Wow. I'm not even sure what to write. I sat down a few days ago and wrote what I thought was going to be a blog entry. But then I realized that it was such a small part of what has happened this past week, I wanted to share more . . . So, this is a condensed version of how God showed up for us during the past six days.
First off, a bit of logistical info: Josh and I were in charge of a group of 18 adults. We paired up with Pastor Noel, who is a new contact with AIM. He and his wife and kids live in a small compound that serves as a church/orphanage/school. His house was destroyed in the earthquake, and the main building was damaged upstairs where the girls were. But God protected them all. Since the earthquake, Pastor Noel and his family have been living in a tent/shack so 22 orphan girls could sleep inside.
Here's what we saw God do:
One: The team that came brought $4,000US with them. They thought they were coming to build a roof. Instead, within hours of their arrival, Pastor Noel's tent/shack had been torn down. Over the next few days, they dug a foundation, mixed concrete, moved piles of rock, and cut rebar. The cost for one entire week of construction? Exactly $4,000.
Two: During our first ATL (Ask The Lord), we sat the team down and asked them to pray about what God had for us to do next. He speaks in pictures, verses, songs, directions, and lots of other ways. We spent some time in intentional listening, then asked everyone what they got. The first three or four people all had the same idea: water, ocean, rocks, wall. Which reminded us of the beach we've visited several times here. Then one of the ladies said "baptism." Which reminded us of a woman named Gerlyn whom the staff met several weeks ago. She had a cyst in her chest, the staff prayed, and when she went to the doctor four days ago, the cyst was gone. This woman wanted to be baptized. So, we gathered everyone, set out for the beach, and baptized Gerlyn. Ten other youth participants stepped forward to be baptized too. To God be the glory.
Three: We are blessed by our translators. This week, we served with Pierre, Samuel, Zachary, and Vladimere. On our last day here, we wanted to pray for Pierre. He had shared with Josh that God had put on his heart to encourage his church to go into the tent cities and help serve the people there by giving them permanent homes. Pierre is Haitian. He is a pastor who doesn't get paid. His congregation is made up of other Haitians. They are reaching out in the world God has set them in. We prayed for Pierre. We prayed for Vladimere and Zachary and Samuel. And then God told us to wash their feet. He gave us a picture of these strong men of God answering the call of the King to be warriors for the Kingdom. And after that picture, the example of Jesus, the night before He died, washing His disciple's feet. So, we washed our translator's feet. We prayed for them. They prayed for us. We worshiped together. God showed us two hands, one white, one black, clasped together, fingers intertwined. And the hand of God covering them both. We are no longer American and Haitian here. We are no longer foreigners and nationals. We are all children, a family, brothers and sisters under our Father and King.
This week I saw Jesus in the face of a young jobless man named Johnny who lives in a tent with his mother since his two sisters died in the earthquake. I saw Jesus in the pastor who came from America, saw the need, and offered that young man a construction job at Pastor Noel's orphanage. I saw Jesus in the little girl who bestowed upon me ownership of her just-completed VBS art project. I saw Jesus in the little naked boy running down the path outside his tent, giggling. I saw Jesus in the translator who, when asked, said he wasn't bored because he had his Bible with him. I saw Jesus in the trash heap. As one of the participants said: "I thought it couldn't get any worse. And then I looked at the trash heap (which was very large, very smelly, and right behind our house) and saw a little boy walk onto the trash heap to use the bathroom. And I thought, 'It can get worse!' But then God spoke, and He said, 'Jesus is in that trash heap.' " I saw Jesus in the orphan who reached sticky fingers up to my face and gallantly offered me the remains of her half-eaten candy. I saw Jesus in the children dancing in flat-out worship before their Father in Heaven. This week I saw Jesus, and I want nothing else but to see Him more.
