Day 10 - And so it ends.
On our way to Pastor Bazu's home.
In transit.
King of the Kia.
Steve the "blanc."
A final walk.
Julihomme's front porch.
A story of propane & juice bottles...
Tonight we had the opportunity to visit the homes of the pastors at HAM. Eye opening to say the least. The last home we visited was Pastor Julihomme's. This is a man who does the plumbing, the driving, leads the kid's church in Tapion, and is supporting 5 of his own children...not to mention several other relatives who also live in the house. And this house - a two bedroom home, all concrete, bare-wire electrical lines powering two small light bulbs on the ceiling, a manual water pump outside, and an outdoor kitchen - it's simple to say the least. Julihomme has a propane stove, but told us it was too expensive for him so they used charcoal instead. And yet, he and his wife served us each a cold bottle of juice. Juice that took up all the space in his small refrigerator. The reality of that gesture is that those drinks cost him a large portion of his monthly earnings. It was one of the most humbling experiences of my life. Propane to cook food is too expensive, but here are cold drinks for 16 North Americans. As we thanked him he said, "it's nothing." Those words will forever be burned into my mind. "It's nothing." Actually, I think it was quite something. In that moment, in the middle of Haiti, under the light of one dim lightbulb, God shook us.
Right now I'm listening to our team share with Mark and Lisa some of their favourite moments of the trip as part of our final debrief. Some find it easy to share. Some are finding it difficult because their thoughts are so scattered and deep, but through the tears they're trying. :) There is no doubt that this has been a monumental experience and it has run deep.
Today at noon I dropped the hammer on the conclusion of all our projects. It ended with a frightening moment when all the power to the buildings and the water pump conked out on us. We got it back on thankfully! I was not looking forward to leaving the place in that condition. Mesi Jezu! :) I can happily say that we got WAY more done than anyone thought we would upon arrival.
I have to say I am so proud of this team. They have truly functioned as a team, they have worked their tail off, and they have stepped out of their comfort zone in huge ways. I have watched them share their faith in the streets...even during "non-evangelism" times. I have watched them work from sun up to sun down...and not because they are just hard workers, which they are, but because they believe so much in what they're contributing to. I have watched them serve and fight through challenges with such joy, patience, and hope. It has really been my privilege to be here with this team.
So this is it. How weird is that? Saying good-bye to this place never gets easier, and I think those of us here and you at home are going to miss this blog too! :) It's been cool to see the online community this has created over the past days. My prayer is that this new-found sense of community will continue in a new and fresh way for the betterment of SAC, Haiti, and our surrounding community at home.
On behalf of Team 4, a HUGE thanks to all of you who have interacted with us here. We have appreciated it a great deal! Thanks for your prayers, your encouragement, and for walking with us on this journey.
We arrive home Friday morning at 12:45a. We're expecting the same kind of homecoming that championship teams receive after the big game. :)
If there's time I'll try and post a blog on our way home. No promises though.
Thanks again everyone, and for the last time from Haiti, good-night.
-Aaron
11 Comments:
Hey team four,
Just got home from a ladies prayer meeting on your behalf. So great to see your last day's blog when I came in.
Our hearts have been praying hard for you today, not only as you debrief, but as you prepare for the return home to your family and friends, etc.
We love you so much, and are so proud of each of you in a good way :) for following through and being the hands and feet of Jesus these last few weeks in an extraordinary way in Grand Goave.
Can't wait to see you Gord. King of the Kia, always the king in my heart. Have a safe flight.
Until the wee hours of Friday.xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Robin
Hi dad it's aman I pray that you have good airplane ride home glad to your face in another picture!
Best regards,
Aman
Hi Everyone,
These pictures really showed me more of what the community is like. It's so strange to see you all walking down streets lined with rubble. Seems like you are all deep in thought in many of the pictures, and I imagine this is a really difficult time for you. What kind of sounds did you hear on the walk, what kind of smells wafted around you?
Rainer, it looked so sweet to see you walking along holding one of Marc and Lisa's daughters. You have a tender heart my brother.
Dan, you and several others had a quiet, intense look about you when you were all in the van. Exhausted and thoughtful. I'll bet you are going to want to sleep for a couple of days when you get home.
Here I am trying to write something meaningful, and I'm thinking about a man giving you juice that cost him so much...and my dog is crying and interrupting me because he wants to walk on the treadmill for treats. Wow. We live in totally different worlds.
