Tuesday and Wednesday

This morning we woke up to a beautiful morning in Haiti.  The sun was bright and reflecting off the mountains that are all around us and the sky was bright blue.  We are all very grateful for the accomodations that we have here at the Bethel Guest House.  And the weather has been delightful so far.  Although the days are hot, it's cool at night.  Pastor Don made the owner, Dr. Bernard, chuckle when he asked for a blanket. "Imagine that! He wants a blanket andk it's summer in Haiti!"  Yes, this is a very different trip than last year.

Tuesday, June 28

Today the whole team went to Calabasse - which is the main hub for the convention.  Pastors Don and Greg and the VBS team adjusted their plans so that they were ready to begin their parts. But when we arrived, we were told that the convention wasn't beginning until Wednesday.  The VBS team continued with their plan but Don and Greg needed to adjust again.  Instead of beginning their teachings, they had an opportunity to meet with several of the pastors and leaders to tell them what they would be teaching about and then they were able to talk with them and pray for them.

It was a joy to watch the medical clinic in action.  Our medical team cared for 77 patients.  They saw the very young to the very old.  As people waited in line for their turn for care, we had 2 teams (each with interpreters) speaking with each person and caring for them with prayer.  They also handed out toys to the children or explained the gospel with a gospel bracelet.  Brandie D. mentioned later that she was so touched that before the people were seen by a nurse and doctor, they were cared for spiritually by prayer and the gospel.

The VBS had a small crowd of children on Tuesday.  They played sports in the morning.  In the afternoon the team used the parable about building your house on the rock to teach the children about the gospel.

Wednesday, June 29

Today the medical team was off-site from the convention.  They went to a town about 45 minutes away. Deborah S. joined Tracy C. as a prayer partner.  This enabled Jesse B. to help out with medical things.  With small changes like this the medical team is becoming more efficient each day.  We were especially thankful for their skills and gifts because 2 of the members on the VBS team (Phil B. and Kati R.) became sick and needed to be transported from the convention to where the medical team was ministering. Although they are feeling much better now, please keep them in your prayers.

The VBS had about 120 children today. The children love to laugh and love to play games. It's fun to watch them being silly with the team.  Kristina W. noticed that, before he got sick, Phil B., was like the Pied Piper with a string of children following behind him.  They love him!  They were sad when he needed to leave them so that he could rest and get care.  When Phil and Kati were sent to the medical clinic, we also sent Lisa S. so that she could watch over them.  Mike V. was blessed by the way the rest of the team (Brian K., Kristina W. and Philip G.) stepped up. Leading a VBS of 120 children with only 3 leaders, who don't speak the language, is challenging to say the very least.  The grace of God was abounding!  Thank you for your prayers.

Pastor Don began to teach the pastors and leaders.  There were about 30 of them. We pray that they are being blessed by the material. Because the convention was just getting started, the pastor of the church decided that it would be best for Greg not to stay for the evening session.


The team is really being blessed by our evening debriefing/devotion times.  It's so wonderful to come together as a team to worship, be in the Word and hear stories about the day.  We really appreciate that Brian K. is playing guitar for us. Dave N. has been leading our times very well. Many verses have ministered to us, but on Tuesday, he reminded us of Revelation 7:9 - 12: "After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation , from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, 'Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!' And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, 'Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen."  Our small trip to Haiti, in a very small way is our way of participating with God's purpose of bringing in that 'great multitude...from every nation.'  What an awesome privilege we have! 

Thank you for reading our blog and for praying!  We appreciate  you and can sense your prayers.  Many people on the team are having small ailments and are not sleeping well.  Please continue to cover us with your prayers.

Robin