Haiti III

I struggled with my decision to go to Haiti. I knew a lot of theology, but I had struggles in communicating those truths verbally. However, through advice of fellow believers, the result of circumstances, and God's prompting, I decided to go. People, when they found out I was going, encouraged me that a person with my theological leanings and maturity would be helpful in Haiti. I was excited to go, but I was like Paul at Corinth, I approached this ministry with fear and trembling. Once we got to Haiti and started ministering, I struggled with finding the correct verses to apply to situations. I had my bible with me, but the verses eluded me. However, God did use me. Dave encouraged us to use our life experiences. I ministered in the following ways.

I met with Pastor Layans. We discussed our pride in our sons and our desires for our families. I think we really connected.

I asked forgiveness from a 15-year old boy. I did not believe him when he told me his age and motives. I later found out differently and had to ask forgiveness. He wanted to become a pastor, a powerful man in God. I told him how Jesus was humble and a servant of all. I told him it was through humility we become great in the kingdom of God. When the team was ready to leave for the day, he insisted that he carry a box I was carrying to the tap-tap.

I washed an elderly woman's feet. After talking about pride, the next day, Doc Nate asked me to wash a woman's feet. How cool was that?

I pleaded as a father to a 31-year-old woman that she would not sleep around. From talking to this school teacher, I found out she was a professing christian, but she was sleeping around. I gave her some verses on sexual purity, but she rolled her eyes. At the end of the conversation, I pleaded with her as a father would to his own daughter, that it hurts God her heavenly father when she sleeps around. I think that reached her. It also opened the door to some spiritual conversations with the female translator I was working with at the time.

On Thursday, one of the team members was involved with sharing the gospel with a man involved with Voodoo. Earlier that week, this same team member expressed his lack of confidence in his knowledge of scripture. However, he did great all week. I was called in to do some follow-up with the new believer, whose name was Ellinois. I gave him some scripture verses about assurance of salvation and fighting temptation. I asked him to come back on Friday and I would try to give him a bible. That evening the team member shared more about Ellinois. I was happy for the team member, but I realized I worked mostly with Christians all week. I was excited that God was using me, but I wanted to help with bringing someone to the Lord. I prayed that God would use me in that way. Friday went by. It was mostly young women with women-type problems who wanted a Creole bible. I gave what advice I could. It was a busy, but unexciting day. At 3:00 p.m. I didn't witness any conversions. Ellinois didn't show up. Disappointed, I gave Steve the Creole bible, which I kept back for Ellinois, to give away to another believer. I started to help pack up. I decided to use the facilities. When I came back, one of the interpreters said someone was looking for me. It was Ellinois. He came back. I prayed with him. I said I didn't have a bible but I told him to use a Piper book in Creole. If nothing else, focus on the verses at the start of each chapter. I told him to get plugged in at a church. I was very glad he came back. Please pray for Ellinois.

As I thought about this on the way home. God brought 1st Corinthians to mind. He used the least confident believer of the group to share His gospel. God did not use my supposed theological acumen or maturity, but God used my sinful pride and my experiences as a father to help people through me.

Here's the passage in 1st Corinthians.

And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. (1 Corinthians 2:3-5, ESV)

As a wise man wrote once, "It is not about me." It was not about what I thought my skills were, but how God could demonstrate His power through my weaknesses.