Tragedy in Haiti - the team is ok

Hello all - Let me tell everyone who may be reading this that the team is safe and sound. Praise God! But our hearts are heavy as some of you may have already heard, that our dear friend and tireless shepherd of souls, Pastor Louis, was shot and killed yesterday in his home by desperate robbers. It appears that it was an isolated incident, that they were simply targeting any home that was standing and therefore had something of value to steal.

I've spoken with one of the team leaders several times today, Josh Mehlberg, who is also one of our elders here at Immanuel. Their original plan, after hearing of the news of Pastor Louis' death, was to sort of "lay low" at the hotel today and simply decompress. But Elucie, Pastor Louis' wonderful and amazing wife and partner in ministry, insisted that they continue to press on and do as they had planned to do, and that was to be the voice, face, and hands of Christ to the people of Port au Prince through a medical clinic. So that is what they did for a half day today, seeing about 95 patients.

The details of the murder are still somewhat sketchy. All we know right now is the statement I made above, and that there's therefore no connection and danger to our team. That's not to say that danger lurks around every corner potentially in this fallen world in which we live, of course. Continue to pray for their safety!

Pray also for Pastor Louis' family, that they would continue to be comforted by the sure and certain knowledge they have that he has reached the goal of his faith, that which he so faithfully and tirelessly and passionately shared with countless souls in his lifetime, and that is eternal life with his heavenly Father because of his faith in Jesus Christ his Savior.

Pray also for the future of the ministry down there, that God will, in His time and plan, raise up another strong leader to fill the oversized shoes of his faithful servant. Lastly, pray for the person or persons who took Pastor Louis' life, that somehow, someway, they may know the forgiveness of Jesus in all of this. I know that Pastor Louis would most certainly feel this way. Wouldn't it be amazing one day, to see the reunion between Pastor Louis and this person or persons in heaven, should they come to faith in Jesus? I know that he would welcome them with arms open wide.

Please let me know if you have any other questions. I apologize for not getting this info to you sooner. God's peace to all of you. In Christ, Pastor D