Day 21 - Remind me how fleeting my life is
Psalm 39 - David's prayer to God when he found his heart being proud and his mind drifting away from the present day. Verse 4 - show me lord, my life's end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is. When I am reminded my life is here and then gone, I am humbled and reminded of what is most important. It is the good work of the lord because it is only his work that will be found when the world passes. Through his eyes and by his love I am ready to lay my life down for those that God places in front of me. It is not a matter of an effect I can have in Haiti but the effect God can have in Haiti. When I humbled before the creator and thankful for Him, then I can let go of my ways and walk in his. To him, each person is precious and valued above our own value of ourselves. It is not about the number I touch but is my heart being touched. In Christ, it is not about works or words but about love. If I have healed many, preached often, and prayed powerfully but I have not loved, then I am nothing. When I understand my life is not my own is when I am able to love because I am touched by the hand of love, Jesus Christ.
Day 19:
Dom, Kerby, and myself all went to church service at the rock church and then to their home church. This was my second service at both churches and God revealed more to me through both services. After the second service, Dom and myself went to one of his friends apartment for lunch and fellowship. Her apartment was up on the hill overlooking port-au-prince. We got to eat lunch on the rooftop of the apartment where we got to enjoy the food, view, and pool. I had the privilege of getting to know them well and here about their hearts for Haiti. There were two ladies I spoke with the most, one was from England and the other was from Uganda. Both are in a small group together and God has been healing and restoring all in the group. The lady from England has a heart to do a healing room, coming out of bethel church. This is done in smaller groups and more private settings, like houses. This was very great to hear because one thing I see the churches in Haiti needing, are weekly fellowship meetings outside of Sunday for encouragement, reading the word, and growing in understanding of the power of God. Dom, pastor Day, and myself are planning on going to their small group tonight to see it in action.
Day 20:
We were planning on going to the new church site to care for the people around it and let them know about it but our plans were changed. That morning the tap tap drivers (taxi like trucks) started a two day strike over the cost of gas prices. It is roughly $4.30 a gallon here and they are the poorest country in the world. They had had enough and demanded no driving in the roads for vehicles, to demonstrate to the government they are not going to put up with the high costs. They do this by burning tires in the roads so no one can drive and in certain areas if someone is driving a car they will through rocks and bottles at it. So we were not able to drive anymore and instead dom and I walked about a mile to our last guesthouse and orhpanage to visit our friends there. We got to spend time with everyone and learned more about their walks with god. After visiting we went back to the pastors house to play soccer with the our neighborhood friends. The older ones, 20-25 years old, have a team they play on and made a list for me of equipment they need and I told them I will see what I can do for them. Dom and myself visited Jean-Phillipe at the elite hotel to see how their progress is going on their organization and to see what else they need to get in order for funding. It was a great day despite the issues on the streets.
Day 21:
At midnight the mayor had made a decision on a lower gas price and the streets were much better. We then left in the morning to get to the new church but along the way we had to turn around because they were burning tires in the road again so we couldnt get pass. So we were dropped off at the rock church and began walking back to pastor Day's house. As we were making it back we ran into many friends and sat with them for hours talking. It was amazing to see how the older guys were taking on the responsibilities of the children in the neighbor and trying there best to care for them. They said they have around 30 children they all watch over and care for. Dom and I could tell they truely wanted better for them but they still struggled with directing them and directing themselves. We continued to listened to them and encouraged them by acknowledging their effort. We talked more about gods love and how he can give them the strength and guidance so they don't labor in vain. We explained that they can't be with them all the time so as they continue to care for their immediate needs they also need to care for their eternal needs. Only God can be with them all the time and give them the strength to overcome their circumstances with love. It was an amazing time and one of them said that he sees me as a brother and loves me like his brother. It brought tears to my eyes and said I love him as a brother as well. Just before Dom and I were about to leave, we had one more encounter. A guy walked up with one of our friends and I thought he was a Haitian but he was speaking perfect English. It turned out he was born in the Bahamas and grew up in Miami. He was deported to Haiti in 2011 at the age of 20 years old. He was very friendly and our conversation went straight to God. He started off saying it has been very hard but things are getting better and the only thing he is missing in his life now is God. We talked for an hour and even though he acknowledged that he needs God but he still wasn't ready to receive him. There was still to much of a focus on his works and not on Jesus finished work. We encouraged him to keep seeking and he was Hungary to hear what we had to say. He asked if we would be around because he was really encouraged and would like to see us again. He said he hasn't felt loved and truly felt like he could be with god until today. We told him it is because of the truth and that the fullness of the truth came into the world through Christ to set us free.
I was amazing to hear that of the 5 people we asked today, some Christian and some not, no one had a bible. This is a large reason the Christians here are not walking in the freedom of Christ and by his love for them. If they don't know his word then they can't use it to stay strong and full of life. There was also a perception, whether true or false, from the guys on the street, that the pastors here don't love them. They are the ones that accuse them and don't speak with them. We told them no one is perfect and not to be discouraged by them but be encouraged by God and when they encounter us to know that Jesus's love is real.
