Haiti Day Three Aug 11

Day Three (Monday)

The work week for Haitians is in full swing as the traffic we experienced was a little bit crazier than our previous outings.  I can say for sure it was not near as bad as my last trip to Haiti.  Today would have us visiting a tent city called Canaan. Just about 2 miles from the Mission House one of our interpreters got sick and had what he defined as a weird feeling, we turned around and returned to the house.  John our guide talked with the interpreter and found out he had talked to a brother who warned him that a voodoo practicer would get him if he continued his work.  Haiti’s type of Christianity includes voodoo.  As in most Creole cultures voodoo witches and doctors are prevalent and the people believe it is real.  As Christ followers we know that there is no force that  can harm us unless God allows it.  Our group gathered around the interpreter and prayed for him, it was a special time and I think it grew our team.   In American we don’t take spiritual warfare seriously, in Haiti Satan is at work all the time.  I Peter tells us Satan is seeking to destroy us and he will use anything it takes.  Following our prayer we began our journey again. We took the road into Port Au Prince and then cut our way through the many little cities along the way to Canaan.  As I noted before the ride is some of the best experiences for the senses.  As you ride along your eyes see hundreds, maybe thousands of people going somewhere.  Along each street their are entrepreneurs selling their wears.  A lady selling spices for the cooking, there was salts, peppers and cumin, each sack opened revealing the scents of their nature.  Next would be a child (maybe 10) selling “lou” or water as we know it in little plastic containers that looked like zip lock bags.  One would bit the end and squeeze the water into your mouth for refreshment.  Down the road a little you might find a chicken shop, where you can buy cooked or fresh chicken for you next meal.  Strangely there is no refrigeration to protect the raw meat from ruining in the 95+ degree heat.    Some carried their stores on their head.  As in many third world countries  this culture has learn to use their heads.  A small hanker-chef like cloth would be wound into a bowl shape, then the item being carried would rest on the flat top,  some used their hands to carry their whatever and others would not.  One man was selling bike parts, another cell phone cigarette chargers, then another fresh vegetables.  Once at Canaan we had prayer and broke up into 2 teams.  Each team would go from home to home praying and sharing with those who lived there.  The particular village we visited was situated with rows and rows of 12x15 one room houses with a small porch on the front and doors on the front and back with two windows.  Silver metal tin covered the roof and hurricane anchors were nailed for protects.  Not insulation, no floor covering, no glass windows (wood panel doors) and no interior walls.  It was surprising to see smiling faces at almost all the homes.  From door to door we would hear new stories and new troubles for us to consider.  There was one lady who had lost her husband, living with three kids and as she washed her clothes (front porch with two big pans) she shared how useless she felt and unneeded.  We talked with her for a while, prayed with her, shared verses with her and hugged her.  Another family invited us in, to sit down and talk, their story intriguing and sad, but their hope in Jesus strong and true.  She even asked if we would come again tomorrow and then the next day.  It was nothing for little children to be running around naked playing as normal children would play, but clothed in America.  We continued to pray with people in their homes and we privileged to see one young man come to Jesus.  As we visited we gave out candy to the children.  It was amazing how fast news travels without wires in a small village when candy is introduced.  Soon we had a large group of children with smiles and excitement wanting candy.  We were glad we could give candy to all the children who asked.  It seemed like we had just arrived with it was time to go.   From Canaan we traveled to the mass burial site in Haiti.  I had been on this ground before and it still seemed to have a saddening affect on me.  It is hard to believe that 250,000 people were buried below my feet and covered with stone.  I can’t help but wonder how many of them knew Jesus and then the thought of how many may have not.  If the Bible is true the gate is narrow and the lose was great.  The horror the thought sickens me as I walk this ground.  The travel home was quitter than normal as I think our team was considering what they had seen.

We would now travel through the most dangerous city in Haiti, City Solie.  This is the place where children have been known to carry guns.  As we drove through I prayed for the people I saw and wondered what must they be thinking.  Our tour would take us through the city and into downtown Port Au Prince.  We visited the Catholic church that was destroyed and then the National Palace which will have to be rebuilt.  More tours and we returned to the Mission House for the evening.

