This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it!
This morning we all woke up sure of one thing – we are thankful to be here. However, one thing that we could not agree on was what time it was. No one, including our guest house hosts, was sure if Haiti recognized daylight savings time last night. Last year the country’s leaders chose not to spring forward; this year they took the jump but did a poor job of notifying the country. So…we rolled with it. It was really a good reminder that we are not in control. God is the one in control. He appointed every person on this trip. He ordained every moment.
After a wonderful breakfast of sweet porridge and juicy mango, our team left in four tap taps for Gossen Church. We were greeted by smiling faces of children in the village and warm hugs from Haitian friends. I was greeted by a smiling face too. One I never expected to see again.
Two years ago, the last time I visited Bigarade, I met a man named Examo Remy. He was on the side of the road selling alcohol. He offered a cordial “Bonswa” our way, to which we replied “Good afternoon!” Seeing the opportunity for a conversation, I mentioned that we were in Haiti for the week sharing Jesus with the kids at the school. Then I asked if he loved Jesus. “Wi” Examo Remy replied, yet the girls beside him giggled. He explained to me that he misspoke. He, instead, worshipped Satan. We pleaded Scripture with him until our tap tap pulled up, and we had to leave. Our translator wrote his name in my Bible. For two years I prayed for him. Today he met me at the door of the church to tell me that he is thinking about Jesus. That he has decided that Jesus is more powerful than Satan. What a way to prepare your heart for worship!
In service, Pastor Estaphat reminded us that there are black people, white people, yellow people, red people and brown people, but there is One God. Even though they worship and dance differently than most of us do, we share a kindred spirit. Several team members spoke in the service about how God asked them to come and how He provided the way. Some, and I won’t name any names (Barb Metreyeon) led the dancing as we all let down our guard and worshipped Jesus with our Haitian friends.
After service we shared the sandwiches we packed with our translators and broke into small groups to visit families in the village. Several groups collected children as they walked from house to house until there was a caravan of 15 or 20 kids holding their hands and following on their heels. It was a great opportunity to learn about Haitian culture, especially about their unmatched hospitality. We were welcomed in their homes and invited to sit and rest.
At 3pm we left the village. Our tap taps surprised us by taking us to New Life. Two teams from our church have stayed at New Life in the past and hold a fondness for the children living there. It was a blessing for all of us to spend some time loving on the kids that New Life rescues and nurses. We also enjoyed purchasing some ice cream there and cooling off. It was a sweet end to an even sweeter day.
We are back at the guesthouse now and just enjoyed a meal that included authentic Haitian pikliz and fried plantains. We are going to end our day by meeting with our ministry teams to prepare for our first day of teaching in the school and hosting the medical clinic. Before bed we will have a team devotional. I can’t wait to hear more about what is on each team member’s heart, but here is a little preview of what’s going on in hearts and minds of a few…
“I was very impressed with how they worshipped. They expressed themselves so well and were so willing to welcome us. They were very affectionate” – Wanda Harper
“It was amazing to me that even though they have poor living conditions they are still full of joy, and they adapt to their surroundings. Every child we saw had a smile on their face and they were all playing with each other and us.” – McKenna Osgood
“It broke my heart to peel myself away from the kids at New Life. I wanted to stay and give them more love. Another thing that happened is a big rush of wind and sand blew in our direction as we started to walk to visit families in the village. It felt like it was the Holy Spirit going before us and directing our path.” – Lisa Arisco
“Let me hear joy and gladness – Psalm 51:8 That was an answer to prayer for us today because all day long we heard joy and gladness as we listened to testimonies at the church. It blessed my heart to dance with freedom, love and joy with my brothers and sisters – both my team and my Haitian friends. I felt a joy and freedom today that I have never experienced before.” – Allisen Roberts
“We came to touch the hearts and minds of these people, and they are the ones that touch you. This place is such a beautiful place due to the attitudes of the people.” – Jacob Sonnier
This morning we all woke up sure of one thing – we are thankful to be here. However, one thing that we could not agree on was what time it was. No one, including our guest house hosts, was sure if Haiti recognized daylight savings time last night. Last year the country’s leaders chose not to spring forward; this year they took the jump but did a poor job of notifying the country. So…we rolled with it. It was really a good reminder that we are not in control. God is the one in control. He appointed every person on this trip. He ordained every moment.
