Hiya! It was suggested that I post the text of the message that I had the enormous privilege of bringing today (Easter Sunday) at the biggest church in Cap Haitien (I'm still kickin' myself for not bringing my camera cable for the computer...but, honestly, I never dream I would have this kind of tech access!). Anyway, here goes:
Resurrection Sunday – Cap Haitien
Today is my “spiritual birthday.” Resurrection Sunday, 22 years ago, God brought me to a place where I confessed how desperately I needed Jesus Christ as my Saviour.
Being here, with you, to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ is far beyond anything I could dream!
I don’t know about churches here…but in many churches where I come from, two statements are repeated many times on this morning.
The leader says: “The Lord is risen!”
Then everyone responds: “He is risen indeed!”
I am sad to say that in most churches where I come from, we really only say that one day a year!
I am sad to say that where I come from, most people do not live as though they believe that is true.
Even though my life is built around teaching the Truth of Jesus Christ, I am often tempted to forget that Jesus is alive.
When Jesus’ first followers got to the tomb where He had been buried, an angel said, “You are looking where Jesus was!”
Do not worry about where He was; learn to live with Him where He is!
We do not need Jesus where He was.
We need Jesus where He is…where He is alive!
I have had the privilege of seeing that Jesus is very alive in Haiti!
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Just hours before Jesus was killed, His disciples had surrounded Him for some of His most passionate teaching – and for them, the most disturbing.
We look at the story knowing what is going to happen. They did not have any idea what was coming, no matter how many times Jesus told them He was leaving.
He even told them that He was going to be killed.
There were many things the Disciples could not understand about Jesus until after the resurrection.
They did not understand what Jesus meant when He said:
“I will pray to the Father and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” (Jn 14:15-18, NKJV)
Jesus spoke those words to His closest followers…but they did not understand.
After His resurrection, they learned what He had meant…and gave their lives telling anyone and everyone about it.
-----
The Apostle John did not write his book until decades after Jesus promised that He would not leave them; all John knew as it was happening was that Jesus was talking about leaving.
I cannot imagine what John and the other Disciples felt as they tried to imagine their lives without Jesus.
The thought must have torn their hearts apart.
Yet Jesus said, “Let not your heart be troubled…” (Jn 14:1, 27, NKJV)
I wonder what the Disciples thought and felt when Jesus said, “I am leaving. Actually, someone is going to kill me. But don’t let your heart be troubled.”
Don’t let your heart be troubled? Was Jesus kidding? Was He being cruel?
This week, I have seen what Jesus was saying in a way I never had before…and I have learned it through the lives and stories of many people in this country!
I have seen many people who hold very tightly to Jesus’ promise: I will not leave you…
Jesus said, “I will not leave you as orphans.”
The word “orphan” was as heart-breaking in Jesus’ day as it is today, here, all across this country.
Jesus said, “I will not leave you like that!”
People where I am from often think we have so much to teach you. I think we have much more to learn from you!
Jesus Christ is alive and the faith that many of you have in that is what allows you to live in a world that can be as troubled as ours!
Jesus knows that we are living between Eden and Heaven.
He knows things will come along that will shake our world and break our hearts.
For 33 years, Jesus was a human.
He knows how much it can hurt to be human; He saw and felt things that broke His heart.
Once He cried out to God, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death.” (Mat 26:38).
A few hours later as He hung on the cross, Jesus cried, “God, how could you have left me like this, all alone?”
When Jesus said, “Don’t let your heart be troubled,” He was not saying, “Don’t ever be bothered or hurt.” He was saying, “Don’t try to face those things alone.”
There will be things that will bother and hurt you!
Jesus was saying, “When those things come along, turn to Me! I will be with you in them and that is how you will make it through them…even if I have to carry you every step here on earth until I bring you into Heaven!”
That is what Jesus meant when He promised: “God will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever…you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” (Jn 14:15-18, NKJV)
The resurrection of Jesus made that possible!
As one who did not grow up in the church, I have always had a lot of questions and I have never been afraid to ask them.
I understand why churches where I am from celebrate Christmas and Easter…but even at Easter, I have always wondered why more churches don’t get more excited about the Resurrection.
I do not understand how silent many churches are about what happened on “The Day of Pentecost.”
