What it's all about!

If only I could explain to you what life and ministry here is all about. I am always at a loss for words to describe it. Especially being in a third world country like Haiti to begin with is a whole challenge by itself. I have had people who have been to countries all over the world tell me that they've never been to a place like Haiti. Haiti stands alone and is different in many ways. My opinion is that Haiti is like this because years ago, in celebration over victory, the people dedicated this island to the Satan in a special voodoo ceremony. It is to me the very reason that to this day it is so difficult for missionaries to work in this country. We have our work cut out for us but if you don't know this information it is difficult to ask you to pray for us, "for our struggle is not against flesh and blood enemies,but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places." Ephesians 6:12

We have been working here at Carries for six and a half years. Saturday and Sunday were busy here because we had a couple of things going on. Saturday was a teachers seminar for our school teachers. They came from our five different schools: Carries, Legend, Cupois, Kunol, and Nazon. There were 23 teachers in attendance. It was led by our new school director Petit Homme and the kindergarden section by Sister Yvrose from our chuch in Port-au-Prince at La Saline. It was a day of excellence. It was an all day event and they spent the night to participate in a special service on Sunday.

Sunday morning was a special service. It is our dream to one day have our own little mini convention to encourage the brothers and sisters in all of our participating churches. There are fifteen involved in our mission and many more wanting help. It is a big deal in Haiti to have an annual church celebration for the anniversary of the church. We had something similar to this on Sunday. We can't invite all fifteen churches yet because we don't have enough room to house them all. They come a long way and must spend the night

Sunday morning was excellent with 88 people visiting us from those churches. It was a time of sharing, praise, worship, encouragement, preaching, and just amazing fellowship. We had 120 students from the Carries school and many of their parents participated in all. We had around 400 people in attendance.

There was something amazing going on behind the scenes. The women were busy preparing a special meal to feed all of these people. It is very difficult to plan to feed a group like this because the last thing you want to do is run out of food and not be able to feed them. Bioude and I prepared and planned and prayed that there would be enough. I left her at the helm in the kitchen.

It was finally time to serve. The problem is, at this point there are several walk-ins that didn't attend services but are ready to share the meal. The object is to do this quickly, carefully and tactfully. You can't just say get out, you weren't here for church, that would be a bad situation. We embrace them and find them a seat. I tell them anyone getting out of their seat for whatever reason will not get a plate of food.

I must tell you that this gets the adrenalin flowing for me. Children do not have much value in Haiti. They are a lot of times looked at as work horses. Many of them have a lot of responsibilities at a very young age. Mdme Kiki, that's me, decided that it was kids day and that all children would be fed a plate of food befoe the adults would be served. This is unheard of and many adults did not like it but couldn't do anything about it because Mdme Kiki said that's how it was going to be. I started with all the children from the Carries school. Some of them so small they could hardly hold their plate of precious cargo but they clung to it for dear life. It was a huge, gigantic, enourmous helping of beans and rice, a whole chicken leg, beet salad, fried plantane and pickles. They also got a cup of soda to wash it down. It was worth it all to see their eyes get as big as saucers when they saw all the food, just for them and a whole chicken leg. Usually their mom would use one chicken leg to flavor the sauce for her rice because that is all she could afford. You can imagine what a treat this was to them. It was worth it all to see all my kids eating to their hearts content with a huge smile on their face. That's what it's all about for me. It's what keeps me going despite the hardships, inconveniences, and confrontations of the ministry. Thank you Lord for allowing me to be your servant in a place as special as Haiti. We were able to feed all but about thirty people with the food that had been prepared. I took these thirty people back to the kitchen, sent to buy more food and the ladies prepared it immediately and we were able to finish serving everyone. Praise the Lord! Thank you for giving to make it all possible. May God recieve all the glory and honor for it. Dee