Well, today is the final day in Haiti for our team this time around. It feels like we have been here a long time, but it also feels like we just got here. I am surprised by how comfortable I am here. I have fallen in love with this country and the people here. I believe others in our team have as well. I can't possibly write words to explain the experience we have had this week and the impact it has had on our lives. My prayer is that we will all return to KY forever changed by our experiences here. That we may never forget what we have seen and what we have learned. That we will stop taking so many things for granted in America. We have far too much that we don't need while other people in this world don't have the necessities they need to survive. Truth be told I am sad to be going home. I don't want to go back to what we have after seeing what so many need now. I have made it through this trip without being too emotional - I have really just jumped in and done what has been needed. I know that once I am back home and all of this really hits me, the emotions will absolutely come. I have never felt this close to God and felt as though so many things in my life make sense. I have a very large story about some things that happened personally for me this week, but I cannot get into those details in the blog - it will take some time to write it all down. I can say, however, that I have been blessed in mighty ways this week.
This morning Brother Joe and I went to Pastor Odvin's church for the 6 am service. I spoke to the church congregation about something big God has laid on my heart. I have never been so nervous, but God gave me strength and gave me words when the time came to stand. When we got back to the House, we met up with the other members of the team and split into groups to go to other morning church services. I went back out with Brother Joe to Eglise Evangelic (Silo) Church. This has by far been my favorite church this week. I have felt God's presence so strongly in that church. And today I was able to make a special connection to a number of ladies from this church this morning. We exchanged phone numbers and emails (only a few had email addresses), and will stay in touch about ministry work we are planning to do together (again, long story).
We were able to calculate the numbers for the end of the week's activities. It is truly amazing to see how strong God is moving here. Our team (including those back home) has led 126 men, women, and children to Christ this week! We have seen 194 others make other decisions/rededications. We have had around 2,657 in attendance throughout the week. How awesome! This evening we will be staying in and having our own small service after dinner and will spend time sharing with each other about what we have experienced this week. God has been so good and so faithful.
We are looking forward to getting back and seeing our families and friends, and to having worship back at UBC on Sunday with our church family. We may post more tonight, but for now we will sign off. May God bless your evening!
Patricia
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Day 6
Today's agenda was different than what we have had so far on this trip. We finished VBS yesterday so there were no churches to go to this morning. Instead, after upper room and breakfast we loaded up the bus and took our groceries and other items to the children's home. The trip there was stinky - as we had to ride in the back of the bus with a couple of cases of stinky dried fish. In 100+ degree weather the smell can be quite overwhelming, and attracts flies. At the children's home we planted some trees; sorted through boxes of donations of toys, crafts, and other materials; worked on cleaning up the dust in the library and rearranging bookcases to make room for more books; and worked on Miss Sherrie's computer to make sure she had some security on her Internet connection (Sherrie is the person who oversees the children's home). It was hot!! But what a blessing to know we could help them. I just wish we had more time to spend on doing things they need done.
We came back to the House and rested for a short while, then headed out for a drive and to a local market. This was a big treat for us and we got to see downtown Port au Prince. This place is truly heartbreaking. If you don't know, there are really no white people here. We have driven all over this city and have seen no white people other than other mission teams staying here at the House with us or at Miss Sherrie's school. Haitians assume that Americans have money and they love it when you do anything in public so they can get close to you. When we stop at red lights we have women and children coming up to the windows begging for food, water, and money. Unfortunately we cannot give them anything. If you give anything to 1 you end up with a mob and things get out of hand. This part just kills your soul. You want so much to help them and you feel so helpless. We stopped at the palace, which had been destroyed by the earthquake. Some of us got off of the bus to take a few pictures and within seconds we were surrounded by Haitians who wanted to sell us things. After only a few minutes we got back on the bus. As we prepared to pull away a couple of ladies who looked as though they were starving came up to the windows and begged for money. Again, heaatbreaking. The worst part was that directly across the street was 'tent city' where more than 2,800 Haitians are homeless living in tents made of poles and tarps. This is not the only place here where tents are found. They are everywhere. After getting back on the bus, we stopped at a local market to buy some souviners. Almost everyone got off the bus to look around, but all were a little cautious of the circumstances. We stayed together in a group and the local Haitians - pastors and translators - that are working with us stayed with us and made sure we moved along. That was great because the merchants all came at us with their items as soon as we got off the bus. For so many here what they sell in the market is what they live on. We got some things to take back home and got back on the bus.
