All…
Our trip was amazing this year! Absolutely amazing!
Provided below are the blog posts I wanted to share from Haiti but was unable to given that the internet (where we were staying) was out all week. The posts begin with the most recent and go all the way back to when we first got there. I recommend beginning at the end and then working your way forward. I apologize for the length of this one post, but it could not be helped as it is a compilation of all 19 separate posts.
Thank you for praying for us!
God’s peace…
Dave
953a…
We made it home safe and sound! As I didn’t get to bed until close to 2a, which is more than 5 hrs after my typical bed time, I slept in and just got up a little while ago. It’s going to take me a couple of days to recover from getting to bed so late. The older I get, the harder it gets to adjust to a late night.
Anyway, as promised, I want to share the crux of our debrief with the Bohoc LC on November 11th. Provided below is, I hope, an accurate recording of what was shared.
Gerome (Bohoc Leadership council [LC]): I feel full of joy. I would like to share my joy with you. I feel a sadness in my heart, because you are going back home. I know (and hope) you will come back again. Please tell us about your experiences here in the community this week.
Ramsay (newhope church [N]): I know I’m not knew to Bohoc. On previous trips, we’ve done in-home prayers once or twice. This time, we got the chance every day to go into homes. I think we visited maybe 100 or more homes this week. It was so beautiful. We could see God’s work. And the people were so receptive.
Lucita (N): I am knew, as this was my first trip to Bohoc. My heart is full. To be able to come was a miracle. I am amazed that I am here…and about to leave. The love of your community flows in everybody. it’s in the air, in the animals, in the health, in the food, in the children, in the adults, in the hugs. I am so full. It’s like Bohoc is in me. I thank you.
Jeff: This is my second time to Bohoc. It was so nice to greet people on this trip, who recognized and remembered me. This place truly feels like my second home. it will be very hard to leave. Bohoc has captured a part of my heart. Thank you.
Bethany (N): Good afternoon. This was also my second trip to Bohoc. It was wonderful to see again those I’d met last year. And to meet new people and new faces. You always tell us we’re free here. You truly are family. And I want to thank you for your generosity and hospitality. As happened the last time, I learned more from you than you probably learned from me. Know that when we go home…we pray for you…all of you every day.
Cathy (N): This is my fourth trip to Bohoc. I have no new words. Except…I do have one more thing to say: I will see you in 2016. Sooner than later. I wish you many, many blessings.
Sue (N): This is my first trip to Bohoc, and I have been overjoyed. My cup runneth over! Your generosity in sharing he spirit of Christ is very impressive. I now know I should be better. I will work hard and try to improve myself, so hopefully you will see me again soon. Thanks so much!
Dusti (N): This is my first time visiting Bohoc. I agree with everything already said. I have so enjoyed the hospitality. The love I felt from everybody has made a huge difference. I am going home a much better person than I was when I got here last week.
Beth (N): This is my first trip to Bohoc. I wrote a poem, We’re All Children of God, that I want to share with you…
Children are like flowers
They start from tiny seeds
Loving care and sunshine
And simple little needs
We must always tend them
Or else a lack of care
May cause them not to flourish
Nor any fruit to bear
Always then remember
The tiny seeds we’re sowing
In daily care and love to them
Will help them in their growing
Gerome (LC): I feel the Holy Spirit has a good job to do in the room. With the time God gives you, you have to use that time. Let’s pray for Beth. [Note: At this point, the entire group laid hands on her prayed for her healing (Beth was born deaf).]
Ramsay (N): (To Madame Jacques) One time when leah and i were back home with our children, Leah got frustrated with them and saind, “I am going to run this household like madam Jacques.” For years, Leah has been very impressed with you. She looks up to you as a leader in your home and with the children at Kris El Espwa.
Tracy (N): This is not my first time. In fact, it’s my sixth trip to Haiti. Your (Gerome’s) son, Jedlain, is like a brother to me. And this community is truly my family. You are raising up beautiful leaders who will carry on the work that you have started. I know God will continue to bless this community, because you are challenging your people to grow in the knowledge of God. And to do His will. I admire you, and I love you very much.
Elifed (LC): I am very excited to be with you this night. Even though our skin color is not he same (except for Lucita!), remember that we are still one. I ask God to keep blessing you…materially, spiritually, economically, bodily. Bless you, bless you, bless you., bless you. When you take the bus to go back home, may the Holy Spirit be with you to have a great trip and get home safely. And celebrate with joy over your family. Tell your families that the people of Bohoc thank them for allowing you to leave them to come be with us.
Lili (LC): I have no words, no expressions adequate to express what I feel in my heart. God says in Mt 6:33 to seek first the Kingdom and that after that all good things will be added to you like gifts. it has been a good week praying in the homes. You will be rewarded by God. Thank you so much! Have a great trip, and come see us in 2016! Tracy, Lucita, and Ramsay have challenged me to practice my English. In 2016, my language will be beautiful!
Madam Jacques (LC): I thank God first and you second. I am “The Mother” for Kris El Espwa. Every other time when you’ve been here, Ramsay and Dave were able to play a lot with the kids over in the field at the school. A lot of kids said to me this week, “I saw Dave and Ramsay, but they didn’t play games with us.” I told them that you were very busy praying for families in the village that that that’s why you couldn’t play with them as much. Thank you for your prayers in the community. Some people are jealous that you cannot pray in every house. There is a time for everything. You have to start, and you have to finish. When you pray for a home, the family there is greatly encouraged. We are very sad that you have to leave and go back home. But if you don;t leave, you won’t be able to come back in 2016! Thank you for the leadership training we shared yesterday. We have to use our talents to serve our community. Please greet your family for us when you go back home. Thank you for coming!
Madam Fileh (LC): How was the food?
N Team: Fabulous!
Madam Fileh (LC): When you come back in 2016, I would like to sit in my chair and LET YOU COOK FOR ME!! I appreciate everything you did in my home today. I saw on your faces that you were happy to work in the kitchen. There is a lot fo work to do before we can eat. When you go back home, practice what you learned today. I hope you remember how to do what you learned today.
Lucita (N): I plan to have everyone over to my house to replicate what we learned.
Madam Fileh (LC): The time you spent here is not lost. We know this! Thank God! God bless you, and have a good trip. I’ll be wsiting for you in 2016.
