Haiti 2017 Days 1-2

Hello there, Haiti…it’s been two years, but it’s nice to see you again!  Team Haiti 2107 arrived on Haitian soil approximately 5pm Thursday night and went thru the usual chaos and uncertainty of customs and baggage.  Overall though, travel was smooth and uneventful…but long!  We are very thankful for God’s grace in our journey.

We settled into the mission house at Deep River Mission, our home for the next 10 days, had some dinner, and decompressed a little.  The drive from the airport to the mission house was an eye opener, and particularly if you haven’t been here before, it is very sobering to see the poverty all around.  Still, this being my third time in Haiti, I found myself sufficiently sobered as well.

One store had painted above it Malachi 3:11 which reads – “I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the LORD of hosts.” (Malachi 3:11 ESV)  It was like a giant fist rising out of the ashes and boldly proclaiming “God is still here. Yes, this place is broken and people are desperate, but God will redeem. God will fight for us”  Indeed he has.  God has ultimately redeemed us in Jesus, in him we stand through faith in him – we will not be destroyed, we will be fruitful and productive – no matter what the life circumstance because the eternal matters of the soul transcends the temporal.

Haiti attracts people to help.  I was surprised again to see the plane half full of Americans, coming to volunteer in some capacity or another.  I had the great pleasure of sitting next to a very successful surgeon, coming to Haiti for the first time to volunteer.  We spoke of the big questions of life and I was able to share my own passion in the gospel – as it alone provides the answers and the satisfaction our soul cries out for.  I pray for him to know Christ.

We will spend the next 2 days preparing for next week’s VBS and doing work at the community center just outside the mission house.  Sunday will be the ever-popular trip to Children of the Promise orphanage, followed by the intense high-impact cardio workout hike up to the Citadel.  Monday starts the VBS whirlwind.

Thank you for your prayers and support.  If you would continue to pray for one of our own, our dear friend Stacey, who slipped last night and may have broken her wrist, it would be greatly appreciated.  She is in a lot of pain and I’m sure very anxious about spending the time here in Haiti with this injury.  We love her dearly and I’m sure she is hoping to soak in all that this trip can have to offer.  Pray that she still can!

Onward!