Rick took some time for story telling and singing with a group of kids that had been following us around. I passed out some gum, or "Chiclet" as they called it, which got the kids smiling. Then Rick told them about how there is one God, and His son Jesus loves them. As he handed each child a bottle a water, he taught them how Jesus is even better than water.
Reggie, one of our friends who had been helping us with our Creole, led the kids as they sang about Jesus and danced right there on the top of the hill where we had been working.
When the crew left for lunch, Rick, Don, and I chose to walk all the way down through the village to visit with people in their homes and the market before we left. We were very glad we did. Our friend Romil took us to his church and introduced us to Pastor Kelly.
Pastor Kelly showed us the structures they were repairing and rebuilding which had been damaged by the earthquake. They're currently working on a cooking and sewing school to teach people a trade, and a school to train deacons to minister to others in the area. We asked how we could help them directly in their efforts. His first request was simply for prayer. Then he described that his most urgent desire is to get the people he's caring for into more permanent structures. He showed us the houses they're building and providing for families. Each house is about the size of a two-car garage, but they're solid, and they only cost $6,000 from start to finish. We'd like to explore supporting this work directly. If you want to be a part of that, please email me.
Before we left, I pulled my boots off and gave them to Reggie, who had been voluntarily helping with construction all week in his sandals, like most of the people who live in that area. And then, as if God wanted to remind me of just how lucky I am to have luxury items like boots, with the first step I took toward the van, I sliced my toe open on a rock, not deep enough to need stitches, but deep enough to spout forth a fair amount of blood. Fortunately, with the medical team staying in the same house we were in, there was no shortage of doctors on hand to bandage me up.
Friday afternoon was blocked out to prepare for the trip home; most of us would be up very early the next day. A few folks took advantage of the opportunity to drive into Port Au Prince to see what the city looked like, mainly from the car though because there aren't many great places to get out and walk around. The guys from Explore Church however, had different plans. You may remember seeing pictures of a helicopter on Day 3. You didn't think I would pass up the chance to make friends with the pilot did you? I surprised the guys (and Janet, our hostess) with the chance to see Titanyen, the village where we'd been working all week, from the air! It was a quick flight, as the pilot had a mission planned that afternoon, but I'm pretty sure they all enjoyed it. When they hopped out, I got to ride along as the helo delivered volunteer's to another site across the water.
Most of the blue shelters with tin roofs you see here are ones that our team put up this week. The furthest one to the left is number 26, just waiting for the blue tarp.
As exciting as the view from the air was, the last event of the evening was very special. Our friends who had been driving and translating for us took us to their church and pulled out all the instruments they use each week during their church service. We sang and worshipped with them in their home church while rain pounded the roof, so grateful to be a part of that family, hoping one day some or all of them would be able to visit our family at Explore Church.
You can see all the pictures from Friday by clicking HERE.
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