We came back to the house and sat around this evening which has been so nice. Pastor Kevin, Arnie, and Brother Joe went out to church this evening and Brother Joe preached. Fifteen (15) people gave their lives to the Lord tonight, 6 rededicated their lives, and 130 were in attendance. This week we have seen (so far) 110 saved and 182 other decisions!!!!!! Praise God!!!!!!
There is no infrastructure here. Roads are horrible and there is no trash collection so trash is everywhere. To attempt to get rid of some of it the Haitians burn the trash and this is a smell that is almost always present. Drinking water is a prized possession and we have witnessed people in their desperation for water. On the way to church one night I saw an older kid filling an empty soda bottle with water out of a ditch filled with garbage. Even today at the childrens home as we were wiping down shelves - some of the children were trying to drink the water in the buckets, which was full of concrete dust and other debris. Water is something we take for granted everyday in America. Think about that the next time you turn on the water and thank God that you have it!
Tomorrow we have church in the morning at some local churches and have church here at the House tomorrow night. In between we will be packing and preparing to leave early Monday morning. We will post tomorrow to let you know about our day. Have a great night and God bless!!!
Patricia
We came back to the House and rested for a short while, then headed out for a drive and to a local market. This was a big treat for us and we got to see downtown Port au Prince. This place is truly heartbreaking. If you don't know, there are really no white people here. We have driven all over this city and have seen no white people other than other mission teams staying here at the House with us or at Miss Sherrie's school. Haitians assume that Americans have money and they love it when you do anything in public so they can get close to you. When we stop at red lights we have women and children coming up to the windows begging for food, water, and money. Unfortunately we cannot give them anything. If you give anything to 1 you end up with a mob and things get out of hand. This part just kills your soul. You want so much to help them and you feel so helpless. We stopped at the palace, which had been destroyed by the earthquake. Some of us got off of the bus to take a few pictures and within seconds we were surrounded by Haitians who wanted to sell us things. After only a few minutes we got back on the bus. As we prepared to pull away a couple of ladies who looked as though they were starving came up to the windows and begged for money. Again, heaatbreaking. The worst part was that directly across the street was 'tent city' where more than 2,800 Haitians are homeless living in tents made of poles and tarps. This is not the only place here where tents are found. They are everywhere. After getting back on the bus, we stopped at a local market to buy some souviners. Almost everyone got off the bus to look around, but all were a little cautious of the circumstances. We stayed together in a group and the local Haitians - pastors and translators - that are working with us stayed with us and made sure we moved along. That was great because the merchants all came at us with their items as soon as we got off the bus. For so many here what they sell in the market is what they live on. We got some things to take back home and got back on the bus.
We came back to the house and sat around this evening which has been so nice. Pastor Kevin, Arnie, and Brother Joe went out to church this evening and Brother Joe preached. Fifteen (15) people gave their lives to the Lord tonight, 6 rededicated their lives, and 130 were in attendance. This week we have seen (so far) 110 saved and 182 other decisions!!!!!! Praise God!!!!!!
There is no infrastructure here. Roads are horrible and there is no trash collection so trash is everywhere. To attempt to get rid of some of it the Haitians burn the trash and this is a smell that is almost always present. Drinking water is a prized possession and we have witnessed people in their desperation for water. On the way to church one night I saw an older kid filling an empty soda bottle with water out of a ditch filled with garbage. Even today at the childrens home as we were wiping down shelves - some of the children were trying to drink the water in the buckets, which was full of concrete dust and other debris. Water is something we take for granted everyday in America. Think about that the next time you turn on the water and thank God that you have it!
Tomorrow we have church in the morning at some local churches and have church here at the House tomorrow night. In between we will be packing and preparing to leave early Monday morning. We will post tomorrow to let you know about our day. Have a great night and God bless!!!
