The conference center is complete!! The dedication service was Easter Sunday. What a wonderful celebration. Worship, special singing groups, preaching and after all that there was a baptism service for 13 people. Then everyone (350-400 people) were fed a meal of rice/beans, turkey and a soft drink.
The work going on here, was happening 2 1/2 days before Easter Sunday!! So many hands worked together to complete everything.
We spent a week in Mayette with a 4 member team in for surgeries and medical clinic. These clinics are always very busy, challenging but rewarding. For the first time this year we had 2 surgeons, instead of one. We had a nurse, and a nursing student.
In 4 days there were 24 hernia surgeries, 14 cysts and 187 medical patients treated!
We praise God for His goodness and for the success in each patient.
One of the patients made a commitment to return to the Lord.
Each evening we made post surgery rounds, by walking throught the village finding patients in many houses. Of course, we did “lose” a patient by not knowing which house he was in. ha. But usually we are told which house each patient is in. It is so wonderful to see the sacrifice the village folk make to house these surgery patients. Most of them lay on grass mats, not a bed.
Many walked for many miles to come to the clinic. But after a few days of surgery, the get on a donkey and begin the trek back home. It is always great news when we hear that all the patients have returned home, as this means they are doing very well.
Just a thought on forgiveness. Forgiveness is for the offended, not so much for the offender. Let me explain…I don’t need to wait to forgive until the person who offended me asks for it.
I need to forgive that person…this will free me from passing judgement, condemnation on the person.
Forgiveness will release bitterness toward others. Forgiveness will bring love.
Oh, does it happen immediately?? Maybe not, 70×7, speak the words, “I forgive you”. Freedom will come.
Then when trust comes, a relationship can be restored, or started. Trust is essential for a relationship. Perhaps even forgiveness will not bring trust, but at least, you are free!!
God’s love happens if I respond or not…shouldn’t we work on that? So difficult to break the walls that we have built around us so that we won’t be hurt again.
Let’s challenge ourselves to truly love and forgive!
One month is past in 2009 already. Oh my!! and what has been accomplished. I find I often am so involved in the urgent, I have little time for the important things.
Not so many days ago, I was feeling a bit “funny” because I realized I had worked myself out of a job in Mayette. I mean what I was usually involved in, will now be done by natives. But then I recognized this as a true blessing. After all, did I always want Haitians dependant on us. Of course not!! From the beginning, we wanted to teach and make disciples. That is what Jesus did. He walked and talked the ministry. From there the disciples were called to go. They were the ones who planted “churches” everywhere. So now I know I can rest assured that one part of our goal has been accomplished. We will have a clinic in Mayette. We have a native nurse. We also have a native doctor who will come a couple days of the week to help.
Patrick has been teaching for years. Now some students are the teachers and pastors!! This is so exciting!! God is so awesome. This is like parenting. Parenting is a difficult job. There is no vacation, no time off. There is not even instant gratification. But we keep going, loving and being an example. We depend on God to bring the fruit. Just like in parenting, children can go astray for a time. So it is with making disciples, students walk away, some become rebellious. It hurts. It is painful to see this happen. But we keep on loving, hoping and caring. But there are those who are sincere and become great leaders and workers in the church.
A well known verse Philippians 3:13-14 “But one thing I do: Forgettting what is behind and straining towrd what is ahead. Ipress on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
That is the key…don’t look at what could have been but what will be!!
God be with each of you!!
The new year has just started, and already I get up feeling the weight of the world on my shoulders. So just because it 2009, doesn’t mean my situation has changed or my emotions.
Oh those emotions!! They come from my perception of things, or people and what I expect from them. When I have expectations, I set myself up for an emotional upheaval when people don’t react or “behave” the way “I” think they should.
Oh my, would that this year I would let God do the work in the hearts of men and myself and I just love in action, without an agenda. Is it possible to love unconditionally?? I’m so glad my Jesus did and does.
How are you celebrating NYE?
Today I found a quote by Corrie ten Boon “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.”
I really needed to read that going into a New Year. So true. When we look around the World and the news, it would be easy to have fear of the future. But we have a God that already knows the end of 2009!! YES!! He will lead us and take us in His path if we trust Him.
