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Thursday, July 4

“It is well, It is well, It is well with my soul…” the sound of seventeen men and their voices ringing into the night sky. This was just another wonderful time of worship along with the dripping rooftop rain, crickets, ocean waves, and the rest of creation praising His name. It was a fitting finale to a day full of divinely orchestrated encounters.

The team had split off into two groups. Tom, Lori, Pastor Michel, our missionary Barb, and I (Timothy) were off to prison in Saint Marc.  Lori did dentistry on guards and inmates while the rest of us talked with each prison cell. A typical cell would only be about 10’ by 20’ room holding twenty men in each.  The barred cell door was their only view out and that was our place to talk and pray with the men.  The prison itself had an open courtyard with two levels. Each level had about ten cells. Our team split into two and ministered to each cell for about ten minutes at a time. Some of these young men were very hungry for the Word, and it was encouraging to see some of them working on a Bible study worksheet that Barb hands out when she visits.  Tom had brought a Créole Bible with him and we were able to give it to the perfect person who didn't have a Bible! From what Barb had told me, he was a strong believer and can hopefully have a chance to pastor other men in his cell.  After an extended stay at the prison, we regrouped with the rest of our team back in Macdonald for a quick snack before we headed off again.

The rest of the team had stayed in Macdonald to help with a cleanup project.  As normally happens when they show up at the basketball court, children quickly joined them and helped them pick up the litter.  They started at the court, which is located at the turn off from the main highway into the community.  Not far down the street they noticed the great amount of litter on a cement embankment by the river, so they redirected their efforts and made a big difference.  Unfortunately, their supply of garbage bags quickly ran out.  So they switched gears and walked up the steep, long hill to a new school building in Macdonald where they played soccer in a courtyard area.  The view of the ocean was beautiful, the sun was strong, and the soccer was fun.  It was yet another opportunity to build relationship with their new Haitian friends.

That night our basketball game was rained out, but it worked out for our good since the other team didn’t show up. Cody and a few others played soccer out in the pouring rain while the rest of us cooked a large meal consisting of spaghetti, crackers and summer sausage. What a feast! We continued the night by Gregg leading us in a time of reflection, prayer, and finally praise.

Friday morning, July 5

Vacation Bible School (V.B.S.) today! Pastor Michel took our tap tap and us up a treacherous mud infested mountain road to arrive at our destination, Barb’s School. Gregg and the team taught on Romans 12:1-2 and John 3:16 to more than 60 kids. Logan did an excellent job on songs such as the classic “Father Abraham” and “This is the Day.”  After a time of arts and crafts and a hot meal (funded by the team) we gave away a few gifts to the kids and sent them on their way. Then, down the mountain we went to our house again to wait for our next adventure.

The tentative plans are to have the guys from the church in Port-au-Prince staying the night with us. They should be getting here any minute so I’ll leave with a few prayer requests. Until next time.

Timothy.

Prayer Requests

1.       Gregg’s hip has been bothering him currently. He’s taking at easy but the terrain is difficult. He’s a strong guy and has made the most of the situation, but it would be wonderful if he could be fully healed.

2.       Pray for continued unity among the team. We have had some great team moments so pray that the Lord continues to grow our hearts together as fellow brothers in Christ.

3.       Pray for Tom Seibel. He’s going to be preaching the Sunday service this weekend at the church we’re going to in Port-au-Prince.

4.       Opportunities to share the gospel with the community wherever we go.

5.       For the choir boys tonight and over the weekend. That we would show an example of what godly men look like.

6.       Safety with transport to and from places

Heading out Thursday morning to minister to those in the prison at Saint Marc.

                                                                                    

Helping secure barbed wire to the fencing on the land of our head interpreter, Michel on Wednesday afternoon.

Starting our cleanup project Thursday morning.

Wednesday evening's basketball game against another local Haitian team on the court in Macdonald.

Wednesday morning basketball clinic led by the team for about two dozen young people.

Working with the children on cleaning up the river embankment.

Coach Gumness doing his color cube trick for the children at VBS

Evening worship time singing at the gate of our home with children from the community.

More soccer at the school.

Singing the action packed song Father Abraham for the children at VBS.

Soccer at the new school building up the hill above Macdonald.

Telling the children about Jesus at Vacation Bible School in the mountain community of Cannot on Friday morning.

Working on a journal at the end of another full day of ministry.