The Haiti Adventure Continues!

 Today the adventure in Haiti continued. We started by fixing and painting pew benches at a local church. Afterwards we drove to the local market in central Archahaie to buy song-books for the pastor here at Lifeline and tour the market itself. The sights, sounds, and, yes, smells, of the market were indescribable. The market, only open on Wednesdays and Saturdays, is made up of a maze of tarp-covered plots with locals selling all types of goods right on the ground. This market is not a place for tourists and there were no souvenirs to be found; rather this is where locals shop for food and supplies, so the vibrancy and pandemonium we saw are genuinely and distinctly Haitian. We walked through the market and toured a charcoal market that lay next to a small port. The coastline is filled with empty conch shells and small fishing boats that bob gently in the surf. The market stands out in my mind as a true slice-of-life picture of Haiti.

    With song-books in hand we returned to the Lifeline compound for Bryan and Bill to host a soccer game with local children. We also took time to sort the 19 or so suitcases full of shoes and clothes we brought to Haiti. Sorting the shoes and clothes today prepared us to give away shoes tomorrow to the Kid’s Club, a group of local school children who attend the church here. 

During the soccer game, it began raining and for the first time we saw a real Haitian rainstorm, brief but intense. Unfortunately, the soccer game was rained out and Bryan and Bill did not get their chance to preach to the children, but regardless they were effective in building relationships with the children and sharing God’s love. Meanwhile, a delicious Haitian dinner was being prepared for us, featuring chicken; goat; rice and beans; fresh mango and fresh pineapple; piccole (habanero coleslaw); plantains; corn and pea salad; and pasta salad. The taste of this meal was indescribable. While Haitians do not eat as much of the food as we had and not all of those dishes together in one meal, we had a great sample of local cuisine. Believe it or not, Haitians love pasta salad.
    As is our nightly tradition on this trip, we shared thoughts on the day and meditated on God’s Word. I mentioned how our time in Haiti feels like going back in time, and I speculated that what we’re experiencing must have been similar to the Apostles experience walking through the ancient world on their missions, who also dealt with dusty feet and oppressive heat, beholding the sights and sounds of local markets. Stories in the Book of Acts have come to life so much more now that I’ve been in Haiti. Then I spoke of Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 12 and its implications for us to the Jesus’ Great Commission, specifically with making disciples of all nations. We discussed how the body of Christian believers is made up of many members, each with different gifts and callings, and how we are each indispensable and interdependent in carrying out the Great Commission, being only as strong as our weakest member. Thus, as believers we are not only called to evangelize throughout the world (finding believers) but to teach and strengthen each and every one of those believers (growing disciples). Our mission team is a picture of the diverse body of Christ in that we each bring unique skills and talents with us as we work together for Christ’s glory in Haiti, and God has so richly blessed us.
    I can’t wait to see what our mission in Haiti will hold for tomorrow.

-Stephen