I sit here in my temporary office arrangement studying and reading up for tomorrow morning's message. In the other room, the sounds of a raucous crowd watching British Premier League Soccer floats through the cracked door (I can not help but think, "so great a cloud of witnesses..." Its that time of year when we lead up to Resurrection Sunday and the build up is full of imagery and emotion. Last week we looked into a bit about who God is...He is everything, really. Most of all, He is holy. It is amazing to me, that God, in His awesome Holiness, would stoop to do what He has done and does...for me. Unimaginable really...but that again, is God. As I look into the last hours of Jesus I am convicted. The first thing He says on the cross, while being tortured, humiliated, laughed at, spit on, and hanging in unbearable agony while being abandoned by almost everyone that had previously followed him was, "Father, forgive them..."
I don't know when the last time I prayed those words were. "Forgive them." To pray those words means two things. One, the one praying has already forgiven. Two, there is an absolute understanding that the ones being prayed for have sinned against God and the desire is for their forgiveness. Conviction weighs upon me as I write this down. Too many times I have correctly understood that someone or even a group has sinned against me, and I have railed against their thoughts and actions - justifiably so, but I have never prayed that they would be forgiven...truth is, I haven't forgiven them. How could I ask for God to forgive? How can I not forgive and truly desire for them to be forgiven?
At times, part of intercessory prayer is to ask for the transgressor's forgiveness, Jesus asked for forgiveness of those that were in the process of killing him...who are we to not forgive and ask for other's forgiveness by God? For other's to be forgiven, salvation has to come. I have asked for the salvation of those who have sinned against me...but it has been in arrogance. I prayed it out loud in a prayer born of anger because in my heart I thought, "no way can someone not need salvation who has sinned against me in such a manner." Arrogant prayer is worthless. So, I sit here convicted by God that my heart has been wrong.
Father, I ask forgiveness for this sin. I ask forgiveness for not being forgiving. I ask forgiveness for not forgiving those who have done me wrong. In the eternal it is so small. I ask forgiveness for having it take priority in my life as if it were bigger than God. I have been angry...really angry for so long, and I ask forgiveness for this. I ask forgiveness for speaking against those who have come against me because I have allowed it to consume me. I was consumed with me, not you. I am sorry.
I forgive those who have come after me, spoken against me, railed against me, and made life miserable for my family and me. I forgive you.
Father, forgive them...I ask.
Ocmulgee River @ Giles Ferry
Saturday, March 14, 2015
Thursday, January 31, 2013
A Week of Tragedy
This week has been one of tragedy around my family. Not within my family, just around it. Sunday evening the grandfather of a young man that attends the church I pastor passed away unexpectedly of a heart attack. The young man, his wife, and child are in Florida to be with family and attend the funeral. That same evening a young man that attends Jackson High School with my oldest son, lost his mom. Tuesday, my son's favorite teacher, along with her husband who is also a teacher, lost their home to a fire...everything was destroyed. Wednesday morning, a former pastor of Stark United Methodist Church, passed away suddenly leaving behind two beautiful daughters and a son. One of those daughters attends Jackson High School with my oldest (I suspect he has, at minimum, a crush on the young lady) and she is sure to be devastated. Cade, the oldest of my two sons, said to me yesterday, "This week is one of the worst weeks ever, one friend's mom died Sunday night, Mrs. Braswell's house burned down, and now Mr. Drake passed away, and it is only Wednesday...the week isn't even over yet." I watched his face and understood that he was feeling pain for those that were in the middle of tragedy and my eyes teared up. Welcome to my world, son. I am proud of you for feeling for others.
Additionally, earlier this week, a precious 4-year old boy, whose family lives locally, was killed in an automobile accident as well...what does one say?
A friend of mine blogged, I Don't Know. Here, http://www.jasonlsanders.com/2013/01/31/i-dont-know-why/ , take a look at that. He does an excellent job with this piece. One of my favorite preacher/teachers has this to say...
"Buddy, it makes you stop and think doesn't it? We never know how long we have, and we do not know how long others have. You claim to be a believer in Christ Jesus, so offer yourself to help those who are hurting. Take the time to offer yourself to others before they hurt in these ways again, so they may know where to turn the next time - because there will be a next time. It is how it is in this world. Take time now to grow your relationship with God, cultivate it, nourish it, be consumed with it, because growing closer to Him, and learning what it means to abide in Him, fulfills the Great Command (to love God with everything you are and your neighbor as yourself) and in fulfilling the Great Command, we can not help but fulfill the Great Commission (to go and make disciples, baptizing them and teaching them). Rest in the fact that we are not so important that we have to know the reasons why, but we know the One who does. Rest in the fact that God is truly Sovereign, and He is the only One that needs to know everything, and He is the One that saves us, builds us into what He desires, and restores us. He is the One who firmly plant us in His courtyard Psalms 92:13 , by the streams of water Psalms 1:3 , and keeps us for Himself Jude 1:1. Rest in Him now! Don't wait! Love Him with fierceness, and through Him love others in like manner. You don't have to have all the answers, but be there for others who may need help in a time of need to find the One who does have the answers, and be brought to the realization that they to don't have to know why, just know the One who does."
It is only Thursday. Bad things happen, and beyond all the easy, pat answers, I don't know why. It is not my place to know, God is the Sovereign One, and He is my Father. I rest in that, because in Him and Him alone, is where we find rest.
Additionally, earlier this week, a precious 4-year old boy, whose family lives locally, was killed in an automobile accident as well...what does one say?
A friend of mine blogged, I Don't Know. Here, http://www.jasonlsanders.com/2013/01/31/i-dont-know-why/ , take a look at that. He does an excellent job with this piece. One of my favorite preacher/teachers has this to say...
about bad things happening in the world and to good people. It is quite sobering, actually, to place everything in its proper context. To my son I have this to say,"Buddy, it makes you stop and think doesn't it? We never know how long we have, and we do not know how long others have. You claim to be a believer in Christ Jesus, so offer yourself to help those who are hurting. Take the time to offer yourself to others before they hurt in these ways again, so they may know where to turn the next time - because there will be a next time. It is how it is in this world. Take time now to grow your relationship with God, cultivate it, nourish it, be consumed with it, because growing closer to Him, and learning what it means to abide in Him, fulfills the Great Command (to love God with everything you are and your neighbor as yourself) and in fulfilling the Great Command, we can not help but fulfill the Great Commission (to go and make disciples, baptizing them and teaching them). Rest in the fact that we are not so important that we have to know the reasons why, but we know the One who does. Rest in the fact that God is truly Sovereign, and He is the only One that needs to know everything, and He is the One that saves us, builds us into what He desires, and restores us. He is the One who firmly plant us in His courtyard Psalms 92:13 , by the streams of water Psalms 1:3 , and keeps us for Himself Jude 1:1. Rest in Him now! Don't wait! Love Him with fierceness, and through Him love others in like manner. You don't have to have all the answers, but be there for others who may need help in a time of need to find the One who does have the answers, and be brought to the realization that they to don't have to know why, just know the One who does."