They don’t seem to be very interested in “The Ascension” – when Jesus was raised into Heaven and the Holy Spirit started a whole new ministry in followers of Jesus.
I wonder why we don’t celebrate what happened the moment the human part of Jesus experienced physical death: “At that moment the curtain in the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.” (Mt 27:51, NLT)
The curtain in the Temple covered the entrance to what God had taught the Jews to honor as the “Holy of Holies” – the one place on earth where God’s full Presence could be found.
One person, the High Priest, had the opportunity to enter into that presence…just one day out of every year.
I could spend hours describing everything the priest had to do to get ready for that moment.
It was awesome and terrifying.
Once a year, one man had a direct encounter with the Living God.
When Jesus died “the curtain in the Temple was torn in two...” (Mt. 27:51)
The barrier to the Living God was removed, once and for all.
That is how the writer of the book of Hebrews was able to make this invitation for any authentic follower of Jesus:
“Let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God.
There we will receive his mercy and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” (Heb. 4:16, NLT)
We don’t have to look very far to find the Living God, because Jesus said He would “abide with you forever…you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.” (Jn 14:16-18, NKJV)
Not an orphan. Not alone. No longer helpless or hopeless. Able to face life because the Living God is right here; not just with us but in us!
“The Lord is risen!”
“He is risen indeed!”
I want to leave you with two prayers that the Apostle Paul left for us.
It does not matter how old or young you are or where you are in your journey with God.
If you would like that prayer for yourself, I invite you to stand as a gesture of your willingness to receive the prayer.
For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.
(Eph 1:15-21, NIV)
Then Paul picked up his prayer for you in chapter 3:
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen (Eph. 3: 16-20, NIV)
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Saturday, April 3, 2010
...possibly more than you wanna know this time!
Urgent, intense “abdominal irregularities” in the middle of the night! I know, I know – as my kids would say, “TMI” – but hang on, there is a link back to God (even on that kind of an opening!).
Anyone who has been in places like this is likely thinking, “I’m surprised it took almost a week for that!” Too true, really. Anyway, it “lingered” ‘til morning and then lurked in the background on the brutally bumpy two-hour ride out to the edge of the little town where the leader training was. At a crucial moment our driver continued to amaze me and was able to whisk me to a “desperately necessary” spot, just in time. Again, if you’ve lived this sorta thing, you’re nodding along with me. If you haven’t, you’re likely thinkin’ I’ve kinda lost it!
My main concern was how I was gonna get through a 3-hour presentation – on the edge of nowhere! D-uhhhhhh; just before it was to start I kinda whimpered a weak, “Father, help!”
The inner answer back was extremely unexpected and seemingly unrelated: “Ditch yer notes, dude; there is something else to tell these folks.” Uncharacteristically, I did just that (my “AG” friends are likely grinnin’; my friends who have no clue what those letters stand for are scratching their heads!)! At risk of really taking the imagery of this story to a dangerous extreme, the thoughts and words flowed like I never could have imagined – while “nothing else” flowed for the whole three hours (again, some of you will get that; some of you will likely give up on this post. either way, I doubt it will make it to any of our mission’s official publications!)
The bottom (no pun intended) line is, it turned into an extraordinary day with about 40 Haitian church leaders. They warmed up quickly and fully, the translator was fabulous, the Truth flowed freely back and forth between us and I found myself learning and caring about them with an intensity that still leaves me shaking my head. I am gonna have a ton of stuff to ponder, rethink and bawl over when this is all done!
Now I am back in my “li’l miracle tech corner” of the place where I’m staying and the wireless strength is showing “very good!” Plus, the meal that was waiting for me (fried bananas, rice and some kind of meat that I’m still afraid to ask for details on) was big enough to share with a couple of the workers that seem particularly entertained by me (I stopped worrying about what they’re saying about me in Creole days ago!).
Lincoln Brewster’s version of “Lord I’m Amazed By You…” is echoing in my head so loud its drowning out the Calypso beat from next door!
Oh, one other random bit that I don’t think I have mentioned: there isn’t a single traffic light in this whole city (some people have told me 500,000 people live here!). If you’ve never been somewhere like this you would never believe how many motorcycles, trucks, cars, wagons, donkeys and people you can squeeze side-by-side in both directions on a very narrow street!
