A dear friend passed away this morning. Jason St. John was a part of my community in Texas before The World Race. Only a few years ago, he married one of my closest friends - Kaci. We are headed out to Texas in the morning to love and support Kaci in every way possible and to attend Jason's funeral.
Kaci overwhelmed me today. As she planned the funeral, she asked gave people the option to donate to a charitable organization in Jason's honor - one of which is us. For those of you visiting this website to honor her request, we are overwhelmed. Thank you. Know that our vision is to spend our lives helping this generation find and experience all that God wants to offer. Jason's life was lived in pursuit of just that and the way we want to honor him is to help others finish the Race. To donate, simply click "Support The Jacobs" on the left.
Our prayer right now is that God would give us the words when needed and the silence when that's needed... that we would hold Kaci when possible and hold up those who are holding her when not. We appreciate you all who hold us up as we walk this incredibly unfortunate road.
Just a quick note [that became long] to say I'm back in Gainesville as of 9pm Monday night. I'm wiped out but still broken and now very hopeful for what God has planned for Haiti. I think I'm beginning to understand that our response is so very important and that the Kindgom of God needs to be awakened on this earth, and we were meant to do that...I was meant to do that. I was born to, and so are you.
In Santo Domingo we were getting our bags at the airport and another of the 100 or so aid workers that were on our plane said to me and my firends "well good luck and give them heaven!" (as a posed to "give them hell", hey I didn't get it at first either). I thought it was so appropriate for that day to keep that thought in my head, I'm supposed to help others find the abundant life I found. And I believe I did in some ways, and it feels great. You don't sleep much, and some days you go without food for 8+ hours just becuase your busy, and sometimes when you do get time to eat you can't because the restaurant ran out of food because there are so many American, Boivian, Canadian, Dominican, etc, doctors and church groups...besides the inconvenience just think how good a problem that is. So many decided to give and some went because they could. A friend of mine, who I lost touch with when we left Georgia for Ireland last August met me the night before I left and handed me a envelope with the money he and his young family wanted to give to me for supplies and on those in Haiti. I didn't open it until he was gone and I was buying mosquito netting. When I did I was moved and almost cried. I know this guy doesn't have much so to see so much given I could see his passion and heart was in my hands. Jesus brought attention to the widow who gave all she had, 2 small coins.
In Jimani, Miguel and I were singing (in Creole!) and praying with a group of refugees. I asked God to "meet everyone of their needs", I very clearly heard a whisper that said "You meet their needs".
If we don't respond who will? I think the response from most Americans has been great, very generous. But is that it? It's between you and God. Not anyone else. What is HE asking of you?
Here is a video of Pastor Etean Profe'. He and his wife Betty live in the Haitian Town of Fond Parisien where he is a pastor, doctor, father figure, and much more to many. We are hooking up with him to get supplies accross the border into Haiti and plan to have him funnel our supplies to 100 other pastors that have relationships with him.
Just wanted to let you know that we (Sam Borg, Marcia Borg, and I. Mitch left this morning with other Americans and flew home) left Jimani this morning after dropping off a load of supplies from a very full jeep. We bought in 7 pairs; 7 propane tanks, 7 stove tops, 7 sets of food and clothes, and other things for 7 pastors who have heard the same word from God that Miguel has heard. We believe that the Lord is raising up pastors who will become fathers to their people in Haiti.
We poured all we had into this vision, we felt that this was the best way to use most of our resources as most immediate needs are being met, of course there are always exceptions as to who gets or doesn't get fed.
We will have plenty of stories in the days to come; we spent a lot of time runninf around shopping but we did spend a good amount of time on the streets talking to people who were camping out on the sidewalks or in the park.
Now that I have sat with these people and talked with them; heard their story and in a small way felt their pain, I have to make room in my heart for them. They are a beautiful people with a unique dialect that sounds beautiful and mystical.
On another note we felt an aftershock last night in Jimani, it only lasted 4 or 5 seconds. It was very strange....
We rolled into Jimani, the second biggest focus point besides Port Au Prince, yesterday afternoon with expectations of finding hundres upon hundreds on the streets. We were prepared for what we saw on tv and youtube to be in our face, enter ¨expectations change¨.
There are people in the streets, maybe 70 to 120, all of them trying to get a ride to the Dominican capital where they believe more hope lies than in Haiti. Most of the hospital paitents are in post opt care. Last night Miguel and I walked through the hospital, there is need for love there. Lots of people with casts and one leg or one arm missing. It was alittle overwhelming to see so many in the halls, some with family some not so lucky.
