In the aftermath of the earthquake in Port-au-Prince, God has stirred the hearts of many in the Topeka area to help Haiti Lifeline Ministries and the Centre for Children International Lifeline Haiti Orphanage recover from this devastating event. Those in the area may participate in a number of ways between Sunday, January 31 and Saturday, February 6. Here is a list of opportunities to give to Haiti Lifeline Ministries in some unconventional ways:

DINE FOR HAITI

(Please note:  all of these restaurants are Topeka locations only.)

The following restaurants will be donating a percent of proceeds to Haiti Lifeline Ministries. Just make sure you mention you are dining for this cause!

• Sunday, January 31 – Cici’s Pizza, all day and evening at the Wanamaker location
• Monday, February 1 – Boss Hawg’s, 5 – 9 p.m., Brookwood Shopping Center
• Tuesday, February 2 – Chick-Fil-A, 5 – 8 p.m., inside West Ridge Mall
• Wednesday, February 3 – Via’s Pizzeria, all day and evening, Gage Boulevard
• Thursday, February 4 – Red Robin, 5 – 9 p.m., near 6th and Wanamaker
• Friday, February 5 – Jersey Mike’s, all day and evening at the Wanamaker location (possibly also the downtown location, but this has not been confirmed yet)

**You will need to present a flier at Red Robin.  Please contact us at HaitiOrphanHelp@live.com to obtain a flier.

COMMUNITY SALE AND BENEFIT AUCTION

On Friday, February 5 and Saturday, February 6, there will be an indoor community-wide sale and silent auction.  This was born out of the story of the widow and the oil from II Kings 4.  It was realized that, while we don’t all have a lot of extra money right now, most of us do have extra “jars” – unused, un-needed items sitting around our homes that clutter our lives, but could bless others.  So, many are planning to bring their items to Journey Church for a donation-based sale, with all monies going directly to Haiti Lifeline Ministries.  The sale will be from 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. on Friday the 5th, and 7:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. on Saturday the 6th.  If you are interested in donating or helping out, please contact us at HaitiOrphanHelp@live.com. 

There will also be a silent auction held in conjunction with the sale.  Items obtained thus far include everything from salon services to art to condo rentals!  Join us at Journey Church at 21st and Gage to see the items available and to place your bid.  For more information, or if you or your business would like to donate an item to the auction, please contact us at the email address above.

BENEFIT CONCERT

A benefit concert will be held on the evening on Friday, February 5th at 7:00 p.m. at West Ridge Church in Topeka, located at the corner of 17th and Indian Hills.

Musical artists include Define Beautiful, Index, Mitch Langley and the Plugged In Band, Sarah Oldberg, and RH.  There will also be a magic show by Chris Abernathy.

A love offering will be taken with all proceeds going to the “Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund” for Haiti Lifeline Ministries.

ART FOR HAITI ORPHANS

Each artist involved will have their own photo gallery of their work, including prices, percent of sale going to the orphanage, and contact information. The minimum amount going to the orphanage from any one piece of art will be 50% of the purchase price. An artist may choose to donate more than that if they wish. The percent to be donated will be listed with each particular piece.  Participating artists currently include Lisa Schneider Pottery and Dan Billen.  If you would like more information, or if you are an artist who would like to participate in this event, please contact us at HaitiOrphanHelp@live.com.

Come hear Team Haiti 2010 from Lion and Lamb Church share on Sunday, January 31, 2010 6-8pm in the large lecture room in Henderson Hall on the Washburn University Campus in Topeka, KS.

Since 2008, Lion and Lamb Church annually partners with Haiti Lifeline Ministries on a mission trip to Haiti. Trips usually consist of caring for orphans and general maintenance of the orphanage itself. On Wednesday, January 6, Team Haiti 2010 left Topeka, Kansas on a flight to the Centre for Children International Lifeline Haiti Orphanage in Croix-des-Bouquets. On January 12th Haiti was hit by a magnitude-7 earthquake, causing one of the greatest natural disasters in recent history. By God’s grace, the lives of Team Haiti 2010 and the lives of all at the entire orphanage were spared during the earthquake that has claimed upwards of 200,000, left 250,000 injured and made 1.5 million homeless. In a dramatic series of events, Lion and Lamb’s Team Haiti 2010 made their way out of the destruction in Haiti and back to Kansas - with seven Haitian orphans at their side.

As you know another earthquake of 6.1 hit Haiti this a.m. Here is an update from John as of this a.m.! Praise the Lord!!! More later! News Update: I have talked with Daniel twice this morning. Praise God! They are all getting along (Daniel, Nicole, and children). Very low on finances. Some banks are supposed to open this morning. We are working with getting banking wire transfer set up to Lifeline. There is no looting going on. Daniel says there is no problem. They do need finances to continue the wall repairs etc. We will be getting some money to them as soon as possible. Daniel says they are in a position to receive the shipment. Our Department of Defense says that they may be able to provide some security in the movement of the shipment from the airport to the orphanage. Cross that bridge when we get there. This break through allows for the shipment to start moving. We are also working with a container shipment to Gonaives, Haiti via truck transport into Miami, than water to Gonaives port. Than truck transportation to Lifeline for a faster food supply to Lifeline. This development is underway. The earth is still quaking in Haiti this morning. John Ratzlaff

God is always faithful. He has answered our prayer's with a YES and NOW. The 2008 Haiti Lifeline shipment is being loaded on four 18 wheelers today (Friday. December 12) and will be delivered to McConnell AFB in Wichita, Kansas on Monday, December the 15th to begin its journey to Haiti. It is a large shipment (36 tons of food, clothing, and supplies). These shipments are sent via the the US government's Denton Program which is a space available program on military cargo aircraft which is administered by the USAID (United States Aid for International Development).

Thank you for your prayers and continued prayers as our God continues to orchestrate the movement of this shipment.

John Ratzlaff
Haiti Lifeline Ministries

Haiti Lifeline Ministries held a benefit concert Sunday evening the 21st of September southeast of Buhler, Kansas. There were approximately 200 people in attendance.

Two musical groups performed, Jake Schmidt and the Journeymen from Buhler and the Brothers and the Sisters from Goessel, Kansas.

The benefit raised approximately $2500 for the Lifeline Orphanage outreach in Haiti.

Pictures of the benefit concert can be found in the photo galleries.