Shalom.
Anyone who has been in places like this is likely thinking, “I’m surprised it took almost a week for that!” Too true, really. Anyway, it “lingered” ‘til morning and then lurked in the background on the brutally bumpy two-hour ride out to the edge of the little town where the leader training was. At a crucial moment our driver continued to amaze me and was able to whisk me to a “desperately necessary” spot, just in time. Again, if you’ve lived this sorta thing, you’re nodding along with me. If you haven’t, you’re likely thinkin’ I’ve kinda lost it!
My main concern was how I was gonna get through a 3-hour presentation – on the edge of nowhere! D-uhhhhhh; just before it was to start I kinda whimpered a weak, “Father, help!”
The inner answer back was extremely unexpected and seemingly unrelated: “Ditch yer notes, dude; there is something else to tell these folks.” Uncharacteristically, I did just that (my “AG” friends are likely grinnin’; my friends who have no clue what those letters stand for are scratching their heads!)! At risk of really taking the imagery of this story to a dangerous extreme, the thoughts and words flowed like I never could have imagined – while “nothing else” flowed for the whole three hours (again, some of you will get that; some of you will likely give up on this post. either way, I doubt it will make it to any of our mission’s official publications!)
The bottom (no pun intended) line is, it turned into an extraordinary day with about 40 Haitian church leaders. They warmed up quickly and fully, the translator was fabulous, the Truth flowed freely back and forth between us and I found myself learning and caring about them with an intensity that still leaves me shaking my head. I am gonna have a ton of stuff to ponder, rethink and bawl over when this is all done!
Now I am back in my “li’l miracle tech corner” of the place where I’m staying and the wireless strength is showing “very good!” Plus, the meal that was waiting for me (fried bananas, rice and some kind of meat that I’m still afraid to ask for details on) was big enough to share with a couple of the workers that seem particularly entertained by me (I stopped worrying about what they’re saying about me in Creole days ago!).
Lincoln Brewster’s version of “Lord I’m Amazed By You…” is echoing in my head so loud its drowning out the Calypso beat from next door!
Oh, one other random bit that I don’t think I have mentioned: there isn’t a single traffic light in this whole city (some people have told me 500,000 people live here!). If you’ve never been somewhere like this you would never believe how many motorcycles, trucks, cars, wagons, donkeys and people you can squeeze side-by-side in both directions on a very narrow street!
Shalom.
Friday, April 2, 2010
April 2 in "the Cap"
Hilarious! I figured out how I am able to get sporadic wireless internet (a coupla days ago I mentioned that I stumbled onto a "live" corner where I'm staying but couldn't figure out how it was possible!). Turns out, the "hotel" office below has a simple "iinksys" router (like the first one we got and I used to fight with back in Quito)...and that is the system I was somehow able to fix yesterday. Lo and behold: fixing their problem got me back up online in my li'l corner -- and they're perfectly cool with me using it from up here!
It is just one more thing to add to the growing list of things that have happened that can only be explained One way! Wanna hear another one? I mentioned earlier in the day on a Facebook post that I had a few unexpected quiet hours this morning -- to ponder, reflect and even weep. Then my thoughts turned to the final three nights of the "campaign," final preparation for tomorrow's "leader training" -- and the hilariously unexpected invitation to bring the message at Cap Haitien's largest church...on Resurrection Sunday!!!
So, there I was, studying/praying for Sunday and I started thinking I might need to head out to grab something to drink (there is a surprisingly well stocked but horrifically expensive li'l shop right by here; I'm guessing that is thanks to the UN compound around the corner). A knock on the door; in walks Pastor Adam with a mix of sodas and juices -- 4 cans, 2 bottles. A typical crushing bear-hug and, "Ahhhhh, my friend...we just thought you might be thirsty."
"Lord, you know how much I appreciate it...but 6 drinks? What about the tens of thousands around me with nothing?"
Hmmmmmm...'scuse me; I think I gotta go take a walk. I have a few "things" I need to hand out.
It is just one more thing to add to the growing list of things that have happened that can only be explained One way! Wanna hear another one? I mentioned earlier in the day on a Facebook post that I had a few unexpected quiet hours this morning -- to ponder, reflect and even weep. Then my thoughts turned to the final three nights of the "campaign," final preparation for tomorrow's "leader training" -- and the hilariously unexpected invitation to bring the message at Cap Haitien's largest church...on Resurrection Sunday!!!