Miguel and I found need. We walked around with a bag full of little ¨bolsas de agua¨ handing them to anyone who wanted water, nurses, doctors and of course the paitents themselves. We walked in back and found a women who had a plate of food next to her on the bed, Miguel knew what to do...he started to feed her.
Before visiting the hospital we were blessed with the company we sought out, a group of Haitians who were sitting in the city park, searching (not intently) for a place to sleep. Ezekiel was the man of the group, he was living in the DR when everything happened. His sister was in Port au Prince, along with her 3 kids. Her husband died, not sure if anyone else in her family did or not because we didn´t talk about people dying. Instead Miguel, full of the Holy Spirit and His energy, was entertaining the kids and having them sing worship songs in Creole ( Haitian French). It was beautiful. We were soon joined by more people as a man and his wife, along with a few other women settled up to us. We all talked awhile about different things. Then Miguel started asking them about Jesus. I could see that the burden to share the Gospel was spilling out of His mouth, it was as beautiful as the singing. Turns out Ezekiel and his family are christians but the other man wasn´t. I believe that he heard and accepted, Miguel was very straight forward with him specifically.
Corey and crew are in Jimani (border town DR/Haiti). All are safe and healthy.
This morning they arrived in Jimani not knowing what to expect. Last week our DR staff member Miguel Shaul has made contact with a pastor in Port-au-Prince who needed medical supplies and food. Since then we've been unable to contact him due to communication lines being down. They prayed. The team met up with Miguel in Jimani and were praying and discussing options when Miguel jumped from the car saying, "There is the pastor!"
The pastor was at a gas station, dropping off a wounded person, and headed back to Haiti. The team were able to immediately hand over ALL the supplies they had gathered in Gainesville - $2200 worth – and put it in the back of the pastor's truck. The plan is tomorrow the pastor will return and the team will meet him with a load of food stuffs they can buy on the DR side.
They say the hospital is full, but the streets are "normal." There are lots of aid workers there. They have been talking with two young mothers with young children who were from Port-au-Prince, had fled after the earthquake and were just sitting exhausted on the sidewalk. They seemed traumatized – every time a car went by they felt as if another earthquake was coming.
Depending on how things go they may go into a small town near another border that has gone from its normal population of 3000 to more than 20,000 – people are leaving Port-au-Prince in drives going wherever they can for help.
Please keep praying as they follow the Lord's leading.
One of the other family members here at home heard from Corey and the team. Here's a little update from that blog. I'll keep you posted as I hear more...
Just off the phone with Sam and Marcia. They made it fine but had some problems with the rental van. But, being the DR and Sam they were able to find other transport to rent. Because of this they were delayed but they are on their way to Jimani now.
Marcia said almost the whole plane was filled with Red Cross and World Vision and other aid workers!
Thanks for all the support of the little group – they are small but mighty and so very thankful for the support of family, friends, and community.
In our last blog, we discussed how to respond to Haiti and I asked you to pray wit us about our specific response to Haiti. Since that time, God has clearly spoken about our response. Corey, along with two other men from our small group - Sam and Mitch, are getting on a plane on Wednesday, bound for Haiti with an incredible purpose...
1) Support. Both Corey and Sam have extensive experience in the Dominican Republic and are very close with Miguel Shaul. They will be helping host a first response medical team, navigating them through the DR Bus System and helping Miguel set up how other teams will do the same. Mitch works with an organization called Team Effort which has extensive experience in Haiti.
2) Hope. While the practical necessities of rescue, medical attention, and cleanup are always the focus right after a disaster, there's an equal need for someone to come, sit next to you, hold your hand, and listen. Corey, Sam, and Mitch plan to travel to the Haitian border and do just that. Be available to help, comfort, and offer hope at every corner. They will fill up their luggage with food, water, and any supplies they can gather in the Dominican to hand out to people they meet at the border.
For this trip to be a success we need you, our friends, family, and even random blog visitors to join us in two ways.
Above everything else, pray. Pray that God would lead this trip. Pray for perfect opportunities where Heaven and come to Earth through Sam, Mitch, and Corey. Pray safety as they travel and as they enter the chaos of the Haitian border. Pray that God would supply their every need. Would you take a second right now on our behalf?
Next, there is an opportunity for you to be a part of this trip. Because this is a first response, we are not going through an established trip or structured project. In order to go so quickly and follow God's leading, we are emptying our savings account to cover the costs of this trip. If you would like to join what God is doing through Sam, Mitch, and Corey, here are some practical things you can give toward:
-- Plane ticket costs: $500.
-- Travel from the Dominican to Haiti: $100.
-- Food, Water, and Supplies: $100 for 10 people.