Patricia
Friday, July 22, 2011
Day 5
Greetings from Haiti! We are winding down day 5 of our trip with 2 more to go in country. We will leave early Monday to fight the chaos at the airport and are scheduled to arrive in New York around 6 pm Monday evening. Our flight to Cincinnati leaves early Tuesday morning out of New York, but thanks to some wonderful soul who donated 2 hotel rooms our team will have beds to sleep on and showers with hot water Monday night! This reminds me of a very important point that Sam made this morning during upper room. Everything that has happened, and continues to happen on this trip is to God's glory, but it is a team effort. Everyone back home who has prayed for this team and this trip, everyone who gave any love offerings to cover some of our expenses, those who helped us prepare and pack for our trip, those who are caring for our children so we could come, those in our workplaces who are carrying some extra weight this week in our absences, and those who are helping us here with transportation, translation, and meals have been and continue to be a critical part of this team. We thank God for you! Every celebration we have in our team here is a celebration you should also feel part of. We could not be here ministering to these wonderful people without your love and support.
Ryan led upper room this morning and we talked about Psalm 19:1; Psalm 20; and Hebrews 11:1, 6. We all have such amazing opportunities to plant seeds in the lives of others, and we will never know this side of heaven how much influence we have had on the lives of others. But we know we are called to be the hands and feet of Christ on this earth. After morning devotion and breakfast we headed out for our last morning of VBS. We went out in 2 teams this morning to two different churches. We did skits of Bible stories, played jump rope, made salvation bracelets, and just loved on the kids. What an amazing end to VBS - between the two churches our team led 30 children to Christ today!
After getting back from an awesome VBS experience we all went together with Brother Joe and some of the local pastors to the market to buy groceries from the children's home. I was given the grocery list and the task of taking care of the shopping. Brother Joe told me that if I was going to be doing a ministry here I needed to learn how to do this type of shopping (long story for another time). It was interesting to do and eye opening at how expensive things are here! They have a lot of the same foods and brands we do, but the prices are much higher. Workers from the supermarket helped us load the groceries onto the bus. Brother Joe gave them some money as a tip to divide between them. A man who held the door open on the back of the bus but just stood there was mad because he didn't get a tip. He didn't even work at the market. He was yelling and screaming and we thought it was going to get violent, but we were able to get out of the situation and move on. We didn't have time to deliver the groceries to the children's home this afternoon so we had to unload the groceries here at the House and we will take them over there tomorrow.
Tonight we went to four churches for revival services. For those keeping track, after the services tonight so far this week we have had 1,797 in attendance in evening services, 95 individuals saved (in both VBS and revival services), and 176 other decisions/recommitments. How awesome is that?! Tomorrow will bring a change of pace and schedule as we are finished with VBS. We are growing more tired and are missing our families. God has been here in such a mighty way this week. He has helped us keep our eyes fixed on the work He called us here to do.
More tomorrow. Good night and God bless!
Patricia
Ryan led upper room this morning and we talked about Psalm 19:1; Psalm 20; and Hebrews 11:1, 6. We all have such amazing opportunities to plant seeds in the lives of others, and we will never know this side of heaven how much influence we have had on the lives of others. But we know we are called to be the hands and feet of Christ on this earth. After morning devotion and breakfast we headed out for our last morning of VBS. We went out in 2 teams this morning to two different churches. We did skits of Bible stories, played jump rope, made salvation bracelets, and just loved on the kids. What an amazing end to VBS - between the two churches our team led 30 children to Christ today!
After getting back from an awesome VBS experience we all went together with Brother Joe and some of the local pastors to the market to buy groceries from the children's home. I was given the grocery list and the task of taking care of the shopping. Brother Joe told me that if I was going to be doing a ministry here I needed to learn how to do this type of shopping (long story for another time). It was interesting to do and eye opening at how expensive things are here! They have a lot of the same foods and brands we do, but the prices are much higher. Workers from the supermarket helped us load the groceries onto the bus. Brother Joe gave them some money as a tip to divide between them. A man who held the door open on the back of the bus but just stood there was mad because he didn't get a tip. He didn't even work at the market. He was yelling and screaming and we thought it was going to get violent, but we were able to get out of the situation and move on. We didn't have time to deliver the groceries to the children's home this afternoon so we had to unload the groceries here at the House and we will take them over there tomorrow.