Ramsay (M): (Top Madam Fileh) Thank you for sharing your grandbaby with us. [Note: We saw him just four days after he was born. That was the youngest child I’d ever seen.]
Isaiah (LC): I am very excited because the love of God joins us together. I’ve had it in my mind that Dave would come here to live with us permanently. It would be very nice if Dave would come here in 2016 and build a big house right here in Bohoc. Then, he could bring his family and friends over, and everyone could stay here permanently. We know that the Lord has been taking good care of you while you’ve been here this week. We pray for God to be with you in your travels. We will be waiting for your return next year.
Gerome (LC): There is a proverb which says, “If you would like to eat, it is hard to do so when you are angry.” The time of eating dinner has arrived. You have a good spirit upon you to eat. [Note: Sometimes things can be lost in translation.] For this reason, we will not keep you long. That way you can eat and then enjoy the concert put on by the men’s choir. I have an appointment with my wife to talk with her for 30 minutes. We will be happy to hear each other’s voice. [Note: She was in PaP.] Thank you for your time in our community. One week feels like an entire year [Note: In a good way.] God will bring you here again next year. Don’t forget…you are all my friends. Lucita…I will not forget you. That you are not tall. Your glasses. Your hair. I will tell Jedlain I met you and that you are all my friends. Keep talking with new people back home and bring them here with you. I ask for prayers, maybe by Ramsay or Dave, for the professional trade school here in Bohoc. Sometimes, when children finish classical school and cannot go on to high school or college, they could go to a trade school. Keep us in your prayers so that we can get money, teachers, property, and buildings. Some think this is not a good idea, but they are wrong. It is a good idea. And God will do it. Don’t forget to pray into this request. And keep looking for more friends for us.
^November 13, 2015^
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540p…
We just finished our debrief with the leadership Council. I think I captured most everything that was said. I will write all of that out when I get home on Friday before I post everything to the blog site. Until then, I’m going to put my writing on-hold.
God bless, and God’s peace!!
Dave
423p…
We just got back from doing a bunch of home visits and prayers. Here is a summary:
Elisya: My son, Levenski, contracted a parasite when he was 4-yrs-old. It caused him to be crippled. he is now 9-yrs-old. Also, I want to have money to pay for my children to go to school. [Note: Elisya’s relationship with Jesus Christ has been bumpy, according to Major.]
Dabu: “I am an evangelist and work with UCI (United Christian International). Pray that we can finish building our home.”
Nanoeus: I have a husband (who is Anex’s uncle) and four kids (who are in school). I want them to be successful in this life.”
Madam Ediyo: “I am a widow (for about five years). I want to keep to the ways of God.”
Ruda (Mother of Gil): “I have three kids, who are fatherless. Please ask God to take care of them.”
Gil (Son of Ruda): “Please pray for my school; my family; and my Dad, who is not here. Please pray for my sisters, who are in school in PaP. Above all, please pray that I will stay close to God.”
Odilick (Sings in the Men’s Choice from Marantha Church) and Madam Odilick: “Pray that we can stay faithful to God and that my kids will walk in the same way with me. I have four children (three girls and one boy).”
Vernio: “We don’t have kids, so we adopted a little girl. Please pray for her.”
Madam Vernio: “My feet are very swollen and hurt when I walk. Please pray for me to be able to walk without pain. Also, please pray for us to grow in our faith.”
Ivna: “I have five children. One of my daughters has a problem with her eyes. Please pray for her.”
Roslyn: “I have been suffering a lot from high blood pressure and high blood sugar. Please pray for me, and please pray for my four kids and their schooling.”
Madam Jean Baptiste: “I have three kids. One is in school, and he will be taking the national exam in December. Please pray for him.”
Denise (Grandsister of Madam Fabese): “Denise [Fabese is speaking because Denise is in bed and can hardly respond] is sick a lot. She was in the Dominican Republic for a while, Now’s she’s back home. Please pray for her.”
Right after we got home, we did a prayerful send-off to all those, in addition to Major, who helped with translations throughout the week: Anex, Lili, and Marlane. They’re assistance was invaluable. May God continue to bless them and to raise them up as leaders in this community.
215p…
This morning began with most of the team walking down to the river (where many in the village get their water), breakfast, and a devotional time led by Jeff. The topic of Jeff’s devotion was community development, the text was Nehemiah 3, and the main arena of focus was on the character of Joiada, about whom we read briefly in Neh 3:6. Nehemiah, whose name means comforter, was raised by God to come alongside the children of Israel as they sought to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem and, in that, begin to restore their national life following the Babylonian exile. While Nehemiah headed-up that great work, many regular, ordinary people helped him accomplish what needed to be accomplished. Joiada was just one such person. In this morning’s devotion, Jeff urged us to look for ways in which we can fulfill our roles in building the kingdom of God. While none of us are in-charge, as that job belongs to the Holy Spirit, all of us have been blessed with unique gifts for selfless service. What are yours? And how are you using them to expand the kingdom of God and to bring restoration to an exiled people (basically, the whole of humankind)?
After devotions, we joined several of our Haitian friends for a Jericho Prayer walk around a portion of the village. The purpose of the walk was to claim the village of Bohoc for God’s kingdom.
From around 930a to around 1230p, we spent time at Madam Fileh’s home helping to cook a Haitian meal. Such an experience gave us a closer glimpse into what the life of a Haitian family looks like. With no refrigerators, microwaves, or powered stoves/ovens, cooking for a Haitian family is an all-day affair. As a treat, Madame Fileh invited us to share in the delicious meal we just helped her and her family prepare. Following that, we returned to the guest house for a second lunch: “Dear Father, please make room in our stomachs, and may our second lunch be like medicine in our bodies. Amen.” [Note: I was in heaven, as I got to eat corn meal and rice at around noon and then a second lunch of beans and rice at around 1p. Given my very significant food allergies, it’s always a celebration when I get to eat what’s being served.]
^November 11, 2015^
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641p…
I am just now sitting down to write about today. Today was very full, and, as a result, I haven’t had much time to write about things. My apologies.
Anyway…
Devotions this morning were led by Dusti. Her topic was intercession, and the text for her devotion was Ex. 17:10-13. Provided below is a summary of some of the thoughts she shared:
Intercessory prayer is loving our neighbors on our knees.
Jesus prayed a lot for His disciples and for us while he walked the earth.
Intercessory prayer is taking the circumstances and situations of others to God on their behalf.