You can send donations to us directly at
Corey and Laura Jacobs
2323 Avonlea Way
Gainesville, GA 30504
Remember that because you are donating directly to us, these are not tax deductible gifts. As money comes in, I will deposit it in our bank acount and let Corey know how much to take out of an ATM in the Dominican. We appreciate your prayers and support that cover us as we seek to follow all that God is leading us toward!
Last night at small group we had a lengthy discussion on the earthquake in Haiti. Our group is made up of people who are passionate to be God's true hands and feet in the world. So obviously, we are all very stirred by these recent events and what God is up to.
As with many conversations yesterday, our talk turned to Pat Robinson and his remarks. He brought up Haiti's tradition as a voodoo country and alluded that there was a correlation between their religion and the devastation of the earthquake. Talking about this with our small group simply made my stomach turn. As we continued to share around the group, my mind began recalling what it is I love about Christianity and what it is I can't stand about religion.
You see I believe there is a fundamental difference between being a Christ-follower and being a religious person. Religion is a set of rules and regulations about how we should live. Often these rules and regulations are violently defended to anyone who disagrees with those rules. Every religion, maybe especially Christianity, can point to events in their history filled with violence in the name of their God... to prove themselves right.
I have a dear, dear friend who encapsulated these thoughts perfectly today. My friend would not align herself with mainstream Christianity though she thinks Jesus is pretty cool. After being lambasted for being different, she shared some of her thoughts on Facebook: "I understand religion, and I am often turned off by it. I am turned off by the disdain and the animosity and the condemnation that pours out of the so-called good Christians like their life blood."
I couldn't agree more. Even when sharing truth... deep, life-changing, truth... Christians often come across in a pushy, hurtful way. Even some of what Pat Robinson said might ring of truth... a nation filled with people practicing voodoo... probably not a good decision. God is righteous and has warned of judgment. The problem with what was said... and what is often preached and thrown at unbelievers... is they forget the second half.
GRACE.God does warn of judgment and the consequences of leading a sinful life. And in response to His own warning, He did something a little bit radical. He sent this person named Jesus... a piece of Himself put into the limitations of flesh. And this Jesus was the answer to that judgment and wrath God warned about. The life of Jesus doesn't in any way, shape, or form fit with the hellfire and brimstone that so many unbelievers are lambasted with.
Instead, Jesus acted in the exact opposite way. He lambasted the religious... the ones who made and enforced the rules... creating more rules when they deemed necessary. To those people, he shouted and turned over tables. But to the lost... to those whose lifestyles were as far outside the religious law as you could get... To them he loved. He held them. He cried with them. He knelt down in the dirt with them. And ultimately, He died for them. He became the punishment that God promised. God punished Himself in order to set them free.
So have the people of Haiti made some bad decisions in the past? Sure... what nation hasn't? But can the Body of Christ lean back, cross their arms, point their fingers, and say "I told you so?" Never. Instead, those who want to follow Christ must get down on their knees, down in the dirt alongside the Haitians, cry with them, hold them, and point to a God who desperately loves them and will do absolutely anything to rescue them.
This is the God I love. This is the God who inspires me. This is the God who I want my friend to meet. This is the God I want to follow to Haiti. How about you?
AIM is currently mobilizing efforts to effectively reach out to Haiti. Those of you who have walked with us for a while remember our dear friends Miguel and Kristen Shaul (Miguel was Corey's best man). They lead AIM's base in the Dominican Republic. The day after the earthquake Miguel and David packed their backpacks with as many supplies as they could and jumped on a flatbed truck headed toward the Haitian border. Miguel will spend the next few days or weeks helping in every way he can and finding where AIM can send teams and supplies to aid in relief.
If you want to be a part of these efforts, I encourage two main ways.
First, give. AIM has created a fund that is funneled directly to Miguel to provide supplies. You can donate here.Until Miguel is able to send word about needs and more ways to help, this is the greatest need.
Second, go. In about a week, we expect to have details about sending relief teams down to Haiti. If you have medical or skilled labor gifts, please sign up as soon as possible. But Haiti needs even more than those skills... Haiti needs people who will kneel down in the dirt with them and hold them. Do you know Hope? Do you know a Savior who rescues lives from rubble? Then Haiti needs you. Haiti needs us. Keep up to date with how to go to Haitihere.
Corey and I also ask for your prayers, that you would cover us as we seek out our specific response to Haiti, including a possible trip to support Miguel's relief efforts.
Last night at small group we had a lengthy discussion on the earthquake in Haiti. Our group is made up of people who are passionate to be God's true hands and feet in the world. So obviously, we are all very stirred by these recent events and what God is up to. 
AIM is currently mobilizing efforts to effectively reach out to Haiti. Those of you who have walked with us for a while remember our dear friends