Tent City

Can you believe it is already Thursday? Our time abroad is almost complete, and we continue to enjoy every minute of it!This morning began a shift in our usual routine. We finished our last VBS session yesterday, so the entire team struck across the field to the church together to do a variety of constrution projects. I strongly admire the team working on the chicken coop. Working on the aluminum roof, the sun beat down from the sky and reflected back on their faces, even before the afternoon heat struck. The bench building team is also praiseworthy for their cooperation and efficiancy. Our few hours of work saw six benches fully assembled, with only cosmetic touch-ups to go. Another group sanded and stained doors and window sills without complaint, while still another group built shutters for the windows. They were told to do at least four, but those four could easily become twelve or fifteen as the days progress.

After lunch, we had a brief rest time before walking to the Tent City. This area features buildings of all sorts created from a hodge podge mix of materials. Tarps, canvas, spare wood, scrap metal, and the occasional camping tent create this neighborhood that many call home. While the earthquake significantly grew the community, their have been people living there since before the disaster occured.

Walking into the camp we stepped carefully over piles of garbage on a path that wound between mountains of rocks and dirt. We passed Haitian people sitting on the rock piles, systematically breaking the stones into smaller peices to sell. Gathered at the entrance, we split into two groups and waited for instructions. Each group had two or three canvases, a pile of nails, two hammers, and a bag of bottle caps. These tools would provide better shelter for preselected houses in the community. John, the "mayor" of the area, a Haitian, directed us to the different homes that most needed our assistance.

Wherever we walked, a string of children followed us. While some members put up the tarp, others interacted with the kids. Nearly everywhere we went, music played, so we danced with the children, played with the children, carried the children, adored the children, and did all we could in our unique mixture of Creole, French and English to communicate affection and encouragement to these children.

Really, life is hard for the tent community in ways that we American's have likely never experienced for ourselves.

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Returnning to base camp we prepared for dinner and a return to the church. Currently, an 18 person team from a church in Beaverton, Oregon, is also here in Haiti, staying at the dorms in the church compound. Together, with the entire base staff, we worshiped Jesus.

In a big circle in the back of the sanctuary, led by a pair of guitars and a bongo drum, we contended for Haiti through our songs. It felt marvelous to stand with more than fourty people and talk to God as one. Absolutely fantastic.

The songs wrapped up with prayers for specific Haitians we had encountered as well as the members of the base staff. Afterwards, we gathered again to hear a little about the base's work in Haiti. When they first came down here, they did not have any sort of agenda from America. Everything they do springs from the dreams and visions of the national pastor and his hopes for this country.

Today, I ask you to pray for the base staff. When they first arrived, the leaders had a two year plan. The two years ended several months ago. Ask for instruction for their future, as well as a surplus of grace, mercy, patience and provision for the staff members who live here long term. For our little team, pray that we remember to rely on God's strength, and that we fully live in the fruits of the spirit.

Thank you friends!

-The Haiti Team