February 2013 is my 2nd trip to Haiti. Before I left in May of 2012, to my surprise, a deep desire was placed in my heart to return. I have seen a tremendous difference in what the Lord has done since then. God is moving in a mighty way in many areas.
The amazing thing is it’s the little things that we do for the Lord that means so much to Him. Jesus says, “And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward” (Matthew 10:42). Jesus, reminds us in another scripture “For I was hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me…Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me” (Matthew 25:35-36, 45b). Showing the love of Christ to the Orphans meant hugging them, giving them undivided attention, singing, praying over them, painting their faces, giving out treats, passing out clothes, playing with them, just being there. What a blessing it was for me to see this large group of children running down the hill to meet us every morning with opened arms and a big smile on their little faces, wrapping their little arms around our neck and legs, some jealous, pushing their way in…they loved the attention and so did I.
As it is said, “Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be broken”. I did not know what to expect, what I would be doing on this mission’s trip in Haiti but whatever and however the Lord wanted to use me I was open, willing to be stretched, to do “a new thing” whatever He saw fit. God knows my limits, He promises to give me the grace and strength to handle whatever comes my way (2 Corinthians 12:9) so I trusted Him to keep his word. And He did.
“Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing…” (Isaiah 43:18-19). On this trip, one new thing the Lord did; He prepared me to spend some time with the severely disabled children at the orphanage. This was a stretch for me. What a blessing and great joy for me to be able to pray over, to love and to sing to them. The simple thing of just fanning the flies off them in Jesus’ name, talking, singing, and praying over them, knowing that Jesus loves them and died for them. Their present state is only temporal and in Heaven, they all will have new perfect bodies.
Another new thing was, Pastor Brain, for the first time got approved for us to go into the hospital to visit and pray for the sick and to take the Gospel. He had all of us to go to the hospital and minister to the sick. What an eye opener that was. Again, the things that we take for granted. Medical care! Very, very poor primitive conditions. Stale air. No air-condition nor food provided. Mothers with their little babies, fanning flies, bring their own food into the hospital to feed them, no Anastasia to numb pain for surgery. This one patient that our group visited has spinal meningitis. The Doctors tried to do a spinal tap that Friday unsuccessfully because they could not keep him still to draw fluid. So they were going to try again Monday. We were able to pray with his Dad and over him for God’s healing touch. We had the privilege to pray for many and some received Christ.
I learn to plant a vegetable garden at the Bible College, and prayed for rain. It came and rained for two nights! I washed many dishes, prayed and encouraged each other, all to the glory of God. Went into tent city ministered and watched one of the Haitian Pastor put together a soccer team with the kids and watched them play, then he presented the Gospel to them and passed out Bibles. It was great visiting all the different Churches. They put us to shame, how the children all worshiping and on fire for God!
I believe the highlight of this trip for me, if I can say “Highlight”(so many) is when the New Jersey team join us and the worship leader, Dave Miller wrote a simple new song that the Lord gave him for the Haiti children, written in Creole, called “Jezi Renmen Ou”( Jesus Loves You). He sang and taught it to us, we in turn, taught it to the Orphans. The kids loved it. They learned it and would not stop singing. When I stop, they would start singing again and again… What really blessed me on top of everything else was when our flight was delayed with two days more in Haiti because of the blizzard storm in New York. We went back to the Orphanage and I was singing “Bonjour, bonjour, Jezi renmen ou” to the kids then one of the mothers from the severely handicap side called me over in her language, asking me to sing it to her. I did. She said again…again… She was singing along with me with her eyes closed and her hands lifted up to heaven with a big smile. She wanted me to teach her so she can also continue to sing to the kids when we leave, is my continual prayer. “…For the joy of the Lord is your strength”( Nehemiah 8:10). What a blessing. By Dave Miller’s obedience to write this simple song, the Lord opened the door for him to share it over the Cross to Light radio and T.V. program. It is spreading the gospel of the love of Jesus throughout the Haitian Nation. The seed has spread through the Nation. Dave was so overwhelmed and so humbled by this. What a blessing it was for me to get to know him, his Pastor Rick and the whole team. The Lord put us all together and it was such a blend, all complimented each other with our gifts and talents of service to the Lord. Even Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa team joined us right before we left. Great fellowship!
We were fed spiritually by having great devotions each morning by Pastor Rick, Pastor Brain, and Pastor Gary. And of course, I can’t forget the sit-down dinner that Pastor Rick’s wife, Sharon, prepared, the Polynesian Chicken Stack. Wow! What a presentation. That topped it off! We all sat down at a banquet table and dine together…all you can eat!!! This was a luxury in Haiti.
We are so rich in America and take so much for granted. We are so blessed and think nothing of having healthy water to drink, to take a hot shower, to have a home with walls and flooring instead of living in a very small tent with dirt floors, to have a wide variety of foods to choose from, electricity at our finger tips, to have abundance of clothes, smooth highways to drive on instead of rough terrain, not to mention the adventure of the “tap-tap” (Haitian truck taxis), to have abundant of clothes,…the list goes on and on.
I was taught what it truly means to be Jesus’ hands and feet. I envisioned what it was like when Jesus walked this earth among the many people, sick, cripple, dying, poor, naked and hungry and how He looked on them and had compassion. What a blessing to even be counted part of this missionary journey. I see things from a different perspective. I am learning and have a long way to go. What an honor and privilege to serve in a 3th World Country. We never know what God has in store for us!
His Servant,
Virginia La Brie
