We went to church today! As soon as we stepped off the bus, the melodious sounds of Haitians singing their acapella praises to our Savior greeted us. No AC, no praise band, no cushy chairs, no wi-fi, no electricity. Bare bones? You bet. But their zeal was contagious, despite the fact that we could scarcely understand a word they sang.
It's no secret it's hot here. We brought the lightest of lightweight clothes. We packed with the temperature in mind. Tracey said it best. We show up in their church with our worst-best clothes on. They, on the other hand, show up in their best-best clothes. Men had on ties. White clothes were actually white, in a community where there is no running water and no electricity. Clothes were pressed. This community with the little outdoor chapel on a hill has church members, Deaf and hearing alike, who walk to church every Sunday (some a great distance) on dusty, rocky, rutted roads in their Sunday best. How many times have we wrestled with ourselves about going to church, only to finally decide that we'll watch it online?
Yolanda was moved at the passion in the hearts of the worshipers. Isaiah 58:1 (NIV) says "Shout it aloud; do not hold back. raise your voice like a trumpet." The Haitians truly embody the spirit of this verse. Both hearing and Deaf alike worshiped loudly and happily.
There was a baby dedication this morning. A single mom with no other family support dedicated her two young children to the Lord. The church here doesn't take this lightly and vows to be involved in the rearing of these two little ones and to be a support to the mother.
How often do we zone out during a message at church, mindlessly turning over in our minds where we'll eat after? Our abundance interferes with our focus. Here, however, they have so little, yet their hearts are full. Their focus is on the message and on the Lord. They don't know what they don't have. We could learn a lot from them. Perhaps they, in their poverty possess true wealth - the wealth that won't turn to dust. Their gratitude is genuine and apparent.
Their care for each other is so overwhelming. As we walked around the community, visiting homes and being given the privilege of praying over these precious souls, we met one woman, Monique. She was in a wheelchair (and not a HoverRound, either - not by a longshot) because of the earthquake, during which her back was crushed. She was pregnant at the time it struck, but her baby died shortly after birth. Her smile was as genuine as it was contagious, despite the heartache she's suffered in her young life.
On a lighter note, Helen noticed that there were four church members who had on Monster energy drink tee shirts. They were ushers, and these shirts were their uniforms! They peeled off their shirts once their duties were finished. Most of the clothing here is very obviously donated. We even ran into a youth today sporting a Clemson tee shirt!
While we sneak out of church before the last song, these Haitians worshiped for several hours, without complaint. Amber noticed that even the young children were following along in their (French) Bibles the Scriptures from which the preachers were preaching.
It's an amazing community. These people are so much wiser, so much richer. I must honestly disclose that I don't envy their living conditions. Nobody would. But I do envy their state of mind. Luke 12:48 says, "From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." They have been given so little, yet they give all.
We are all well. Tomorrow, we are supposed to be painting a couple of houses and then enjoying some playtime with the kids. We covet your prayers - for our continued health and strength and for God's leading this week.
