The Kingdom in Haiti part 1

      Riding over the mountains in a hot crowded vehicle with my Haitian guardian angel, Pastor Jean was the beginning of walking into the fire for a deeper experience with God. I guess it really started the day before when my 5:40am flight from Thunder Bay Ontario to Toronto was too late to make the Toronto to Miami connection which also made me miss the Miami to Port Au Prince flight which also made me miss connecting with the team travelling to Jacmel that afternoon. Wondering why I endeavored to make this journey on my own and fighting back tears, I encountered the first guardian angel. He was an Air Canada employee who asked, "Are you a missionary nurse? My boss wants to talk to you." Dreading every step I dregged my feet back to the AIr Canada service desk through the long terminal in Miami, and wondered what was coming next, after the yelling I had faced when the supervisor pointed out that my flights had been booked all wrong. They hadn't allowed time for clearing customs at either end and she had refused to help me.After quite a wait her smiling face informed me that she had to provide me with the best hotel room right at the gate of my 5am departure and vouchers for supper at the best retaurant in the airport. As I walked away, I burst out laughing [out loud] and saying "God you are too crazy!"

     As we approached the city of Jacmel, a large new billboard caught my eye. The words were written in Creole but the reference read Esai 13:6 "Scream in terror, for the Lord's time has arrived- the time for the Almighty to destroy."

     Then came the final leg of the journey, a motorcycle ride with my suitcase to meet the rest of the team in Jacmel.

     Over the next days, I met grim faced Haitian people who had lost hope. A weeping woman who had buried five of her eleven children after the earthquake. Babies with skin infections from head to toe. Distended bellies with worms depleting nourishment leading to malnutrition. A woman bound by voodoo, believing that she was impregnated two years ago by a demon, still waiting to give birth. During prayer, she leapt over the ledge of the tent to throw up and then began perspiring and foaming at the mouth. There were women fearing for their safety living in tents that could easily be comprimised by a machete, children unable to sleep since living through the terrifying experience of an earthquake, girls shivering from malaria. Poverty, illness, starvation all leading to overwhelming despair. At night the Carnival gave another picture: throbbing music, loud shouting, dancing and sreaming filled the darkness into the wee hours.

     But then came evidence of the Kingdom of God in Haiti. Loving hands touching ill bodies with prayer, watching the blind get sight, the lame walk, the deaf hear and blurry eyes become clear through donated glasses. Blessings sent from God through antibiotics, vitamins and a ton of deworming medication. Eager hands clutching bags of gleaned and dried apples. Competent hands that could stitch up a severe dog bite. Bubbles blown, balls tossed, clothes, tooth brushes, toys [madam, ma-chine!!] all given in the name of Jesus. Heavy nursing bags dragged up and down several flights of stairs daily, team members working through their own sickness and compromising safety for the sake of others all spoke of and to God's glory. Riding on trucks with leaking gas lines[hop on and go before we run out of gas!], bald tires and smelly brakes, crossing rivers to drive up and DOWN mountains [let's talk about restaurants in New York] all spoke of miracles. Hands gratefully grasping a single slice of bread with peanut butter and a piece of banana all because Jesus came to their tent city that day. Watching a team mate weep and hug a girl who had probably never been cared for in her whole life and a pastor joyfully welcome her and her tiny baby into his one room home to join his family and the family of God.

     At night there was also another picture of team members empowered to command healing and leading people into new life filled with hope.The vibrant music of the Haitian team brought crowds of people to sing, dance and hear the gospel of Jesus, proclaimed with faith and joy.

     The time for screaming in terror has to end as Jesus is in Haiti to bring good news to the poor, comfort the broken-hearted and free prisoners and captives. [see Isaiah 61] " The Sovereign Lord will show his justice to the nations of the world."

     My experiences of walking into this fire with God has altered something so profoundly and deeply inside that I have yet to put it together in my head. A few days ago, our seventeen-year-old son told me that he knows I miss Haiti because I haven't been the same since. He said he thinks I want him to get on with his life so his dad and I can move to Haiti as soon as we can. To be honest that did not enter my mind but I do hope we can continue the journey. In the meantime, everyone I encounter wants to hear more and share in what God is doing in Haiti. Our church let me speak and show pictures for over an hour during Sunday morning worship with several people telling me they felt they were part of the experience. My husband says I was so fired up and hyper that he was sitting on the edge of his seat with tears in his eyes.[after hearing and seeing it a half dozen times before].

     God is so good. Thank you, thank you, thank you for this amazing experience with Impact Nations. You are all awesome.