Haiti 36 - June 3rd

In a few minutes I hope to be leaving the Bahamas. Not much has gone as planned on this trip. Storms in Miami required our plane to divert to the Bahamas and sit on the runway for nearly 4 hours. I'm not sure I will find a flight back to Philadelphia tonight, so home still feels a long way off. Leaving on Friday, we were all boarded and buckled when the annoucement came that the plane was no good and we were getting off to wait for a different one.

Day - 1

Coming into Haiti I met some Canadian deplomats enroute to Port Au Prince to evaluate their government efforts there. However, it is so dangerous there, that they didn't anticipate any travel around the capital. Coming through customs, they looked through my bags and then came the time I'm normally asked to follow the customs officer into his office for the usual haggling over custom fees. To my shock he said, "You can go". A small victory, praise God!

I had hoped to arrive at IOCH headquarters in Haiti in time to greet the 30 school directors as they came. Istead, I arrived about 3 hours late, but in time to encourage the directors and have the usual raffle give away they have come to love. (Especially if they win)

As is always the case, a few school directors that we do not currently support came, in hopes of speaking to me and receiving desperarely needed help. I recorded the conversation with John Phillip. This is a very painful conversation I have repeated too many times. When I see the heart of these courageous men but have nothing available to encourage their work, it is truly heartbreaking. That conversation was followed by an even more emotional plea for help from the man you see in the video behind him. I gave that man a small gift and our team prayed over him before he left. The need to support these Godly servants is so great, I only pray IOCH can continue to partnert with more of them.

It was a long night of meetings. God had put a very detailed message on my heart, to teach on the neccesity of Godly encouraging speech, consisting of honest biblical truths. As Christians we must never fall into the trap of using speech to manipulate, elevate ourselves and promote our own agenda. It got lengthy but I feel it really connected with our team.

Day - 2

This past week, the director of the Wesleyan school in Camp Louise messaged me with terrible news. after several years of building a new church literally overtop of their existing chuch, it was time to take down the old walls. Some children were playing nearby and they thought they moved all to safety. However, two children were killed by the falling walls. The pastor volunteered himself to be imprisoned by the police instead of the construction workers. I offered to help pay for the funeral costs of the children, as we have done many times before. This is a very sobering way that IOCH partners with poor families in times of hardship. This morning, we decided as a team to go visit the church, to be with them as they greived.

It was inspiring to see the congregation raise their hands to worship our Good and Everloving God. I shared from Romas chapter 8 with the congregation, that NOTHING will separate us from the love of God. Every experience in a Haitian church is special, but this one I will always remember well. We ate together after church and the pastor was willing to share the story of the week's hardships and God's goodness on a video.

For many months, Felix in Camp Louise sent pictures and updated me on an ambitious project a few of them were working on; to bring fresh water from a remote spring into the town of Camp Louise. We were in for an unforgettable adventure. First we walked up to the current end of the pipeline they had worked so hard on. They had recently build a cistern there to receive the water before it is taken into the town.

After some debate, it was decided we would hike the mountains in the peak Haiti sun to see the source of the water. I'm so glad we did!! I've seen these beautiful mountains from the plane so many times, but to be in them was so special. I was also left absolutely amazed at how much work they had already accomplished. I interviewed Felix and his team on the sight of the spring. Some of the guys also cooled off in the water. Richecard wanted to worship together, so we did!! ( A really fun video!) Guys from Felix's team carried my bag and kept an eye on me so I wouldn't slide off the mountain. An olderly woman passed us by on the way back and she shrieked in surprise upon seeing me. :) I'm quite certain she has never seen a white person up in her mountains before! I gave her a greeting kiss on her very sweaty cheek and we continued on.

After returning, Felix introduced me to the whole committee that oversees these projects. I congratulated them for all they have accomplished with minimal outside help, the courageous visionary leadership and the organization they have put together to succed in the work. These are the type of people God has put me in Haiti to encourage. The next step is to build a concrete cover on the cistern. I told them I would help with some of the material costs.

Praise God, we were able to partner with Hands and Feet Project to pick up and distribute over 400 boxes of ready to cook lunch mix to 32 schools totaling nearly 85,000 meals to about 6,000 students. Our team was thrilled to be a part of this tremendous blessing to so many hungry children! Personally, I can only reflect on God's sovereignty to put me in Haiti in this moment. I could never have imagined all that God would do when I first set foot in Haiti 5 years ago for a one time visit. When we obey God's call, he will be faithful. Praise God!

Day - 3

Usually the trip home isn't worth writing much about. Today is different. We ate breakfast and said goodbyes. I arrived at the airport with no problem. I'm always alert on my travels as to who God may put in my path. In front of me in line were a coupel men that were clearly having a first time in Haiti experience. Seconds into our conversation, it was clear God had put us together providentually. These two men were on an explorratory trip to see exactly how God may want to use them in Haiti. I'm hoping God gives me the opportunity to help them in this journey as so many have walked with me in the last 5 years, learning to navigate the hills and valleys of serving God in Haiti.

I had to stay the night in Miami and now I'm flying back to Philadelphia. Before boarding I met a Mennonite woman who has served God most of her life in Central America. I'm always inspired by people like her, who are moved by the love of Christ to give up all that is known and comfortable to make that love known to others! I thank God for this adventure by faith, Haiti trip 36!