It is only Thursday. Bad things happen, and beyond all the easy, pat answers, I don't know why. It is not my place to know, God is the Sovereign One, and He is my Father. I rest in that, because in Him and Him alone, is where we find rest.
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Christian Rights
Sometime back I delivered a message to a church in Newton
County. I was filling in for a pastor who was out of town, and I suspect I was
the only person available. It was July 3rd which obviously comes
just prior to July 4th and what we call Independence Day. It was a
typical Southern Baptist service filled with patriotism and the honoring of our
heroes who have or were wearing the uniform of all branches in our military.
Our veterans are worthy of honor and respect, and they should be prayed for,
cared for, and loved…make no mistake about this. A group had been brought in to
sing patriotic songs, and the excitement level was high among those in attendance
as I stepped into the pulpit. The sermon started in this manner:
This weekend we celebrate the holiday called Independence Day, and it is to celebrate the United States formally declaring its independence from Great Britain. As a former member of the Armed Forces, I thank each of you that have served in any capacity within our nation’s military, and I thank your families for serving with you as well… It is both an honor and a travesty to fall on the field of battle for this country. It matters not whether you agree with the particular war, the fact remains that if there were not those who died for our ability to be free and stay free, we would not be here today gathering together to worship the One, true God. But…this nation, our rights, and anything in this country or in this world and closer to home – anything in your house, your family, or even a patriotic thought process is temporal.
A
man may have to die for our country: but no man must, in any exclusive sense, live for his country. He who
surrenders himself without reservation to the
temporal claims of a nation, or a party, or a class is rendering to Caesar that which, of all things, most
emphatically belongs to God: himself. ~ C.S.
LewisThis weekend we celebrate the holiday called Independence Day, and it is to celebrate the United States formally declaring its independence from Great Britain. As a former member of the Armed Forces, I thank each of you that have served in any capacity within our nation’s military, and I thank your families for serving with you as well… It is both an honor and a travesty to fall on the field of battle for this country. It matters not whether you agree with the particular war, the fact remains that if there were not those who died for our ability to be free and stay free, we would not be here today gathering together to worship the One, true God. But…this nation, our rights, and anything in this country or in this world and closer to home – anything in your house, your family, or even a patriotic thought process is temporal.
The
things of this earth will not last, and while we will give our lives to defend those things, and particularly our country,
it pales in comparison with the eternal. Who
will give their life for the
eternal? We have been called to follow in his footsteps.
That
means we are called to lay our lives down. What a foreign concept to us who have been raised here
in the United States of America. We are proud
people, always ready to stand up for our rights and if need be, create more rights to have. Here in the southeastern region
of the United States it is even more dominate
that we stand up and rebel, as it were.
"We ain’t submitting to anything!"…are we? Laying
our lives down and the idea of submission is something we struggle with.
I will never be asked back (for several reasons) but here is and was the point. We
should celebrate the country we live in because God has placed us here. We should
live in reality, and reality says that our freedoms here are disappearing. We
should speak out when rights are being taken away. We should mourn the loss of
those rights as we have the God-granted right to do so by virtue of the fact
that He is the One who places governmental authority in its place(s) according
to His word, and it has been those governments that grant rights within the
country. But…
Those rights granted here in this country are not our
rights to give and take away…that right is reserved for God. If He chooses to
place a governmental authority over us that limits our rights, then it is to
His word we must go to understand how to live a Christian life within that
context. If He chooses to allow guns to be taken, freedoms of speech to be
limited, the right to life to be snuffed out, then it is to His word we must go
to understand how to live as a Christian within that context. We must speak out
as the Holy Spirit leads, and we must live as the word commands which is illuminated
by that same Holy Spirit.
The right to live in a free America is not the right of
the believer. That is ultimately in God’s hands, it is not our right. To believe
that Jesus is coming back because of the turmoil within the United States is to
elevate the United States to a status far above reality. Living in reality with
a Biblical worldview dictates that the imminence of Jesus’ return is not
predicated upon what the United States does or does not do…the U.S. is not
mentioned in scripture. The imminence of His return is dictated by Him and Him alone.
He has stated He is coming back. Until then - there is many a civilization that
has risen and fallen since the ascension, and the United States is no
different. The Christian has laid down his or her rights for the sake of the cross. Our job is to live for Him, because of Him, and through Him no
matter the circumstances we believe we are in. Whether slave or free, armed or
unarmed, with national consequence or not - we are compelled by the Word to
live for His honor and glory and that alone.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Newspaper article about Haiti
So, Diane Glidewell from the local paper where I live, the Jackson Progress-Argus, wrote a super nice article about missions in Haiti and made me sound like a saint. I am not, just in case anyone was wondering, but I do want to place a link to the article here, http://www.mycountypaper.com/jacksonprogress-argus/headlines/Flovilla_man_drawn_to_needs_in_Haiti_119741229.html , and should anyone wish to contribute in any way, you can email me at scott.chewning@gmail.com. Thank you
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Haiti Missions, Round 2
I want to tell you a story. It’s true. You see, God has shown me that He can do anything. In fact, He can do it with flawed people that are spiritually inept and striving to do “stuff for Jesus”. He can use those of us that have “missed the point”, are marginalized, not relevant, misunderstood sometimes and understood completely. God can use us when He wants and, in all truth, He will do what He wants, when He wants, in spite of who is in the way or willing to be used. This is one of those stories.
After going to Haiti, Easter week of 2010, Ricardo Theodore, Dany Theodore, and I understood that we were going back – I believe, until we die. The Theodore’s want to go permanently to Haiti after some further medical education and training for Dany, and I just want to go back. It is all tied together. Christy, my wife, is supportive in these efforts and in her words, “part of our role in the mission is to help them get there permanently.” I concur, with the addendum, “and we will help them permanently.” The first trip was amazing; this second trip blew me out of the water. We prayed and had requested prayer on three particular items prior to our departure. One, that the Holy Spirit would work prior to our arrival and prepare hearts to hear the gospel, two, that we would meet the people we needed to meet in order to network in Haiti so we may reach Cayemite and Pestel with help (supplies of food/water/medicines, etc.) on a long-term basis, and third, protection while travelling and from anyone wishing us harm.
A week out from leaving it was impressed upon me that we needed $1000 extra dollars. So, I did what every good Christian does and I went to Face Book on Thursday evening about 6:45 and posted a status line that said, “We need $1000 for our trip to Haiti sometime before we leave for Haiti on Monday morning.” Nothing happened Thursday or Friday until late when I had a friend call and say that she was going to talk with her husband. On Saturday morning, I had a lady drive into my driveway with a check. Another friend called and had me drop by for a check and I was told to drop in elsewhere and pick up two checks. By Saturday at 11:55 I had deposited or cashed $1100 in the mission account (5 minutes before the banks closed) and my status line request had been granted. God is good.