So, there I was, studying/praying for Sunday and I started thinking I might need to head out to grab something to drink (there is a surprisingly well stocked but horrifically expensive li'l shop right by here; I'm guessing that is thanks to the UN compound around the corner). A knock on the door; in walks Pastor Adam with a mix of sodas and juices -- 4 cans, 2 bottles. A typical crushing bear-hug and, "Ahhhhh, my friend...we just thought you might be thirsty."
"Lord, you know how much I appreciate it...but 6 drinks? What about the tens of thousands around me with nothing?"
Hmmmmmm...'scuse me; I think I gotta go take a walk. I have a few "things" I need to hand out.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
checking in from "the Cap"
Salud!
Internet options have been rare over the past couple of days; so sorry for losing contact! Actually, this morning I was kind of crawling around behind the little desk in the “office” where I am staying into this chaos of wires to help them reestablish their internet connection here. I guess all those months of fighting with the problems we had in Quito have been redeemed – and the people are unusually appreciative about “how much (I) know about computers.” Hilarious, huh???!!!
Shoot; where do I begin? I wish you could have seen the translator last night. He does so much more than just translate the words. He “amplifies” the emotion and excitement to an acceptable “Caribbean” level. The dude is crazy and he gets flat-out drenched from head to toe. Every once in a while he pauses to whisper in my ear in broken English, “ohhhhhh, dis is a gooooood message.” It is kinda like a little nudge from God for me, saying, “Keep going; deliver the message; let me use him to make it fit their culture and hearts.”
Attendance at the crusades has been much lower than the leaders had hoped – but people just don’t seem to get down about anything here! They believe it simply comes down to the fact that people do not have any money at all to even think about getting to something “extra” like this. The poverty is beyond all western comprehension. Even Pastor Adam says things are much worse than when he left. Port au Prince (the capitol) was the only tiny glimmer of industry and/or employment and with it still upside-down the whole country is reeling. Plus, the neighborhood the crusade is in is pretty “dark” in all ways. Apparently many people are not happy with a church “hurting”” their neighborhood. The whole area is pretty much without electricity so when we drive out at night, the candles on tables in front of the homes give it all kind of an extra ominous feel. Plus, the rains have returned – which is a huge relief on one hand – but tends to keep even more people away in the evening. Still, when it comes to the “crusade,” the people that come seem so full of life and faith and the direction of the crusade seems to be turning more to encouraging them and building them up than welcoming people who do not have any clue about God.
On the other hand, this morning I was invited to a “prayer meeting” at the biggest church in Cap Haitien. Talk about being yanked out of my comfort zone!!! There were several thousand people there – and for about an hour it looked like a mixture of a Caribbean aerobics class and mosh pit (prayer meeting, huh?). Then it turned into what I can only imagine happened in the first days of the New Testament. There were shrieks and screams and people would hit the dirt and flip and flop and tremble and quake and then go perfectly still; some for 20 minutes or so. They kept an open area up front for people like that and the job of some of the “ushers” was to carry collapsed people into the open area for prayer and care. Just like EFC, right?
Then this visiting Mexican evangelist got up to speak with a translator and it turned into an even bigger time of “healing and deliverance.” I have never, ever seen anything like it live. All kinds of things were going on inside of me – but then I remembered the portion Jeff taught from the Sunday before I left…the one where John and others went and whined to Jesus about “others” doing things “in His name.” Jesus simply told them to leave those others alone to do their work. So, I chose to simply watch in amazement, pray and learn. The whole thing had been going on for about three hours at that point. Then came another “surprise”: the 35-40 minutes they wanted from me (be ready, in season and out of season, huh?). The lead Pastor translated – and I could not believe how words simply came to me and flowed. After, the Pastor asked if I would come back and bring a message on Resurrection Sunday. I was scheduled in another church that day but Pastor Adam said this church would really “love to have (me) open the word with them again.” How the heck do you say “no, sorry” to that?! Simply another picture of the insanity of all of this! Now the li’l white dude from the Canadian prairies will be bringing the message on Resurrection Sunday in a very Caribbean/black/Charismatic church. How can you not laugh?
