This past Sunday represented the third consecutive day of prayer and fasting as declared by the national government. It was an amazing day, and I wanted to share with you the notes I took as I experienced the day.
“Up at 6 am with rooster crowing outside the window. After a breakfast of pop tart and peanut butter toast, we headed for church, leaving our new base in Gressier, west of Port-au-Prince, for Cite Militare, in PaP. On the almost 2 hour drive there, we spent about 30 minutes of prayer and singing. It’s only about 20 miles, but roads here are terrible.
The service had started at 6 am, we got there at 9 am. We greeted Pastor Absalom, dressed in a suit and tie – mopping sweat from his brow. Church consisted of a house filled with ladies and kids on floor with blankets; every chair they had was in use in street and yard, sheets/blankets were tied in the trees and to buildings to shade the ground and street. Men sat in the yard, more kids – church elders / pastor and five of us were crowded the porch, which was used as the ‘stage’.
For 3 hours there had been continuous praise, prayer, scripture… by 9am 10 had professed faith in Christ. Speakers blared the worship to the neighborhood. Fervent prayer; cries for mercy; crying; yet praising God for faithfulness.
My eyes well up in tears; there is true worship here. It’s hot. The sun beats down. Hours go by. People are literally crammed against each other; the prayers rise up; all speaking at once in joyous harmony. After 4 weeks here; seeing all I’ve seen, I weep with compassion for these people, who have suffered and still suffer, yet gather all day to praise their Heavenly Father.
My mind wanders…We Americans have so much to learn about faith. We are too comfortable, too complacent. Just then, 3 ladies come out to the porch and kneel in front of me. They have come forward to accept Christ. As the prayer for these 3 new Christ followers commence, 4 more people and 3 kids come and kneel. We lay on hands and pray. More tears as I sense the fullness of the Holy Spirit moving. Now it’s 20 people who have trusted Christ. It’s 10 AM. A young boy come near me, his mom just accepted Christ. I pick him up on my lap and pray a prayer of dedication over him. May he be used by the Lord to bring the Gospel to Haiti.
Meanwhile, an elder collects the names and phone numbers of each person who came forward. More singing and prayer and then a collection is taken… 95% of church lost homes and are living in streets looking for food, and yet the offering basket fills.
Again my mind wanders… to the abundance and excess we have in the US, may we as the American church live I John 3:16-18.
Then my fellow RG missionary Brian Bennetch preached on Mt 22:1-14. Then the worship started again, and a couple, 2 ladies, a baby, and 2 men walked in our midst on the porch and knelt to receive Christ. 27 people… it’s 10:38. My eyes again well with tears. I hold another young boy and dedicate him to Christ.
Linda & Sarah head into house filled w/ 80-100 ladies and kids and start laying on hands and praying. Praise continues until 11 AM. Singing, hands raised. Dancing. Clapping. And the sun bakes hotter. Shouts of Hallelujah. More singing. A woman trailing a boy walks onto the porch and sits down. A pastor’s wife prays with her. Heaven rejoices. As with all before, a deacon then sits with her and gets her information. Prayer.
A young business man then takes the mic and shares his testimony. A deacon in the church brings a bunch of bags filled with water and they get passed out through the people. Then a young lady shares her story then sings “But for the Grace of God I live.” My mind wanders… Do we have a clue? Do we perceive that moment by moment, day by day, but for the grace of God we live? What does that mean for us? How should that change our thoughts, our actions? The song is profound as I look out and see tumbled houses everywhere as tombs for those who did not survive the quake. Another man shares, Samuel stands to share. He says Jesus is Real. Jesus is Faithful, and tells his story. More come to share. 11:50 singing again. About 12:15 several more men came forward. I prayed with Patang as he received Christ. 12:40 there was a break. All shared the few crackers, and snacks that were available.
We finally left about 130 pm, in awed silence. As we drive home, we realize that this same type of gathering was occurring all over the city. So many accepted Christ. So many to disciple. We wonder if we have just witnessed the seeds planted of the transformation of Haiti.
In awe of Him… ml
Please check www.efcacrisisresponse.blogspot.com for updates.
Donations can be made on line at www.efca.org .
Pray for:
- Our disciples to be made of these new believers.
- Denise/kids to be protected at home and while I’m traveling.
- Wisdom for me in seeing the path the Lord wants us to take in our response.
- Satan wants to destroy what were trying to do. Pray for Protection.
No comments:
Post a Comment