Sunday afternoon, after the morning church services had come to an end, I received notification that the flight to Miami enroute to Port a Prince had been cancelled due to inclement weather approaching. Quickly, we rearranged flights and flew out Sunday evening to Miami. Again, God was gracious, and some of Dany Theodore’s extended family allowed us to stay overnight at their home. On Monday, we flew out to PAP on time.
About a month prior to the trip I had reserved a vehicle to use in driving around Haiti. It was reserved with an American Express card. The good news was that they had that vehicle for us, the bad news, they would not use that same card to actually pay for the rental of the vehicle. So, after lengthy negotiations, the use of an irate Frenchman’s cell phone to contact my bank, and more than one threat to walk out – we utilized my debit card, and $1000 cash to rent the car for the week. Amazing, no wonder I needed that extra money. God knew what He was doing even if I did not. God is so good.
We started our travel by piling into a Daihatsu Terios. It’s size is comparable to a Ford Escape with half of the storage room, and we crammed five people and 12 bags of luggage with one 30 lb. jug of LP gas in the front floorboard on the passenger’s side. The privilege of riding around the country of Haiti with it’s less than stellar roads with said jug of LP was given to Daniel Peavy, the fourth member of our team this trip, and the youth pastor at First Baptist Church in Jackson, GA. The fifth person on this road trip was Charness Theodore, Ricardo’s cousin, who lives in PAP, travels back to his home on Cayemite, and accompanied us all of last trip as well. After a small mishap between our front bumper and a motorcycle in PAP, I jumped into the driver’s seat, and we drove to the town of Les Cayes where we were housed for the night at a sweet lady’s home whose brother is a pastor in the states and had arranged for our stay there. Confirmed just before we departed for Haiti, this was a huge blessing.
After a mediocre night’s sleep, we headed out to Pestel. Again, I was driving, and the vehicle, while overloaded and outmatched by the terrain performed rather well, all things considered. Unless you have driven, or been driven, on roads like these 3rd -world mountain roads, you really just cannot imagine what it is like. For instance, it is nothing to pass or be passed in a curve, going uphill or down, by a bus full of people to the point there are two or three guys standing on the bumper hanging on to a luggage rack with a drop-off of several hundred feet to the left or right of the vehicle. This while bouncing on a road made of loose rock and boulders. Then you get to a town and you don’t slow down until you absolutely have to, due to twisted terrain or clogging due to traffic. This is done while people, motorcycles, donkeys, and bikes are on either side of your vehicle while you speed through honking your horn until you are clear and hit the mountain roads again. It is amazing, scary, and exciting - did I mention scary? This this could describe one fifteen minute jaunt in the mountains of Haiti. At any rate – we were headed to Pestel and making decent time, until we rounded a bend towards the top of a mountain and had to stop. There were several busses in front of us and after sitting for a moment, we got out and walked to the front of the line of vehicles. Construction efforts were underway to repair the road, and we were told the wait would be another three hours before the blasting and clearing of debris was done. Being the optimists we are, we started looking around for people to talk to. There were several hundred Haitians hanging out and milling around. The second vehicle in the entire line of vehicles caught my eye. Ricardo, Daniel, and I approached the vehicle, and met one resourceful, charismatic, wonderful nurse named Judy Foster. She had been a missionary in the region for 18 years – God answers prayers. For the next 2.5 hours or so, Judy and the pastor with her, gave us names and numbers, people to talk to about a variety of issues ranging from food to medicine, and we even sat and made coffee. What an answer to a specific prayer. God is so good. In fact, we really had no idea what turns the rest of the trip would take, but He did, even before we thought of going to Haiti the first time.
For instance, a month before our trip I tried desperately to get medicines to take with us. I talked to pharmacists, left messages for doctors, talked to nurses and doctors all to no avail. Before we left I had let it go, but while I was trying, I was frustrated. All these people who said they would help with these trips didn’t show up. I do understand busy, that is for sure, but I knew we were going to be asked for some type of medical help when we got to Cayemite and the town of Anse a Macon, and we had nothing to take except children’s ibuprofen. Why I was frustrated is beyond me, because God provides. We followed Judy to the place she was going and she gave us meds. Then we followed her to a mission called Deye Mon where we met the good people that are running the place on a day to day basis, and we were fed. Then we were given more meds…God is so good…and we headed over the mountains again to Pestel.
Remember the vehicle we were driving. As you go down the last mountain or two before entering Pestel you will drive over some of the most brutal terrain you have ever attempted to drive a vehicle through. If you can imagine 100 or so dump trucks loads of boulders ranging from 12” to 24” in diameter that look as if they were taken from a fresh blast sight, and these boulders were dumped from the bottom of a mountain on a rather steep incline and strewn uphill 2/3 of the way to the top….then you have an idea of what we drove over to get to Pestel. The rocks raked the undercarriage of the vehicle unmercifully to the point that the back bumper had been bent out so much the license plate stood straight up in the air. Earlier, Judy had asked us, while stopped in the mountains, if we really knew where we were going and if we really thought we would make it. My reply was, “We will make it down, I am not sure if we will make it back up.” Sure enough, we made it down, got through to Pestel and took the 1.5 hour boat ride to Cayemite. The local priest in Pestel had allowed us to keep the vehicle at his home, again the providence of God – and upon arriving on Cayemite I phoned Christy to let her know that we had made it, but we really needed prayer to get back out. Physically, I was unsure how we were going to get back up the mountain and out of Pestel on the return trip. So we prayed.
Once on Cayemite and in the town of Anse a Macon, we were greeted enthusiastically by several church members and relatives of Ricardo’s, and then escorted to the home of Auntie Amen where we stayed the last trip. It was heart-warming to receive such a greeting and after dinner and conversation, we retired to our quarters. The next day was the one-year anniversary of the earthquake that destroyed much of Port au Prince and ultimately ravaged the entire country of Haiti. Pastor Micah had informed us that there would be a memorial/remembrance service from 7-11. Ricardo, Daniel, and I arrived at the church building around 8:30 or so and were immediately ushered to the front and on stage behind the pulpit with the pastor and others leading the service. While listening to the music and scripture readings, I was informed that I needed to preach. So, I prayed like I have never prayed before and around 11:30, I stood to speak. With Ricardo translating, I went through Luke 12:22-34 which covers the fact that as God’s children, we have no need of worry, and we should lay up our treasures in Heaven and not on Earth. The second passage I read from was Psalm 32:1-2a that says, “Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity.” My thought was that if you were laying up treasures in heaven you were blessed, but the truest definition of blessed is found here in Psalm 32, and written by King David. I really have no idea of what else was said other than I covered what sin was. I sat down and was extremely deflated and literally said to myself, “that sucked”, and in prayer said, “God, I am so sorry that I was so bad…please forgive me…” Meanwhile, Pastor Micah was standing and speaking at the pulpit, and I noticed that a man was coming down the aisle. I leaned over to Ricardo and asked what was happening and he said, “Oh, he is coming down to give his life to Jesus.” My heart leapt and I said, “Thank you, Jesus.” Then a lady came down with tears streaming down her face while holding a baby on her hip, and another person and another and another. I was so broken that God would do such a work, and I was so humbled and ashamed that I would doubt the power of God unto salvation. With tears streaming down my face I just kept saying, “Thank you, Jesus, thank you Jesus…” I never counted, but I estimate there were at least 30 or more people that came down and in addition to that 10 or so very young ones. Ricardo got up, and while the pastor and several others were praying over and with this group of people, he spoke with some of the younger group, say between the ages of 8-15 or so, and asked them why they came down front, and the answer came back, “We want our sins forgiven!” Oh, what a joy – what a blessing that these young Haitians, and older Haitians, were expressing the same sentiment that King David did. How blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven. How blessed, humbled, and broken I was and am that God would choose to move in such an instance. I literally prayed to God that if I needed to die somewhere along this journey it was fine by me. I had seen God move his Almighty hand in a situation I was involved in. You see, God answered prayer. God is so good.