Tonight we went to four churches for revival services. For those keeping track, after the services tonight so far this week we have had 1,797 in attendance in evening services, 95 individuals saved (in both VBS and revival services), and 176 other decisions/recommitments. How awesome is that?! Tomorrow will bring a change of pace and schedule as we are finished with VBS. We are growing more tired and are missing our families. God has been here in such a mighty way this week. He has helped us keep our eyes fixed on the work He called us here to do.
More tomorrow. Good night and God bless!
Patricia
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Day 4: Part 2
There really aren't words to explain tonight...everyone is sitting around sharing the events of the four revivals we were part of tonight. We all feel so very blessed. Sam preached at Black Mountain tonight (he loves it there)! Aaron went with Sam as team 1. Brother Joe, Abby and Kaitlyn were team 2; Arnie, Samantha, and Janice were team 3; and Pastor Kevin, Patricia, and Ryan were team 4. Personally I have never experienced anything like the church our team went to tonight. This church was enclosed by partial concrete walls that were built recently. There was tin roofing over 1/2 of the building, but down the center the roof opening was draped with ragged tarps and you could look up and see out into the dark night sky. This church is being rebuilt after it collapsed during the earthquake. The pastor's wife and two other church members were killed when the building collapsed. I have never felt God so present in a service as I did tonight. There we were, far away from home, in a building with no doors, no windows, a partial roof, no musical instruments, in a room full of Haitians who didn't speak our language. I just sat and thought about how small I felt in that building, realizing that in the big scheme of life we are truly insignificant. At the same time it is such a blessing to be part of God's master plan. We are all overwhelmed by the amazing faith these people show in God and the joy and hope they cling to everyday in the midst of their circumstances. Another thought I had was the evidence of the strong faith our team has, individually and collectively, in God. If we were short on faith we would be in such a different place right now. We would be weary and would be ready to go home and would be tired of what we are doing and would want a break. You don't see those things in our group. Each day, as our bodies get more tired our faith grows stronger. We sat here tonight in the highest spirits we have had so far. We hugged one another when we got 'home', and we laughed hard together. We celebrated the work God has done tonight. In the four services this evening, total attendance was 480, 12 individuals were saved, and 22 individuals recommitted their lives or made other decisions. The total of what we have witnessed so far this week: 1,455 in attendance, 55 saved, and 167 other decisions. How AWESOME it has been to witness God's work here! We are all falling in love with Haiti and the people here. While we miss our families and friends and look forward to seeing everyone, we will miss this place when we leave. Many are already speaking of their plans to return. Haiti will stay in our hearts forever!
It is getting late and the cold showers are calling. Time to get ready for some rest as 6 am comes early around here! Good night and God bless!
Patricia
It is getting late and the cold showers are calling. Time to get ready for some rest as 6 am comes early around here! Good night and God bless!
Patricia
Day 4 - Thursday: Part 1
Pase bon journe (good afternoon)from Haiti!
Wow, what a day so far...let's begin with this morning. Janice led the group in devotional for upper room. She talked about our salvation and how important it is to understand when you are truly saved. She spoke about the fact that we change uniforms when we are saved, we are transformed and put on a common 'spiritual' uniform. It has been said that we will be the only Bible some people will ever read. We discussed the verses Psalm 27; Romans 10:4; James 1:21; Titus 2:12; and Romans 3:23. After devotional and breakfast we headed in three teams to chuches for VBS. Two of our teams went to new churches we hadn't been to before and Pastor Kevin and Sam went back to a church we had been to the previous two days. There were some challenges with one team as the four of us in the team found ourselves in a chuch with 140+ children, and for a period of time, no one that could speak English. We attempted to pass out materials in small groups and have 'centers' with different things for the kids to do. However, as soon as the chldren started realizing we were making bracelets everyone wanted one and things quickly got out of hand. We realized some important lessons today about differences in our cultures. We are all born with an instinct for survival. Some of us have a heightened since of this instinct. Our group was not prepared for the reaction that the 140+ children had when faced with the realization that we had brought 'gifts' for them. They were each determined that they would get their bracelet, and to do so meant they had to get ahead and get past the others and be the most aggressive. This may sound bad, and you may read this and think - oh goodness - but let me tell you about the humanity in the madness. I was walking across the front of the room and a bag of white beads came open in my hands and spilled over the floor. You would have thought I had spilled food on the floor. The children dove to the floor on their knees and faces grabbing the beads. I made the assumption that they would stick them in their pockets and keep them. Instead, they fell over one another trying to give me the beads back. How wrong was I?...inherent in these children, though sometimes out of hand, is a spirit of such longing and hope. They may look different than us, and their behaviors may be different but much of our differences come from our circumstances. Inside we are all equally equipped with the love of our Father and the ability to show it to others.
