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(Katie Peterson, Director of Discipleship Ministries at Third Reformed Church in Pella, IA, just recently traveled to Pignon with the H.E.L.P. (Haitian Education and Literacy Program) team. This is an inspirational story written about her 1st visit to Pignon!)
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A Prescription for Contrasts
(submitted by Katie Peterson)  Of all the prescriptions I took with me on my first mission trip to foreign soil, none proved to be as powerful as the "per-Scripture" my Prayer Warrior prescribed the week before our team left. "As I prayed for your trip, I think the Great Physician brought Deuteronomy 31:8 as a verse for you. Take a heavy dose of this verse twice a day for the next fourteen days in the morning and the evening," he said.
Deuteronomy 31:8, "The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you or forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."
What was I about to be afraid of or discouraged by? How had he gone before me? What was the Lord preparing me for? This exact phrase is used 137 times in the Bible. God uses this phrase as He reveals His plan of redemption to the Patriarchs, to calm Moses on leading the Hebrews out of Egypt and Mary heard these words as she had a heavenly visitor, the disciples heard these words as the storm raged on the sea.
My friend accurately described Haiti as "a country of contrasts" and looking back this verse was preparation, a prescription, for the many contrasts that I was to experience...
I had always been a 'sender' of missionaries, having the opportunity to pray for, financially support and learn from people who were being 'sent'. And now I was part of the sent along with Joanne Schafer, Bev & Denny Brand, Doug & Sherry Grunder and Paul Rekow. Joanne, Bev, Sherry and myself were going to Pignon Haiti to partner with Haitian Leaders and Teachers to offer the first ever teacher training available to the Promise for Haiti Schools. Later my friend would describe Haiti as a 'country of contrasts'!
'He will never leave you or forsake you. Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged.' When the airplane landed in Port Au Prince, I witnessed poverty, darkness and oppression that I still can't find language to express. The poverty and oppres-sion that we experienced , leaked into all my senses. The tent cities with over 350,000 people still living in the aftermath of the earthquake, and mountains lined with shacks on top of shacks, the smells of raw sewage and garbage piles, animals feeding on the piles, and the feeling of heaviness as I realized I was no longer watching this on TV, but these are REAL people with REAL larger than life situations shook me to the core.
How does one not become discouraged in the face of such poverty, darkness and oppression? I continued to quote this verse at least a 1,000 times as we left Port Au Prince to Pignon on the three hour winding mountain roads.
My first of many lessons of contrasts... all of these senses were unexplainably surrounded in the peace that surpasses all understanding. Not only did I sense the Lord's presence of peace, but I saw it as Christian schools and churches were along the streets and villages. I would also learn the incredible story of so many who surrender much to bring hope to this country. Using the Gospel Message, Promise for Haiti is transforming the community of Pignon from the inside out! In only three decades, glimpses of hope and light were all around!
And the REAL people with REAL larger than life situations were all so beautiful... The mountains hills and views are so breathtaking, but the financial poverty that lives in this creation is so heartbreaking.
'The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you.' For Sunday morning church, we decided to worship at Guimby, one of the poorest places in the area surrounding Pignon. One of the students who graduated through HELP on scholarship has planted a church at the school. Several of the school's teachers also helped with the service. We drove for miles until the cactus lined roads became impassible for our 4-wheel drive vehicle and we walked the rest of the way. On the mile walk along dirt path roads, we experienced a touch of what it might have been like in Jesus' day... a crowd of people followed us as news spread that we were attending church.
More contrasts.
The people in the village have no money, but somehow, someway, they come to church in beautiful bright white clothing. A church under a tin-roof shed with handmade tree branch posts, triple digit heat, and yet the power and presence of the Spirit of the Lord was stronger than I have ever experienced.
In a language that I could not understand, my Spirit could testify. The Lord is alive and moving in Haiti.
I looked around and saw all the ways that the Lord had gone before and prepared for this moment...Judging by the smiles and joy in that place, the Americans and Haitians were both experiencing a movement of God's goodness and Grace! I was surrounded by a beautiful team that had simply said 'yes' to the Lord when He called. Joanne, a woman of beauty who had dedicated her life to providing education for village children and Bev, a woman of abundant grace who is walking beside her (over 3,000 have been served to date, thanks be to God), Denny and Doug-two men who serve in the name of Jesus Christ and bring their wisdom and leadership to further the Gospel by providing hope to the people. And a wonderful servant-hearted woman, Sherry, who lights up a room by just being in it! This experience, which I would gladly travel the 1,000 again to experience, wouldn't have been possible for the 50+ Haitians that had gathered there, without the 'yes' responses that surrounded me. What a great example of "The Lord himself going before and being with you!" This trip was a transforming prescription for contrasts. From being a sender to being the one who was sent, from breathtaking views to heartbreaking povery, from triple digit heat and no material comofrts to a spiritual paradise. Joanne said to me when we returned, "I always thought that I was doing for Haiti. No (she shakes her head), Haiti has always been doing something for me." I understand.
I am excited about the ways that the Lord is alive and moving in Haiti! What a blessing to be a small part of that and I look for-ward to continuing to watch his redemptive power! Where is the Lord going before you? What 'prescription' do you need to answer his call? |
