The team agreed, the longest day of our lives. This is not
bad, just a fact. Up at 3am, to Ft. Lauderdale Airport at 4am. Breakfast at the
airport. Then a surprise sandwich on the 2.5 hour flight, which departed,
mostly on time. We had, perhaps, the
best flight attendant, ever, and were received at Cap-Haitien Airport by Pastor
Joseph Voltaire, whose excellent reputation and relationship, allowed us to be
whisked through immigration and customs, without even so much as a baggage
check. Unbelievable! Observations from the pickup truck ride, to his home,
where we are staying, is something that none of us will ever forget!! Weaving (flying)
through traffic, wheelbarrows of slaughtered pigs for sale, people wanting “dlo”
(water) and our utter amazement at what women are capable of carrying on their
heads. Upon arrival at Pastor’s home, which is fantastique, we immediately sat
down to breakfast of scrambled eggs and toast and lemonade (which turned out to
be orange juice) and anxiously awaited our work assignment. What?!?!? We are to
rest today??? No!!! We came to work. Oh no, Pastor says, you must rest. This
was very difficult, but, as the day went on, we napped and got to know each
other better, prayed, journaled, and then listened as Pastor shared how he came
to be here and how God provides every single thing we need, and even how his
children got to go to university in the U.S. How our loving God provided for
them in miraculous ways, so many times. Wonderful stories that I could not
properly recount, if I tried! Just know that we were privileged to hear from this
man, how God will supply our every need. Do not forget, God loves us so. Another
nap for some, followed by another meal. Yes, a wonderful lunch, more rest and fellowship,
followed by another amazing meal prepared by Pastor’s wife, Yvrose, and the
household helpers. Then we ended the first day, with devotions by Gary, and
singing lead by Tom, with a borrowed guitar, from someone in the congregation.
It was excellent. We noticed the children in the home, watching us sing through
a crack in the door and with encouragement, they came to join us. This home is like
a 5-star hotel. Other than when we’re driving through the streets of Cap-Haitien,
I feel as if I’m in a resort with maids and butlers, and the best accommodations
we could imagine. I am thankful to be sure, but, at the same time I wonder if
the need is greater somewhere else. Answer=no. God placed us here for a reason,
accept it, do not question His plan. Do what Pastor Voltaire says, and “rest”
for now. I do look forward to tomorrow, when we will go to De Croix, the ABC
missionary camp at Labadie, that has been abandoned since the early 90’s, and
is in need a roof repairs, and more. Yeh! We get to work, tomorrow, but, again,
he says it will be a brief workday. Mostly, an assessment day, tearing off an old,
rusty sheet metal roof and determining the condition of the roof rafters and
wood, and deciding what wood must be purchased and replaced. We learned that
for less than $1000 more, a great deal more could be done at this Baptist camp,
that will be used by youth and others, for retreat. To close, we are all intensely
aware of the need for water. The heat is intense, drenched shirts, constantly, dripping
wet foreheads and necks, even if you’re right in front of a fan, but, the
memory I have for that day, is that no matter how much water we drink, it is
not the living water of Jesus, who loves us so much, that he took our sin upon
the cross, so that our names could be written in Heaven.
Lynne Punnett
No comments:
Post a Comment