I fly out of Portland on April 8, and by April 15 I will be in Haiti to work long-term as a missionary mechanic with YWAM.

Before I discuss that though, I will give you some background into my recent experiences that have inspired this move as not all of you have been receiving my update letters.

I graduated college several years back with a B.S. degree in Industrial Technology with a Vehicle Design concentration. I worked a few different technical jobs after that, but I was thoroughly dissatisfied. Last year I finally decided to set my sights high and find a full time ministry that would be suited to my skills and personality. I took a step of faith, and quit my job while I made preparations to attend Discipleship training school with Youth With a Mission (YWAM).

YWAM is an international, interdenominational organization whose motto is "To Know God and Make Him Known" which is truly my heart's desire (www.ywam.org). I attended Discipleship Training School in Jamaica with huge support from my friends, family, and home church. In Jamaica, I learned to do laundry by hand and I also learned how to kill rats with a machete. In addition to that though, I learned about what missionary work really involves and I was able to improve my own relationship with God as I re prioritized my life. For part of the time in DTS, I went with a group to Cuba where we worked with local churches and the Cuban people became dear to me. Unfortunately, Cuba is a communist dictatorship and there are no opportunities for full time ministry. However, I intend to return there at some point to work with the Cuban church (only one month visas are available).

In Jamaica I learned a little about Haiti when YWAM Haiti's base director came to Jamaica for a week. Haiti was the second country in the world to successfully win freedom from its colonial rulers. However, whereas the American revolution was won by European settlers who were already used to a large degree of self-government, the Haitian people revolted against their slave masters. In 1804, they won their freedom but had to try to build their country from scratch.

Today, Haiti is one of the world's 5 poorest countries, and they still haven't achieved a stable democracy. Malnutrition is an issue for many of the poor. Unlike Jamaica, where our biggest issue was rats in the kitchen (and hunting rats with machetes is actually pretty fun) there are a multitude of diseases to worry about including meningitis, malaria, Dengue fever, typhoid and a whole zoo full of skin and intestinal parasites.

The YWAM base in Haiti has roughly 20 staff, and is located about 50 miles north of Port-au-Prince. They have some vehicles which break down from time to time and they need a mechanic. That is where I come in. Apparently there are a number of ministries the base is involved in including education, youth ministries and discipleship. Last year they managed to organize an evangelistic crusade which drew more than 5000 people. Additionally, they organized a coalition of pastors which is now 90 pastors strong. Next month YWAM Haiti's website will be up (thanks to my dear friend Barb Jonusaitis) and you can learn much more about the YWAM ministry in Haiti. Eventually I would like to be involved in other ministries than car repair but I will need time to learn some Creole and learn a bit about Haitian culture.

A number of people have asked me how long I intend to stay in Haiti. It is hard to answer that question because I am not sure of what to expect. I am told that Haitians are very friendly and fun, and I am looking forward to getting there and making new friends. However, I have also been told that foreigners tend to develop a cynical attitude after being in Haiti for a while because of the multitude of problems that the country is plagued with and the fact that improvement is taking place extremely slowly. I intend to remain in Haiti for a long time, but if I become cynical and depressed I may return after a year or two.

I am in the process of raising the monthly support I need to keep me going in Haiti. 17 different people helped to pay for my Discipleship Training School in Jamaica and it felt really good to know that so many people believed in me enough to support me with their hard earned money. Contributors included college students, barristas and other people with modest incomes who made a real sacrifice to support me. I think your prayers made a huge difference to my time in Jamaica and Cuba, Similarly, I would like to have a wide support base of people who are really interested in what I am doing while I am in Haiti.

I will need at least $800/month of support. For me to return to Cuba at some point, I would need to raise a bit more than this to buy round trip airfare from Haiti. Fortunately, praise God, about half of the support I need has already been pledged to me. If you are one of those who pledged to me without even being asked, God bless you. Support raising is a hard thing. My home church is giving tax receipts for the money I receive and depositing the donations to my account. Checks should NOT say "Chris Rolling" on the "for" line but don't worry. Put a post-it note on the check directing the money to me and it will get there. Send checks to:

(old contact info was removed)

Please e-mail me if you decide to support me with money or prayers so I can thank you.

I am flying to Chicago on April 8 where I will visit my friends Barb and Paul Jonusaitis and speak at a Vineyard church out there. On the 15th I will fly from Chicago to Haiti. If you want to talk to me before the 8th, you can call me at my parents' house at (360) 695-3798.

Blessings, Chris Rolling