Mission to Haiti – April 17, 2011
As some of you may already know we have given notice to the HEARTS committee that we will be stepping down effective April 30th from the committee as we have been invited, God willing, to return to Haiti next fall to continue to serve at the Emmaus Seminary in a support role to the visiting professors and seminary staff.
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| Seminary Chapel |
I like to think of it as a continuation of our interest in the education of the children of Haiti. The Emmaus Seminary trains pastors, pastors plant churches, churches start schools, and schools educate children. It is also analogous of what John did in the Canadian Army 50 years ago. He served with the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps whose primary function was support to the infantry and armoured corps by providing ammunition and food to the fighting troops. Just as John was trained to provide support to the troops fighting in the trenches, so today we are providing support so the pastors who, once trained, can fight evil and save souls for Christ. In Haiti, serving Christ can be very much like fighting in the trenches when you are serving in a society that has been inculcated with voodoo for hundreds of years.
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| Justa workers |
In reading Amos this past week, we were introduced to him as being a “justa,” just a shepherd. There are lots of people who are “Justas,” just a salesman” or “just a secretary” or “just a farmer.” Do you get the picture? Amos wondered who would listen to him because he was just a shepherd. But instead of making excuses, Amos obeyed and became God’s powerful voice for change. God uses “justas” to fulfill His plan. We are only “justas” …servants of God trying to enable change in Haiti.
Now that the election is all but over it appears that many of the works programs here in the north of Haiti have begun once more in earnest. The sewers and roads are being upgraded throughout the Cap Haitien area, and we are told they will reach out to Vaudreuil and beyond. Land lines are being installed for telephone (fiber optic) cable so that before too long Haitians will no longer need to have access to satellite or an internet café but will be able to dial up from home. This may not sound like a big deal, but for Haiti, this is a major step forward.
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| Brunaveco, Mimose and Bruno |
This past Sunday we once again dropped in unannounced to Faith Church. Pastor Bruno welcomed us warmly and many in the congregation recognized us from previous visits. The church was crowded as usual and to avoid displacing anyone from their seats we took along our own folding camp chairs and set them up in the aisle next to Mimose, Bruno’s wife, and their daughter, Brunaveca. We were able to follow the service as they interspersed the Creole with English so we were able to understand where we were supposed to be in the hymnal and the Bible without having too much difficulty. Bruno announced that they would be having a baptism in early June and at the moment 12 people have declared for Christ and wish to be baptized.
The team of 11 that are coming in on Saturday will be taken to Pastor Job’s church at Grison Garde and will have an opportunity to see first hand what he is doing and what St. Andrew’s has been able to accomplish with the support it gives for the school.
Later this afternoon we are going to visit a group from The Joy and Hope of Haiti, Hamilton, who is staying at Pastor Tony Paul’s guesthouse near Plaine du Nord. It’s always good to see people from home and hear what their next plans are in Haiti. We understand that they are having a 5K and a 10K run in support of the OMS Christian radio station, 4VEH, and for Pastor Paul’s trade school. The grand opening of the trade school will be Friday, April 15.
The peace of Christ be with you.
