Heart leaps. Heart aches. Haiti.
“Bonswa” from Haiti! On September 5, (after tearful goodbyes, hugs, and kisses and long sobs at my gate in Detroit Metro airport :)), I flew to Atlanta for Launch, where our squads gathered to train, worship, and prepare to leave for the nations. Last Tuesday, we flew into Port Au Prince, Haiti.
Our team, along with 3 of the other 5 teams within J Squad, are staying at Mission of Hope Haiti (MOH). Mission of Hope is “unapologetically” an organization following Jesus Christ here in Haiti seeking to bring life transformation to EVERY man, woman, and child in Haiti through various avenues including food provision (they feed 90,000 children each day), medical facilities, education, orphan care, job opportunities, church services, small groups, and much more. MOH also believes wholeheartedly in indigenous leadership/employment. They work to identify and raise up Haitian “Village Champions” who work with MOH to distribute resources, so that they become the hero, not MOH.
In just over one week, our teams have had the opportunity to serve in many different capacities including visiting villages, cleaning out and re-organizing their dentist office and new medical facility, moving pavers and cinder blocks to help construct a new pastoral training center right on the sea, love on lots of little children, help prepare MOH’s “Mwen Kapab” (meaning, “I can”) school curriculum for distribution, and some have even had an opportunity to help in the prosthetics lab.
One of the most challenging and moving ministries for me personally so far has been our village visits. Praying with strangers, especially in a new culture, is not in my comfort zone but I’m growing and learning from my team. (Also, if you have any favorite verses on prayer, I welcome them!)
We stepped off the bus into a village for some playtime and in the distance you could see little dark faces and big, bright, curious smiles running towards you. You could hear the squeals and see the pitter patter of their little feet almost flying off of the rocky path to see who these new people were in their big yellow bus. Most of them were not wearing shoes. Some weren’t fully clothed. But they had smiles. Man, did they have smiles. Heart leaps. Heart aches.
Before I knew it, there was a little one slung on each of my hips, another tugging on my skirt to be picked up, and one climbing on my back. We walked through the village like human jungle gyms with our translator who helped us talk with many of the Haitian women. Many were eager to share about their families, their home, and their God; to pray with us and to share laughter.
Some of their homes are blue. Not blue paint. Blue tarp like material that say, “Samaritan’s Purse”. Blue that says, “I am supposed to be temporary relief after a disaster for no more than 6 months”. Almost 5 years later, the blue is still home. Even more, many are home to 10-12 people yet they are barely more than the size of some sheds in my neighbors’ yards at home… I share these things in an attempt to provide a snapshot, and in no means to define this nation. This place is hopeful. It’s beautiful. Heart leaps. Heart aches.
Thank you for all of the love and prayers that have propelled me to this point. Leaving was even more difficult than I thought it would be but I am so sure of God’s plan and His faithfulness, plus all of the words, thoughtful acts, donations, and expressions of encouragement have strengthened and uplifted me. God is working wonders here in Haiti and in me, in every small moment and on a massive scale.
Hug from Haiti for you,
Lisa