I would like to tell you about what happened at one of the other churches our teams were at this morning...Pastor Kevin and Sam went back to a church we had been to for the past two days, even though the pastors here had made arrangements for us to go in two teams to two new churches. Pastor Kevin and Arnie both felt like we needed to continue working with the children at Black Mountain since we had already been there two days this week. And once again we were reminded there is a reason for everything. Though men had created a schedule, God had other plans and our team was receptive to where God was leading. The children had gotten to know our team at Black Mountain and were getting comfortable with them. Today while Kevin and Sam were at Black Mountain spending day 3 with the children, they were able to lead 21 children to Christ in prayer!!!! How awesome is that!!!!!!!
We were originally going back to the children's home/school today, but our ride didn't show up (you never know what is going to happen around here). So, we are hanging out here for a bit until time to clean up for dinner and church. Spirits are good however! Some of us are sitting here in the living room-like area hanging out. Everyone has been talking and cutting up. Sam brought out a guitar, Ryan found an empty water jug to use as a drum, and they played a song with made-up, goofy lyrics that had everyone laughing and having a good time. I believe God knew our team needed some rest today and He has provided us with a couple of hours to unwind and relax before round 2 tonight.
I will try to provide another update tonight once we are back from the revivals. We pray you have a blessed evening! Much love....TEAM UBC!!!!
Patricia
Wow, what a day so far...let's begin with this morning. Janice led the group in devotional for upper room. She talked about our salvation and how important it is to understand when you are truly saved. She spoke about the fact that we change uniforms when we are saved, we are transformed and put on a common 'spiritual' uniform. It has been said that we will be the only Bible some people will ever read. We discussed the verses Psalm 27; Romans 10:4; James 1:21; Titus 2:12; and Romans 3:23. After devotional and breakfast we headed in three teams to chuches for VBS. Two of our teams went to new churches we hadn't been to before and Pastor Kevin and Sam went back to a church we had been to the previous two days. There were some challenges with one team as the four of us in the team found ourselves in a chuch with 140+ children, and for a period of time, no one that could speak English. We attempted to pass out materials in small groups and have 'centers' with different things for the kids to do. However, as soon as the chldren started realizing we were making bracelets everyone wanted one and things quickly got out of hand. We realized some important lessons today about differences in our cultures. We are all born with an instinct for survival. Some of us have a heightened since of this instinct. Our group was not prepared for the reaction that the 140+ children had when faced with the realization that we had brought 'gifts' for them. They were each determined that they would get their bracelet, and to do so meant they had to get ahead and get past the others and be the most aggressive. This may sound bad, and you may read this and think - oh goodness - but let me tell you about the humanity in the madness. I was walking across the front of the room and a bag of white beads came open in my hands and spilled over the floor. You would have thought I had spilled food on the floor. The children dove to the floor on their knees and faces grabbing the beads. I made the assumption that they would stick them in their pockets and keep them. Instead, they fell over one another trying to give me the beads back. How wrong was I?...inherent in these children, though sometimes out of hand, is a spirit of such longing and hope. They may look different than us, and their behaviors may be different but much of our differences come from our circumstances. Inside we are all equally equipped with the love of our Father and the ability to show it to others.
I would like to tell you about what happened at one of the other churches our teams were at this morning...Pastor Kevin and Sam went back to a church we had been to for the past two days, even though the pastors here had made arrangements for us to go in two teams to two new churches. Pastor Kevin and Arnie both felt like we needed to continue working with the children at Black Mountain since we had already been there two days this week. And once again we were reminded there is a reason for everything. Though men had created a schedule, God had other plans and our team was receptive to where God was leading. The children had gotten to know our team at Black Mountain and were getting comfortable with them. Today while Kevin and Sam were at Black Mountain spending day 3 with the children, they were able to lead 21 children to Christ in prayer!!!! How awesome is that!!!!!!!
