, faith and humility. Jesus set the example for us; He was humble yet courageous. He was confronted with great obstacles, yet he overcame them through faith.

Haiti remains a top priority for Hope Force in the coming year. We need your prayers for the courage, faith and humility required to see Hope Force put on a firm, stable and favorable footing in this needy country. We foresee having a number of opportunities developing for our Hope Force Reservists to serve the people of Haiti in the months ahead. Please prayerfully consider joining us!

"Through a new in-country partner we are sending Paramedics and EMTs now through April to teach EMS education in a Haitian institute for EMTs," explains Christine Thompson, Director of Medical Outreach for Hope Force International. "This is a great way to empower the Haitian people by teaching them valuable life-saving skills that they can use to serve their own people! We especially need Paramedics, EMTs and fire fighters who have a background in EMS education and training. This is not a requirement but is certainly a plus. We will be using the Brady curriculum."

"EMS deployments are one week in length," Christine continues. "We will be based in Port-au-Prince and participants will also have the opportunity to serve clinically with one of our in-country partners while in Haiti. If you have skills as a Paramedic or EMT and have a heart to teach, we need you! We also need people fluent in French & Creole to serve as translators for this deployment so please contact me if you are interested."

Hope Force continues our commitment to the village of Sous Savanne through the Child Sponsorship Program and several initiatives which are underway. Beginning in March, we are sending teams to the village for a Community Health Education initiative. If you are a Public Health Nurse or have a heart to teach community health education, you are needed. Please contact Christine if you are interested. Deployments are one week in length.

"We will be hosting our first medical clinic in Sous Savanne in the Spring, with rotating clinical teams throughout the year." Christine explains, "we need all types of medical providers: MDs, nurses, dentists, etc. Deployments are a week in length and you must be a current HFI Reservist to participate. Let us know dates that you have available to serve on a mobile medical and clinic team so that we can begin putting the team together."

Our Child Sponsorship Program in Sous Savanne is growing steadily and it was a joy for our US team to be in Haiti for the food distribution in January. A total of 56 children and their families are benefiting right now - more than 300 people in all. Our ultimate goal is to have 100 children and their families sponsored by the summer. 

Thank you for your continued commitment to partner with us at Hope Force in service to "the least of these".