Haiti: Summing It Up

Well, I'm sure you've realized by now, we didn't have a stable internet connection for the remainder of the trip. Hence, I'm updating you now with a summary of the rest of our time in Haiti. At least now you are aware that we made it home safe and sound.

The last two days of the trip, we went to tent cities. Two tent cities, with two very different experiences. The first one, started off well and good. We had brought beans and rice to give to the families, and the idea was to pray with them in their tent before presenting the food. Well, we were also to play with the kids before also, which was going great! After part of the team went back to get more supplies for the kids, they went bonkers over the new supplies. Keep in mind, most of these people have probably never even seen a new package of markers or crayons in their life. Since that was the case, we had to ask the families to line up at our SUV to distribute food. Evidently, this was a tent city who had not received any food or care since the earthquake, so this was all new to them. Matt stood on top of the SUV with an interpreter trying to explain the process to people. We began handing out bags of food and it was going better than handing out the school supplies! When the food was nearing an end in supply, we hopped on top (literally on the roof) of the SUV to drive away. For some on the team, it was a challenge wondering if we had really made a difference. However, we did what God had called us to do, and that was be His hands and feet - regardless of the reaction of others.

That night, we had the blessing of hearing a testimony from one of the kids at the orphanage. We thought, so often, teams travel on missions to tell about themselves - to share their own personal testimony. We wanted to change that. So, we asked the kids who wanted to share? A 17 year old boy named Fred stood up, and shared his story. It was amazing. Most of these kids don't have the opportunity to share their own story with missionaries, because most missionaries become so focused on giving their testimony. He shared about growing up in the distant mountains of Haiti, then said his Mom became sick and died. He mentioned he was near death as well, and then he was rescued by some nurses on a medical mission team. He gave his life to Christ in 2001, and thanks God every day because he said Jesus allowed him to live. This fine young man is an outstanding soccer and basketball player, and has hopes to get a job where he can provide for himself. He also loves engineering, and has a contagious smile with a huge heart for God. Fred doesn't have numerous spiritual mentors or men he can look up to as a Dad, he only has Jesus. And Fred is just one, but there are tons more like him. This precious soul, has a purpose for God's kingdom, who could have easily died of malnutrition and disease but was saved. Who is God using you to help save?

The last day, we went to a tent city near the mountains on the outskirts of Port-Au-Prince. These people were calm, gracious, and many were suffering. I learned something I never thought I would learn in my lifetime - and that was how to tell if a child has malnutrition. We began looking for thinning, orange-ish hair, sunken eyes, round bellies full of worms, rickets on their legs....to our discouragement, we did find a number of children who fit the description. We had sent up a clinic in a UNICEF tent, where Suzi was working on a number of patients with some Christian nurses from Canada. When they would come out of the clinic, Karen, Eric, Ty, Jenny, and Jenifer would be standing there to give them their very first toy! (This was a very fun job!) There were all kinds of adorable stuffed animals, and then we'd have someone pray for them. Now, this really spoke to me....after they'd receive the stuffed animal, someone would said, "Priye?" (meaning, "Pray?") and these people would immediately drop to their knees. Do you see that? This is how they live life. On their knees. Two entirely separate cultures, ONE God who hears them both. How hesitant are we to live life on our knees? What do we usually go to before going to God? I found myself being envious of them in a way, often times I'm too distracted to get on my knees FIRST. God really spoke to me in that.

As we drove away that day, myself and Nanette sat on top (yes, on top of the big truck - like on the roof) of the big truck, just overlooking all the tent cities on the countryside and just how incredibly beautiful Haiti really is despite the poverty. It's gorgeous! I thought to myself, "I could do this every day of my life....it is a blessing to be here!" Then I got to thinking about the name, "Haiti" and as most of you may know, the word - "Haiti" - literally means, "Hell". We were in "hell" effectively. It's a long story as to how it got that name, but the country is ravaged with VooDoo practices and Satanic worship. (It wasn't out of the ordinary to see the words, "Aba Satan" written on a wall in graffiti through town) The need in Haiti is overwhelming, and my next thought was this: "If Haiti in fact means hell, I'd rather spend a lifetime in hell if it means I get to spend eternity in Heaven."

As a result of the trip, many of us are now praying about going back to Haiti for an extended period of time. As for myself, I'm praying about going back indefinitely. Furthermore, every single person on the team wants to go back, and we are currently planning to do so. To add, Matt and Jess are praying their way through the adoption process of a baby Haitian orphan they met and fell in love with, named Kevin. If you could lift up Matt and Jess (and yes, Kevin too!) in your prayers, it would be more than a blessing. Moreover, I would ask you to pray for us, those of us on the team experiencing intense spiritual warfare since coming home. Many of us feel like we are still in Haiti, part of our heart is still there - and may always will be. Please pray for God to pave the way for us to go back should it be His will, and to give us wisdom and direction on how we can better serve Him each time we are there. Finally, I ask that you pray for Haiti. I ask that you pray about going to Haiti yourself, to hold a child, to give a child his/her first toy, to give a desperate mother a bag of food, to pray with a family. I ask you to drop to your knees for Haiti, for these people, they are people just like you and me. They are our brothers and sisters, and let's stand in the gap for them.

Thank you for taking this journey with us! You are a blessing beyond words can say! The power of prayer is not in the one who prays, but in the One who hears you. Love you much!

In Him,
Kristina