I believe every country has their way of celebrating NYE and Haiti does too. There are parties, church services, fireworks, etc. January 1 is Independence Day. That is when everyone eats Pumpkin soup all day. A custom that started back in the slavery days. This was their freedom!! Then on January 2 is family day. That is when everyone has a big goat dinner, etc. This year will be so different for so many families. They lost their goats and animals in the hurricane. Our cook told me today that the church she attends usually has a big meal after the midnight service, but this year there was no money to buy the food.
There is another famous custom here. People clean their house (like “spring cleaning” in the states). They don’t want to take the house dirt into the new year. They also take a bath shortly before midnight, so their bodies are clean too. Not a bad idea.
But they forget about their hearts. They carry “dirt” for generations. The hatred, unforgiveness, deceitfulness that goes on in villages is unbelievable. If only they would understand how much more important it would be to go into the new year with a clean heart.
How much “dirt” am I carrying into 2009??
Wow, the time has slipped away. I thought I was keeping up with this, and suddenly Christmas is past and the New Year approaching.
I have been thinking a lot this Christmas. I am so glad I don’t need to wait for December 25 to celebrate Jesus!! I really need Him every day!! And to be honest, as I look around at “how” Christmas is celebrated, I get a bit disgruntled. I think it seems so artificial. I’m not trying to be a scrooge…well maybe I am..
But we did do something really fun. Someone sent a generous gift to buy clothes and shoes for Hurricane victim children. So Patrick went to the marche and bought LOTS of used clothes. We organized them and put them in boxes. Now the vehicle is loaded totally with boxes. Patrick leaves for the village tomorrow. There are enough boxes for 5 different villages. How exciting is that!! Now that is Christmas!
Hope you had a great Christmas!
Patrick is in Mayette again. So much going on…Sunday afternoon there was graduation for 15 Bible School students. He went with a man from the city to install windows in the clinic and upstairs cabin. Today there are meetings. And of course, there is always the masons working on the clinic. Praying that is completed by March 1, 2009. Oh, and did I mention, he picked up the deaf girls from boarding school on his way out. They are out for Christmas vacation. Sounds simple enough, except for there are always glitches. This time he waited for an hour on the girls to get down from the mountain to meet him. Well, that was ok, better than driving all the way up the mountain to the school.
This was all his plans, but I haven’t heard from him since Saturday. But know he is fine. Barb received 600 hygiene packs to be distributed next trip out. The next trip will also have a teachers’ seminar. Oh there is always something to do.
Following are some photos from the hurricane repairs. A couple of the road repairs, and a couple of the food distribution.
Many people have asked to describe a normal day in Haiti. First of all, “normal” is compared with what? Is a normal day, when you have many interruptions and by the end of the day, nothing on my list has been completed? Or is normal, having a list, no interruptions and accomplishing a few things?
I’m more acquainted with the first “normal”!! Today was one of those days. First, training someone from 9:00 am – 12:00 noon. But in that time, many phone calls, people at the gate needing something, etc. By noon, I had probably made 12 trips up and down the 15 steps, from office to first floor. Yea!! my daily exercise. No need for a gym. haha
Then, of course, at noon, when I go out to open the gate for a friend to leave, I find someone sweeping our “yard” (a process so normal here, but un-heard-of in the States). I didn’t know the man. He assured me Pastor Patrick told him to come work. This wasn’t true. Oh dear, now what…he finished the job and left.
More phone calls, the mechanic is here, and needs me. The phone rings…our son needs to know how long to cook a turkey.
The end of the day, training started (that was on my list) and maybe 12 letters translated. Yes, that is it!! Oh my, the day was sooooooooo normal. Actually I felt right at home with this type of schedule.
So, if you had a day with many interruptions, and your list not completed, remember there are others on the same schedule!! Isn’t it great to feel normal??
And the best part is, God is right here with us, He doesn’t check out when things get a bit out of hand. He just knows, He isn’t giving us more than we can handle.
Oh did I mention, Patrick is in the village having his own “normal” day.
Hope your day was great.
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