I have had so little news about what is going on in Haiti, and that's the main reason I haven't added anything to the blog in a month. I was so sure when I wrote last that the container was on the way that I'd soon be able to tell you it had arrived. Wrong!
The shipment moved as expected to Port au Prince, and as it neared port, we were pleased to have a highly qualified Haitian volunteer to go to PAP to meet it. That was a month ago, and from the day he arrived he met with absolutely no cooperation from the Haitian Methodist Church! A man on the President's Council was supposed to write a letter releasing the container's contents as humanitarian aide, but he continued to say that he was busy and could not get the letter to the authorities. The result? Our man-on-the-ground is still there and the container has not moved an inch! Meanwhile, people who need the food have not received it. People who need the tents are sleeping outside in the rain. And those of us who raised the one money to buy these supplies and ship them are frustrated.
I'm in Miami as I write, leaving in the morning for PAP, and among other things I hope to speak to the President's representative to see if we cannot get this shipment moved.
My youngest daughter, Patience, went to PAP in March with a medical team in March. I was not surprised that the Haitians won her heart. She was devastated by what she saw, but she was also amazed at the great strength of the people, at their hope and faith, and at their determination to recover from their tragic circumstances. I don't remember seeing Patience so overwhelmed. She has been working in missions for many years, has gone to South America, Africa, Malta, gulf states' hurricane communities. But when she came home this time, she was very emotionally tender!
That brings me to now. I have longed to go back, ever since the earthquake. But I finally determined that it was to satisfy my own needs, that I would probably just be in the way. In recent weeks, however, I began to sense a need to go, and the Lord began to reinforce my desire by little--and sometimes huge--moments of encouragement.
I have talked to my best and most reliable Haitian contact, Pastor Maude Hyppolite, and found that there is food there now and that she could purchase it if she had money. I have some money that our church has raised, and I quickly realized that I can help her by taking the money to her. So I'm on my way now with help. (Transferring money is very difficult and often impossible to ensure that it gets to the right hands.) And God has been encouraging me to believe it is time to go.
A lovely small thing happened this week. Pastor Maude told me that she is going out into the country to take communion to people who can't get to a church. She has no nice way to take these holy elements to the people. She asked if I might find "one of those little cases that hold a communion set." I couldn't find anyone who had one they'd give me, so I called Cokesbury to look for one. They had only one, a very expensive one, but I decided the elements for the Lord's Supper should be appropriately delivered to these hurting Haitians. I bought it. That very day I went home to find a note on my front door, from a woman I met rather casually last week. We had barely talked about Haiti, but she wrote, "Use this check for something needed in Haiti." You guessed it! It was exactly what I needed to pay for the communion set. I cried when I saw the check.
This morning I woke early, lay in the bed and prayed about the day's journey. In the middle of the my prayers, I sensed the Lord's prompting to be still and listen. So I quit talking and listened. The Lord began to encourage me to give a particular sum of money to two specific people. I didn't exactly argue with the Lord, but I did remind him that I didn't have the money, and I wasn't sure how I could do that. Before leaving for Miami, I had to run by my office for something totally unrelated to my prayer. There in my mailbox was a note and a check for exactly the amount of money that the Lord talked to me about this morning, I sat at my desk and wept! I am so ashamed that I am surprised when God does these wonderful things. The Haitians have taught me, "Bondye bon tout ton e tout ton bondye bon." (God is good every day; every day God is good.) They are so right! I have a lot to learn about our wonderful God and the fact that he wants to have an interactive relationship with us.
I've been a little apprehensive about going to PAP without my trusted friend, Montreuil Milord. He has traveled with me every time I have gone, and I feel extremely secure when he is by my side. This time, I am on my own, and though I am not frightened, I know I must make all the decisions on my own. I asked several people to pray that I could be wise in whom I trust to take care of us at the airport. Without knowing my apprehensions, Pastors Maude and Montreiul have taken care of the situation! Maude is sending her personal driver,Immanuel, to pick us up, and Montreuil has called his Police Chief friend who will meet us and take us to Immanuel. Once again, I asked God to lead me to someone I could trust, and these two friends do more than I could ever have asked to ensure our safety.
My new friends John and Jann Petro are traveling with me. I bought myself a little laptop, and I'll post as we go along for the next few days. Maybe with some help, I can even add a picture or two.
Thank you for your continued prayers. Don't stop! Besides the fact that I need your prayers, you get to talk to and listen to the only true God about some very important things.
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