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.
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