Impacting the Urban Poor

It’s hard to believe that it is already January 19^th! The time just keeps on flying by. It has been a busy start to the New Year for us, but we wanted to share with you our plans for this next year and take a look back at 2010.

As you can image the earthquake that struck Haiti in January of last year had a profound impact on our lives and ministry. We have spent the last two years splitting our time between working in the home office and the Dominican Republic. When the earthquake struck we were here in Louisville working on various projects for the ministry. That all quickly changed. Eric took over the lead role in shipping and receiving relief aid at a warehouse here in Louisville. Within three days of the earthquake he was already set up and sorting through the supplies that were coming in and prioritizing them for the urgent needs in Haiti. The first supplies from the warehouse in Louisville reached Haiti within one week and from there over 450,000lbs of aid sent from Kentucky to Haiti. Sunshine put her medical background to work in calling doctors, hospitals and medical groups seeking specific aid necessary for immediately to help those hurt in the quake. Thousands of medicines, casting supplies, rods for bone stabilizations were of such urgent need and in short supply. Sunshine also assisted in helping coordinate our office during this overwhelming time. All told, we were able to get 1.2 million pounds of relief aid into the hands of pastors and leaders all over Haiti. They in turn got the supplies out to their community all the while being an example of Christ!

Eric also coordinated this year’s annual Kentucky Derby Fundraiser for G.O. He also helped with both golf outings and between the three events they raised nearly $100,000 for G.O. Ministries. The funds raised go to help the overall ministry budget and fill in some of the gaps or allow us to start new churches and feeding centers.

After the Kentucky Derby we returned to the Dominican in preparation of our busy summer schedule. Sunshine continued to be the team and staff nurse, which can be a 24 hour a day job. Often times she is up in the wee hours of the morning helping out someone who ate or drank something they shouldn’t have. She also continued to work with Dr. Vlady and his medical clinic, but mostly she helped set up and coordinate the short term trip medical weeks. This last year we were able to facilitate seven medical and dental clinics all over the island. Eric resumed his role in helping to facilitate the short term team trips. He really enjoys the constant pace and getting to meet new people every week. He also assumed a new role in heading up G.O. Ministries internship program last year. We had eleven interns come down for as little as one month up to three months. It is great to have help over the summer, but to also invest in young people’s lives and see them change and grow.

We had several medical trips, one planned and one not, this summer. In June, Eric ended up in the Dominican ER with gall stones. After some prayer and guidance we returned home as he needed to have emergency surgery to have his gallbladder removed. We were back in Louisville for two weeks and fortunately everything went smooth and we were able to return quickly. The hardest part was Eric wasn’t supposed to do manual labor for a month and he was ready to get back helping teams with construction projects. In late July Sunshine returned to Louisville to prepare for the birth of our son. Eric returned in mid-August and then on September 9^th Colton Blaze Leach was welcomed into the world. We have enjoyed stepping into the world of parenthood and pray that we raise him in the ways of the Lord.

2011

To start the year we are continuing to work in the home office. Sunshine of course is preparing for all the medical trips for the upcoming year. She spends a great deal of time helping teams to make sure all the proper medicines are ordered, in preparing them in what to expect and setting things up on our end in the Dominican. Of course, she is also making a wonderful transition into motherhood and like most mom’s she is juggling duties. Eric is currently recruiting and interviewing interns, starting the work on this year’s Kentucky Derby and golf tournaments, and working on the construction/partnership financial reports.

In May we will be returning to the Dominican Republic and after much thought and prayers we have decided to return there year round. We feel like that is what God’s plan for us and we are excited about what lies ahead. We will continue to do what we have done before while down there, but in addition Eric will be working more with the construction projects. He will be putting together cost analysis and projects as well as tracking current expenditures and time tables. Currently G.O. Ministries has nine different construction projects going on and many more waiting to get started.

We are so appreciative of all of your love and prayers and can’t wait to share with you what God will do this year in the Dominican Republic and Haiti!