Intercessory prayer is mature prayer. It’s not ego-centric or self-centered; it’s selfless and self-giving.
Answers to prayer are always according to God’s timing.
After the devotion, we continued to talk about intercession, the providence of God, and free will, and how all of those things come together.
After the devotion, we headed to one of the schools in Bohoc, where we all got to participate in teaching English, Physics, and Biology. It was, actually, a lot of fun. Just prior to one of the classes, which was going to bed led by Ramsay (our team leader for the week), Tracy looked at Ramsay and said, “Okay, what are you going to teach, LEADER?” Again, being able to visit the school where Major teaches and being able to help out with teaching was so much fun. Schools here in Haiti have no equipment. They have text books, and that’s about it. It has been estimated that only about 20% of school aged children are able to attend school. School is NOT free in Haiti, In fact, most families cannot afford to send their children to school. Another interesting thing I’ve experienced throughout the years I’ve been coming to Haiti is not just the eagerness the children have to learn but the respect they afford their teachers. We in the U.S. could learn a lot from our Haitian friends.
After our time at the school, we went back to the guest house to eat lunch. Afterward, as I’ve done every day, I took a short nap. At about 130p, we headed out to do more home visits and prayers. Provided below is a summary of our time praying for our friends:
Geni and Derano: “Please pray for our home and our children, for me (Derano) to find a job, for wisdom, for protection, and for The Wisdom Club.” [Note: The Wisdom Club is a group of young men and women (ages 13- to about 25-yrs-old), who meet together every afternoon at Derano’s to practice their English. Derano leads the group.]
Madam Roman: “I have pain in my feet. Please pray for God to bring me everything I need.”
Joslyn Mompremier: “I have two children (a 14-yr-old girl and a 13-yr-old girl). Please ask God to open doors for me to be able to pay for them to go school.”
Antoine: “Pray for me. God knows everything. When the kids are hungry, they need to eat.”
Madam Antoine: “I need God to protect me. Jesus is my Savior.”
Amma: “Please pray for my mom and sister. I will be happy if God blesses them.”
Carlonda (girl), Givlyn (girl), and Vilson (boy): Their parents were not around at the time we arrived, so we just prayed for blessings to be on their home.
Edite: “Please pray for my baby boy. He’s three months old, and he suffers off and on from diarrhea.”
Lignet: “I have three daughters. I need God to help me to be strong. I work hard sawing wood. I want my daughters to get an education, to be healthy, and to embrace Jesus.” [I appreciated Lignet’s modesty. When we arrived, he said hello, politely excused himself, and then went into his house to put on a shirt. I like stuff like that.]
Pastor George: “Pray that we will be able to finish building our home. We finished the church; now we just want to finish our home.”
Anex: Anex has been helping out A LOT with translation and ministry throughout the week. He is a fine young man. His mom and family have taken-in 10 orphans. we got the chance to visit the home/orphanage today and pray over all the kids. This was a huge highlight for all of us, and at the top of the list for a couple of the people on our team.
At about 245p, we headed over to Maranatha Church for a meeting with the Bohoc Leadership Council. Provided below are the unedited thoughts of both the members of the Leadership Council and the newhope team where leadership and being a leader in ministry is concerned:
A leader is a fierce listener.
A leader is humble.
A leader promotes the agenda of those he or she is leading, not his or her own pet agenda.
A leader is willing to take responsibility for his or her actions. He or she admits mistakes, and does so readily and regularly.
A leader speaks rather quietly.
A leader can only go so far as he has trained. You must always be teachable, open to new experiences, be humble enough to go to the other side of the table to look at another person’s perspective and situation. Empathy is a wonderful teacher.
Your mind is your strongest muscle.
A great leader is someone you can trust.
A great leader is consistent. He makes promises and follows through on them.
Php 2:2-6 is a great example of the humility needed by a leader.
Humility and service are powerful.
Great leaders accept people with varied sensibilities.
A good leader assesses available resources to ascertain what needs to be bolstered or changed and what needs to be praised and multiplied.
God gave us the greatest example of a leader when he sent His Son Jesus.
Jesus always put others before Himself. He put God first, and He made time for prayer and Scripture meditation. He also trained others to lead.
As a leader, even when I have no money, I can offer my community my time and my service.
I’m always in-training.
God serves with me as a leader. He has given me a lot of gifts–including the gift of genuine presence.
God blesses me by taking care of my family.
As a leader, you must accept everything–even being stabbed in the back.
Give God pleasure through doing your job really, really well. God loves a job well-done.
A leader must be flexible.
In developing a community, some will speak badly of you (or to you). When this happens, try not to let it discourage or dissuade you.
A good leader endures good times, bad times, and sickness, and does his job anyway.
A great leader embraces the quiet so that he might learn something while keeping his mouth shut.
A good leader must pray consistently–every day, day-in and day-out.
A good leader faces a lot of difficulties.
A good leader must have a lot of wisdom and understanding.
Daniel was a very good leader. he had good understanding spiritually. He loved and respected God, had self-control, and responded to the call of God upon his life. God loved him and protected him.
Those who love and fear God will be protected by Him. The Lord will come to his defense.
To be a great leader, you must have the fruit of the Holy Spirit (see Gal 5:22-23): “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and gentleness, and self-control.”
Even when I encounter those who speak against me, I keep up the fight. I do this because I have a responsibility to my community.
I must be a great leader so that I can serve my community.
Eph 6:1 reads, “Obey your parents.” As a leader, you are God’s child. Obey Him.
If you don’t have eyes, how will you ever help a blind person cross a road? [This was a profound question asked rhetorically by one of our Haitian brethren at the meeting.]
Ask God for two eyes, two ears, to hands, and two feet–so that you can serve as fully as possible.
A leader does not just look after his own self. He looks after his neighbors, directly and in prayer.
Col 3:23 reads (essentially), “Whatever you do, do it with a happy heart.”
If you are faithful in little things, God will use you to do great things.
You don’t need to have a group to be a leader. You lead by the way you act. A lot of people are following the ways in which you love your life. Live well (in the goodness of your actions), and you will garner the following of those who wish to live the way you do. You can be a leader anywhere, and without even knowing it.
Solomon asked God for wisdom and understanding to help him lead his people. Do the same thing.
We need humility. The humble are strong.
Your leadership will not be in vain.
The right question to ask as a leader: How do we take really, really good care of God’s people?
I am first and foremost to be a leader in my family.
