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!