Haiti Trip 2016 Update #4

It’s hard to believe that after all the praying, planning and preparations for this trip, we are already at the half way point. It feels like we are just getting started and yet our time here is quickly slipping away. I am so thankful for the opportunities we have had and ask that you pray for our last two days in country to be profitable.

 

Traiana and Daisy hanging a light on the new ceiling we are putting in.

Today we went back to the OK. We didn’t have our typically morning devotions before we left. Instead we went back to the projects we had been working on yesterday for a few hours before taking a break at 10am to worship with the Men’s Discipleship group.

The Men’s Discipleship group is an amazing program run by Moise, a man of God whose faith greatly encourages me. Just a bit about Moise, after the 2010 earthquake he volunteered to move into “tent city” to minister to the people who lost their homes. He led Bible studies and cared for many people.

Moise takes 5 or 6 men into his program a year. Throughout the year he invests in their lives on a very deep level. He disciples them spiritually through prayer, Bible lessons and devotionals. He also helps them establish ministries in the prison or hospitals. They are also trained with a skill as they spend several hours a day in the bakery.

Today they led our worship time and we had the opportunity to meet them and hear some of their stories. I wish you could have been in the room with us, and not just because it was the only air-conditioned room we have been in this week. These 5 men had 2 guitars and their voices to lead us in singing. And as Jesus took 5 loaves and 2 fish and multiplied a meal for thousands, He took these 5 men and their 2 guitars and abundantly blessed us. These men sang with such fervency and conviction! I thought, “this has to be how worship in heaven will be!”

The young man I had the privilege of sitting next to was one of the men in the discipleship program. I unfortunately don’t know his name, but he shared his story. He was born into the family of a Voodoo priest and raised in the way of Voodoo. When he decided to surrender his life and follow Jesus, his family kicked him out and wanted nothing to do with him. Since that time he has taken residence in a church outside his village because he is no longer welcomed at home. Now he is in the discipleship program and growing in his faith. Pray for Him.

It was such a blessing, and very humbling, to be next to him. Here is a man who counted the cost and chose Christ over everything. I am so thankful for how God has worked in his life.

After our time with the Discipleship Group, we headed back to work for an hour before lunch. Lunch was a cornmeal and bean mix. It was very good. We also had treat of lemon or strawberry turnovers.

 

Bethany and Ashley having fun on a water run!

We decided for the afternoon that we should stay close to the Guest House in case it rains like it did yesterday. So we went to a large park near the airport to hand out food and water. We also played basketball and visited with the people there.

I met a young man who said he was a Christian and wanted to be a translator. It was nice talking to him in English. One of the tough things is, many Haitians believe that all Americans have lots of money, so he asked if I could help him pay for college. I’d love to help him, but giving money isn’t the answer. I introduced him to the Kalipso who talked to him about what it would take to be a translator. I pray that God opens up a door for him.

Tonight we had devotions and our passage was:

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV)

God is so faithful to us and the only appropriate response is faithfulness. God calls each and every one of us to a journey toward Him in this life. He never promises us a life of ease and comfort, only that He will be with us every step of the way.

For us this week, our journey is literally to Haiti and to encounter poverty. Yet even in this place of poverty, Jesus is very much alive and well in the hearts of the Haitian believers. I feel that they encourage us as much, if not more, then we encourage them.

Tomorrow we will be going back to the OK to try and finish our projects. Several of the women will be going to a prison for women to do ministry there. When they return, we will get a chance to see the Tin Market, which is where these artisans will make beautiful creations out of steel drums.

Prayer Requests

Please pray for our girls who will go to the prison tomorrow. That they will listen, learn and love the women in prison. Pray that they can boldly proclaim the love of Christ and demonstrate it while they are there.

Pray for Christie Kless. Her husband, David, and son, Jake, are here with us this week, but she is back home. She has recently been diagnosed with cancer and we are bodly praying for healing.

Our team has done a wonderful job of bonding together and getting to know the rest of the group. Pray that we make the most of the time we have with the team here.

Pray for Scott Hodges, who has been our team leader this week. He is flying home tomorrow.

Praise for Frank Verdi’s safe arrival. He will be leading our team the rest of the week.