I met a special woman this past trip to Haiti. I was inspired by her, and I hope you are too.
Each Sunday I’m in Haiti, our whole team of about a dozen piles into (and onto) our trusty Toyota Tacoma pick up and visits a new church. IOCH partnered with pastor Pascal and his school of over 250 children about a year ago. I’ve been to the school to build a swing set and visit the children, but this was our first chance to visit the church. The service was wonderful and when given the chance I shared on the power of the tongue to build or destroy from James 3. I also always use this opportunity to publicly affirm the Haitian leadership of the church. Pastor Pascal is truly a special servant of God.
An elderly woman named Philo approached me and shared her story. She was a widow and her house was in bad shape. The community was concerned it could collapse. I cannot respond to every need, but I felt God leading me to at least hear her out. I asked if she lived nearby and soon about half our team was following this energetic woman on foot paths to her house!
We were met by her adult daughter that lived with her. I later was told she was deaf. Initially I was confused about the house because it looked like sturdy masonry construction. Looking closer though I realized it was just logs, bamboo and lathe with concrete pressed into in to keep it together. I’ve seen this often in Haiti, even in some of the schools IOCH partners with. Sister Philo energetically showed us through her home. Our group was in no hurry, and I was curious, so we sat down and I asked her about her life. My greatest pleasure has been the relationships God has allowed me to build in Haiti. This also gives me greater understanding of the country and its people.
Sister Philo was now 68 years old. After her birth her parents couldn’t care for her, so she was passed around to different people in her community that raised her. She never went to school, but they taught her how to sell Casava, a Hatian staple that I can only describe as a giant Triscuit. I’ve grown to love Haitian food, but Casava hasn’t grown on me yet. Philo later showed us the local casava making operation, grinding, pressing and then cooking over an open fire. It was then loaded on a truck, and they would travel 8 hours to Port au Prince to sell all their product in a market. This weekly process became her livelihood, apparently for her entire life.
I asked if she could read or do math, and she made us all laugh. She said- “when I was a young woman they thought I should read. So they gave me teaching book, but today I couldn’t tell you what that book says. For math, I can’t do math on paper but put me in a market… put me in a market and I will show you my math!! I can count and negotiate, sell and exchange money with the best… but math and reading, I know nothing of that.” We all laughed along with her story, recognizing this is just the reality for so many in Haiti.
Philo then shared that she had other children who grew up and moved away, her husband died 20 years ago, and now she was left alone to care for her daughter. A few years back, in the violence that has taken much of Port au Prince, gangs took over the area of the market she sold in. Now the big trips to the capitol have stopped and the casava operation has slowed significantly. Pastor Pascal and the community help her as they are able.
I looked at this wonderful woman, who has been through so much, but still exhibited a joyful spirit I rarely see in the USA, and I was inspired. I said-“Philo, I see God has been faithful to you.” Philo paused, looked towards heaven with hands raised said, “God has been so, so good to me. I am nothing without Jesus! God has been so faithful, He is good!”
We gathered with our team to pray with her, sing a song of praise to our faithful God, and we were on our way. I asked Pastor Pascal to advise me how I can bless sister Philo.
I am blessed to live two parallel lives, one in the land of plenty, where we really have everything we need at our fingertips. Yet we complain, daily are discontent and we question the goodness of God. My other life is in a land of deep struggle where Christ followers like sister Philo have experienced an entire life of hardship yet are overcome and filled with the goodness of Jesus. I later I realized Billy had taken a photo of her walking back from giving her tithe during church. I’m inspired to be more like sister Philo…and a little less like me.
With much gratitude,
-IOCH Founder David Garman
“UNITING THE PEOPLE OF GOD TO WORK FOR A BETTER HAITI”
PS – as always Billy was doing his excellent work, capturing all these beautiful times so I can share them with you. Click on the link and enjoy a window into Haiti!!