Dear Praying Christian Friends,

Since the earthquake in Haiti in January our lives and ministry have been in complete disarray. We went from occasional trips to Haiti, to repeated trips to Haiti. We have tried to juggle the new obligations in Haiti with the existing works we have in the Dominican Republic. So many Haitians have come over to the Dominican Republic that we have many first time visitors every week from among the earthquake refugees.

We also have some of the wounded in the church and our church has had a regular program of visiting the wounded Haitians in the hospital on the Dominican side, many with no one with them. Many have come to stay for good or at least for a year and we have had many Christians join the membership of the church.

Through special gifts from friends, we were able to complete the purchase of the lot adjacent to the church so we begin planning to expand. With all the new members, we need the space. In Haiti we are moving out of our relief and sustenance phase and into the re-construction phase. We have a long list of churches and pastors' homes to repair or re-build. We will continue to help people and pastors as opportunity presents itself, but the organized general distributions will end by the first week of June.

One highlight in the ministry on the Dominican side was our youth camp. It was cancelled last year because of my broken back and while we cancelled some other activities because of Haiti, we just could not cancel youth camp this year. This year’s camp was not open to all; it was a “qualified” camp, meaning the participants had to qualify to go. What a fantastic time of getting apart with God’s people, fun activities and searching and decisions. Be sure to see the pictures on the web page.

We finished camp on Easter Sunday at Jarabacoa Baptist Temple. We have had so many requests from churches, individuals and groups wanting to come and help with the earthquake relief effort that I could have a different group every week for a year. We thank each of you so much for your interest and willingness to come and sacrifice and help us. It is just impossible to keep the current ministry activities going on in the Dominican Republic and still host a group each week in Haiti.

So for the time being, the Haiti groups are being coordinated through the mission office or through Rev. Dennis Jennings, Pastor of Cherry Street Baptist Church in Springfield, MO. He can be contacted by e-mail: at djennings@mycsbc.com, or by telephone at 417.889.1999. The easiest way is to go to the BBFI Missions Web site for information on how to participate.

So many of you have sent special offerings and items to help with the Haiti Relief Effort. We have tried to thank each one with an individual note, but with traveling back and forth to Haiti and help coming from so many directions at one time, there has been confusion to say the least. If by chance we missed you with a note, please know that we greatly appreciate what all of you have done to help in this effort.

Thank you to everyone who has sent money, medicine, clothes, household goods and other items. Thank you to everyone who helped with shipping. On the same note, please do not send any more medicines or used clothes for the time being because the Dominican Government has imposed tighter enforcement of restrictions on these items. We still need tents, sleeping bags, sheets, tarps, cots and hygiene products.

Continue to pray for God to give us strength, provision, wisdom and above all, souls.

Your Thankful Servants on Hispaniola,

Wesley and Melina Lane
E-mail: PreacherWes@hotmail.com

“And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.”   —Acts 5:42