For the rest of the day I was in a daze. God had moved hearts and minds and used a jumbled and not-so-well-delivered message for his honor and glory. Daniel told me, “It had to be a work of God because it certainly was not in the message itself.” I concurred wholeheartedly – fact is, God moved and I was witness to that. In spite of my daze and through much conversation, we decided to leave the following day and head back to Les Cayes in order to try to speak with an organization there about getting food on a continual basis for school children in Anse a Macon. So, the next morning we packed up, went around the town for a time visiting, hopped on the boat, loaded the car in Pestel and headed out. While we were headed out of town, we attempted to get a tire repaired or at least put some air in it since it was a little slack. That endeavor was in vain, but we did meet a guy that had a house to rent, and we are now going to rent that house in order to help orphans and utilize Auntie Amen to take care of them. God is awesome. Remember the hill that was so brutal? God answered prayers and we were three mountains away from Pestel before I realized we had crossed over the same area as before. Later, in Port au Prince, I would tell Dany’s cousin, “the only reason we were able to get over that mountain was that God Almighty took His hand and pressed the rocks into the side of the mountain so we could get out.” I said so, because knowing the exact mountain, he was amazed that we made it out…as we were. We were able to get our tire repaired a little way out of Pestel in front of the same home we stayed in overnight the first trip (the 8 hr trip that took 2 days due to 7 flat tires and a dead battery). It was nice to see the gentleman who helped us out. We made it to Les Cayes with only a little trouble, just a few flooded out areas that had the little Terios swimming a bit, and we stayed at the home of Judy Foster – you remember, the missionary we met in the mountains…God is so good. Judy was great, and the next morning she fixed pancakes for us and we had internet access and everything! Amazing stuff, I know. We made our stop to ask for food, with no luck at all, and headed to Port au Prince.
On the way to PAP, we stopped off at Jasmine’s house to eat. Those of you who do not recognize the name, this is Dany’s cousin who was with us the last trip, and continued to PAP. We arrived at the outskirts of Pap just at dusk, and we headed into town. Now, I am driving, we are all tired, everything and everywhere is crowded with vehicles, people, motorcycles, donkeys, and more people…and our guide, Charness, got turned around. Talk about short-tempered, I was short-tempered. Ricardo was along for the ride. Daniel was scared. Charness kept second-guessing everything. Dany was trying to keep the peace…sort of, and I was just plain mad. At one point, we were literally on a half-street with hundreds and hundreds of people walking everywhere, a 2 foot drop-off on our left with construction workers and equipment, street vendors on our right, and only 3 cars ahead of us on this street all going about 2 miles an hour because of the mass of humanity around us. God spared us, provided for us, protected us, and guided us, because we made it out using the one rock that allowed us to navigate the drop-off without destroying what was left of the car. After 5 or 6 phone calls we found where we were going, and we ate…again, and crashed for the night…sleep, sorta’, for the weary.
We stayed for the next 3 nights at the home and mission of Dany’s cousin, Pastor Martinez Jovin. Again, God had provided a place for us to stay and food for us to eat. It was Saturday, and we visited Pastor Jean Claude who pastors a church about an hour and a half north of PAP in the town of Source Matlis. His wife cannot accompany him to the church anymore because her knees are so badly deformed by arthritis she can hardly move around. They do not have the money for surgery, but even so, she holds a weekly Bible study for women called The Group of Prayer Devoted to Christ. As we travelled to the town of Source Matlis we stopped and spoke with the Mennonite missionaries at their compound and attempted to speak with the folks at Samaritan Purse but were turned away. We spent the rest of the day with Pastor Jean Claude at his church and around the town. We went to the beach area and even attempted to access another mission compound located there, but the missionaries (last name King) were unavailable, so we left Pastor Jean Claude at his church and went back to PAP.
Sunday morning showed up and we were driven to church by Brother Luc who had initially picked us up at the airport with Pastor Solva Jean Charles. This church is located in one of the poorer areas of PAP, but it was packed out and we sat up front as the service started. Daniel spoke first, briefly, about the adoptive process God lays out for his children. It was well-done and the people responded well as his message was translated by Abellard. I spoke next, while Abellard translated, and we muddled through a couple of translation issues due to my pronunciation of a few words. Ricardo then brought down the house with a thunderous message. I have no idea what he said other than it was about Joseph and how God’s hand was on him and provided for him and blessed him – but it rocked. After the service, we ate at a restaurant in PAP (a first) and with Brother Luc driving, we travelled up a mountain outside PAP to see Fort Jacques. We had a truly magnificent view overlooking PAP. It was breathtaking even while being jostled about by the roads, but it was fun and relaxing at the same time.
Monday morning, Brother Luc picked up the car and took it to get it cleaned and “straightened out” before we attempted to turn it in to the rental place. After he got back, it looked like a different vehicle than the one we drove out of the mountains. We loaded up, and headed into town. Remember, these people had $1000 cash to hold the vehicle and were holding another $500 on my debit card. After everything we put that car through, we walked out of that rental place with every bit of the money outside the dollars required to rent the vehicle…in fact, the day after I got back from Haiti, I deposited $1100 back into the mission account. God is so good.
The story doesn’t end here. In the airport we met a man who has offered to help us purchase a vehicle for use in Haiti. I pray through the power of God that he comes through, and that I get another chance to share the gospel with him. In the airport in Miami I met another missionary that had been in PAP for 41 years. He gave me all of his contact information. He told me that he would put us in touch with the head of the UN contingent there as he is a friend. This was the most amazing trip in every way to have been on. God answered every single prayer that was prayed in the affirmative. He prepared hearts ahead of time and saved souls after we delivered his message. He provided the means and the people for us to meet and network with. He protected us from the terrain and anyone who wished us harm. As with every story, the intimate details are what makes things as significant as they are, but are the first thing to be lost when writing or reiterating the events. These are the highlights, there is so much more, but know this - God is so good.
