Road building in Truchouchou

Francois and I have been building around 4 miles of road in a mountain community.  The people have been great to be around and often join us at lunch time.  The kids typically get half of our beans and rice.  This has been a great way for us to interact with the kids and share the gospel.  

On Wednesday, as I was getting ready to stop for the day, I felt as if the spirit was prompting me to do something.  There is always a crowd watching as you work here.  This particular day their happened to be around 100 people watching.  So I had my translator ask the crowd if there was anyone that wanted me to pray for them.  One man that was close came forward.  I asked the man how I could pray for him, then laid hands on him and prayed.  After that, the whole crowd came up.  I realized that I didn’t have time to pray for each one individually, so I prayed for the whole crowd at once.  Another man, who is the community leader, said that he wanted me to lay hands on him as well.  So we pray some more.  We had given this man a bible just 10 days before. 

On Thursday morning I wanted to pray for the people again.  As the day went on I forgot about praying.  When it was time to shut down for the day, an old lady asked if we were going to pray again.  I was so glad to be reminded and of course I said yes.  This time Francois was with me so he shared about Christ and then asked how we could pray for them.  They said they wanted to pray that God would get rid of the bad spirits in the community.  So Francoise prayed for them in their language.  This reminded me that if we are simply obedient to God, He will take over and do a mighty work in the lives of others.  It also reminded me that these people recognize that there are evil strongholds and that the spiritual realm is very real.  I am just thankful that God has allowed me the opportunity to take His love to these people.

Today, Jessica and I went with Pastor Paulo to visit two schools.  The first school is just a couple of minutes from our base.  We arrived in time for devotions at 8 am.  All the children were in a church/meeting room, led by the principal in worship music.  Pastor Paulo introduced us and then the principal started devotions.  He was using The Greatest Journey Curriculum.    They were on lesson 3, which is on the birth of Jesus and how Joseph was told by the angel that Mary was to give birth to the Savior of the world.  He read Matthew 1:18-25 to the children and then explained the importance of the scripture.  Jessica and I were given the opportunity to speak to the kids.  I reminded them how important they are to God and Jessica prayed over the kids.

 After devotions, they were dismissed to their classrooms.  There were three classrooms and we visited with each one for about 10 minutes.  In each room, we were given a piece of chalk and asked to teach how to start a conversation in English.  Jessica did a great job.  She started writing: Hello.  How are you?  I am fine thank you, and you?  What is your name?  My name is.  Nice to meet you.  Pastor Paulo helped us to write the Creole equivalent beside the English.  So Jessica and I repeated the conversation in front of the class several times.  At first we went too fast and had to repeat it slowly.  Each time after that we made sure to go slowly, so they understood what we were saying.  We then walked around the classroom and talked with individual students one at a time.  Then one girl came to the front and had the conversation with Jessica.  The same girl then had the conversation with a boy in the class.  We did this in every class and slowly had the kids repeat the words back to us.  Jessica reminded them to practice English and that it was okay if they made mistakes.  That we were trying to learn Creole and we made mistakes, but with the help of others we will be able to learn Creole.  I quite enjoyed teaching English conversation, even though it was so basic.

(Each time we went to a classroom they would just look at us and said go ahead and talk.  We did not know what they wanted us to do.  I am thankful for my recent trip to South Africa.  We learned how to rely on the Holy Spirit to guide us, when we had no idea what to do.  That experience helped prepare you for the unexpected.  Thanks Scott and Becky!)   

                At the second school, we arrived as the students were on a short break.  They were excited to see two white girls.  A small group started asking us questions and we got them to say a few things in English.  Then the break was over and they all went back to their classrooms.  The first classroom we visited was for older students and they were studying algebra.  Our driver Kno (sp?) went to the front of the class and told them we were here to speak with the class.  So we introduced ourselves with our broken Creole.  I am sure that everyone has meet someone trying to learn English.  They mix words up, use the wrong form of a verb, or wrong words, but for the most part are able to get the point across.  I told them my name, age, where I am from, that I am married; I have no kids, that I love Haiti.  That may not seem like a lot, but when you have to think about every phrase, it takes a while.   Then one student came up and talked to us in English.  She knew several things to carry on a basic conversation.  The next student came up and spoke with us in Creole.  We taught them and they taught us.  I feel like this was a lesson more for us than for them.  Next, we visited two classrooms that were studying The Greatest Journey.  They were also learning lesson 3 about the birth of Jesus.  We just sat and observed.  They teacher would say a few things and then have the students repeat the story.  They all learned John 3:16 in a matter of minutes and repeated it several times throughout the lesson. 

                We left before the lesson was over to head back to base for lunch.  Today was an interesting day.  I am glad that I was able to go with Jessica.  It always makes it easier to do these things with a friend.  I wait expectantly on what the Lord has in store next.  I praise Him for all He does and is.  Thank you Jesus for allowing us to be a part of Your work in Haiti.  I pray blessings in the name of the Lord over the people of Haiti.  Special blessings over the children!  Amen.

On Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, I was able to go with the Recycling team as they visited a few collection centers.  The recycling program has been going on for about a year in Haiti.  Samaritan’s Purse partners with Executives without Borders and Haiti Recycling.  SP workers go to local church leaders and ask them who is responsible and would be interested in starting a business.  The team then takes applications for a new site and after they interview each applicant, they choose the best one.  The chosen recipient is then loaned a building and the necessary tools needed to run the business.  The owner has a certain amount of time to pay back the cost, interest free.  Each day, peddlers bring plastic or aluminum cans they have collected and sell them to the owner.  The peddler receives 4 HTG (10 cents) per pound of plastic and 18 HTG (45 cents) per pound of aluminum cans.  The owner, with the help of SP, arranges a truck to transport all the collected material to Haiti Recycling.  Haiti Recycling pays the owner a little more than the owner paid the peddlers, enabling them to make a profit.  The ultimate goal is for the owner to run the business independent of SP.        