Oh, yesterday we went out of Cap Haitien to see a church and school that Pastor Adam started about six years ago. After being hammered by the conditions of the city for the first three days I was not at all prepared for what was waiting “out there.” I can only describe it as the Christmas party at the Zambiza dump – for miles on end! Still, the kids stunned me. Everywhere, they come to me; most timid at first but once the first one takes a bold step they all get into it. Even when we just pull over to the side of the road the kids crowd around. It hit me yesterday on the way home that I was the only white dude I had seen since I got here. On the one hand, that is kind of exhilarating. On the other hand, I definitely see why Jesus’ model was normally to send people out in at least 2’s!!! I try not to think too much about what I would do if I needed anything of significance along the way. I don’t know if I mentioned it but they put me up in a room (simple but quite nice, I must admit) in a building a couple of miles away from Pastor Adam’s home (you would have to see his home to appreciate why there wouldn’t have been room for me there) – so I am pretty much by myself from the time we get finished the crusades each night around 10:00 until Adam comes to get me the next morning.
By God’s grace I did just meet this dude from New York with a small NGO. He is actually trying to do something with sanitation here. Talk about an Everest-sized task! I hope to connect with him more when I get home – and help him try to raise some cash. He has an astounding dream!!! I just realized yesterday that there is absolutely no trash system here. Things are literally thrown everywhere; once a pile gets big enough (wherever it is), it becomes a “local dump.’ It is staggering! On top of that, the “sewer system” is a series of channels that run along the homes and the streets…leading basically anywhere and nowhere. So, a bunch of them kinda converge in random places. As close as I can tell, there are about 500,000 people in this city – so I cannot describe the cumulative effect of it all (words, pictures and even videos don’t capture what goes on in your other senses!)!
The language is soooooooo frustrating! It is normally a complete mix of Creole and French so I barely get anything at all! Still, I have met a few people who speak some English or Spanish so I have not been completely in isolation.
Oh, speaking of the trip out of town yesterday -- instead of the bus, a guy that one of the Pastors knows offered to drive us (for a fee); and his car has air conditioning! The little “gifts” from God along the way continue to humble me to the core. I have quite a list of them already!
I cannot even begin to talk about the kids. They are simply indescribable; precious; gorgeous. I have taken a few pictures but as I said earlier, it really feels inappropriate to be looking at their lives like a “spectator.”
Anyway, that is more than enough for now. One bizarre thing that has been happening is that I seem to collapse into a coma-like state for an hour or two in the afternoon – in spite of (or maybe because of) the heat. I don’t feel physically tired but it is like all my senses are so overloaded my whole “being” shuts down. It is dangerously close to that now – so I hope this makes some sense!!! Once I hit the “post” button it will be too late and I will only be able to look at it tomorrow and shake my head at how it came across.
On the Potter’s wheel (Jeremiah 18),
Len
Internet options have been rare over the past couple of days; so sorry for losing contact! Actually, this morning I was kind of crawling around behind the little desk in the “office” where I am staying into this chaos of wires to help them reestablish their internet connection here. I guess all those months of fighting with the problems we had in Quito have been redeemed – and the people are unusually appreciative about “how much (I) know about computers.” Hilarious, huh???!!!
Shoot; where do I begin? I wish you could have seen the translator last night. He does so much more than just translate the words. He “amplifies” the emotion and excitement to an acceptable “Caribbean” level. The dude is crazy and he gets flat-out drenched from head to toe. Every once in a while he pauses to whisper in my ear in broken English, “ohhhhhh, dis is a gooooood message.” It is kinda like a little nudge from God for me, saying, “Keep going; deliver the message; let me use him to make it fit their culture and hearts.”
Attendance at the crusades has been much lower than the leaders had hoped – but people just don’t seem to get down about anything here! They believe it simply comes down to the fact that people do not have any money at all to even think about getting to something “extra” like this. The poverty is beyond all western comprehension. Even Pastor Adam says things are much worse than when he left. Port au Prince (the capitol) was the only tiny glimmer of industry and/or employment and with it still upside-down the whole country is reeling. Plus, the neighborhood the crusade is in is pretty “dark” in all ways. Apparently many people are not happy with a church “hurting”” their neighborhood. The whole area is pretty much without electricity so when we drive out at night, the candles on tables in front of the homes give it all kind of an extra ominous feel. Plus, the rains have returned – which is a huge relief on one hand – but tends to keep even more people away in the evening. Still, when it comes to the “crusade,” the people that come seem so full of life and faith and the direction of the crusade seems to be turning more to encouraging them and building them up than welcoming people who do not have any clue about God.
