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Last week we saw the importance of working together to accomplish more.

To our amazement we realized that the mission house was in desperate need of food in order to meet the needs of the hungry community.

We did not understand they used so much food in one day to feed 400 children, such as over 100 pounds of rice and over 100 cans of tuna.

We were confronted with the great need for food to keep this feeding programme in action. We immediately got to work to see how could we gather our resources and network relationships to make this happen the day before our departure from Haiti.

Spencer Butterfield, manager of Butterfield and Vallis, had come on this mission with us. It was like a light switch turning on... 'Ask him because his family is in food distribution.'

Spencer, understanding that this situation was nigh to impossible, got to work even though he knew that we only had four hours to fill this plane with food.

This cargo plane could take up to 35,000 pounds and would fly from Florida to Port-au-Prince.

Moving against the clock, it would really take a miracle to order the food, pull the order, shrink wrap the pallets, load up the trucks, and transport the food across Florida, then off-load it, to turn around and load it on the cargo flight to depart in time to meet their military time slot for arrival to the capital of Haiti.

It was truly amazing for us to discover that it was done! The plane was fully loaded and due to arrive at 10:36pm. We then formed our team that would leave to go the airport to receive this food to then fill up the storehouse of the mission house.

Our team consisted of 18 from Bermuda, five from Haiti, six- armed police officers (especially because it was late at night), and three large trucks with drivers. We moved out on our assignment to the airport. It was like a night mission in which the children were the benefactors.

We arrived at the airport just in time in order to see the flight land. Due to the networks we had in Haiti, we would be able to be right on the tarmac to load up the goods.

Well, 10:36pm came and went. It was now 11pm and we saw no plane! So I called the charter company of the plane and was told that the plane must be there already. "But we did not see a plane land", I responded. At that point I sent two people to walk the length of the airport to see if maybe the plane had landed just before we came, after all the airport was not lit adequately. After they searched the entire airport, there was no cargo plane to be found.

Keep in mind the majority of this labour force to load up the 35,000 pounds off the plane, in the trucks and in the storeroom of the mission house were due to leave the next day to go back to Bermuda.

No lights

What a dilemma! It was midnight when we were finally informed as to what happened. The plane that we chartered to come to Port-au-Prince was due at 10:36pm; however, the lights on the runway went out prior to landing!

Would you believe that the plane was turned back at 10:39pm and was on it's way back to Florida!

We were informed that the cargo plane would not be back until the same time the Bermuda team should be checked-in for a flight leaving Port-au-Prince.

Now that was certainly unforeseen opposition! Things like this were happening all week! It was then we realized that some had to stay behind in order to ensure the food made it safely to the mission house. Our experience during this trip confirmed that fact that if we did not personally take the food from the airport to where it had to go, the children might never receive it. Graciously seven decided to miss their return flight to Bermuda make this happen.

What lesson did we learn from this, and over and over during this trip?... That you must persevere against all odds in order to help others.

It was at that time I thought of the Lord Jesus Christ. He came to save the world, but was put on a cross. This should be a reminder to us all; even in our personal lives we will sometimes come face to face with difficulty in order to help others.

Maybe these things happen so that we stop trusting in our ability and in our God. Whatever, you are facing personally, I encourage you: don't give up! Keep your eyes on the goal. Remember that some of the best things in life are truly worth fighting for.

Maybe we are put in incredible situations to truly learn, "For nothing is impossible with God." Luke 1:37.

To learn more about Cornerstone Foundation's Operation Rescue in Haiti visit www.cfbermuda.org today.[[In-content Ad]]

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