Tomorrow is our last day here in Haiti. It has been a long run, but God has really been here with us. After the 10 hour bus ride from Santo Domingo to Port au Prince, (with a 3 hour delay at the border-kinda sketchy!) then another 5 hour bus ride on a Hatian school bus, we arrived at our ministry sight in Gonaives. We have been staying at a YWAM, (Youth with a mission) base with a local pastor and his family. Pastor Maula informed us that we would be leaving Gonaives for 4 days to go and stay in the mountains at a village in Gros Mourne. While in Gros Mourne we hung out with the locals, and slept in the same beds with the Hatian ladies, gardened a banana farm and ministered to a 2000 plus congrigation at the church. It was a great experience except for drinking the local water, and being pressured into eating goat bones. They were extremely friendly and really catered to our every need.
Back to Gonaives… Last fall it was hit by Hurricaine Hannah and the floods destroyed the town, We started hurricaine relief at a local widows house; moving buckets and shoveling dirt out to the road. The city is supposed to come and pick up the dirt and debris but I have yet to see a city truck. At night, we went to a local orphanage where a “crusade” was happening. It lasted about 4 hours everynight. The orphans broke my heart, they were so happy, and were so eager to listen to our english songs and hear our testimonies.
The rest of our time here we have been doing pretty heavy construction work here on the roof of the YWAM base. We have all really enjoyed working with our hands and seeing the fruits of our labor. One night we went into the center of town and did street evangilism. We were surrounded by people who wanted to know why we were there. It got a little out of control and we knew we were not safe so we had to cut it short.
We have seen some interesting things here; thingts I never thought I would see or want to see in my lifetime like the main Voodoo compound in the country where all of the sacrifices and tree worship go on. It was like a big commune behind huge metal gates; you could look at the people there and see the emptiness in thier eyes. There was a very eerie feeling being there; almost surreal knowing that this was where people worship Satan and preformend living sacrifices to thier Gods. That place lays heavy on my heart, there were a lot of children there who did not have a choice but to grow up with that lifestyle. There is hope though. Pastor Maola came from a Voodoo home, and now he is an amaizing man of God.
Please pray for us as we head back to Port au Prince tomorrow. We have another debrief back in the Dominican Republic starting Sunday. I am praying for you all at home! We are excited about being in Asia in less than two weeks. Goodbye Carribien, hello Cambodia.