After a wonderful breakfast of sweet porridge and juicy mango, our team left in four tap taps for Gossen Church. We were greeted by smiling faces of children in the village and warm hugs from Haitian friends. I was greeted by a smiling face too. One I never expected to see again.
Two years ago, the last time I visited Bigarade, I met a man named Examo Remy. He was on the side of the road selling alcohol. He offered a cordial “Bonswa” our way, to which we replied “Good afternoon!” Seeing the opportunity for a conversation, I mentioned that we were in Haiti for the week sharing Jesus with the kids at the school. Then I asked if he loved Jesus. “Wi” Examo Remy replied, yet the girls beside him giggled. He explained to me that he misspoke. He, instead, worshipped Satan. We pleaded Scripture with him until our tap tap pulled up, and we had to leave. Our translator wrote his name in my Bible. For two years I prayed for him. Today he met me at the door of the church to tell me that he is thinking about Jesus. That he has decided that Jesus is more powerful than Satan. What a way to prepare your heart for worship!
In service, Pastor Estaphat reminded us that there are black people, white people, yellow people, red people and brown people, but there is One God. Even though they worship and dance differently than most of us do, we share a kindred spirit. Several team members spoke in the service about how God asked them to come and how He provided the way. Some, and I won’t name any names (Barb Metreyeon) led the dancing as we all let down our guard and worshipped Jesus with our Haitian friends.
After service we shared the sandwiches we packed with our translators and broke into small groups to visit families in the village. Several groups collected children as they walked from house to house until there was a caravan of 15 or 20 kids holding their hands and following on their heels. It was a great opportunity to learn about Haitian culture, especially about their unmatched hospitality. We were welcomed in their homes and invited to sit and rest.
At 3pm we left the village. Our tap taps surprised us by taking us to New Life. Two teams from our church have stayed at New Life in the past and hold a fondness for the children living there. It was a blessing for all of us to spend some time loving on the kids that New Life rescues and nurses. We also enjoyed purchasing some ice cream there and cooling off. It was a sweet end to an even sweeter day.
We are back at the guesthouse now and just enjoyed a meal that included authentic Haitian pikliz and fried plantains. We are going to end our day by meeting with our ministry teams to prepare for our first day of teaching in the school and hosting the medical clinic. Before bed we will have a team devotional. I can’t wait to hear more about what is on each team member’s heart, but here is a little preview of what’s going on in hearts and minds of a few…
“I was very impressed with how they worshipped. They expressed themselves so well and were so willing to welcome us. They were very affectionate” – Wanda Harper
“It was amazing to me that even though they have poor living conditions they are still full of joy, and they adapt to their surroundings. Every child we saw had a smile on their face and they were all playing with each other and us.” – McKenna Osgood
“It broke my heart to peel myself away from the kids at New Life. I wanted to stay and give them more love. Another thing that happened is a big rush of wind and sand blew in our direction as we started to walk to visit families in the village. It felt like it was the Holy Spirit going before us and directing our path.” – Lisa Arisco
“Let me hear joy and gladness – Psalm 51:8 That was an answer to prayer for us today because all day long we heard joy and gladness as we listened to testimonies at the church. It blessed my heart to dance with freedom, love and joy with my brothers and sisters – both my team and my Haitian friends. I felt a joy and freedom today that I have never experienced before.” – Allisen Roberts
“We came to touch the hearts and minds of these people, and they are the ones that touch you. This place is such a beautiful place due to the attitudes of the people.” – Jacob Sonnier
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