Although Dom and I didn't see thousands of people coming together and all coming to Christ, we wouldn't want it another way because it is not about what we get to see but that they got to see Christ through us and their hearts were touched by His love for them because He has touched our hearts.
Day 19:
Dom, Kerby, and myself all went to church service at the rock church and then to their home church. This was my second service at both churches and God revealed more to me through both services. After the second service, Dom and myself went to one of his friends apartment for lunch and fellowship. Her apartment was up on the hill overlooking port-au-prince. We got to eat lunch on the rooftop of the apartment where we got to enjoy the food, view, and pool. I had the privilege of getting to know them well and here about their hearts for Haiti. There were two ladies I spoke with the most, one was from England and the other was from Uganda. Both are in a small group together and God has been healing and restoring all in the group. The lady from England has a heart to do a healing room, coming out of bethel church. This is done in smaller groups and more private settings, like houses. This was very great to hear because one thing I see the churches in Haiti needing, are weekly fellowship meetings outside of Sunday for encouragement, reading the word, and growing in understanding of the power of God. Dom, pastor Day, and myself are planning on going to their small group tonight to see it in action.
Day 20:
We were planning on going to the new church site to care for the people around it and let them know about it but our plans were changed. That morning the tap tap drivers (taxi like trucks) started a two day strike over the cost of gas prices. It is roughly $4.30 a gallon here and they are the poorest country in the world. They had had enough and demanded no driving in the roads for vehicles, to demonstrate to the government they are not going to put up with the high costs. They do this by burning tires in the roads so no one can drive and in certain areas if someone is driving a car they will through rocks and bottles at it. So we were not able to drive anymore and instead dom and I walked about a mile to our last guesthouse and orhpanage to visit our friends there. We got to spend time with everyone and learned more about their walks with god. After visiting we went back to the pastors house to play soccer with the our neighborhood friends. The older ones, 20-25 years old, have a team they play on and made a list for me of equipment they need and I told them I will see what I can do for them. Dom and myself visited Jean-Phillipe at the elite hotel to see how their progress is going on their organization and to see what else they need to get in order for funding. It was a great day despite the issues on the streets.
Day 21:
At midnight the mayor had made a decision on a lower gas price and the streets were much better. We then left in the morning to get to the new church but along the way we had to turn around because they were burning tires in the road again so we couldnt get pass. So we were dropped off at the rock church and began walking back to pastor Day's house. As we were making it back we ran into many friends and sat with them for hours talking. It was amazing to see how the older guys were taking on the responsibilities of the children in the neighbor and trying there best to care for them. They said they have around 30 children they all watch over and care for. Dom and I could tell they truely wanted better for them but they still struggled with directing them and directing themselves. We continued to listened to them and encouraged them by acknowledging their effort. We talked more about gods love and how he can give them the strength and guidance so they don't labor in vain. We explained that they can't be with them all the time so as they continue to care for their immediate needs they also need to care for their eternal needs. Only God can be with them all the time and give them the strength to overcome their circumstances with love. It was an amazing time and one of them said that he sees me as a brother and loves me like his brother. It brought tears to my eyes and said I love him as a brother as well. Just before Dom and I were about to leave, we had one more encounter. A guy walked up with one of our friends and I thought he was a Haitian but he was speaking perfect English. It turned out he was born in the Bahamas and grew up in Miami. He was deported to Haiti in 2011 at the age of 20 years old. He was very friendly and our conversation went straight to God. He started off saying it has been very hard but things are getting better and the only thing he is missing in his life now is God. We talked for an hour and even though he acknowledged that he needs God but he still wasn't ready to receive him. There was still to much of a focus on his works and not on Jesus finished work. We encouraged him to keep seeking and he was Hungary to hear what we had to say. He asked if we would be around because he was really encouraged and would like to see us again. He said he hasn't felt loved and truly felt like he could be with god until today. We told him it is because of the truth and that the fullness of the truth came into the world through Christ to set us free.
I was amazing to hear that of the 5 people we asked today, some Christian and some not, no one had a bible. This is a large reason the Christians here are not walking in the freedom of Christ and by his love for them. If they don't know his word then they can't use it to stay strong and full of life. There was also a perception, whether true or false, from the guys on the street, that the pastors here don't love them. They are the ones that accuse them and don't speak with them. We told them no one is perfect and not to be discouraged by them but be encouraged by God and when they encounter us to know that Jesus's love is real.
Although Dom and I didn't see thousands of people coming together and all coming to Christ, we wouldn't want it another way because it is not about what we get to see but that they got to see Christ through us and their hearts were touched by His love for them because He has touched our hearts.
Missing my brother back here at home. continuing to pray that many are touched by Christ through your visit. We all prayed for you at Bible study tuesday am. We were discussing "Legion " in Mark and all the demons that had possessed him. It reminded me of what is going on in Haiti
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