On the other hand, this morning I was invited to a “prayer meeting” at the biggest church in Cap Haitien. Talk about being yanked out of my comfort zone!!! There were several thousand people there – and for about an hour it looked like a mixture of a Caribbean aerobics class and mosh pit (prayer meeting, huh?). Then it turned into what I can only imagine happened in the first days of the New Testament. There were shrieks and screams and people would hit the dirt and flip and flop and tremble and quake and then go perfectly still; some for 20 minutes or so. They kept an open area up front for people like that and the job of some of the “ushers” was to carry collapsed people into the open area for prayer and care. Just like EFC, right?
Then this visiting Mexican evangelist got up to speak with a translator and it turned into an even bigger time of “healing and deliverance.” I have never, ever seen anything like it live. All kinds of things were going on inside of me – but then I remembered the portion Jeff taught from the Sunday before I left…the one where John and others went and whined to Jesus about “others” doing things “in His name.” Jesus simply told them to leave those others alone to do their work. So, I chose to simply watch in amazement, pray and learn. The whole thing had been going on for about three hours at that point. Then came another “surprise”: the 35-40 minutes they wanted from me (be ready, in season and out of season, huh?). The lead Pastor translated – and I could not believe how words simply came to me and flowed. After, the Pastor asked if I would come back and bring a message on Resurrection Sunday. I was scheduled in another church that day but Pastor Adam said this church would really “love to have (me) open the word with them again.” How the heck do you say “no, sorry” to that?! Simply another picture of the insanity of all of this! Now the li’l white dude from the Canadian prairies will be bringing the message on Resurrection Sunday in a very Caribbean/black/Charismatic church. How can you not laugh?
Oh, yesterday we went out of Cap Haitien to see a church and school that Pastor Adam started about six years ago. After being hammered by the conditions of the city for the first three days I was not at all prepared for what was waiting “out there.” I can only describe it as the Christmas party at the Zambiza dump – for miles on end! Still, the kids stunned me. Everywhere, they come to me; most timid at first but once the first one takes a bold step they all get into it. Even when we just pull over to the side of the road the kids crowd around. It hit me yesterday on the way home that I was the only white dude I had seen since I got here. On the one hand, that is kind of exhilarating. On the other hand, I definitely see why Jesus’ model was normally to send people out in at least 2’s!!! I try not to think too much about what I would do if I needed anything of significance along the way. I don’t know if I mentioned it but they put me up in a room (simple but quite nice, I must admit) in a building a couple of miles away from Pastor Adam’s home (you would have to see his home to appreciate why there wouldn’t have been room for me there) – so I am pretty much by myself from the time we get finished the crusades each night around 10:00 until Adam comes to get me the next morning.
By God’s grace I did just meet this dude from New York with a small NGO. He is actually trying to do something with sanitation here. Talk about an Everest-sized task! I hope to connect with him more when I get home – and help him try to raise some cash. He has an astounding dream!!! I just realized yesterday that there is absolutely no trash system here. Things are literally thrown everywhere; once a pile gets big enough (wherever it is), it becomes a “local dump.’ It is staggering! On top of that, the “sewer system” is a series of channels that run along the homes and the streets…leading basically anywhere and nowhere. So, a bunch of them kinda converge in random places. As close as I can tell, there are about 500,000 people in this city – so I cannot describe the cumulative effect of it all (words, pictures and even videos don’t capture what goes on in your other senses!)!
The language is soooooooo frustrating! It is normally a complete mix of Creole and French so I barely get anything at all! Still, I have met a few people who speak some English or Spanish so I have not been completely in isolation.
Oh, speaking of the trip out of town yesterday -- instead of the bus, a guy that one of the Pastors knows offered to drive us (for a fee); and his car has air conditioning! The little “gifts” from God along the way continue to humble me to the core. I have quite a list of them already!
