It has been a long and adventurous week. It started with our first Race day to and through Santo Domingo. We had a powerful worship session at the Santo Domingo YWAM base. The message they gave us and words they spoke over us were just what we needed to hear. It was amazing. God was good. God is good! That was just the beginning of the week! It is a new month, a new Country and a new opportunity to serve God!
Welcome to Haiti. A nation in need. A nation that is full of witchcraft and voodoo. A nation in need of the Gospel! After our lengthy bus ride from Santo Domingo – which we even got fed on – we arrived at the Haitian border…but we couldn’t get through! The Haitians started a protest at the gate! I don’t really know the exact details as to why, but they weren’t allowing the bus to cross. We were clear, the bus wasn’t! After 2 and a half hours of intense bus worship and prayer time sitting at the border, we were able to get off the bus and get our passports stamped and come into Haiti! Praise the Lord! It was an emotional few hours and very spiritually draining. We cried a lot of tears and opened our hearts and raised our hands…We knew God was standing at the border, inviting us in…we also knew he was present with us on the bus!
Now here we are, in Jacmel, Haiti, at the YWAM base. We have running water – whenever we don’t use it all with us all showering and doing laundry – and a house with mattresses on the floor. Electricity is limited…today is the first day since we got here that the power actually came on! We have an AMAZING view…I’m sleeping outside on the balcony, and I get the blessing of waking up every morning to the sunrise and go to bed at night stargazing. I can’t complain!
We have had long days…last night we actually were all in bed and asleep by 9pm. It was great to get a good night sleep. God has been blessing us in so many ways! We do door to door evangelism every morning to invite people to our afternoon service that is filled with dramas, music, testimonies, prayer and a gospel presentation. Afternoons are filled with coming up with what our ministry service will be and then running it. In between, we have our meals and quiet time with God and love on what is around us! The YWAM base has about 15 orphaned children that live there, that we are able to get to know and love on. They are so precious and loving and have heartbreaking stories.
There has been so many crazy things already happen to us since being here. The bus we were suppose to have here in Jacmel broke down, so right now we are piling 14 people into a jeep to get to and from our ministry site. We are also stating at a house just down the street from the YWAM base, as there wasn’t enough room to stay there. One of the ladies who helps out with food was in a motorcycle accident a few days ago. God protected her and even though she is in a lot of pain, she is alive! Please continue to pray for this dear woman, Denise, as she recovers from this accident!
Things are busy, but amazing. I am loving the opportunities to serve, love and build relationships – with the people here in Haiti as well as my team! God is faithful, and I am slowly beginning to see so much about who he is and more about who I am. The stars last night were the most amazing and bright I have ever seen them…I was captivated and in complete awe of God! Praise the Lord, for he has done marvellous things!
Please continue to pray for health (I’m battling with a head cold/sore throat and a few other racer specialities…lol) and that I will just continue to be able to meditate on Him…I’ve been loving knowing that I can never fully know God, and how blessed I am with that thought. If I did fully know Him – or anyone for that matter – I believe we would get bored with that person and therefore move on…but since knowing him is never ending, I’ll always be wanting to know more about him and therefore never get bored with falling in love with and seeking who he is!
To end, I want to share with you a verse that has touched my heart the past week. Meditate on it. Take action. Do good! Love others! Don’t just focus on the unbelievers…believers need God too! There are many opportunities around us. Sometimes we don’t realize what’s going on until after the fact – but God knows and His timing is impeccable. God gives us the strength we need for each day. We just need to ask Him!
Galatians 6:9-10
Let us not become weary in doing good for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
