Sunday: We arrived in Port-au-Prince after a tiring morning of travel (we met at 3:15 am...thank you Lyle Dixon for being insane enough to take us to the airport). We were able to make it to Haiti in time to join Pastor Luc St. Felix's church in Port-au-Prince. As a supporting church, it is amazing to see the work that this man has done...not only rebuilding his church after the earthquake a year ago January, but planting 44 churches throughout Haiti. This man has a huge heart for his country.
We were able to introduce ourselves to the church and I had the privilege of preaching a message of salvation. The people were very receptive and responded well to the message. Obviously, the Lord knows hearts...but there were quite a few who accepted Christ. Praise the Lord!!
Monday: We traveled 3 hours to two remote villages in the mountains of Haiti (near the Dominican Republic border). We were able to share many supplies and goods to these churches, schools, and feeding centers, thanks to the many who gathered items for these children. They thoroughly enjoyed the soccer balls and clearly had skills we could not match. It was amazing to see churches in very remote places absolutely filled with people because these churches are sharing the gospel in their own communities.
It was a great joy to share, not just one meal, but two meals with the Pastors of each of these churches. But the thing that stood out most was the joyful singing of these dear children. Something of which I have never heard before. They sing as if Christ was right there. I know this may sound cliche...but I have had the privilege of being in many different countries...and have never seen worship from children like this.
Tuesday: We traveled 1 1/2 hours to another village...this time in the desert area. While poverty is the norm, this village was extremely impoverished. We were able to give out many more supplies (toothbrushes, toys, and vitamins). Once again the singing was spectacular. It's amazing to think that these children who have absolutely nothings...even meals are a commoditity...sing as if they had everything.
One of the doors that was opened to us was to help people with medical needs. Having Brad Ingram on the trip brings a medical expertise to our mission. Brad was able to check many different people with medical issues. The highlight of which was a man who had two fingers amputated by a motor scooter chain. Understand, there is not a medical facility anywhere close to this village...and if there was it would be virtually impossible to get there by foot. Myself and Chad Vaughn had the privilege of assisting on the procedure of cleaning and giving medicine to this man (I've always wanted to scrub in on a surgery :-).
On Tuesday evening we once again joined Pastor St. Felix's church to serve their people. All seven of us, sang How Great is Our God (not quite my style...rap...but a great song nonetheless :-). Brad, Chad, and Brian Hoffman shared their testimony and I preached a message of encouragement to the church. The guys did a great job ministering to these people...the testimonies powerful...and the songs moving.
So far a great trip...more to come. It has been both humbling and powerful to see God at work. To see smiles over a dum dum lollipop or a dollar store doll...it truly gives a new meaning for contentment. I can see in us the wrestling of these realities. How we view the world...or even more...how we view our world.
Every pray uttered out of our girls mouths since the earthquake has been please help Hati.. Seriously it has become apart of our prayer life. I can't wait to share what you have seen and heard! :-)
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