We were originally going back to the children's home/school today, but our ride didn't show up (you never know what is going to happen around here). So, we are hanging out here for a bit until time to clean up for dinner and church. Spirits are good however! Some of us are sitting here in the living room-like area hanging out. Everyone has been talking and cutting up. Sam brought out a guitar, Ryan found an empty water jug to use as a drum, and they played a song with made-up, goofy lyrics that had everyone laughing and having a good time. I believe God knew our team needed some rest today and He has provided us with a couple of hours to unwind and relax before round 2 tonight.
I will try to provide another update tonight once we are back from the revivals. We pray you have a blessed evening! Much love....TEAM UBC!!!!
Patricia
Day 3
Sorry we could not post anything last night. When we got back to the House the Internet connection was so bad there wasn't enough signal to post anything. First, thank you all for your prayers. While we are being blessed more than I can tell you in this post, we need them desperately. And I assure you we can feel your prayers here! God continues to be with us each day, going before us on each trip, and staying with us as we minister to the wonderful people here. So, what happened yesterday? We started off in upper room with worship, singing "How Great is Our God" and "Call to Worship". Then Brother Arnie led us in a time of study on John 6:32-58. This was such a fitting passage for us in this time. I encourage you to read the passage and thing about how it applies to us this week, and how it applies to our church each and every day.
After upper room we split into 2 teams and went back to the same churches we went to the first day we went out. We played with the children and sang songs with them. For our team, we walked into this church where maybe 10 children sat. As we began to sing and play music, children kept coming in. By the time we left we had around 100 children in the room! We left the churches and came back to the House. We grabbed what we could for lunch and headed back out to a school/children's home for part of the afternoon. We learned a great deal about the home and spent time playing ball, reading, and hanging out with the children. We also helped to begin planting some trees and building wooden boxes to place around them. We will be going back this week to help load and transport 20,000 lbs of supplies back to the home. We left the home and came back to the House, quickly cleaned up, grabbed dinner, and headed out in 4 teams to churches for revival services. In those four churches we witnessed 13 people give their lives to Christ and 95 people make rededications or other decisions. If you are keeping count this week, at the end of day 2 in revival services we have seen 21 saved and 135 other decisions. And, overall, the attendance in services over the 2 days has totaled 975!!! We still have 4 church services to go!!! At night we break into teams to go the churches. Last night the teams were: (1) Brother Joe, Patricia, Ryan; (2) Brother Arnie and Aaron; (3) Sam, Abby, and Kaitlyn; (4) Pastor Kevin, Samantha, and Janice. I am so proud of our youth! Sam, Abby, and Kaitlyn (ages 20, 16, and 18 respectively) went on their own to help lead services last night, with Sam preaching!!!
Please continue your prayers. Though this post is about what happened yesterday (Wednesday), as we prepare to go out this morning we are faced with the realization that we are growing increasingly tired. Our days begin at 6 am here with devotional (7 am NKY time), and go until around 10-11 pm as the groups come back in from revival and we spend time in fellowship and sharing in the joy of what God has done that day. Once we are all back and start to wind down from the excitement of the day, we head to our rooms to take cold showers (not hot water here), and write down our thoughts in journals, spend time alone with God in prayer, and attempt to get some much needed rest. I can tell you that the mornings come quickly, the days are long, and our bodies are tired. Some have felt a little 'green' at their stomach, some have swollen feet/legs, some of us are being eaten by mosquitos despite the bug repellant (praise God for malaria medication) and all are tired. But, God is providing in every way. All are pumped up despite the exhaustion and are ready to take on the new day! We love you all very much and are also praying for our families and friends back home. May you have a blessed day today, and may you see an opportunity today to be a blessing to someone else. God bless you!