In my church, I am a leader.
A good leader has a big sign on his head. It reads, “CHIEF.” Everyone sees it.
You lead in the ways in which you treat others.
If you lie or speak badly, you are a bad leader.
A leader leads even after he has died.
When you are a leader, God chooses you and empowers you to do something for Him. Whatever God tells you to do, do it, and do it well.
God chooses you to do what he wants.
God can use you where you are.
God will put words in your mouth so that you will be empowered to speak what needs to be said.
I am open to speaking with anyone, anywhere, at anytime.
If you don’t have Jesus and the Holy Spirit, you will not be a leader.
Some think that if they have a lot of money they will be a leader. This is not true. He or she may be a leader of sorts, but not the kind of leader we’re talking about. A good leader has the Holy Spirit living inside him, working on him and through him.
There are only good leaders and bad leaders. You can be a leader, but without the Holy Spirit, you will never be a good leader.
^November 10, 2015^
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614p…
What does it mean to embrace poverty?
Before we answer that, perhaps we should first seek to define what we mean by poverty.
Whenever I think about poverty, the first thing that comes to mind are the poor and marginalized who live in developing and rebuilding nations like Haiti, Afghanistan, Iraq, Eastern Europe, and many of the war-torn nations on the African continent. While being materially poor is only one aspect of poverty (and a huge one at that), it’s not the only aspect. Far from it, in fact. We in the west (those who, by every worldly measure, comprise the largest conglomerate of the materially rich in the world) tend to define poverty in terms of a lack of material goods, such as money, food, clean water, education, jobs, medicine, and public infrastructure. The materially poor, however, while they do mention such things, more often define poverty by the ways in which their living conditions make them feel. Unseen words like ashamed, hopeless, inferior, powerless, humiliated, terrified, depressed, socially isolated, abandoned, voiceless, and taken advantage of are all apt descriptors of the ways in which the materially poor often feel.
Life is all about relationships: One’s relationship with God, with oneself, with others, and with the physical world. As Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert write in When Helping Hurts: Alleviating Poverty without Hurting the Poor … and Yourself, the above are considered the four foundational relationships of life on earth. The fall of man, unfortunately, damaged all four of these relationships. Corbett and Fikkert argue, and I think quite persuasively, that poverty, when viewed systemically, is really the result of a breakdown in all four of these relationships.
As a human being, I suffer from the brokenness about which Corbett and Fikkert write so candidly. But because of my material affluence (or relative affluence compared to most in the world), I tend to discount (or, perhaps, hide from) the depths of my brokenness. How does this happen? Well, if and when I’m feeling badly about myself in one or more of the above relational arenas, it’s very easy for me to distract myself with the many things I have around me. For example, I live in an 1,000 square foot apartment, and yet I have one computer (the laptop I’m writing on now), one TV, one DVD/VCR player (not including the DVD player that’s integral to my laptop), one CD player (again, not including the one that’s integral to my laptop), over 150 movies, and over 300 CDs. I probably have enough entertainment media within arm’s reach to distract me for months on end. If I’m feeling lonely or cut off from human contact, all I need to do is just log-on to one of my many social media accounts and “interact” with someone, who (just like me) is probably sitting at home alone or in a coffee shop somewhere surfing the net. I’ve learned, though, that instant messaging with someone on-line is not the same as having an in-person, heart-to-heart conversation with that person. Especially, when the conversation takes place within the context of an intimate friendship that’s been built over time, where that person knows the messy details of my life and I know similar things about theirs.
All too often, we settle for a counterfeit intimacy simply because we won’t allow ourselves to really feel our disconnectedness with God, with ourselves, with our friends and neighbors, or even with our social and physical environments. And so, rather than taking a greater interest in our environment or working on becoming a better friend to God or another person, or even with ourselves, most of us run to our addictions and unhealthy attachments to anesthetize the almost overwhelming feelings of sadness and loneliness that characterize our inner lives. And then, when our familiar refuges start to fall apart (as they always do eventually), we look for something else to distract us, be it alcohol, food, sleep, pornography, sex, religious activity, work, or any host of things that promise comfort or pleasure or, simply, just a change of state. Or we pay a professional “friend” hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars to listen to the waves of unexpressed feelings, pent-up hurts, and unmet relational needs as they crash upon the shores of our souls. This is in no way my attempt to disparage the counseling field or anyone who avails himself (or herself) of such services, for, as I’ve experienced in my own life, talking through things with a trained counselor can be extremely helpful.
While we in the west tend to feel a lot of the very same things the materially poor feel (for such feelings are common to the human condition), we have the means to run from or blot out such feelings, at least partially. The materially poor, though, rarely have such options. And, in many ways, I’m not so sure that’s such a bad thing.
In Mt 5:3, we read, “Blessed are the poor in spirit. For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Being poor in spirit was the first of the nine beatitudes Jesus illuminated during the inaugural portion of what was, perhaps, His most famous of all public addresses: The Sermon on the Mount.
What do you think Jesus meant by “poor in spirit”?
In my search for the meaning of any particular passage, I find it helpful to read, reread, and think prayerfully through several different English translations of the passage and then, to the best of my ability, return to the original context and language in which the passage was first written. Having done this very thing with the entire beatitudes passage, I’ve concluded that one who is poor in spirit (pushing one’s fallenness aside) is simply “one who does not have the resources necessary within oneself to sustain life, be it spiritual, mental, or physical.” When one begins to recognize his or her own poorness of spirit, that simply means that such a one has come to the conclusion that he is a contingent being and dependent upon a source outside himself to provide that which is needed to sustain his life. Our ultimate Source of course, as Ac 17:28 reminds us, is God Himself. And, while He’s not always recognized as such, He, nevertheless, expresses and gives of Himself continually to us directly as well as indirectly through our friends, neighbors, and the many social and physical environments in which we work, play, and learn.
Above, I asked, “What does it mean to embrace poverty?” Having thought about this for some time, I believe that embracing poverty begins with the embracing of our relational brokenness and our need for God and others to provide the love, meaning, food, and shelter we need to live.
So, how does one begin to practice embracing one’s own poverty of soul? That’s a great question. I believe it begins (and, in a very real sense, never ends) with recognizing and then practicing one’s abject dependence upon God. As a point of practicality, it means seeing and feeling our dependency upon God (and upon God in those around us) and then emulating the ways in which Jesus looked to God to meet His needs, either directly or through those around Him.