One center we visited was in Leogane.  A few peddlers arrived shortly after us.  One peddler walked up with his bag full of plastic bottles, one rode up on his motorcycle and the last one came on his bicycle.  It is amazing to me how they are able to get these bags full of plastic tied to their transportation or some even balance them on their heads.  The owner of the collection center came and greeted us all.  My job was to take pictures for the recycling team.  I started to take a picture of the man on his motorcycle and he started talking to me in Creole.  Adam told me that the man was proud to have his picture taken because selling plastic has helped him to buy his moto.  Each peddler empties their collected plastic into the owner’s large bag, and then the owner checks the plastic to make sure there is only plastic.  They weigh the bag and then after calculating the amount owed, the peddler receives his/her pay. 

                The recycling team interviewed all the peddlers and the collection center owners.  They all tell how this program has helped them.  Most use the money for food to feed the family or to put children through school.  Some use the money to start other businesses.  The peddler that bought the moto, with the money he earned from selling plastic, now has his own taxi service.  Several of the center owners have started additional businesses out of their centers.  Some sell phone minutes, some charge phones for people, and one has a copy machine for anyone that needs copies made.  The team would then give each owner a bible.  They were very glad and wanted to be able to share with the peddlers.

                This is such a great program.  Out of the 14 centers that SP has helped start, 13 are successful businesses.  The one that was not successful will be taken away and someone else will be given the chance to start a business.  Plastic was thought of as worthless and just tossed out in the street.  Now it is trash that becomes cash.  Ramase Lajan!

 

Yesterday we were able to participate in a shoebox distribution.  For everyone that has ever packed a shoebox at Christmas, we want to say thank you.  Operation Christmas Child is a great outreach that Samaritan's Purse does. 
We drove an hour to a church in Miragone. As we pulled in there were children already waiting.  We unloaded the boxes and the local pastor started checking names.  The children would come to the door and give their ticket and name to the pastor's wife.  She would check them off and allow only the children in.  Parents waited outside for the ceremony to end.  This may seem like a strange way of doing things. We can imagine what a room of 70, 5-9 yr olds would be like at home without parents.  Here the children were well behaved.  They all came in and sat down on the pews.  They were quiet and did not harass each other.  I am not sure if they understood what was happening.  After all the children came in, we sang a few songs and the pastor talked about what they were about to receive.  One of the Candians who spoke french told the children why we were doing this.  She talked about the love of Christ and how we were sharing because of this love.      

     We handed out the boxes and booklets.  The pastor talked about the Greatest Journey curriculum.  This is a 12 week study that explains what it means to be a follower of Christ and how they can have that relationship with Christ.  At the end of the 12 weeks, there is a graduation ceremony.  Each graduate receives a certificate and a bible.  The booklet that was handed out is what they will study.   Each child sat patiently with their shoebox on their lap.  The pastor asked who wanted to participate and each child yelled, "Yes!". 

     Finally, they were allowed to open the boxes.  There was some hesitation and struggling with the tape, but finally everyone opened their box.  It was so exciting to see the smiles and watch as joy spread over their faces.  Some opened their box and then closed it right back.  I think they were afraid of losing an item.  Others started rummaging through to see all the goodies.  It seems that they loved the candy and toys the best.  Several children got sunglasses, which was a big hit.  One child received clown glasses with a large nose attached and he wore them home.  One child received a toothbrush and was imitating brushing her teeth.  She was so excited about something as simple as a toothbrush.  Something that we take for granted. 

        It was an awesome opportunity to be on the receiving end instead of just the packing end.  After each child had time to open their gift, the parents were allowed back in to collect their child. They rushed in and scooped up the boxes.  It seemed they wanted to make sure that their child's box would not be stolen.  They were very protective of each box.

      As each family left, we stood watching and wondering what God has in store for that community.  I pray that God raises up young leaders.  Leaders that listen and obey His Word.  Leaders that reach Haiti for Jesus.  I praise God for the opportunity that Samaritan's Purse has here and around the world to share the Good News.  I praise Him for letting us be a part of His plan.  Next time you pack a shoebox, pack it as though you are giving it to someone dear to you.  Want to give the best that you can.  God blesses a cheerful giver!

Yesterday, Greta Home and Academy brought about 30 kids to be baptized on our beach.  The kids arrived dressed in green shirts, eagerly awaiting the ceremony to begin.  There was a quiet anticipation on each child's face.  These children learned about Jesus through The Greatest Journey curriculum.  This is a twelve week program that SP does as follow up to the shoebox distribution.  They are taught about God and what He did for us through Jesus.  At the end, they are given the chance to accept Jesus as the savior of their lives.  Several pastors talked with the children, reminding them of the importance of the decision they made.  The children agreed with the message and started to line up to walk to the water's edge.  As they went they sang, "Come down to the water".  It was so beautiful to hear these children lifting their voices in praise to God.  The SP staff accompanied the children down the beach.  Pastor Pierre waded into the water and the first child was brought to him.  As the child was brought out of the water, we all clapped for our new brother in Christ.  Each child waited patiently for their turn and slowly all the children were baptized.  After the last one was baptized, they gathered for prayers of thanks.  Penny, the director of Greta, reminded them of the commitment they made and the importance of such a commitment.  It was so exciting to be a part of this great time.  It reminded me of the baptisms that the Heart did last summer.  God is so great and faithful.  What joy He brings to those who love Him.  He is calling each of us and I pray that we all answer.

The kids topped the day off with a swim in the ocean.  They had fun splashing around with each other and the staff.  Laughter filled the air.