Rebuilding

“I also told them about the gracious hand of my God on me and what the king had said to me. They replied, ‘Let us start rebuilding.’ So they began this good work” (Nehemiah 2:18).

Until April 7, a group from Colorado is at Bois Neuf. For anyone who wants to go to Haiti, it begins with someone telling about the goodness of God. God speaks through the person telling you about their trip. Then, the Holy Spirit moves and stirs within the people who hear. They link arms and start rebuilding, doing the good work.

Are you listening? What good work might be getting your heart excited? What would you like to rebuild? A good place to start is sponsoring a child through Hope for Haiti. Visit The Children tab to start rebuilding a child’s future.

Or maybe you are hearing about the Colorado team. Another response to hearing is to pray. Will you join us and pray for the team, their health, and the people they will come in contact with today? We look forward to hearing about the gracious hand of God on them. Let’s rebuild together.

By Mollie Bond

Water

"On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, 'Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.  Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them'" (John 7:37-38)

Today is World Water Day (March 22).

Cholera, a disease that is caused by bacteria-filled water, is also cured by water. Haitians deal with trying to find clean water on a daily basis.

Jesus spoke to people in a way they could relate. After the festival, people returned to their homes. They needed clean water. The travel caused thirst, and Jesus wanted his parting words to be relevant. The dusty roads caused the Israelites to reach for their canteens, and the flowing water cured their dis-ease. One swallow brought the comments from Jesus to mind, those words ran over their hearts.

Haitians also understand the need for clean water. Let’s pray today they find the physical clean water, just as the Jews returning from the feast would be looking for clean water; but let’s also pray today they find Jesus as the pure water that provides life.

By Mollie Bond

All Their Heart

All Their Heart

“So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart” (Nehemiah 4:6).

The wall for the school in Bataille is half way done.

The Haitians prepared for a group to come and help, so they started hauling sand from the river to use for the concrete blocks. The first day the American group and the Haitians worked so hard, they used all the sand. So the following morning, at 2 a.m., the Bataille people starting going further down river to collect more sand by hand in buckets. The Bataille people “worked with all their heart” because they know the value of education. Coming alongside Hope for Haiti provides more opportunities to build a school, and ultimately rebuild a country.

By Mollie Bond

What Story?

Every team has it's story and this one is no different.  The team had it's members but no one knew ahead of time that a few additional members would join in along the way.  You would have to ask someone here just what this is all about for the rest of the story or you might just think it's a goofy photo.  However there is a story or testimony to be shared.  This remote location in Haiti tugs on your heart, really though it's the people that tug.  About 90% or the adult's do not read or write, that's just the way it is.  The next generation will break free and the children are hungry for knowledge.  How hungry?  Would you walk over an hour to come to school daily, crossing a river multiple times holding your school clothing  above the water then upon the last crossing hiding in the weeds to change and be looking sharp for school?  Many of the 250 children that are coming to school here in Bataille, Haiti do just that.  So while we visited this past month the children had a couple days off of school but were not excused from helping to build the new school.  The walls went up with the help of the community as we did our best to lend a hand in this process.  Want to help or see more? check out a short video clip here. What testimony do you have to share and are you sharing it?  Oh yes, you will have to ask about ... the rest of the story.

Culture Clash

“When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in human form!’” Acts 14:11

It’s important to understand the culture and the potential perspectives when exploring a new place. I learned children in some parts of Haiti will not look you in the eye if you are older and talking to them. Their culture teaches them this action. It’s not because I was Caucasian like I thought. My misunderstanding of the culture prohibited me from communicating God’s love for his Haitian people appropriately.

Paul healed a lame man in Lystra. However, the crowd fell on their understanding and their experiences, and deemed Paul and Barnabas as gods. It’s what they were taught. They didn’t know Paul and Barnabas, as humans tapped into God’s power were not using their own power to heal.

What situations do you walk into without doing a little bit of research on the perspectives of whom you are going to see? What is one new thing you can learn today that will help bridge the gap in communication?

The girl in the picture is Izlande SainVil who lives in Bataille. She does not have a sponsor. If your heart is pounding faster because you want to make sure she goes to school and has food, please pray about becoming asponsor.

By Mollie Bond

Many Faces of one Woman

     She drives a hard bargain.  The trail that leads up into the Matheux Mountains just southeast of St Marc Haiti has many treasures along the way.  This precious woman sells food items just outside her gate right along the trail.  Over the years we have visited her many times enjoying the bartering and her all expressive face.  She's not a bit camera shy and enjoys working her trade and the interaction with people.
     What do others see when they look at us and our expressions?  Might it lead them to Truth?  The fruit of the Spirit is... (Galatians 5:22 & 23) do others see that?  Something to ponder.