I cannot even begin to talk about the kids. They are simply indescribable; precious; gorgeous. I have taken a few pictures but as I said earlier, it really feels inappropriate to be looking at their lives like a “spectator.”
Anyway, that is more than enough for now. One bizarre thing that has been happening is that I seem to collapse into a coma-like state for an hour or two in the afternoon – in spite of (or maybe because of) the heat. I don’t feel physically tired but it is like all my senses are so overloaded my whole “being” shuts down. It is dangerously close to that now – so I hope this makes some sense!!! Once I hit the “post” button it will be too late and I will only be able to look at it tomorrow and shake my head at how it came across.
On the Potter’s wheel (Jeremiah 18),
Len
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
heading out again...
...I honestly don't know how I can get a wireless connection from this little corner of this building. It is just one in a long string of things that continue to blow me away!
There was a smaller crowd last night. pastors say it is to be expected for the first few days as people realize it isn't "just" a party or some foreigner here with handouts. They seem very pleased with how things are going, though. I have been asked to teach in two more places.
Last night's "translator" did much more than just put the words in their language. The dude brought it to true Caribbean life!!! I thought I was sweating; the dude was drenched!!! He said he loved sharing that kind of a message...although "his part" was normally twice as long as what I was saying!!!
At the end, when they asked people if anyone would like to come to the front with questions or for prayer, one guy came all the way up on the platform, past the musicians and all the instruments and right to the Pastors who were still seated at the back. Just one more thing to add to the "I've never seen before" list!
Oh, yesterday morning at breakfast I was kinda kicking myself for not having brought vitamins (not a lot of fruit and veggies here, obviously). When my breakfast showed up, guess what was staring at me from my plate? Papaya pieces! A little dry and wrinkly, but tasty as all get-out!
Gotta go; we're hopping a bus to head "out of town" to the school that Pastor Adam started and the church that grew up from it.
Sensory and spiritual overload continues!!!
Lots of love...
There was a smaller crowd last night. pastors say it is to be expected for the first few days as people realize it isn't "just" a party or some foreigner here with handouts. They seem very pleased with how things are going, though. I have been asked to teach in two more places.
Last night's "translator" did much more than just put the words in their language. The dude brought it to true Caribbean life!!! I thought I was sweating; the dude was drenched!!! He said he loved sharing that kind of a message...although "his part" was normally twice as long as what I was saying!!!
At the end, when they asked people if anyone would like to come to the front with questions or for prayer, one guy came all the way up on the platform, past the musicians and all the instruments and right to the Pastors who were still seated at the back. Just one more thing to add to the "I've never seen before" list!
Oh, yesterday morning at breakfast I was kinda kicking myself for not having brought vitamins (not a lot of fruit and veggies here, obviously). When my breakfast showed up, guess what was staring at me from my plate? Papaya pieces! A little dry and wrinkly, but tasty as all get-out!
Gotta go; we're hopping a bus to head "out of town" to the school that Pastor Adam started and the church that grew up from it.
Sensory and spiritual overload continues!!!
Lots of love...
Monday, March 29, 2010
quickie from "The Cap"" (Haitien)
...just long enough to do a couple of "cut and pastes" from my Facebook:
just came through some of the wildest “rush hour traffic” I have ever seen; please don’t tell my Mom or Beth that I did it on the back of a little motorcycle with two other grown men! This has been another day of complete sensory and spiritual overload!!!
...and don't ask me how, but I stumbled onto a tiny corner of the place I'm staying in where I can often pick up an unsecured wi-fi signal -- in Cap Haitien!!! I mean, when ya think about it, communicating by wi-fi is miraculous enough from anywhere. This is wayyyyyyyyy over the top -- especially in contrast to the neighborhood we experienced this afternoon. Honestly, if anyone ever hears me whine about "not having" something ever again, you have my ongoing permission to whack me firmly in the side of the head!
just came through some of the wildest “rush hour traffic” I have ever seen; please don’t tell my Mom or Beth that I did it on the back of a little motorcycle with two other grown men! This has been another day of complete sensory and spiritual overload!!!