Patricia
After upper room we split into 2 teams and went back to the same churches we went to the first day we went out. We played with the children and sang songs with them. For our team, we walked into this church where maybe 10 children sat. As we began to sing and play music, children kept coming in. By the time we left we had around 100 children in the room! We left the churches and came back to the House. We grabbed what we could for lunch and headed back out to a school/children's home for part of the afternoon. We learned a great deal about the home and spent time playing ball, reading, and hanging out with the children. We also helped to begin planting some trees and building wooden boxes to place around them. We will be going back this week to help load and transport 20,000 lbs of supplies back to the home. We left the home and came back to the House, quickly cleaned up, grabbed dinner, and headed out in 4 teams to churches for revival services. In those four churches we witnessed 13 people give their lives to Christ and 95 people make rededications or other decisions. If you are keeping count this week, at the end of day 2 in revival services we have seen 21 saved and 135 other decisions. And, overall, the attendance in services over the 2 days has totaled 975!!! We still have 4 church services to go!!! At night we break into teams to go the churches. Last night the teams were: (1) Brother Joe, Patricia, Ryan; (2) Brother Arnie and Aaron; (3) Sam, Abby, and Kaitlyn; (4) Pastor Kevin, Samantha, and Janice. I am so proud of our youth! Sam, Abby, and Kaitlyn (ages 20, 16, and 18 respectively) went on their own to help lead services last night, with Sam preaching!!!
Please continue your prayers. Though this post is about what happened yesterday (Wednesday), as we prepare to go out this morning we are faced with the realization that we are growing increasingly tired. Our days begin at 6 am here with devotional (7 am NKY time), and go until around 10-11 pm as the groups come back in from revival and we spend time in fellowship and sharing in the joy of what God has done that day. Once we are all back and start to wind down from the excitement of the day, we head to our rooms to take cold showers (not hot water here), and write down our thoughts in journals, spend time alone with God in prayer, and attempt to get some much needed rest. I can tell you that the mornings come quickly, the days are long, and our bodies are tired. Some have felt a little 'green' at their stomach, some have swollen feet/legs, some of us are being eaten by mosquitos despite the bug repellant (praise God for malaria medication) and all are tired. But, God is providing in every way. All are pumped up despite the exhaustion and are ready to take on the new day! We love you all very much and are also praying for our families and friends back home. May you have a blessed day today, and may you see an opportunity today to be a blessing to someone else. God bless you!
Patricia
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Day 2 Celebrations
Praise God for a blessed, safe day here in Haiti for the UBC team! This morning we went to 2 churches and helped lead VBS with some amazing kids. Back at the House we unwrapped, stamped, and prepared 240 French Bibles to be given out at local churches this week. Bibles are so precious here and cost Haitians about $20 in US money (or 165 in Haitian dollars). Individuals here would have to save for 2-3 months to be able to afford a Bible. This evening we split into four groups and went to local churches to assist with revival services. The preachers in each group included Pastor K, Pastor A, Brother Joe, and Sam Forman! That's right - Sam preached tonight and he did an awesome job! We are so proud of him!!! Outcomes for the evening church services for the four churches - approximately 535 people in attendance, 8 individuals saved, and 40 rededications!!!!! Praise God!!!!
Today was awesome, worship lasted for hours, fellowship in our team was amazing, and God has been with us and all around us...While we pray that our work here is a blessing to others it is truly us who have been blessed. In churches where walls have crumbed, no air conditioning or padded seats exist, where English is not understood by many, our God is present in a mighty way. The faith and hope that the Haitian people have is contagious! They have such passion and longing in their worship! You can hear them singing well before you arrive at the church, which gave us chill bumps, and they raise their hands and praise our glorious Father with everything they have. What a testament. This trip is in no way a sacrifice to those of us here...it is an HONOR to be the hands of feet of our Savior! God bless and goodnight! More later!
Patricia
Today was awesome, worship lasted for hours, fellowship in our team was amazing, and God has been with us and all around us...While we pray that our work here is a blessing to others it is truly us who have been blessed. In churches where walls have crumbed, no air conditioning or padded seats exist, where English is not understood by many, our God is present in a mighty way. The faith and hope that the Haitian people have is contagious! They have such passion and longing in their worship! You can hear them singing well before you arrive at the church, which gave us chill bumps, and they raise their hands and praise our glorious Father with everything they have. What a testament. This trip is in no way a sacrifice to those of us here...it is an HONOR to be the hands of feet of our Savior! God bless and goodnight! More later!