Haiti Day two August 11

Haiti Day Two

This morning starts as most days in Haiti with one exception, it’s Sunday, The Lord’s Day.  In Haiti there are many churches and many attend them.  Our team got up and dressed, loaded up the truck and off to church we went.  It is about a 15 minute ride to the church.  As we drove out of the compound and into the main roads we saw several families who had dress for church (Sunday best) and were walking.  To the best of my knowledge they would walk out to the main road (some miles) and catch a tap tap (Haitian taxi, an asian truck with a cattle bed all decorated up), then they would arrive at their church.  As we traveled up the main road a we encountered a large crowd along the side of the road and when we got closer we realized it was a funeral.  The streets were filled with people dressed for church walking to their places of worship.  My mind wondered how we in American would react to walking to church.  Further up the road we arrived at the church, it was packed.  We greeted and were greeted and then an usher took us to the front of the church and sat us as guest of honor.  As we entered the building I could tell we were fixin to have church.  The Spirit of the Lord was there and as the pre-service music played I watched as family after family filed in with smiles on their faces and they were dress in their best.  They were ready for worship and hearing the Word of God.  Amazingly the church was outfitted with all the equipment we have, the instruments were up to date, the sound system was kicking and their video projector shared the latest news and songs for all the see.  Promptly at 9:30 the choir director stood at the podium and he music changed.  The staff and elders all marched in from the back and it was on.  I expressed to our group later that even though I could not understand the words they were singing, I worshipped with them.  Some of the song were familiar tunes and I sang along in their language, it was uplifting to Jesus.  I was greatly blessed on this day to share in Communion with the church as it does every first Sunday.  It was very orderly and worshipful.  At this point we were about an hour and 10 minutes in and I thought the service was ending, but it was just beginning.  More music announcements, and welcome then the message.  Pastor Judes  preached from I Peter 1 a message entitled How to remain clean in an unclean world.  It was amazing and convicting.  I can see why this church in Haiti is growing.  Following church we were greeted by the congregation.  Pastor Judes was a very humble man and I felt blessed to be in the presence of a saint of God.  Pastor Judes wife is still in the states following a 3 month kidnapping, pray for her as she recovers.  We left the church and go changed and headed to a restaurant called Hot Fresh.  We all ordered and in Haitian fashion it too about 2.5 hours for us to eat lunch.  The food was ok but the conversations were priceless.  Our next journey took the team to the lookout point of Haiti.  From the top of the mountain you can over look the entire city of Port Au Prince.  Visually you see where the earthquake impacted the city and then you see seas of blue tarps everywhere.  This is my second trip to the point and my mind drifts back to the same thing, In Matthew Jesus was standing on a hillside and the Bible tells us that He looked on this with compassion, helpless, hurting and like sheep without a shepherd.  Haiti for me is that, a hurting nation flailing helplessly in red tape of government bureaucracy and international influence that keeps it from being a successful country.  The decent from the lookout point was interesting as we had planned to pick up Domino’s pizza for supper and had a little trouble finding it.  It did allow for us time to tour some of Port Au Prince and see several roads multiple times, but fun none the less.  Our day would end with the team sharing thoughts from their day.  Ready for day three.

Haiti Day One Aug 2011

Haiti day one.

We flew out this morning at 7:00 from ATL.  Leaving the church at 3:00 am was awful, even when we prayed Jesus was in bed and didn’t hear us (just kidding for those of you who can’t get it).  Our flight to Miami was uneventful.  It was fun to watch Kim McConnell and Nathan Lee fly for the first time.  But I think in the end they both really enjoyed flying.  The landing in Miami was crazy.  At first everyone thought we were on the ground and them we hit and bounced about five times and then stayed on the ground for the taxi.  We hit the ground and within 15 minutes we were boarding for Haiti.  Probably the fastest turn around every from me.  Once in the air you could tell that the low pressure system formally known as Emily was in the air, pretty bumpy but not all that bad.  Definitely not the worst turbulence I have ever experienced.  We did get to fly with two famous people going to Haiti.  Sean Penn and Tao Cruz?  They said something about a movie star and a rapper, both which I have no idea, guess I should have been impressed.  We found our way to the Guest House, I have to say the traffic was not bad at all.  I did see a woman begging at the same corner on the ride in, in fact you can see her picture at the church on the Haiti wall, she is looking in the back of the truck.  I told her it was great to see her and we went on.  Got our stuff in the house and ate a sandwich.  Soon we would be on our way to the Children’s Home.  There I found familiar friends in the children I had love on before.  This time I could see the growth in the children, even got to hold the two boys we picked up in City Solie who were near death.  They both had put on a lot of weight and looked great.  It was a little concerning that the children all seemed to have some type of colds.  Sniffles and low fevers, by the time we left some seemed to feel better.  We road back to the guest house and had a wonderful dinner.  Macorroni and cheese with bacon, french fries and tacos.  The lemonade was amazing.  Looking forward to an even better day tomorrow.  Thank you for your prayers.