Oh, our dear Haiti

The balancing act of life continues to get harder as Haiti’s instability increases. On one side the daily tasks of life continue to need attention. The second side consists of the ‘what if’ tasks and questions. 

Worry not..He clothes even the flowers

Life on the mountainside appears peaceful but everyone knows that in the rest of the country roads are blocked; cities and businesses are paralyzed; police being attacked; looting and violence spring up where frustrations, anger and despair mix;  hospitals are running out of fuel and the doors could be closed even if patients can travel around or talk their way through the multiple road blocks. 

While doing daily tasks, one’s mind is constantly being pulled in the many directions of unknowns and ‘what if’s’, some personal and a multitude for our friends. “Should Cory be on the ladder?  Because if he should fall and hurt himself it could be very difficult to get him to a working hospital. Did the hospital and mission compound on LaGonave find fuel? How long will it be before Cory can go to a bank or a grocery store?” 

“I wonder how is [insert name of church leader, friend, missionary, or organization] doing?   Are they safe? How long will the phones and internet continue to work? The airport  must still be open as a jet just flew over.  Wonder if anyone we know is leaving due to the unrest? How long will the people put up with not being able to go to market or work?” 

“ What should we be doing incase we need to leave again? What can we do now to prepare for that possibility? What trees can and should be planted now? How can the house be readied? Probably good to eat older food first so that newer remains for sharing with friends or can wait here for our return. 

For now we are not planning to leave. We are in a very safe location and have supplies. The plan is even if the other Global Partners missionaries return to the USA, that we would ‘shelter in place’. 

However that was the plan in February and then things changed and we had two days for packing/ preparing to leave Haiti. So we feel it wise to take this time to prepare for either going or staying. 

With every unanswerable question there is only one healthy response- take it to the Lord. Follow each question with a prayer. God size problems need the One True Savior. 

Small bits of hope occur in the morning when the local radio station is still on the air; during the day when jets fly over; or at night when the lights of major cities still shine along the coast.   But our real hope rests wholly on the Lord, as do the hopes of the Haitian Christians.

Saturday Pastor LeGrand, his son [a trained agriculturist] and a man from their church came up for a visit. After touring the garden, learning about plants, getting trees to plant from the nursery, tasting some avocado smoothy, a strawberry and mulberries they prepared to leave. We prayed together for the country and they blessed our house and family.  

Our biggest encouragement comes from hearing him and Haitian pastors on the radio praising the Lord, confessing sins, and asking Him to intervene, purify and save this country. We know as well that many around the world are praying for our family and the Haitian people. May the Lord use this crises to advance His Kingdom, to draw people into closer relationship with Himself. He is Able.