This morning we went back to the kid's house and painted some more. It was a hot morning, but inside the house there was often a breeze. Hannah, Mark, Choupe and I painted together. Since I am not a giant, I took the lower parts of the walls and let the others climb the ladders and make gigantic reaches to get the higher parts.
I stopped about 11:30 a.m. to get ready to go to the church to preach a third time. Danny had gone to Port au Prince, so I had another interpreter, Louisseul. He did a marvelous job! I spoke on the subject of the armor of God (Ephesians 6) and then tied it all back to Saturday's message on being a prayer center. After today's message we had a time of prayer. There were headaches, neck and back pain, bad knees, high blood pressure, persecution and bad eyes. After praying for them I reminded them that I had no power in myself to do anything; that any healing would be coming from God. And I encouraged them to step out in prayer. I was so blessed by the opportunity to minister to this wonderful congregation. May God bless Pastor Etienne and Eglise Assemblee des Croyonts en Jesus Christ!
The trip out to the church was difficult, because many of the roads had deep ruts and holes filled with water and mud. Haitian roads are rough by any measure, and bumpy. There are people walking, riding bikes and motorbikes and animals tied alongside the road or just out in the road. There is every kind of dwelling along the way, from rickety lean-to's to very elegant houses. The poverty of Haiti is evident and the people feel its pressures, but when one gets to meet the people and spend time with them they are full of joy and love.
This is my third trip to Haiti and I am hooked! I look forward to my next visit.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Back in Haiti
Well, I am back in Haiti. Actually, I have been here since June 16. I didn't bring my computer so I have been bumming my son's. And the Internet connection is spotty. And I'm not really a writer. I'd rather pick up the phone than write something.
I'm back at Pwoje Espwa in Les, Cayes. This is a children's home/orphanage/school/farm - lots of things it is, but mainly it is a place where children can come and be loved and taken care of. Right now many of the kids are home for summer vacation. When school is in there are over 600 children here. Now I hear there are 200 - 300.
Fr. Marc Boisvert is the founder and director of Pwoje Espwa. Although Fr. Marc is an Oblate priest and there is a Mass here each Sunday, the program is not specifically Catholic. It is Christian and the Spirit of God is very much here. However, there is room for all who care for kids and want to work for hope in this beautiful country.
I have had the opportunity to minister in a protestant church, Eglise Assemblee des Croyants en Jesus Christ in Guilloux. The pastor there is Gerald Etienne, a lively and committed man of God who clearly loves his people and seeks to extend the love of God in his community. Pastor Etienne works at Pwoje Espwa and I came to meet him through my son. I ministered there last Saturday (6/21) and again today. God willing I will be going back out tomorrow. We have been considering the topic of prayer.
My work at Espwa has been painting one of the houses for the children. There have been setbacks, and the work has gone slowly. I have one more day - tomorrow - to work at this project. One of the older kids - Shupee (sp?) - has been working with me. In fact, Shupee is quite capable of doing the work better than I. I give him great credit.
Haiti is certainly a poor country. It has had a very difficult history including exploitation over the years by so-called first-world countries, including the United States. The Haitian people want a life just like anyone else, and we need to allow them the opportunity. The country is a very beautiful place and the people are beautiful as well. I am so glad that I have had the opportunity to visit these three times and look forward to more visits.
It is late and I am tired. Besides, I really don't write very well. I'll try to do some more when I return home at the end of the week.
God bless Haiti and God bless Pwoje Espwa. (http://freethekids.org)
I'm back at Pwoje Espwa in Les, Cayes. This is a children's home/orphanage/school/farm - lots of things it is, but mainly it is a place where children can come and be loved and taken care of. Right now many of the kids are home for summer vacation. When school is in there are over 600 children here. Now I hear there are 200 - 300.
Fr. Marc Boisvert is the founder and director of Pwoje Espwa. Although Fr. Marc is an Oblate priest and there is a Mass here each Sunday, the program is not specifically Catholic. It is Christian and the Spirit of God is very much here. However, there is room for all who care for kids and want to work for hope in this beautiful country.
I have had the opportunity to minister in a protestant church, Eglise Assemblee des Croyants en Jesus Christ in Guilloux. The pastor there is Gerald Etienne, a lively and committed man of God who clearly loves his people and seeks to extend the love of God in his community. Pastor Etienne works at Pwoje Espwa and I came to meet him through my son. I ministered there last Saturday (6/21) and again today. God willing I will be going back out tomorrow. We have been considering the topic of prayer.
My work at Espwa has been painting one of the houses for the children. There have been setbacks, and the work has gone slowly. I have one more day - tomorrow - to work at this project. One of the older kids - Shupee (sp?) - has been working with me. In fact, Shupee is quite capable of doing the work better than I. I give him great credit.
Haiti is certainly a poor country. It has had a very difficult history including exploitation over the years by so-called first-world countries, including the United States. The Haitian people want a life just like anyone else, and we need to allow them the opportunity. The country is a very beautiful place and the people are beautiful as well. I am so glad that I have had the opportunity to visit these three times and look forward to more visits.
It is late and I am tired. Besides, I really don't write very well. I'll try to do some more when I return home at the end of the week.
God bless Haiti and God bless Pwoje Espwa. (http://freethekids.org)
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