After going to Haiti, Easter week of 2010, Ricardo Theodore, Dany Theodore, and I understood that we were going back – I believe, until we die. The Theodore’s want to go permanently to Haiti after some further medical education and training for Dany, and I just want to go back. It is all tied together. Christy, my wife, is supportive in these efforts and in her words, “part of our role in the mission is to help them get there permanently.” I concur, with the addendum, “and we will help them permanently.” The first trip was amazing; this second trip blew me out of the water. We prayed and had requested prayer on three particular items prior to our departure. One, that the Holy Spirit would work prior to our arrival and prepare hearts to hear the gospel, two, that we would meet the people we needed to meet in order to network in Haiti so we may reach Cayemite and Pestel with help (supplies of food/water/medicines, etc.) on a long-term basis, and third, protection while travelling and from anyone wishing us harm.
A week out from leaving it was impressed upon me that we needed $1000 extra dollars. So, I did what every good Christian does and I went to Face Book on Thursday evening about 6:45 and posted a status line that said, “We need $1000 for our trip to Haiti sometime before we leave for Haiti on Monday morning.” Nothing happened Thursday or Friday until late when I had a friend call and say that she was going to talk with her husband. On Saturday morning, I had a lady drive into my driveway with a check. Another friend called and had me drop by for a check and I was told to drop in elsewhere and pick up two checks. By Saturday at 11:55 I had deposited or cashed $1100 in the mission account (5 minutes before the banks closed) and my status line request had been granted. God is good.
Sunday afternoon, after the morning church services had come to an end, I received notification that the flight to Miami enroute to Port a Prince had been cancelled due to inclement weather approaching. Quickly, we rearranged flights and flew out Sunday evening to Miami. Again, God was gracious, and some of Dany Theodore’s extended family allowed us to stay overnight at their home. On Monday, we flew out to PAP on time.
About a month prior to the trip I had reserved a vehicle to use in driving around Haiti. It was reserved with an American Express card. The good news was that they had that vehicle for us, the bad news, they would not use that same card to actually pay for the rental of the vehicle. So, after lengthy negotiations, the use of an irate Frenchman’s cell phone to contact my bank, and more than one threat to walk out – we utilized my debit card, and $1000 cash to rent the car for the week. Amazing, no wonder I needed that extra money. God knew what He was doing even if I did not. God is so good.
We started our travel by piling into a Daihatsu Terios. It’s size is comparable to a Ford Escape with half of the storage room, and we crammed five people and 12 bags of luggage with one 30 lb. jug of LP gas in the front floorboard on the passenger’s side. The privilege of riding around the country of Haiti with it’s less than stellar roads with said jug of LP was given to Daniel Peavy, the fourth member of our team this trip, and the youth pastor at First Baptist Church in Jackson, GA. The fifth person on this road trip was Charness Theodore, Ricardo’s cousin, who lives in PAP, travels back to his home on Cayemite, and accompanied us all of last trip as well. After a small mishap between our front bumper and a motorcycle in PAP, I jumped into the driver’s seat, and we drove to the town of Les Cayes where we were housed for the night at a sweet lady’s home whose brother is a pastor in the states and had arranged for our stay there. Confirmed just before we departed for Haiti, this was a huge blessing.
After a mediocre night’s sleep, we headed out to Pestel. Again, I was driving, and the vehicle, while overloaded and outmatched by the terrain performed rather well, all things considered. Unless you have driven, or been driven, on roads like these 3rd -world mountain roads, you really just cannot imagine what it is like. For instance, it is nothing to pass or be passed in a curve, going uphill or down, by a bus full of people to the point there are two or three guys standing on the bumper hanging on to a luggage rack with a drop-off of several hundred feet to the left or right of the vehicle. This while bouncing on a road made of loose rock and boulders. Then you get to a town and you don’t slow down until you absolutely have to, due to twisted terrain or clogging due to traffic. This is done while people, motorcycles, donkeys, and bikes are on either side of your vehicle while you speed through honking your horn until you are clear and hit the mountain roads again. It is amazing, scary, and exciting - did I mention scary? This this could describe one fifteen minute jaunt in the mountains of Haiti. At any rate – we were headed to Pestel and making decent time, until we rounded a bend towards the top of a mountain and had to stop. There were several busses in front of us and after sitting for a moment, we got out and walked to the front of the line of vehicles. Construction efforts were underway to repair the road, and we were told the wait would be another three hours before the blasting and clearing of debris was done. Being the optimists we are, we started looking around for people to talk to. There were several hundred Haitians hanging out and milling around. The second vehicle in the entire line of vehicles caught my eye. Ricardo, Daniel, and I approached the vehicle, and met one resourceful, charismatic, wonderful nurse named Judy Foster. She had been a missionary in the region for 18 years – God answers prayers. For the next 2.5 hours or so, Judy and the pastor with her, gave us names and numbers, people to talk to about a variety of issues ranging from food to medicine, and we even sat and made coffee. What an answer to a specific prayer. God is so good. In fact, we really had no idea what turns the rest of the trip would take, but He did, even before we thought of going to Haiti the first time.
For instance, a month before our trip I tried desperately to get medicines to take with us. I talked to pharmacists, left messages for doctors, talked to nurses and doctors all to no avail. Before we left I had let it go, but while I was trying, I was frustrated. All these people who said they would help with these trips didn’t show up. I do understand busy, that is for sure, but I knew we were going to be asked for some type of medical help when we got to Cayemite and the town of Anse a Macon, and we had nothing to take except children’s ibuprofen. Why I was frustrated is beyond me, because God provides. We followed Judy to the place she was going and she gave us meds. Then we followed her to a mission called Deye Mon where we met the good people that are running the place on a day to day basis, and we were fed. Then we were given more meds…God is so good…and we headed over the mountains again to Pestel.
Remember the vehicle we were driving. As you go down the last mountain or two before entering Pestel you will drive over some of the most brutal terrain you have ever attempted to drive a vehicle through. If you can imagine 100 or so dump trucks loads of boulders ranging from 12” to 24” in diameter that look as if they were taken from a fresh blast sight, and these boulders were dumped from the bottom of a mountain on a rather steep incline and strewn uphill 2/3 of the way to the top….then you have an idea of what we drove over to get to Pestel. The rocks raked the undercarriage of the vehicle unmercifully to the point that the back bumper had been bent out so much the license plate stood straight up in the air. Earlier, Judy had asked us, while stopped in the mountains, if we really knew where we were going and if we really thought we would make it. My reply was, “We will make it down, I am not sure if we will make it back up.” Sure enough, we made it down, got through to Pestel and took the 1.5 hour boat ride to Cayemite. The local priest in Pestel had allowed us to keep the vehicle at his home, again the providence of God – and upon arriving on Cayemite I phoned Christy to let her know that we had made it, but we really needed prayer to get back out. Physically, I was unsure how we were going to get back up the mountain and out of Pestel on the return trip. So we prayed.