In thinking about all this, a question arises within my own mind, and it’s this: Was Jesus poor in spirit?
“By myself I can do nothing” (Jn 5:30).
In answer to my own question, yes, I believe He was. Not in the sense of His having, like all of us, a broken relationship with God or with Himself, because that was definitely not the case. But in His choice to become human, He experienced the deep relational brokenness of those around Him and willingly subjected Himself to the yoke of a cursed world and a tattered social fabric. When you look at things in terms of His moment-to-moment absorption of the sorrow of those around Him as well as His deep dependence upon the Father and upon those who loved and cared for Him throughout His life, I think He couldn’t have been anything but pour in spirit. Perhaps that’s why He considered it to be so great a fortune to feel and experience such a thing in one’s heart. Evidence of all of this can be found throughout the Scriptures. Mt 3:13-17, 4:1-11, 12:22-37, and 26:36-46, Mk 1:35, Lk 4:1-30 and 5:16, and Jn 5:16-30 and 8:23-30 provide several such examples.
In the gospels, I find the life of Jesus to be just as instructional as His Words. And at times even more so. Jesus preached poverty of spirit. Was He Himself impoverished? As I wrote above, yes, I think He was. The Scriptures teach that, when Jesus came to earth, He emptied Himself and took upon the form of a slave (see Php 2:7). When one reads the gospels intently, one cannot help but notice how Jesus just seemed to live from day to day on what His Father gave Him. Those who say Jesus prayed mostly just to model for us dependency upon God are missing the point entirely. Jesus spent time in prayer because He needed that time with His Father. He was desperate for that which only His Abba (a Greek word which has sometimes been translated by some scholarly works as “Dad” or “Daddy”) could give Him: love, affirmation, encouragement, wisdom, perspective, strength, guidance, and favor with those around Him (see Mt 3:17 and 4:4, Lk 2:40-52, and Jn 4:31-34, 14:10-11, 15:9).
Jesus was not just a practitioner of what He preached; He was the embodiment of it. As the Living Word made flesh, He spoke from His Heart and from the cutting edge of His Own Life; He spoke also from the wealth of that which His Father had spoken into Him (see Jn 12:49-50), and I’m convinced that that’s what made His Words so life-changing.
Jesus personified poorness of soul. He subsisted on food, water, and sleep (like all of us), but he lived on His Father’s Words (see Dt 8:3, Mt 4:4, Lk 4:4, and Jn 4:32), and on His Father’s infinite goodness and loving interest in Him and in the people around Him. Jesus showed us, through His Own life, that to really grow-up as a human being, one must find his spiritual sustenance in God by feeding upon His Word and by engaging in deep communion with Him. God’s Life cannot be conjured from within; it must be received from above, and it can be done so only by those who feel their inner starvation (or poverty) of soul. Again, Happy and exceedingly well-off are those who feel their inner-hunger for God. For theirs is indeed the kingdom of heaven—the realm of God’s Holy Presence, Reign, Counsel, and Comfort.
To recap (and forgive me if I am belaboring the point), the practice of embracing your own poverty begins, I think, with allowing yourself to feel the hunger you have for the Father and to, like Jesus, begin to look to Him as your ultimate Source and Companion in everything. As difficult as it might be, the ability to feel your hunger is predicated upon the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit as He progressively eliminates those things you look to outside of God to satiate your hunger. Eating a pile of sand may fill your stomach, but it will make you sick. And worse, it will never satisfy that for which your physical hunger is intended to signal: your body’s need for nutrition. That principal applies to every aspect of your life, both materially and immaterially. It is my belief that the truly poor in spirit are those who practice a constant state of submissive emptiness, wherein, spaciousness for the Infinite God is created continually within them. This is what I believe Jesus was driving at. And, more than that, I think it’s the central characteristic of those living-into the fullness of what God intended for all of us from the very beginning. In fact, I believe it to be the mark of the truly human—those in whom the image of God has been reawakened. Perhaps that’s why Jesus seemed to refer so often to such an attitude as the starting point for the expansion of God’s kingdom within the soul of man.
While Jesus, through His death on the cross, eternally reconciled us to God, our learning to seek from God that which only God can supply is what I like to call the ongoing ministry of reconciling oneself with oneself. It is the process wherein one begins to integrate with who he (or she) really is and, as such, begins to live more congruently with the ways in which he was designed. Putting the impurity and immorality of sin aside, the sinful practices we engage in make about as much sense as trying to run a car on popcorn or trying to grow grass in asphalt. Sin (seeking sustenance outside of God’s loving provision) really is that ridiculous.
I want to urge you, as you read more about our time here amongst the poor in Haiti, to think about your own poverty of soul. And how, in many ways, you may be far more destitute spiritually, emotionally, and relationally than those who have little in terms of material wealth. While the materially poor may lack many of the essentials, they feel their hunger so acutely that it causes them to pursue God relentlessly. What would happen if all of us began to embrace our poverty, to pursue God with great abandon, and began, as Bethany urged us to in her devotion, to lives of deep emptiness where we allow God to empty Himself into us that so that we might freely turn and empty ourselves into the materially poor throughout the world? Learning to ask this question and adopting this way of thinking is the crux of much of what I have learned working amongst the poor here in Haiti and in Kenya.
God bless you all in your pursuits!
Doing my best to feel my hunger and to embrace my sorrows well…
Dave
444p…
We just got back from spending a great afternoon with the kids of Bohoc. All told, I think we got to play and interact with about 100+ kids. Megga kudos to Tracy and everyone who led the “Rat of Generosity” activity. The purpose was to have fun, give the kids a chance to color, learn about the true generosity of squirrels, and begin to incorporate more of that value into every arena of their lives. Again, kuddos to Tracy and everyone who prepared for and led the activity and then led all the singing outside. Sue leading “Head and Shoulders Knees and Toes” was hoot. In fact, the whole afternoon was a huge hit!
Okay…dinner is in just a few minutes. And, after that, our evening debrief.
Peace to all of you…
Dave
205p…
Here is a summary of this morning’s home visits and prayers:
Gabriel Charles: “Pray that we will continue to walk in the ways of God, pray for my three sons and one daughter, and pray for my wife. I love God so much, and I love camping.” [Note: this is the first time I ever heard anyone in Bohoc talk about camping. I wonder if something he said was lost in translation.]
