It’s Sunday night and I am still in Haiti. Today we visited pastor Richecard’s church and fellowshipped together…. I began to write an update but I felt no conviction about what topic I should share. I realize now that was because what God had for me to share with you hadn’t happened yet…or least in my time, but God knows everything.
As we were traveling home with our truck full of people, an awful sound came from the front of the car…. the tires went all crooked and it was immediately clear we had a major problem. In all my travels in Haiti in 48 trips, this was the first major breakdown. The car broke by a small store where we could buy done drinks and next a cemetery. I made some videos, learning some new things about how cemeteries function in Haiti.
When it was clear we were stuck here, likely for hours, we decided to explore the area. We found a Catholic Church with a play area. Soon our IOCH staff was involved in a very competitive soccer match with the local. I thought our guys were good, but the local young men were exceptional. After a humiliating loss they reset the game and this time got a lead, defended it ferociously and wisely quit while they were ahead.
Richecard and I talked while some little children played around us. There was a father with two particularly beautiful little girls. I asked him if we could take pictures with him and to my surprise he was very agreeable. I asked him about his work and complimented his beautiful family…. then I felt God prompt me to ask him if he was a Christian. I was surprised when he gave us an immediate straight “no”.
Richecard carried some conversation with him and then explained to me his story.
Years ago, he was very involved in his church’s leadership. In this time he fell to temptation and his girlfriend became pregnant. He wanted to be a family but was completely unable to have a wedding, so he just lived together, raising their child together. All these events brought him a lot of shame, so he left the church and left his faith. Many years later, he now has four daughters and his girlfriend’s family are devout followers if the voodoo religion. It was clear he felt pressured to go along with these evil beliefs, even though he still knew the truth. Richecard continued the conversation and he seemed genuinely moved. I wasn’t catching much of it as it was in creole, but I again felt prompted to share the words from Joshua, “choose this day whom you will serve.”
After a few more minutes of Creole and me being in the dark, Richecard looked at me and said “he is asking he to pray with him and his family. “He walked us back into a typical one room brick house with no electricity or running water.
I was tired so I sat on the floor with the baby and Richecard, Aschille, and Loubens circled together with this couple and prayed….and sang….and prayed and sang some more. It got dark during this time, but I could make out this man raiding his hands in worship. I was holding the girlfriend hand during prayer….then I wasn’t. I looked up to see her also raising her hands in worship. It was a beautiful moment that went on for nearly an hour.
When we finally said Amen, myself and Richecard were in tears, but I couldn’t see the others. The little girl told Loubens she loves Jesus. She then shared a memorized part in the upcoming kindergarten graduation, where she would dress and act as a nurse…. but she was also told there was no money to buy the costume. She was so precious. Since it was dark she invited all of us to stay the night. We laughed but she was serious. I was offered the only bed!
The couple both expressed their desire to be married and rejoin the church. I told them we would help to make that happen. In all this they never asked me for anything. I left some money behind in the house to encourage them and lighten their immediate burdens.
We walked back to the car marveling what God had done. Mezou and Billy had just finished the repair after 6 hours and we were headed home. As I write the guys are in the back worshipping…. it was a truly beautiful day that I never could have planned.
Sometimes we have to look for those divine appointments, and other times God will just walk us right into them without our permission. God is good.
God bless,
-IOCH Founder David Garman
“UNITING THE PEOPLE OF GOD TO WORK FOR A BETTER HAITI”