Once on Cayemite and in the town of Anse a Macon, we were greeted enthusiastically by several church members and relatives of Ricardo’s, and then escorted to the home of Auntie Amen where we stayed the last trip. It was heart-warming to receive such a greeting and after dinner and conversation, we retired to our quarters. The next day was the one-year anniversary of the earthquake that destroyed much of Port au Prince and ultimately ravaged the entire country of Haiti. Pastor Micah had informed us that there would be a memorial/remembrance service from 7-11. Ricardo, Daniel, and I arrived at the church building around 8:30 or so and were immediately ushered to the front and on stage behind the pulpit with the pastor and others leading the service. While listening to the music and scripture readings, I was informed that I needed to preach. So, I prayed like I have never prayed before and around 11:30, I stood to speak. With Ricardo translating, I went through Luke 12:22-34 which covers the fact that as God’s children, we have no need of worry, and we should lay up our treasures in Heaven and not on Earth. The second passage I read from was Psalm 32:1-2a that says, “Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity.” My thought was that if you were laying up treasures in heaven you were blessed, but the truest definition of blessed is found here in Psalm 32, and written by King David. I really have no idea of what else was said other than I covered what sin was. I sat down and was extremely deflated and literally said to myself, “that sucked”, and in prayer said, “God, I am so sorry that I was so bad…please forgive me…” Meanwhile, Pastor Micah was standing and speaking at the pulpit, and I noticed that a man was coming down the aisle. I leaned over to Ricardo and asked what was happening and he said, “Oh, he is coming down to give his life to Jesus.” My heart leapt and I said, “Thank you, Jesus.” Then a lady came down with tears streaming down her face while holding a baby on her hip, and another person and another and another. I was so broken that God would do such a work, and I was so humbled and ashamed that I would doubt the power of God unto salvation. With tears streaming down my face I just kept saying, “Thank you, Jesus, thank you Jesus…” I never counted, but I estimate there were at least 30 or more people that came down and in addition to that 10 or so very young ones. Ricardo got up, and while the pastor and several others were praying over and with this group of people, he spoke with some of the younger group, say between the ages of 8-15 or so, and asked them why they came down front, and the answer came back, “We want our sins forgiven!” Oh, what a joy – what a blessing that these young Haitians, and older Haitians, were expressing the same sentiment that King David did. How blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven. How blessed, humbled, and broken I was and am that God would choose to move in such an instance. I literally prayed to God that if I needed to die somewhere along this journey it was fine by me. I had seen God move his Almighty hand in a situation I was involved in. You see, God answered prayer. God is so good.
For the rest of the day I was in a daze. God had moved hearts and minds and used a jumbled and not-so-well-delivered message for his honor and glory. Daniel told me, “It had to be a work of God because it certainly was not in the message itself.” I concurred wholeheartedly – fact is, God moved and I was witness to that. In spite of my daze and through much conversation, we decided to leave the following day and head back to Les Cayes in order to try to speak with an organization there about getting food on a continual basis for school children in Anse a Macon. So, the next morning we packed up, went around the town for a time visiting, hopped on the boat, loaded the car in Pestel and headed out. While we were headed out of town, we attempted to get a tire repaired or at least put some air in it since it was a little slack. That endeavor was in vain, but we did meet a guy that had a house to rent, and we are now going to rent that house in order to help orphans and utilize Auntie Amen to take care of them. God is awesome. Remember the hill that was so brutal? God answered prayers and we were three mountains away from Pestel before I realized we had crossed over the same area as before. Later, in Port au Prince, I would tell Dany’s cousin, “the only reason we were able to get over that mountain was that God Almighty took His hand and pressed the rocks into the side of the mountain so we could get out.” I said so, because knowing the exact mountain, he was amazed that we made it out…as we were. We were able to get our tire repaired a little way out of Pestel in front of the same home we stayed in overnight the first trip (the 8 hr trip that took 2 days due to 7 flat tires and a dead battery). It was nice to see the gentleman who helped us out. We made it to Les Cayes with only a little trouble, just a few flooded out areas that had the little Terios swimming a bit, and we stayed at the home of Judy Foster – you remember, the missionary we met in the mountains…God is so good. Judy was great, and the next morning she fixed pancakes for us and we had internet access and everything! Amazing stuff, I know. We made our stop to ask for food, with no luck at all, and headed to Port au Prince.
On the way to PAP, we stopped off at Jasmine’s house to eat. Those of you who do not recognize the name, this is Dany’s cousin who was with us the last trip, and continued to PAP. We arrived at the outskirts of Pap just at dusk, and we headed into town. Now, I am driving, we are all tired, everything and everywhere is crowded with vehicles, people, motorcycles, donkeys, and more people…and our guide, Charness, got turned around. Talk about short-tempered, I was short-tempered. Ricardo was along for the ride. Daniel was scared. Charness kept second-guessing everything. Dany was trying to keep the peace…sort of, and I was just plain mad. At one point, we were literally on a half-street with hundreds and hundreds of people walking everywhere, a 2 foot drop-off on our left with construction workers and equipment, street vendors on our right, and only 3 cars ahead of us on this street all going about 2 miles an hour because of the mass of humanity around us. God spared us, provided for us, protected us, and guided us, because we made it out using the one rock that allowed us to navigate the drop-off without destroying what was left of the car. After 5 or 6 phone calls we found where we were going, and we ate…again, and crashed for the night…sleep, sorta’, for the weary.
We stayed for the next 3 nights at the home and mission of Dany’s cousin, Pastor Martinez Jovin. Again, God had provided a place for us to stay and food for us to eat. It was Saturday, and we visited Pastor Jean Claude who pastors a church about an hour and a half north of PAP in the town of Source Matlis. His wife cannot accompany him to the church anymore because her knees are so badly deformed by arthritis she can hardly move around. They do not have the money for surgery, but even so, she holds a weekly Bible study for women called The Group of Prayer Devoted to Christ. As we travelled to the town of Source Matlis we stopped and spoke with the Mennonite missionaries at their compound and attempted to speak with the folks at Samaritan Purse but were turned away. We spent the rest of the day with Pastor Jean Claude at his church and around the town. We went to the beach area and even attempted to access another mission compound located there, but the missionaries (last name King) were unavailable, so we left Pastor Jean Claude at his church and went back to PAP.
Sunday morning showed up and we were driven to church by Brother Luc who had initially picked us up at the airport with Pastor Solva Jean Charles. This church is located in one of the poorer areas of PAP, but it was packed out and we sat up front as the service started. Daniel spoke first, briefly, about the adoptive process God lays out for his children. It was well-done and the people responded well as his message was translated by Abellard. I spoke next, while Abellard translated, and we muddled through a couple of translation issues due to my pronunciation of a few words. Ricardo then brought down the house with a thunderous message. I have no idea what he said other than it was about Joseph and how God’s hand was on him and provided for him and blessed him – but it rocked. After the service, we ate at a restaurant in PAP (a first) and with Brother Luc driving, we travelled up a mountain outside PAP to see Fort Jacques. We had a truly magnificent view overlooking PAP. It was breathtaking even while being jostled about by the roads, but it was fun and relaxing at the same time.