Madam Franco: “Pray for me to get pregnant. I am married, but I cannot get pregnant. The doctor says I am sick and need to eat rice and [some other starchy carbohydrate–forgive me, but I don’t remember what it was and didn’t write it down] in order to lower my blood pressure.” The “sickness” described sounded a lot like diabetes. In Haiti, married women who cannot have children are shunned and looked down upon by the community.
Diclot: Diclot has fallen on hard times but believes the Lord for victory.
Madam Diclot: “I have a lot of problems. My house is too small for us and our seven children. Please pray for the possibility to build a larger home. Also, I experience dizziness and headaches almost all the time.”
Lovely (Madam Jacque’s Daughter): “I want to learn how to pray, and I want to walk spiritually with the Lord in the paths of Jesus.”
Madam Jean-Claude: “Only God knows my problems. I have a parasite, a lot of children, and one child who cannot hear or speak.”
Okay…we’re getting ready to head out to Maranatha Church to play with the kids in the village.
1153a…
As promised, here’s a recap of this morning’s activities.
Bethany led a devotion on the subject of humility. The Scripture references she drew from were as follows:
2Chr7:14
Pr 11:2
Php 2:1-4
1Pe 5:5
Mt 23:11-12
Php 2:5-8
Ro 12:3-5
Mt 5:5
Humility: A modest or low view of oneself. Selfless.
One statement Bethany made is one I’d like to spend a lot of time thinking upon: There is a difference between an act of humility and innate humility. Meaning, anyone can perform an act of humility, but living for a place of deep emptiness, hope, and openness is an entirely different thing.
After devotions, we traveled to Major’s home to pray for him and his family and, also, to sample sugar cane.
Upon leaving Major’s house, we drove to the center of town and walked through the weekly market, which takes place every Monday morning in Bohoc. This is where the locals bring in their animals and display all their wares. Some of the “vendors” acquire many of their items from other such village markets throughout Haiti and then come try to sell what they’ve acquired at the Bohoc market. Some items came originally to Haiti as donations, but, somewhere along the lines of distribution, morphed into items for sale. While such items may have (at their first sale) been sold illegitimately, by the time they make it to the Bohoc market, those selling them did purchase them in some manner.
For perspective (in terms of the cost of farm animals), an adult female cow goes for about $500, a medium-sized pig goes for about $150, and a donkey goes for around $80.
Okay…lunch is being served in about two minutes. In my next post, I’ll write about our home visits this morning.
CU…
Dave
1041a…
We just got back from praying for Major’s family and then visiting the Bohoc Monday morning market. We’re getting ready now to head out and do more home visits. I’ll write about this morning’s devotion time and then a little about the weekly market in Bohoc.
Until then, God’s peace…
Daver
PS We have a really friendly dog that has begun to warm his way into our hearts. Well, all of our hearts (minus Ramsay). Lucita named him Ami, which I think means something like “Young friend” in French. Dogs in Haiti are not pets. The fact that Ami is so friendly and embracing is an extremely rare thing in Haiti.
^November 9, 2015^
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735p…
I’m going to head to bed soon.
Today was a great day. We visited Pastor George’s church, The Church of the Brethren. Several years ago (actually, it was during our very first trip), we were afforded the opportunity to work on the foundation for the church. If I recall, we spent about two days just moving rocks around so that the skilled labor could lay the foundation. It’s really neat to be able to worship in a building we helped build (at least a little).
I understand that Pastor George’s sermon this morning was fantastic. I was not near any of the translators, so I was unable to glean much from the sermon, as it was preached entirely in Haitian Creole (as it should have been).
After church, we headed back to the guest house to rest up some, and after lunch we headed over to Maranatha Church, where the three men from our team spent about an hour with a dozen men and older boys talking about leadership in ministry. During this time, the women on our team were able to conduct more home visits.
At about 330p, we all piled into the bus and headed to the soccer field to watch the Bohoc team play a team from Port-au-Prince. Soccer (Football) in Haiti is big. The Bohoc team, who we’ve seen play several times over the years, is top-notch in their Level One (which is the highest in Haiti) standing. Football in Haiti is rough, and not nearly as sedate as that played in the US or Europe.
In the end, Bohoc won 1-0, after which, close to the entire village erupted in exuberant screaming and jumping around . During the game, two players were hurt–one, it appeared, quite seriously as the team’s athletic trainers had to perform chest compressions on him. We all prayed for him last night. [Note: we learned today that both players are fine. Haitians are a tough and hearty stock.]]
It’s interesting to note how newhope church really has become a part of the village of Bohoc. Ramsey remarked how he knew more people at this game than at any games he’s ever attended in Chapel Hill. Opportunities to continue to abound for us come alongside our friends here in Bohoc. May God continue to call and raise up more from our community to come and empty themselves into the people of this community.
Bon nwe (Good night)…
Dave
759a…
After breakfast, Beth led devotions. As her text, she used Ruth 1:16, which reads, “But Ruth replied, ‘Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go, I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.'” As I’m thinking more about this verse, I am thinking a lot about the first part: “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you.” In my heart, everything within me wants to hear Jesus say over and over and over again, “Come…be with Me.” I also hear the prophet’s words in Song of Songs: “Come away with me.”
I long for divine union with God Almighty? What about you? What is the desire of your heart? The passion of your soul?
Okay…I need to sign-off for now as we’re heading out for church.
Bondje bene ou! (God bless you!)
Dave
459a…
Bonjou (Haitian Creole for “Good morning”) and Beljou (“Beautiful day”)!!
For all practical purposes, the internet is still down in this part of Haiti. It really does look like I will not be posting anything until after I get home. I will, however, continue to provide post-able writings at various times throughout each day and will post them under an overall daily heading. For example, this post will show up will all the others today under the banner “8 Nov 15.” Sometimes, I will write about actual goings on; at other times, I may write more philosophically. In this post, I’m going to write more philosophically.
Ready…fire…aim…
Read that again, please.
Ready…fire…aim is the banner philosophy that lauds efficiency over effectiveness. Even if you’ve never heard such a phrase articulated before, if you’re like most people, you’ve no doubt encountered at least one or two individuals who’ve either done or asked you to do that very thing. I have, unfortunately, encountered this way of thinking (and doing) more than a few times in my life. And, sadly, I’ve operated according to it more than a few times myself.
