Haiti November 1, 2018

Report by Brittany Savage

This week God provided us with enough skill, supplies, and energy to see just under 2000 people. It has been so humbling to see the people as they come through the line with all their children, some traveling by foot down the mountain just to be seen, to obtain simple medications that we have an abundance of in our kitchen cabinet. I have been so in awe of the hope here. I recently read a study that was done on rats testing how long they could swim before they would drown. In the study no rat made it more than ten minutes. Then, changing nothing else about the rats, they began to take them out multiple times within the first 10 minutes. The rats that were taken out in the first 10 minutes were then able to swim for 60 HOURS. What changed? They had hope.

So often in America we put our hope in empty things — our phones, possessions, jobs. Sometimes we even put all our hope in the gifts of God rather than God himself. Like our spouse, our children, our church. But even those beautiful gifts of God will return empty in comparison to the hope of knowing Jesus Christ. They understand that here. Physically they have nothing but they have EVERYTHING. We went to a church up the mountain and worshiped in a way I had never worshiped before. Their church is loosely held together by wood, a tin roof, and tarps. And they pack it full and worship with complete abandon. They prayed scripture together, they danced, they sung before the Lord. Then we rode in the back of a military truck with almost 50 people, everyone skin to skin going up and down steep hills and rocky roads and we continued to worship together. Haitian and American. Black and white. Children of the King. We made a joyful noise together before the Lord.

“For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient but the things that are unseen are eternal.” – 2 Corinthians 4:17-18

We had the opportunity to spend time and hold orphans. We laid hands on people, buildings, churches, medications. We created bonds with each other that will never die. I’ve had a deep love for God’s people restored my heart but more so on this trip I grew closer to my first love. Jesus Christ.

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Report by Cheryl Peters

Always mixed emotions on the last day in Haiti. People I have met from here in Haiti that I have been able to love and ones that we have known from before that we reacquaint with. Familiar team members and new. We are ever changed by these encounters and cherish the times we are able to share together. Pray that these simpler times we do not lose in the busy times back in the States. To remember love is still in our heart that we tend to not be as open with back home, but thrives here. Open our eyes and hearts to see and hear and feel through God’s eyes. There are many sounds over here, but mostly of the living creatures God created, not man made. To just be in awe of God’s wisdom and power. His mercy, thank goodness. The beauty that he gives through his creation if we just be still and breathe it in. If you feel the tug on your heart, don’t ignore it. It is a gift from God. Remember too that missions does not stop when we leave here, but carry it on back in our hometowns. God will provide. Just listen and follow where he leads.