Monday morning, Brother Luc picked up the car and took it to get it cleaned and “straightened out” before we attempted to turn it in to the rental place. After he got back, it looked like a different vehicle than the one we drove out of the mountains. We loaded up, and headed into town. Remember, these people had $1000 cash to hold the vehicle and were holding another $500 on my debit card. After everything we put that car through, we walked out of that rental place with every bit of the money outside the dollars required to rent the vehicle…in fact, the day after I got back from Haiti, I deposited $1100 back into the mission account. God is so good.
The story doesn’t end here. In the airport we met a man who has offered to help us purchase a vehicle for use in Haiti. I pray through the power of God that he comes through, and that I get another chance to share the gospel with him. In the airport in Miami I met another missionary that had been in PAP for 41 years. He gave me all of his contact information. He told me that he would put us in touch with the head of the UN contingent there as he is a friend. This was the most amazing trip in every way to have been on. God answered every single prayer that was prayed in the affirmative. He prepared hearts ahead of time and saved souls after we delivered his message. He provided the means and the people for us to meet and network with. He protected us from the terrain and anyone who wished us harm. As with every story, the intimate details are what makes things as significant as they are, but are the first thing to be lost when writing or reiterating the events. These are the highlights, there is so much more, but know this - God is so good.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Haiti Day 7-9
The last three days have to be written about together. There is no other way. We woke up and packed. Jeremy, the driver, was due to be in Pestel around 12:00, which meant we had to leave directly after the Sunday morning service. Having endured the almost 9-hr boat ride to Cayemite, we decided to limit time on the sea, so we arranged for a 1.5 hr boat ride to Pestel, and then a ride across Haiti that would be approximately 8 hrs.
Ricardo preached his heart out and this after we witnessed a moving baptismal service in the ocean directly in front of the town. After Ricardo preached, the pastor spoke about Ricardo, and Charness came up to speak about me to the church. It was moving and it meant a lot. Ricardo, myself, Dani, and Jasmine all spoke to the congregation. I could hardly get any words out as emotion poured out of me. It is an humbling event to look into the eyes of a group of people that hold nothing but hope and love, and desperately want you to come back because you have brought hope with you. This is what I saw, and it was hard to leave. Together the leaders and the pastor prayed over us as we started our journey home.
We rode to Pestel on beautiful seas and arrived to the sight of…no Jeremy. Turns out, as he came into the town of Pestel the vehicle had two flat tires. A local resident had us to sit on her front porch as we waited, and Jeremy showed up with a temporary tire after 45 minutes or so. Cedesse had come over with us and we said goodbye. Charness headed back to Port-au-Prince with us so in total we had seven passengers in a vehicle designed for five…plus we had a rooster that Ricardo’s uncle gave him. We drove to the edge of town and again sat on the steps to someone’s front porch as we waited for the tires to be repaired.
After the repairs were made, we loaded up and headed into the mountains of southern Haiti. The roads were rough and the stones were sharp. The scenery was both awful and breath-taking as we drove further into the mountains. Two flat tires later, we found ourselves with a dead battery, and no way to get moving again. We had food so we ate as we pondered the situation, and we flagged down a motorcycle driver to find a battery in the next town for us. The next town was an hour and a half away, and well after dark we realized that he was not coming back. This is the first time that I got a bit worried. A local man allowed us to sleep on his floor. Since I was the real foreigner, I was given a cot to sleep on with a reed mattress. We all laid down, and slept very little as two other cars broke down in the same place in the middle of the night, and the people in those vehicles were not happy. They yelled and beat on the door, but never tried to really get inside. I figured if I was killed it would probably be fast, so I prayed about it and went to sleep. I woke up to the crowing of roosters and a little cooler temperature as we were in the mountain region.
About an hour after we all woke up, the guy on the motorcycle showed up with a battery for the vehicle. Turns out, he had had two flat tires on the motorcycle, and it took him until the next morning to get back to us. We were praising God as we cranked the vehicle up and headed back through the mountains. As we drove down the coast of southern Haiti, we were treated to some of the most wonderful ocean views. The water reminded me of the blue ocean you would see in Cozumel. I was informed that the majority of missionaries in Haiti outside the city of Port-au-Prince resided on this side of Haiti. I wonder why? It is beautiful. After a time we came into the third largest city and stopped to eat, get a tire repaired (again) and recharge a bit. After two more flat tires, and going back over the mountains, we dropped in at the mission that we first stayed in to speak with Pastor Adrienne. He informed us that they were ready to send much of the Mennonite canned meat over to Cayemite. What a blessing. Ricardo had become pretty sick, so we headed back into Port-au-Prince.
Once again I was struck with the tent cities, shelters, and destruction from around the 40 mile out mark. As we came into the city of Port-au-Prince, it was very sobering to see all that was left. Finally, the 8 hour trip that turned into 2 days was over. Around 5:00 on Monday we arrived at the home of a cousin that was untouched by the earthquake. We unloaded, took showers, ate a meal, and went to bed…exhausted.
The house was surrounded on three sides with people living in tents and shelters. Such was the case in much of this area. Daniel, Dani’s cousin, was living in the home helping his father as he had health issues. Daniel’s family was in Canada and had been without Daniel for at least a month. What a pleasure it was to speak with him and hear his heart as he reached out to his family and countrymen and women. After breakfast, he took us to the airport, and we soon departed for Miami.
After landing in Miami, we made it through the customs areas and I connected to my flight to Atlanta. Ricardo and Dani stayed for a couple of days in the Miami area with family there, but this young man went home. I have never been so glad to be driving in the Atlanta airport area in my life. Real paved roads and everything, it was great. I got home and took what seemed to be the longest shower in my life and slept like a dead man. I was home, my wife and kids seemed glad to see me, I was glad to see them, and God was and is so good.
Prologue next…
Ricardo preached his heart out and this after we witnessed a moving baptismal service in the ocean directly in front of the town. After Ricardo preached, the pastor spoke about Ricardo, and Charness came up to speak about me to the church. It was moving and it meant a lot. Ricardo, myself, Dani, and Jasmine all spoke to the congregation. I could hardly get any words out as emotion poured out of me. It is an humbling event to look into the eyes of a group of people that hold nothing but hope and love, and desperately want you to come back because you have brought hope with you. This is what I saw, and it was hard to leave. Together the leaders and the pastor prayed over us as we started our journey home.
We rode to Pestel on beautiful seas and arrived to the sight of…no Jeremy. Turns out, as he came into the town of Pestel the vehicle had two flat tires. A local resident had us to sit on her front porch as we waited, and Jeremy showed up with a temporary tire after 45 minutes or so. Cedesse had come over with us and we said goodbye. Charness headed back to Port-au-Prince with us so in total we had seven passengers in a vehicle designed for five…plus we had a rooster that Ricardo’s uncle gave him. We drove to the edge of town and again sat on the steps to someone’s front porch as we waited for the tires to be repaired.
