'God Moments' in Leveque

The team prays for Pastor Louis

Tuesday, Feb. 19: The first stop for our team today was the church that was recently built by Mission of Hope.  We met with Pastor Louis who spoke to us about the challenges of growing a church in such a poverty stricken area.  He talked about families and children that he wants to minister to, and the frustration of lacking the resources to accomplish that goal effectively. He went into detail about the lack of adornment in the church and described the communion table as plain and fit for the marketplace.  He desires to be a pastor in the fullest sense to his congregation but clearly faces major obstacles in this call.  

After Pastor Louis finished his presentation, we had an opportunity to ask him questions and then both Vicki Pry and I went up to stand with him and offer our support and prayer.  Vicki spoke to the simple beauty of the church and we both thought it was a sacred space that was filled with the presence of the Holy Spirit.  Vicki lifted up the plain cloth that covered the communion table and described it as a work of beauty made for God’s glory. 

Vicki and I asked everyone in the church to come forward and surround Pastor Louis and we laid hands on him and raised him up before God.  All of us were connected with one another and prayed for him and his calling to serve his people.  In that sacred moment, God’s spirit moved through us, multiplied by His love to bless Louis.  We have had and will continue to have many “God moments” while on this journey in Haiti.

Today our objective was to get to know the people of Leveque. We walked from home to home in twos and threes, moving through the village and stopping to talk with as many people as we could and praying for them.  It is very inspiring to find God already so present here in Haiti in the lives and homes of these people.  

There was no ignoring the challenges we saw yesterday as they were present still.  Men with skills in the trades unable to find work, sick children who can’t get to see a physician and single parents trying to raise a family.  And at the same time, in the midst of doubt, uncertainty about God, nevertheless, they asked us to raise up specific requests in prayer.  From home to home, from person to person we offered what God has asked of us.  To come along side and walk with them, even for this brief journey and share their burden, worries and doubts and to assure them that despite all these uncertainties,  God is the one constant who loves them beyond measure.

Later in the afternoon, we had play time with kids in the village. We jumped rope, threw Frisbees, kicked soccer balls, played Simon Says in Haitian, did dramatic recreations of bible stories of the calling of Samuel. Kudos to Cynthia Black and David and Goliath, where Steve Harvey wins the Oscar for dramatically falling to the ground when little David threw his stone.

In the evenings, under Shauna Ridge’s leadership, we gather after dinner to process the day, reflect on the God moments which are mounting, and hold each other up when we are weary.  We covet all your prayers and look forward to seeing  you again with many stories to share.

-Pastor John Neider