...and don't ask me how, but I stumbled onto a tiny corner of the place I'm staying in where I can often pick up an unsecured wi-fi signal -- in Cap Haitien!!! I mean, when ya think about it, communicating by wi-fi is miraculous enough from anywhere. This is wayyyyyyyyy over the top -- especially in contrast to the neighborhood we experienced this afternoon. Honestly, if anyone ever hears me whine about "not having" something ever again, you have my ongoing permission to whack me firmly in the side of the head!
Stunned in Cap Haitien
As usual, I only have a brief moment. That is actually good because there is no way I would be able to even try to describe what it is like here; it would likely only frustrate me if I had five hours to write because I know I could not find the right words. People keep telling me I need to take pictures but something in my heart won't allow me to even pull out my camera most of the time. It bugs me a little to have to wrote so quickly because I am usually kinda OCD about spelling and grammar. That is gonna have to be put to the side, so bear with me and any excessive amount of mistakes.
It is hotter than I ever would have imagined. Sitting in the shade, with a breeze, typing this and I am dripping in sweat. Still, how dare I complain? Even considering the miracle that allows me to click this and send it out humbles me to the core.
The people here are beyond sweet but beyond anything I ever would have imagined as "poor." I honestly see why so many would go to great lengths to get to Quito -- and why they find it "luxurious" in so many ways.
I spoke in this incredible church yesterday morning (surprise!!!). There had to be more than a thousand people -- all trying to hide in the little shade there was.
The "crusade" opening was beyond description. The little, white Canadian dude was blown away by the full-blown, Caribbean/black approach to worship. So much more than I could have ever dreamed (I know I keep saying that!). I am guessing there were about a thousand people -- and about fifty remained behind to "talk more" afterward, which left me out of the loop 'cuz my Creole is only slightly worse than the puny amount of high school french that I remember!
The kindness of the people is staggering; they treat me like a true king -- and that humbles me to the core. (I am not sure about some of the things I am eating and drinking -- but they sure taste incredible!)
God is stirring up so many things in my heart; it will take weeks to sort out all my notes and thoughts.
I am afraid I need to run; Pastor Adam is here to show me more of the city. I will try to use the camera some...but so much of it just doesn't seem like the kind of thing that should have an audience or spectators, if you know what I mean.
On the one hand, I can't wait for this to be over to get back to Quito and try to tell people about it. On the other hand, a week more does not seem long enough.
Oh, one thought: if I ever comment or complain about the drivers in Quito again, slap me! This place is beyond comprehension!!!
Write me back if you can; I do get sporadic little contacts with the internet. It isn't as common as in Quito but it is available. Cell phones, on the other hand, are everywhere!!!
In God's Palm!
Len
It is hotter than I ever would have imagined. Sitting in the shade, with a breeze, typing this and I am dripping in sweat. Still, how dare I complain? Even considering the miracle that allows me to click this and send it out humbles me to the core.
The people here are beyond sweet but beyond anything I ever would have imagined as "poor." I honestly see why so many would go to great lengths to get to Quito -- and why they find it "luxurious" in so many ways.
I spoke in this incredible church yesterday morning (surprise!!!). There had to be more than a thousand people -- all trying to hide in the little shade there was.
The "crusade" opening was beyond description. The little, white Canadian dude was blown away by the full-blown, Caribbean/black approach to worship. So much more than I could have ever dreamed (I know I keep saying that!). I am guessing there were about a thousand people -- and about fifty remained behind to "talk more" afterward, which left me out of the loop 'cuz my Creole is only slightly worse than the puny amount of high school french that I remember!
The kindness of the people is staggering; they treat me like a true king -- and that humbles me to the core. (I am not sure about some of the things I am eating and drinking -- but they sure taste incredible!)
God is stirring up so many things in my heart; it will take weeks to sort out all my notes and thoughts.
I am afraid I need to run; Pastor Adam is here to show me more of the city. I will try to use the camera some...but so much of it just doesn't seem like the kind of thing that should have an audience or spectators, if you know what I mean.
On the one hand, I can't wait for this to be over to get back to Quito and try to tell people about it. On the other hand, a week more does not seem long enough.
Oh, one thought: if I ever comment or complain about the drivers in Quito again, slap me! This place is beyond comprehension!!!
Write me back if you can; I do get sporadic little contacts with the internet. It isn't as common as in Quito but it is available. Cell phones, on the other hand, are everywhere!!!
In God's Palm!
Len
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