Comments on: Rev. Jeanne Acheson-Munos, Merle West, and Gene Defour

By: Tim and Dana Logan

Tim and Dana Logan — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 19:32:21 +0000

Our hearts are breaking for my cousin Jack Munos for the loss of his wife Jeanne. We never had the pleasure of meeting her but followed her and Jack’s work in Haiti through the newsletters that were on-line.They did good work. Their love and passion for the people of Haiti and the work they have done was always so inspiring to me. We hope in the future to take part in the rebuilding of Haiti through doing some volunteer work in that country. We will continue to keep them and the others that died in that tragic earthquake in our thoughts and prayers in the days to come.Haiti will heal.

By: Joe & Mary Martin

Joe & Mary Martin — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 14:50:00 +0000

Our hearts’ are breaking for all of the family members of these precious missionaries who are lost to this world; and to the Haitian’s, whose suffering is immeasurable. Know that your brothers and sisters in Mesick, MI are praying for you and doing what we can from where we are at.
Praise God for all of you who have, and who continue to, lay down your lives for the love of Haiti!
God Bless You.
We Love You.

By: katie west

katie west — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 03:44:09 +0000

I personally had the privelage of knowing both Gene Dufour and Merle West. Gene, a close family friend. Merle, my grandpa to whom i was also very close. I made a trip down to Haiti with my grandpa a couple of years ago, and lived in the building that is now ruins in the background for a month. My grandpa helped build it, and it is fitting that he will be buried there. I thank the people involved with his memorial service in Haiti, and I hope to travel to see the country in which my grandpa’s life was taken at least once before I die.

By: uberVU - social comments

uberVU - social comments — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 05:42:26 +0000

Social comments and analytics for this post…

This post was mentioned on Twitter by johnwaldo: Memorial service in Haiti for 3 missionaries- http://www.helphaitiheal.org/2010/01/rev-jeanne-acheson-munos-merle-west-and-gene-defour/...

By: Dr. Ronald White

Dr. Ronald White — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 03:18:28 +0000

Just last Sunday, Janet and I had a wonderful afternoon with Merle and Dorothy West and Clancy and Dorris Thompson at the West’s trailer in Lakeland, Fl. Merle was excited about returning to Haiti to put the finishing touches on a building that was his dream. We talked together about the role that Clancy had played in Merle’s going to Haiti. For many years he made annual trips building churches. After his retirement he and Dorothy spent their winters running the guest house for FOHO and serving the work teams that cycled through. He had a dream to build a new guest house which he did almost entirely with Haitian labor. On one of my last trips to Haiti I brought a work team myself which worked on some of the finishing touches of this same building. It was a beautiful building that Merle hoped would serve the church in Haiti for years to come. Merle lost his heart in Haiti many years ago. This week he lost his life to fulfill his passion.

Our hearts go out to Merle’s family. May the knowledge that Merle died as he lived, serving Jesus, bring comfort and deep appreciation for friend and family alike.

Pastor and Friend,
Dr. Ron White

By: Kristina King Diekema

Kristina King Diekema — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 01:20:40 +0000

As much as Merle will be missed, he was a testament to this country and all of the places he helped. He will be missed. Although we understand He died doing what he loved doing, our hearts are saddened and I intend to continue in his path. His loss has made me realize that we all need to help each other. Bless his family and we all be there for them.

By: Tweets that mention Rev. Jeanne Acheson-Munos, Merle West, and Gene Defour :Haitian Earthquake Relief -- Topsy.com

Sun, 17 Jan 2010 21:49:49 +0000

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by WISH_TV, johnwaldo. johnwaldo said: Memorial service in Haiti for 3 missionaries- http://www.helphaitiheal.org/2010/01/rev-jeanne-acheson-munos-merle-west-and-gene-defour/ [...]

By: Dr. Timothy Moon, D.O., Family Physician

Dr. Timothy Moon, D.O., Family Physician — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 16:24:36 +0000

It is hard to express in words how close this tragedy has effected those of us that have known those lost. I had the honor and privilege to be on a couple mission trips as a child and teenager with ‘Mr. West’ as the Haitian workers called him. He was also known as the ‘bossman’ too and there was never any question to any of us who was in charge. Although he was always so humble in all that he did and gave God all the Glory.

I am so sorry for your loss Dorothy, Merle,jr., and Mark, the rest of the West family; and families of the others lost. BUT… Jesus is coming soon, and we need to be ready… there will be no more tears or sorrows where we are going … get ready to get on the bus!

I learned some of my first lessons in hard work, patience, tolerance, love for your fellow man, and most importantly seeing a living example of how Jesus wants us to live on this earth in Merle West…
He never yelled, he never seemed to get angry. In fact I think most of the Haitian brothers thought that all Americans speak Creole in a soft tone of voice in short commands that all can understand; and yet speak volumes from the heart of the love that he had for all Haitians and those who have not found Christ.

I have spent some of my most memorable Christmastimes with the West family, and have seen direct miracles in my families life as the result of intercessory prayer by Merle West on our behalf.

I know that all of those of us who have ever stayed at FOHO house or the Peavey orphanage, and have missioned in Haiti have been praying continuously.

God closes doors, and allows houses to collapse, but uses these to open windows to his greater glory and honor, as I have seen on TV and through the blogs that Pastor Roller, and Bishop has shared.

In the days ahead, those of left behind I know will be praying and meditating on God’s word to receive what HE wants us to do to help.