Patricia
Haiti Day 2
Team UBC arrived in Haiti yesterday afternoon! The airport was quite interesting, but after finally locating all of our luggage we made our way to find our ride. A large white school bus picked us up to bring us to the Florida Baptist House. Interesting sites all around us on the way here...I can't even begin to explain how different this place is from the United States; however, I think I can speak for the group when I say that we have all come to a new realization of just how blessed we are back home. This morning during 'upper room' time before departing for the day we shared in some worship (courtesy of Sam's uke), a message (courtesy of Pastor K), and spent some time in fellowship sharing things that God had been doing so far on our trip. There were several stories of 'God moments' where God orchestrated some amazing occurrences and opportunities. After upper room we split into 2 teams (Pastor K and Pastor A as leads) and went to two churches for Vacation Bible School. Team 1 was Pastor K, Patricia, Sam, Abby, and Kaitlyn. Team 2 was Pastor A, Aaron, Ryan, and Samantha and Janice (two ladies who are from another part of KY and are part of our group. It was amazing to see the children this morning! They were all so happy to see us and so happy to do simple things that our children would take for granted. A good example of this how much the children loved hopscotch and how long it held their attention. They sang lots of songs in Creole for us and our team acted out a skit for them on when Jesus calmed the storm. They loved it! On the way back we stopped at a children's home for a minute to pick something up. There were kids running around and some were saying hello. We sat down in some chairs and there was a little girl behind me. I smiled at her and she put her hands over her face like she was going to cry. I gave her a big hug! She seemed so thankful and surprised that we would give them attention and show them love. Unfortunately we didn't get to stay there long. We are back at the House right now and will head to church this evening for revival. God is at work here in some mighty ways and we are all so blessed to be part of it. He has a perfect plan and we are honored to be His hands and feet! More later! Patricia
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Called to Haiti
Our team leaves for Haiti in 16 days...
As our team prepares our hearts and minds to go to Haiti, there are mixed emotions for us and our families and friends. In the uncertainty of what we will encounter, we trust that the Lord will go before us and will travel with us on this journey. Deuteronomy 31:8 tells us "The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you or forsake you". We are called to a radical life of obedience to do the work the Lord places before us. One of the best verses that speaks to this calling is Matthew 16:24-25, which reads: "If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever loses his life for Me will find it." Can we do it? Can we go against everything our society places value on and follow Christ? Our team has been called to do this...
I recently read the book "Radical" by David Platt. This book is very challenging for a Christian today, but its message is desperately needed. In describing what radical abandonment to Jesus really means, he says, "For the sake of more than a billion people today who have yet to hear the gospel, I want to risk it all. For the sake of twenty-six thousand children who will die today of starvation or a preventable disease, I want to risk it all. For the sake of an increasingly marginalized and relatively ineffective church in our culture, I want to risk it all. For the sake of my life, my family, and the people who surround me, I want to risk it all." If you haven't read this book, I highly recommend it!
Join our team on this journey as we are obedient to what we have been called to do. We will each be forever changed!
Patricia
As our team prepares our hearts and minds to go to Haiti, there are mixed emotions for us and our families and friends. In the uncertainty of what we will encounter, we trust that the Lord will go before us and will travel with us on this journey. Deuteronomy 31:8 tells us "The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you or forsake you". We are called to a radical life of obedience to do the work the Lord places before us. One of the best verses that speaks to this calling is Matthew 16:24-25, which reads: "If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever loses his life for Me will find it." Can we do it? Can we go against everything our society places value on and follow Christ? Our team has been called to do this...
I recently read the book "Radical" by David Platt. This book is very challenging for a Christian today, but its message is desperately needed. In describing what radical abandonment to Jesus really means, he says, "For the sake of more than a billion people today who have yet to hear the gospel, I want to risk it all. For the sake of twenty-six thousand children who will die today of starvation or a preventable disease, I want to risk it all. For the sake of an increasingly marginalized and relatively ineffective church in our culture, I want to risk it all. For the sake of my life, my family, and the people who surround me, I want to risk it all." If you haven't read this book, I highly recommend it!
Join our team on this journey as we are obedient to what we have been called to do. We will each be forever changed!
Patricia
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