This mornign I once again woke up in Haiti, said good bye to my dear friends and made our way to the airport. IOCH co-founder Nate Shea joined me once again on this trip. I feel exhausted but also deeply blessed by the last three days. We arrived Saturday morning, collected our 9 bags, moved rather easily through customs, headed to pickup rice and exchange currency with a local business man. This month we were able to boost our rice purchase to 100 bags, wich will provide a base for 15,00 meals for hungry students in IOCH sponsored schools in the coming weeks! As we traveled to our house. I received updates from Richecard on how the seminar was progressing.
IOCH has recently partnered with 8 new schoos in Northern Haiti. As a team we decided to invite them all together to build relationships, share the svision of IOCH ministry and encourage them in their work. Upon arrival I was so impressed with all the work Jefferson and his team had done to prepare for and welcome over 90 teachers and school directors. Jefferson presented the Bible curriculum that our staff wrote to share the Gospel of Christ to each of the 3500 children in IOCH partnered schools. Having every teacher actively engaged with the Bible curriculum is the key to using a small staff and a small budget to reach such an enormous amount of children, hungry to hear about the hope Jesus brings. Jefferson and Watson have welcome the job of visiting each school, monthly to monitor the implementation of the curriculum into the classroom.
Next I shared with the group how God formed the team and vision of IOCH. Chery and his team in the kitchen prepared the usual delicious meal of chicken and rice for over 100 people. Pator Richard closed the gathering, ecouraging the teachers to excel in their work.
Every seminar we receive dirctors from schools in the region that we do not yet support. Some are invited and some just come. Each time I meet with them to hear their stories and requests for help. I will never grow numb to their stories. The work they do is truly heroic, even though the structure of their country continues to collapse around them. They daily receive students into poorly constructed, unfinished schools, many suffering from severe hunger, manage a group of teachers that they can not pay, and somehow give children a desperately needed education. I included a video of one such unsponsored director that summarized the situation perfectly. We prayed together and sent them on their way before dark.
In our leadership meeting we had excellent discussions on some of the challenges we currently face. We also discussed the next steps for IOCH. At times the entire conversation is in Haitian Creole. The whole team engages better this way (excpt me) but Richecard translates to me the entire time allowing me to take in all perspectives and guide group decisions. The evening was full of fellowship, unpacking bags and housewhole chores. I barely slept this night. My mind was filled with uncertainty about the next two days plans. ( There were also plenty of mosquitos that found me instead of the bug sapper.)
Day 2
Sunday mornig we piled into (and on top of ) the big Ford Excursion and went to Pator David Augustines chuch in Camp Louise. I love to visit new churches in Haiti. It is so beautiful to worship our God together, even in incredibly difficult circumstances. The children sang (video) and I shared with the church the passage I feel God gave me for this trip from Ephesians 3:14-21, a prayer that Christ followers may be strengthened by knowing and experiencing the unfathomable love of Jesus. I took some pictures with Pastor David Augustine and traveled back through Camp Louise, visiting a new school, Christian Institute of Camp - Louise, along the way. We prayed together that God would allow us to work together in the future.
We returned just in time for the kids club, and a heavy rain. We went around the 3rd floor clearing drains to avoid flooding into the living spaces. The kids took advantage of the moment to turn the tile into a slip and slide! About 40 kids braved the rain to attend club. Richecard played with them, sang with them. Chery fed them a small meal. This club means so much to the children and the community. It was a rather relaxing night talking and doing house chores. I was still wrestling with our plan to travel 3 hours the next day to Bahon to build swing sets. Early in the evening, while making popcorn for everyone, I clearly felt God tell me not to go to Bahon. Everything was already in motion for those plans but now I had to tell the whole group that plans had changed. I trusted God had His reasons.
Day 3-
After an early breakfast, a small group of us trekked to MSC to buy wood for the swing sets. The mood in the car is always fun and upbeat no matter the difficulty in travel, but this was interrupted by the presence of a large group of people on each side of the road up ahead. As we passed a body layd covered on the muddy road, blood pooled in the water around the bed sheet. It wass sobering reminder of how uncertain life can be.
Nothing happens fast in Haiti. The wood department opened 45 minutes late because the person with the key didn't come to work on time. We bought some other house supplies, loaded the wood and traveled back. I couldn't believe half our day had already passed by the time we returned to the house with the wood. We loaded the tools and the team and traveled to Camp Louise. This zone is a long peninsula with a single road that stretches to the beach. We now partner with nearly every school in this zone, 12 total. Today we decided to visit the final three and build the swing sets that were planned for Bahon.
The reception along the road has changed drastically in the past year. Where once we were met with scows and threats from local gangs,we now receive smiles from young and old, and thumbs up greeting us as we drive by. It really is a blessing. We first went to the only public school in this area. The director showed up tho Saturday's seminar to heart about the Bible curriculum. He didn't need support for teachers salaries because he received semi regular government money, but he requested a swing set as all of the other nearby schools already received them from us. We took off all the wood and did the top beam construction and all the cuts for all three swing sets at this location. While most of the team worked diligently, this time also allowed Richecard and Dalando to make an amasing connection with all the children that stayed after school to greet us. They are so gifted with kids!
As always, I spoke to the group to encourage them to love Jesus, value their education, and work for a better Haiti. After praying and presentin the swing to the school, the school director thanked IOCH for the support. I was pleasantly blessed when he asked if we would hep the school develop a Bible curriculum. Praise God! He has given us this opportunity to share His Word in a public school!
Next we went to Cecille Christian School. This is a school back in the countryside. I now know it for it's beautiful children and unsually aggressive mosquitoes. As we were putting in the final bolts the skies let loose in terrential rains. Mezou rushed to get the truck back through the muddy roads we passed to come in. The adults ran for cover and the boys ran into the rain, playng soccer and enjoying the new swings. The rain subsided. We talked, prayed and took photos.
Finally, we were able to return to the Christian Institute School of Camp-Louise. At every school, I am blessed by the teachers, directors and students. This school also had an amazing veil of the mountains. Haiti really is breathtakingly beautiful.
After returning home we met and encouraged two young men looking to start a farming project. We had our financial meeting to the early morning hours and wrapped up lose ends to leave. I was still considering the impact of canceling our Bahon visit. God is always in control, but sometimes we need to listen and keep our plans flexible. I found out the dead man on the road had been shot shortly before we arrived. Had we left to go to Bahon, we likely would have left the house earlier and possibly been there with our entire group. I also reflected on the timing of the day and the heavy rains. The long trip to Bahon would have taken us into the night and crossing the swollen rivers on the return trip would have been sketchy. I also, considered the blessed moments we shared with three new schools in Camp- Louise. I'm thankful for a sovereign God that holds all things in His Hands.
29 Trips and Counting!
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