Day 5 Friday Feb 26

We started the day off at Church On The Rock at 6:00 a.m., a short distance away from our Haiti guesthouse.  This was not like any other church we have been to before. It was a very large open steel building filled with chairs, pews & a large stage up front. The leader (or pastor) was loudly singing and shouting praises(all in Creole) to God while the band rocked the stage!  Haitian adults of all different ages were kneeling & praying silently or walking around with arms raised to God.  The people came & went throughout the hour service inspired and pumped before they began their day. 

We walked back through the neighborhood to our guesthouse for another wonderful breakfast & devotion. The devotion was Exodus 33:14; John 15:4-7 which reminded us that God prepares us for the day that stretches out before us.  God says " I know exactly what this day will contain, where as you have only vague ideas about it.  You would like to see a map, showing all the twists and turns of your journey.  You'd feel more prepared if you could somehow visualize what is on the road ahead.  However, there is a better way to be prepared for whatever you will encounter today; spend quality time with Me.  I will not show you what is on the road ahead, but I will thoroughly equip you for the journey.  My living presence is your companion each step of the way.  Stay in continual communications with me, whispering my name whenever you need to redirect your thoughts.  Thus, you can walk through this day with your focus on me.  My abiding presence is the best road map available." This was very fitting as our day ahead was to visit the h

Home for elderly sick and dying and General Hospital.  Most of us felt unqualified to comfort the needs of the sick and dying adults.  What would we say? we don't even speak their language.  Would they want to be touched? are they in too much pain?  What lies ahead of us??  

We hopped into the tap tap for an hour long hot and dusty ride to the home of the sick and dying adults. (Have we ever mentioned how great our driver is?) The men visited the men and the women visited the women.  Even though we were a little uncomfortable, it was amazing to see the team step up and show compassion through touch.  The patients allowed us into their personal space and it actually did not feel awkward!  They loved having their back, hands, arms, legs and feet rubbed with lotion on their tender skin. Some of the women even enjoyed having their nails painted.  Our beautiful and talented translator played guitar and sang.  We left knowing God was present!

We then got back in the tap tap to visit the Haitian Museum.  It was air conditioned!!  We learned interesting facts about the history of Haiti.  Did we say it was air conditioned?!!

Our last stop was at General Hospital Children's and Orthopedic units.  We brought donated diapers and fruit strips for each child.  We also purchased water outside of the hospital just before we went in to give to each patient and parent.  Clean water very precious since there is such little access to clean water.  How different from how we live.   The children in General Hospital need to have a parent present at all times, the parent must also provide the food and feed them and provide the bedding!   Again, how different from our hospitals back home!  One of our talented team members played guitar while we sang and tried to comfort the children and pray for them.  

We headed back to the guest house for our wonderful taco dinner - the cooks here are awesome!  Then we each shared our word of the day.  A few of the words were unexpected, awkward, unqualified, touch, healing, connection.  We all felt God's presence during this difficult but wonderful day!  

Mary Lou and Lori May