Even though I probably don’t need to write it, I’m going to anyway: “I’m not a huge fan of Ready…fire…aim.” Not only is it ineffective, but at times it can produce devastating results. When I was in Nicaragua a few years ago, I saw first-hand the damaging effects just such a philosophy can have on people. At the time, I was with Engineers Without Borders, and I was leading a small team of engineers tasked with evaluating the quantity and quality of drinking water supplies in Kisilaya, one of several hundred villages that comprise an autonomous conglomerate of tribal settlements that occupy The Mosquito Coast of northeastern Nicaragua and southern Honduras.
As we launched in to our evaluation, we discovered that the village of Kisilaya had three wells, each of which had the capacity to more than adequately supply the safe drinking water needs of the surrounding villagers. But not everyone was getting his or her water from one of the wells, and, as a result, many of the adults and about 40% of the children were suffering from incontinence and the associated dehydration that results from such a condition.
Why were they sick? Because many of the people were drawing their water from a polluted stream that ran through their village.
And why was the stream polluted? Well, because varied collections of women in the village took turns washing their clothes and dishes in the stream throughout each week. (For those of you who might not be aware of this, this practice provides a huge social outlet for the women in such villages.) In addition to that, roaming livestock had unrestricted access to the river, and some of the younger boys played and bathed in the river almost daily. While the villagers knew intuitively to draw their water upstream of many of the above activities, they were seemingly unaware that another village, very similar to their own and about two miles upstream of Kisilaya, was using the river in similar ways. Without their conscious awareness, the villagers of Kisilaya were drawing their cooking and drinking water from what was, in many ways, the waste effluent of an upstream village.
And why were the people drawing water from the polluted stream instead of from one of the wells? Well, in addition to the things I mention below, the manually-operated well pumps at two of the three wells were broken.
And why were the well-pumps broken? As best as we could determine, the principal reasons for this were as such:
1
The international agency that installed the wells did so without the buy-in and understanding of the village.
According to Rose (our miskitu interpreter), the villagers weren’t even asked for their opinions as to what they wanted or needed or what might nest well within their centuries-old customs, traditions, and social practices. Rose also said, “once the group who built the project completed it, they just up and left, and, among all the other work we needed to do, left us with a big mess to clean up.” (It is interesting to note that out of all the groups who’d visited and done work in the village of Kisalaya, the village leaders said that ours was the first to actually engage the people in conversation and then, through repeated back-and-forth dialogue, come to an understanding of what the people in the village really wanted. Even though this didn’t really surprise me, it saddened me just the same. How rude and arrogant it is for any of us to just decide for another what that one wants or needs without even asking.)
2
The rope-and-piston well pumps were, by our estimation, constructed with cheap, inadequate materials. (In fact, if you looked too closely at the pump, the welds on the support frame broke, and the PVC pipe split or crimped—all on its own. I am, of course, exaggerating, but not overly so.)
As it turns out, the lynch-pin of the malfunctioning rope-and-piston system was a $3 rope, which, unfortunately, could not handle the water load. Consequently, it kept snapping after only a few months’ use. After more than a dozen instances of fixing or replacing the rope, and concurrent with the failing health of the man who had done his best to keep the two wells nearest him operational, the villagers gave up on the wells and, not surprisingly, fell back on their previous ways of doing things. The man who took care of the third well in another part of the village saw no reason to take care of the other two; after all, “his” well was working just fine. In fact, he acted as though the well was his and treated everyone accordingly by erecting a structure around it and by locking the access. Those who remained in “good standing” with this man (basically through curried favors and words of social esteem), were granted limited access to the well.
After spending nearly ten days in the area, our team learned a little more about the context for the above. It seems that there was very little understanding (by the villagers) concerning the proper operation and maintenance of the wells. In addition, no money was being collected to cover the maintenance costs. Thirdly, given the abundance of water that ran daily through the local stream, there was very little understanding (again by the villagers) of why the wells were needed in the first place.
What happened in Kisilaya was, I believe, a good example of the results and by-products of Ready…fire…aim.
While I do not wish to disparage the village of Kisilaya or those who conceived of and implemented the water project, it must be written that the project was, in nearly every sense of the word, a failure. I’m quite sure that those who spear-headed the project meant well and intended to do something good “to help” those who appeared to be in need. In actuality, though, I don’t think anyone was helped. To me, it seemed that the exact opposite occurred: that which was intended to bring aid actually caused injury instead.
I hope we’re all beginning to learn from the mistakes of the past.
One of the things I love about The 410 Bridge (410), the banner missions sending agency that we travel to Haiti under, is that anything done in a partner village, such as Bohoc, Haiti, is initiated, worked, and completed by the villagers themselves. Each project Bohoc undertakes belongs to the villagers of Bohoc. It’s not a 410 project; it’s a Haitian project. More specifically, it’s a Bohoc project. The slogan we keep in the forefront of our minds as this: An inch wide, a mile deep. In focusing on relationship building and village empowerment, things are going deep…and the villagers know it. Even though it takes much longer to implement change, the changes that do occur are wide-sweeping and lasting. I thank God so very much for this.
Nap we’ pita (See you later)…
Dave
^November 8, 2015^
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607p…
Dinner was served promptly at 5p. I heard it was great. I, unfortunately, could not eat any of it, due to my food allergies. I thank God very much for sardines, tuna packets, turkey jerky, and squeezable organic baby food pouches! And…that I never seem to get tired of eating such things!
After dinner, Lucita led us in our debrief. (On all our trips, we do devotions together each morning, and we debrief together each night. ) Our debriefs provide a way for us to talk about the day and process what we’ve experienced.
The internet is still down. As such, I’m going to call it for now, perhaps read a little, and then hit the hey.
Living in the eternal nature of right here and right now, and loving every moment of it…
Dave
438p…
Going on home visits, where we get to pray for people in the community, is probably my favorite activity in Haiti. This afternoon, we split up into two teams (one on one side of the street, and one on the other) and walked from house to house, meeting and praying for those who lived there. Here is a summary of the people Team Left-Side-of-the-Street prayed for:
Madam Sol: Madam Sol has three kids: one is a nurse; one is stydying to be a dentist; and one is studying medical laboratory science. Madam Sol asked for God to lead her children, that they would be healthy, and that, once they finish their studies, they would return to Bohoc to serve their home community. She asked also for strength for her husband. Further she asked for good health for herself so that she might be faithful in her ministerial role as the children’s pastor (un-paid) at her church.
