Haiti Mission Round-Up
“Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart.” - Jeremiah 15:16
As with most mission trips — we went to give of ourselves, give our time, our understanding of God’s great love, our physical strengths, and our resources. And we did give – helping build with cement, shining God’s love and being His salt and light, loving 22 orphans who only want the love and attention all kids need; giving Creole scriptures and tracts, performing a simple gospel skit/mime, giving bead necklaces and bracelets, balloons, basketballs, color crayons and books, hackey-sacks, toothbrushes, vegetable seeds from the U.S., first-aid kits, stickers and more. But the team would no doubt say that we received much more than we gave. We received, in an unexpected hilltop prayer and worship service, in spirit-filled worship services in Ennery and Camathe, and in the extraordinary loving hospitality of our hosts – Paul & Belle – who provided transportation, safe lodging, 3 meals every day (7am, 12noon, 6pm), daily devotions, a day trip to an historic site, tours of a clinic and university and school, interpretive services that made the language barrier easy to handle, and many more smaller details.
We saw so much that it is hard to describe in a short article. Streets and roads that made a 15-minute trip take an hour; ‘the main road’ that was constantly buzzing with pedestrians, bikes, scooters, buses, trucks (small wonder it had so many potholes); amazing vegetation and animals – including banana trees, pineapple bushes, mango trees, orange trees, goats, roosters, cows, and geckos; a market much different than our cozy ‘farmers’ market back home; we saw answered prayer in worship opportunities, drama presentations, healing of upset stomachs, safe travel, found journals; we experienced foods that were new and different – including rice and beans, frog legs, lam, plantain, ka-chi-ma, goat stew, rice pudding, and even ate at a ‘nice’ outdoor Cap-Haitian restaurant.
Life lessons? Give more. Support missions at every possible occasion. Simplify your life. Be content. (‘..for food and clothing, with these we shall be content.’ 1 Timothy 6:8) Never forget those who struggle for daily survival. And finally…..Do what you can where you are with what you have. Would we go again? You bet.
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” - Matthew 5:16