Day Four!

Today started off the same way as my other days here, wake up at 5:30ish and a forced cup of coffee. Breakfast was at 7 and we took off with Serge at 8 to church! I’ll admit that I slept most of the way to the church. None of you could completely understand how hard it is to see in the back of a tap tap. I’ll post pictures when I can but it is very shaky, bouncy, bumpy .. you get the picture. Nonetheless, I put a Rick Pino/Misty Edwards mix in my ears and I was out for at least 45 minutes.

It took us what seemed like a long time to get there, maybe an hour and a half. Once we got out of the city, we entered into the country which looked very poor. I know I keep comparing this place to Disney, which isn’t the best analogy .. but it look a lot like something you would see in Animal Kingdom. There weren’t any tent cities, but the people lived in shack looking things. After what seemed like forever of driving straight, we turned right on yet another bumpy road! Being on all of these bumpy roads makes me want to go 4-wheelin’! Once we turned there were men on motorcycles who would drive you up the ‘mountain’ to church. I was very close to hopping out of the tap tap and hopping onto a motorcycle. I mean, you only live once .. you might has well take the opportunity to ride up a mountain on the back of a motorcycle with a Haitian! Haha. Mr. Donald said he would pay for it .. but then he said that he wouldn’t pay for our hospital bills. Well, that did it for me. I know that there are angels all around, but I’d rather not chance it.

Once we arrived church had already begun. We unloaded the truck, and the women headed back for a potty break. OH. MY. GOSH! I will never, ever, ever be paranoid of public bathrooms again. Their “toilet” was literally a very large hole with a big brick square around it, maybe two feet high and two feet wide. Since the whole was in such an awkward location it made this process very difficult. Not to mention it smelt very, very, very bad. After the adventure to the bathroom (Yes, it was an adventure!), we headed into the church. I felt so special because they had saved us seats right on the front row. The place was packed with men, women and lots of children! They were singing when we entered so, of course, we joined right in. After that Pastor Maxeau called Mr. Donald and “Madame Donald” up to the platform so he could speak. Mr. Andy went next and then it was just opened to different team members who wanted to share what God had placed on their hearts.

I think I went fourth. I shared with the people of the Valley of Hope things that I am sure I have shared on here but are so amazing they can be repeated. Anyone reading this should know that I love the Spanish language, and I can speak Spanish fairly well. The people of Haiti speak a mix of French and Creole, which has made communication only possible through hand gestures and translators. You know what though guys, I have never FELT so much love in all my life! I am so thankful that love doesn’t have to be spoken, it is expressed. The Haitian people are such loving people and this was shown yet again on Sunday at Pastor Maxeau’s church. There “go hug 40 people” as Pastor would say, wasn’t just hugging because they had to. No, they loved on us! It was an amazing experience. I also shared a Scripture with them. Romans 5:5 – “And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” The name of their church is Valley of Hope, so I thought this Scripture was very fitting. Often times in life we feel as though God has disappointed us, but He has not – and He never will!

After we shared we praised a little more! I even got on the keyboard, which was fun! Then Pastor Maxeau preached some more, then we praised more, then more preaching, then more praising! It was an action packed, Spirit-filled service! Following the service Ms. Fran, Smith and I did a puppet show for the children, and Pastor Maxeau passed out some of the goodies that our team brought. Then we ate! I’m sure I’ve mention this before, but Haitian food is so good! I took pictures of the meal, so I’ll post them on Facebook when I can. After the meal we all packed back in the truck and ventured back to the guest house.

Love to you all.

Blessings,
Han