After the repairs were made, we loaded up and headed into the mountains of southern Haiti. The roads were rough and the stones were sharp. The scenery was both awful and breath-taking as we drove further into the mountains. Two flat tires later, we found ourselves with a dead battery, and no way to get moving again. We had food so we ate as we pondered the situation, and we flagged down a motorcycle driver to find a battery in the next town for us. The next town was an hour and a half away, and well after dark we realized that he was not coming back. This is the first time that I got a bit worried. A local man allowed us to sleep on his floor. Since I was the real foreigner, I was given a cot to sleep on with a reed mattress. We all laid down, and slept very little as two other cars broke down in the same place in the middle of the night, and the people in those vehicles were not happy. They yelled and beat on the door, but never tried to really get inside. I figured if I was killed it would probably be fast, so I prayed about it and went to sleep. I woke up to the crowing of roosters and a little cooler temperature as we were in the mountain region.
About an hour after we all woke up, the guy on the motorcycle showed up with a battery for the vehicle. Turns out, he had had two flat tires on the motorcycle, and it took him until the next morning to get back to us. We were praising God as we cranked the vehicle up and headed back through the mountains. As we drove down the coast of southern Haiti, we were treated to some of the most wonderful ocean views. The water reminded me of the blue ocean you would see in Cozumel. I was informed that the majority of missionaries in Haiti outside the city of Port-au-Prince resided on this side of Haiti. I wonder why? It is beautiful. After a time we came into the third largest city and stopped to eat, get a tire repaired (again) and recharge a bit. After two more flat tires, and going back over the mountains, we dropped in at the mission that we first stayed in to speak with Pastor Adrienne. He informed us that they were ready to send much of the Mennonite canned meat over to Cayemite. What a blessing. Ricardo had become pretty sick, so we headed back into Port-au-Prince.
Once again I was struck with the tent cities, shelters, and destruction from around the 40 mile out mark. As we came into the city of Port-au-Prince, it was very sobering to see all that was left. Finally, the 8 hour trip that turned into 2 days was over. Around 5:00 on Monday we arrived at the home of a cousin that was untouched by the earthquake. We unloaded, took showers, ate a meal, and went to bed…exhausted.
The house was surrounded on three sides with people living in tents and shelters. Such was the case in much of this area. Daniel, Dani’s cousin, was living in the home helping his father as he had health issues. Daniel’s family was in Canada and had been without Daniel for at least a month. What a pleasure it was to speak with him and hear his heart as he reached out to his family and countrymen and women. After breakfast, he took us to the airport, and we soon departed for Miami.
After landing in Miami, we made it through the customs areas and I connected to my flight to Atlanta. Ricardo and Dani stayed for a couple of days in the Miami area with family there, but this young man went home. I have never been so glad to be driving in the Atlanta airport area in my life. Real paved roads and everything, it was great. I got home and took what seemed to be the longest shower in my life and slept like a dead man. I was home, my wife and kids seemed glad to see me, I was glad to see them, and God was and is so good.
Prologue next…
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Haiti Day 6
Saturday started off with breakfast, and the idea that we would take it easy. The plan was to enjoy the day, go to church service at night, listen to Ricardo throw it down, and rest because after Easter morning service, we would be leaving. For the second time during the trip, things went according to plan. We took it easy…all day. Once again, we conversed with the kids, answered questions from the kids, terrorized the other kids who were shy, and generally held to the plan…rested. Ricardo was not feeling well, so it was rather easy to stick to the plan. Dani left out at some point to visit some of the elderly townspeople with Pastor Micah, and they returned around lunchtime.
Lunch consisted of goat and fish, and I spent considerable time in conversation with pastor Micah…via Dani’s mad interpreting skills, of course. I do not believe that I have ever met a harder working pastor than this man of God on the island of Cayemite. He was always on the go. He pastored the church and this included a 5:00 a.m. prayer meeting every morning. There was regular services, special services, visits to the infirm, the running of the school, etc. You name it, he did it, and this on an island where you have to walk everywhere…and he had a prosthetic leg. During the course of the conversation, I asked him what he needed in the way of books. He requested two…a Bible dictionary, and a special translation, study Bible. When pressed, he expressed the desire to make the church a little more private, and he wanted to be able to have a bigger home in order to have people over for prayer and conversation. His current home was about 400 square feet and he had one daughter, his wife, and an elderly women he took care of. He wasn’t asking for much. I admire Pastor Micah, and I hope that I can become more like him as he embodies Christ-likeness. He really has nothing, but gives everything, and in that, he has more than most will ever know.
Having preached on 5 of the seven words from the cross, I was rather curious to know what Ricardo would preach on during the Saturday night service. Impressed upon him was the topic of sin, and it was rather fitting to bring about an ending to why Jesus died. Saturday night’s service was great. Ricardo did a masterful job in his typical stirring way. In fact, I looked outside several times to make sure that there was no fire raining down from the heavens, because Ricardo was bringing the heat. The services for the week closed out after this stirring message, and we retired to the house for dinner and conversation with the pastor and deacons.
Although we did not do much physically during this day, for me, at least, it was about reflection of the week and marveling at all God did. He is rather amazing, and He loves us in spite of what we are, and where we drag Him. Amazing…this God we serve!
Lunch consisted of goat and fish, and I spent considerable time in conversation with pastor Micah…via Dani’s mad interpreting skills, of course. I do not believe that I have ever met a harder working pastor than this man of God on the island of Cayemite. He was always on the go. He pastored the church and this included a 5:00 a.m. prayer meeting every morning. There was regular services, special services, visits to the infirm, the running of the school, etc. You name it, he did it, and this on an island where you have to walk everywhere…and he had a prosthetic leg. During the course of the conversation, I asked him what he needed in the way of books. He requested two…a Bible dictionary, and a special translation, study Bible. When pressed, he expressed the desire to make the church a little more private, and he wanted to be able to have a bigger home in order to have people over for prayer and conversation. His current home was about 400 square feet and he had one daughter, his wife, and an elderly women he took care of. He wasn’t asking for much. I admire Pastor Micah, and I hope that I can become more like him as he embodies Christ-likeness. He really has nothing, but gives everything, and in that, he has more than most will ever know.
Having preached on 5 of the seven words from the cross, I was rather curious to know what Ricardo would preach on during the Saturday night service. Impressed upon him was the topic of sin, and it was rather fitting to bring about an ending to why Jesus died. Saturday night’s service was great. Ricardo did a masterful job in his typical stirring way. In fact, I looked outside several times to make sure that there was no fire raining down from the heavens, because Ricardo was bringing the heat. The services for the week closed out after this stirring message, and we retired to the house for dinner and conversation with the pastor and deacons.
Although we did not do much physically during this day, for me, at least, it was about reflection of the week and marveling at all God did. He is rather amazing, and He loves us in spite of what we are, and where we drag Him. Amazing…this God we serve!
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