Bonjou, from Cayes(pronounced Kies)!
We’ve been in Haiti for almost a week now and it’s very obvious
already that even though the Dominican Republic and Haiti share the
same island they are very different countries. Both in the
challenges they face and the spiritual climate, Haiti is going to be
a month of truly denying myself of any rights I might try to give
myself along with any comforts I might be used to. But maybe I’m
jumping the gun. You all need to be caught up on my week, so lets
start back last Friday when we began our travels.
We all woke up around 4 in the morning
so that we could get everything packed up and cleaned up before we
left. I made some executive decisions then as far as what I can
leave to make more room in my pack and make my pack a little lighter.
I ended up leaving some clothes and some toiletries, some of which I
felt good that I wouldn’t need…some of which I cringed a little.
But nonetheless we all set off for the bus stop and me with a much
lighter load. We arrived in Santo Domingo around 10 in the morning
and then caught a taxi to the YWAM base where we were staying for the
night. Once we dropped our stuff off there we went site seeing and
were able to see the first Christian church in the western hemisphere
as well as the oldest military structure. After siteseeing we hung
out at the YWAM base and had a great time of worship before bed. The
next morning we got up bright and early to catch our next bus for our
10 hour bus ride from Santo Domingo to Port au Prince. The ride was
going pretty well until we got to the border and ran into a little
snag. Apparently there were protestors at the border petitioning
against the tour bus we were using and they weren’t wanting to let us
in. But after about 2 hours on the bus praying and worshipping they
finally agreed to let us in. So in the end we got to Port au Prince
and made it to our hotel, which was an adventure in itself since
there wasn’t enough room in the bus for everyone so some of us rode
on top of the bus with our bags. It reminded me of the ride to
Arroyo from Monticeto because we were having to dodge tree limbs,
power lines and banners. We stayed the night and the plan was to go
the ATM early the next morning and pull out money for all the teams
before we headed off to our individual ministry sites. But, as it
turned out, none of the ATM’s worked and none of the banks would take
our cards. So we spent all day hanging out trying to figure out how
we were going to get money. But finally at the end of the day we
were able to get some money wired to us and by 5 that evening we were
on a bus to Cayes.Unfortunately it cost so much to wire the money to
us through Western Union and it was such a hassle, what we got out
was all we had for our month. I’ve noticed that God has made me
sensitive to the spiritual climate of an area. And while we were
driving through Port au Prince my spirit became very heavy. I felt
so much darkness, confusion, corruption, and chaos around me. All I
wanted to do was pray and worship God because I knew that was the
only way to relieve it.
We arrived that night at Pastor Louis’
house and stayed the night there. It was incredible. We slept in
beds and had a hot shower with water pressure the next morning. We
went with Louis after breakfast and toured the orphange we would be
working at. I knew it was going to be hard on me when all these
little boys just held on to me. They didn’t need anything from me,
they just wanted love and affection. One boy in particular really
latched onto me, Zacheriah. He literally just hung onto me and
wouldn’t let go. I could see so much sadness in his eyes, I couldn’t
help but wonder what those eyes had seen for being so young. We left
there and checked out Louis’ church and the school that was there.
At that school they taugh both neighborhood kids and orphans. Then
he showed us a plot of ground that had been marked off for a future
orphanage that they’re hoping to be built by April. While he was
talking to us the Lord really layed it on my heart to anoint and pray
over this plot of land. So as a team with Pastor Louis we busted out
the anointing oil and claimed that land for the kingdom and for the
service God. That night we had some ATL time to ask God what He
wanted from us this month. Its amazing how God is always faithful to
speak when we listen to Him as a team. During that team He not only
promised us that He would bring Haiti to Him but He also laid on
Sammies heart that we needed to do an hour of intercessory praying
everyday, which sounded pretty intimidating at first. Then He also
laid on our hearts to help teach the kids english.
So the next day we were taken to the
orphanage and set up camp at the to of a hill near the technology
center and a vacant building that Louis is asking us to sand and
paint. For the next 2 days we worked on sanding the building, and
just playing with the kids. So far I’ve made 2 buddies here. One is
14 and his name is Wilmack. He’s very happy and wanting to help out
with laundry and getting water and even sanding. My other buddy is
Zacheriah. He’s 8 and is a lot more melancholy and quiet. He just
likes to be held. It’s so strange to me but all these kids want is
physical affection and love. They will literally just stand there
and hang on you. Zacheriah seems fascinated with the calouses on my
hands. He’ll just sit there and scratch them and squeeze them. He
also loves to feel my hair. Yesterday morning in church we sat
together and he just laid his head in my lap and slept for about an
hour and half. Later that afternoon Wilmack gave me a note, and even
though it was written in creole Sammie was able to tell that it said,
“Hi, my name is Wilmack. I’m 14 years old and I’m very glad you
are here in my country with me. I have no mother and father, I would
like to come back to your country with you and visit your country.”
What do you say to that? I wanted me to write him a note in reply
so I just wrote back, “Hi, my name is Tim and I’m 22 years old.
I’m very happy to be here in your country with you. It will be very
hard to leave, just know that God loves you very much and is always
with you.” Hopefully he’ll be able to get someone to translate it
for him. Probably the best time so far while I’ve been gone was had
Friday night. Every night a lot of the orphans get together to
worship. They beat in buckets and sing and shout and dance to their
hearts content. It was probably the best display of unhindered
worship I had ever seen. This has been the only time where if you
aren’t dancing and going crazy your looked at funny. It wasn’t long
before I started dancing and going crazy and then not much longer
after that before I realized that I had forgotten how much I had
loved to dance. And that night I felt the most alive then I had in a
very long time. Afterwards I was reflecting on that time and I
couldn’t help but wonder how many people had forgotten how much
dancing and looking a little foolish makes them feel so alive,
because they got so caught up in life and being grown up.
So currently I’m really hungry haha.
That has probably been the hardest thing about this month. Because
we weren’t able to get out a lot of money we have to be super tight
on our budget. Mom, don’t be worried. I’m eatting everyday, it’s
just not the typical amount I’m used to. I’m not used to skipping
meals and going to bed hungry and waking up hungry. But being hungry
and being denied a comfort I’ve always had has really made me realize
how important I made food. It’s really uncovered things in my heart
that I had no idea were there. I’ve found myself being very
irritated and snappy with everyone all because I’m frustrated that
I’m not eatting. Then I see these kids who eat one small meal a deal
and who are malnurished and they have so much joy. So it’s just a
typical case of praying that God would break me and then God answers.
Thank you for your prayers. It has
been a challenging month, and I don’t see it getting better. But I
can tell it will be one of those months that I look back on and
realize it was the best thing for me. Please continue to pray for
strength and good health for our team and for love for us to give to
these kids. Also I very exciting oppurtunity we learned about is
that every February there is a pagan carnival that lasts for a week
where about 15,000 girls get pregnant. Last year a bus blaring loud
music pulled up to a church while it was in service and the bus
tipped over and killed someone. The locals believe it was the hand
of God and now out of fear are giving the first day of the carnival
to God. The first day is this Friday. Christians and prophets from
all over Haiti and the world are coming here to worship and praise
and prophecy for Haiti. We’re really pumped about what kind of
oppurtunity this is so please be praying for Friday the 13th
and that God would eally move then. But until next time. God bless
from Haiti.
