.canaan: truly a slice of heaven.

His name is Jean-Robert. He stays seated outside of the eating area mumbling to himself in French and rocking back and forth in his four-legged chair.  He scared me at first. He was a slightly odd man with a hardened look, appearing devoid of any compassion, and honestly seeming a little crazy. I couldn’t help watching him though and wondering why my heart ached every time I’d glance in his direction. Well, I found out, and the reality of this man’s story has nauseated, humbled, and broken me.

Jean-Robert might be slightly mad, but who could blame him. His entire past consists of abuse, murder, political deception and imprisonment. I’ve heard a lot of stories. Jean-Robert’s is uniquely horrific.

 

At a disturbingly young age, he and his mother were dragged off to prison and held there for the next 15 years.  All of which was completed without a single utterance. He is a mute by choice and circumstance, not by disability.

 

Finally, Jean-Robert and his family were released from prison, his childhood gone and sanity nearly dissolved. When his mother died, someone mentioned Jean-Robert and his situation to Sister Gladys, the “mama” of Canaan. As Sister Gladys walked in to see this child, she had no expectation but the presence of God. What she received was a miracle, when a mute child chose to respond to her questions. Silence was broken for the first time in 15 years because a woman took some time to love like Jesus.

 

Sister Gladys.

 

She is a joyful woman who sacrifices her desires for the sake of the King’s and has impacted the country of Haiti in innumerable ways.

 

A boy with a horrific past has received blessing abundant from her willingness to ask a question:

“I have a better place for you. Do you want to come?”

 

It might have inconvenienced her a few times. It probably even frustrated her. I’d venture to say she lost her patience once or twice. But I can guarantee she never regretted her decision to love him.

So, you see this one story of how she helped a grown man finally find a home of provision, safety, and laughter; but I have yet to mention the 80 healthy children running around the home of Canaan, speaking English, playing, and singing with the assurance that they’re loved.

 

Canaan is a glorious place and seemingly a little slice of heaven in Haiti…It’s truly been a blessing to be here and I’ve learned so much.

 

If only I could learn to love others like Sister Gladys. She takes the
scriptures and makes them reality. Gladys might seem a little
crazy. If only we could all be called a little crazy in our service for
Jesus…

 

(**Pictures are coming but the internet here is too slow to download.)