Pastor Henry Claude: Pastor Henry has three boys (and no girls). He asked for life for his family.
Madam Morrales: Madam Morrales asked for healing in her right foot.
Morrales: Morrales indicated that, for a variety of circumstances, he was unable to finish college. He asked for prayer to be able to somehow return to college.
Joseph Princius: Joseph asked for strength to face difficult times and for the money to send his 11 kids to school.
Pleval Jameson: Pleval asked for prayer that he would be successful in whatever he does. He is 25-years old and in his second year of college, studying Administrative Science.
Madam Micles: Madam Micles has 6 children and 7 grandchildren. Madam Micles indicated that since last July she has been suffering from intense pain in her chest. She’s been to the hospital several times and was given medicine, which sometimes helps her to feel better for a little while. She said, “I want to be healed and in good health so I can work for God. Right now, I’m having a really hard time.”
Carl and Jesilene: Jesilene asked for prayer for her and her new born baby. She is a student, who wants to be a nurse, and wishes for help from God. Carl, who is also a student (and Jesilene’s husband), wants the same thing.
Biscot Bercon: Biscot is Jesilene’s father. Even though he was not present, we prayed for him as he has been sick for a long time.
Pastor Raymond Alseed: Pastor Raymond asked for help in completing the church he’s building in his back yard. He’s been working on it for about two years.
Madam Mattlin Ora: “I am sick. And it prevents me from going to church and doing just about anything. I have pain in my breasts and stomach, and i often feel dizzy.”
Jonise: “I want protection for me and my baby girl, Ensaltima, from the Lord.”
Irano: “Pray for God’s blessing to be on me, my wife, Anose, and my house.”
Dieunel: “Pray that I will be able to live a healthy life. Pray, too, for my wife, Carlyn, and my baby girl, Judemica.
1122a…
We just got back from meeting with the Bohoc LC and a walking tour of the community. The LC is comprised of anywhere from 10-13 members, chosen from the Christian elements in the community. Most members are either pastors, teachers, or business leaders, and they serve for at least three years. The LC helps set the vision for the community. Gerome Geffard (Jedlain’s father) is the president of the LC. For those of you who’ve been on trips to Bohoc previously and know Gerome, he had some news for us this morning: he got married! About three months ago. For those of you who don’t know Gerome or his son, Jedlain, both of those men have been very near and dear to my heart since I first met them many years ago now. Gerome’s first wife (and Jedlain’s mom) passed away about five years ago.
I asked Gerome where he met his new wife, and he said in Port-au-Prince. He said that when they met, there were several young men pursuing her, but he, in his mid sixties, beat them all out! In a godly way, of course!
I’m actually quite hungry and looking forward to lunch.
I hope to be able to post soon. Unfortunately, the internet here has been non-existent since our arrival. Hopefully, word has gotten out that we made it here okay. When I can’t post, I worry (a little) that some of our family members might think something bad has happened to us. Nothing bad has happened. On the contrary, our trip has been fabulous…from start ’til right now. I wish you all could be here with us.
Peace to you…
Dave
812a…
After breakfast this morning, Tracy led us in devotions. Her topic came from Col 4:5, which reads, “Be wise in the ways you act toward outsiders, making the most of every opportunity.” The challenge she issued to all of us was this: What will you do to make the most of every opportunity?
How would you answer that question?
Here are some of the things that came to me during her devotion:
Slow down, and be present…mindfully present.
Be flexible and willing to embrace whatever arises with unconditional friendliness.
Let everything and everyone soften my heart.
Make no assumptions or presumptions about anyone or anything.
Look for ways to push the limits of my own perceived limitations.
Okay…we’re getting ready to head out to meet with the Bohoc Leadership Council (LC).
God’s peace…
Dave
5:59A…
The three women, who cook for us, just arrived and got the generator going again.
On the wall, I can read the internet password, but there are “No Connections Available” at this time. Such can be things in Haiti. Hopefully, Major (pronounce, MAH-zhure), our trusted guide and interpreter with The 410 Bridge, will help me find a way to get on-line at some point today (or this week) to post these to the Blog site. If not, well, at least you’ll be able to read about what happened in a week or so when we’re back home and I upload everything.
Back to our getting stuck in the mud and mire last night…
Yes…it was dark, and it was muddy, and we were stuck. And, yes, it was in the middle of nowhere.
Surprisingly, many people showed up to watch the evening’s entertainment.
We, being the entertainment, of course.
Very graciously, those who came to watch worked feverishly to free the “Blondes” from America. While our Haitian friends worked to dig us out and to provide tractional leverage, we huddled together in the back the bus on the right side to provide a weighted point-load. All of this, coupled with the simple prayer, “Dear Father…help us to get unstuck,” and the skilful driving of our intrepid driver, Raphael, enabled us to break free of the Dreaded Mud Demons of Pignon (pronounced PEEN-yoh) and to complete the last four-miles of our trek to Haiti Unlocked, a guest house in the center of Bohoc and the place that will be our home for the next six days.
To our first first-timers (Beth, Lucita, Sue, and Dusti) I say, “Welcome to Bohoc! May it, too, become your second home.” And to our returning veterans (Tracy [6x] , Ramsay [7x], Jeff [2x], and Cathy [4x], and Bethany [2x]) I say, “Welcome back!” There are ten of us on the Bohoc team. Please keep us in your prayers.
Okay, I’m going to take a break for now.
More later…
Dave
BTW…The City of Port-au-Prince was probably the cleanest I’ve ever seen it since I began coming here. In addition, Bohoc looks really, really green.
530a…
How I’ve missed the sounds of the Haitian morning…the roosters (just outside my window), the donkey next door, the chickens and their Chicken Mac Nuggets clucking, chirping, and rustling about, and the insect symphonies that continually pierce the morning air.
It is nice to be back. In a word, to be home.
In this warm climate, my morning cold shower was fabulous.
So…as I hope you have gathered…we made it to Haiti…to Bohoc (“Beautiful Rock”).
And what a long, exciting, fun, and blessed trip it was.
It rained hard during our bus ride through the mountains. On the paved roads, this was not really much of a problem. Once we were north of Hench, though, where pavement no longer exists, we found ourselves literally stuck in the muck, mire, and mud of the Haitian high country.
Ummm…the generator just cut out, so I’m going to step away for a while to save my laptop battery.
Dave
^ November 7, 2015 ^
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