Anyways, can't wait to see you Dan! Can't wait to give you a hug and kiss you myself...Aaron will be relieved about that I'm sure! lol
Love you,
Michele
Hello Dad,
I can't wait to see all your pics you have taken and to hear all the adventures you went on. Also i can't wait to hear the stories you guys encountered in these two weeks.
Lindsey
Hey Steve,
We have missed you lots! Can't wait to see you Friday morning! Were praying for you to have a safe trip home!!
Love you Lots!!
-Harjit
Hey dad, hope u had a great time in Haiti! i look forward to seeing you tommorow morning. And wake me when you get home. dont worry i'll actually wake up this time, haha.
Jeevin
P.S. ohhh, and the BC lions got into the playoffs, and the blue bomers are out (Yeahh)
Aaron,
Thank you so much for conveying to us waiting at home, what kind of day you had today and what kind of thoughts and feelings are going through your minds.
Team,
I too was at a dinner/prayer meeting with the other wives tonight. We want so much to be the perfect people to come home to... to give you the love or the space that you need, and to be ready to be changed ourselves as we listen to your experiences and hear your hearts. (And I'm positive that the husbands feel that way too:)
We are praying for both you and for your families... that a deeper union between you and God, within your marriages (most of you anyways) and families, and within the community of SAC will come out of this trip, and that you will continue to feel the power and presence of Jesus Christ as you re-adjust to life at home, and as God leads you into the next phase in your lives.
We love you very much and are so glad that it is only 24 hours before we can embrace you again.
Kelly, I look forward to seeing your face.
Michael,
... there is more I look forward to than I can say... perhaps the most important is having you here beside me as I close my eyes in sleep. Some of the wives were joking about having to get used to the snores again. I'll take the snores honey, as long as I can have you here again, my partner and my love.
Laura
Hello team 4! Thank you for sharing your hearts with us over the last few weeks. We have been both encouraged and challenged by your words! Have a safe trip home - there will certainly be many happy families waiting to greet you!
You continue to be in our prayers:
Chad and Kelly.
Just before going to meet with some of the wives of team 4, I was watching the Remembrance Day clips. At one point they brought up the Home Front...
Certainly, lots has happened on this Home Front, and God has worked some amazing changes and growth here too. For me, living through a death process for the second time with Chris on a missions trip, has been hard. Being that it happens to be cancer - emotionally complicated! The spiritual struggles have been very difficult so I chose to be very open in my journey, needing many, many prayers. At my worst crisis, God made sure that at least three people read and two responded to my blog before it mysteriously disappeared. Great healing has occurred because of that. That actually brought me great hope. God will not let His purpose be interfered with. (when it disappeared I thought I had finally had a mental break down but surely the Caesar salad taste was real!)
As I watch and talk to the other wives about the struggles at home (the killer schedules, the tensions at home, the spiritual battles, the loneliness & fears)I realized that another battle hasn't been discussed much. The Home Front.
To those of you that weren't at the ladies prayer dinner last night and to you husbands at home, we prayed - not only that we will show patience, grace and understanding to our team as they struggle with culture shock coming home, but that they will show patience, grace and understanding to the families that have gone through their own change. That Satan will not use any of this to create strife in our homes. The new battle is just about to start. In my house, Satan's greatest success has always been when He attacks The Home Front.
As the Remembrance Day ceremony concluded, they panned the crowd. Tears were in peoples eyes. Old people held hands. "Look at the crowd." the announcer said. "The Home Front suffered too."
many prayers, many thanks and lots of love
Christine
Hey y'all. Stephen Toon here. Not sure if you'll read this before you get home...or if you'll read it at all. Sorry I haven't posted any comments - I've been keeping track and praying. Wow. I am sitting here with my guitar, reading the last few posts and can't help but be moved to tears. All I can think about is: real, true, messy life. I was saying to Lisa today that we meet Christ in our mess, in our brokenness. If we aren't honest about who we truly are, we miss out on meeting Christ - incarnate, in the flesh, in the mess. As I read your blog I realized that it's not just individuals that are broken and messy, it's this whole stinkin world. Organizations, countries, systems... The fact that you have been standing with the poor in the mess and just serving out of love and obedience to Christ is an act of getting into it yourselves - incarnation. Thank you for being Christ to your Haitian friends, to each other, and to us at home. Thank you for getting messy.
As you arrive home you'll encounter another kind of mess. The one we live in is contained in this seemingly put together fancy package of wealth and accomplishment. I bet you'll feel angry, sad and frustrated, but peaceful, joyful, and liberated all at the same time because you have seen how most of the world lives and you have met God there - probably ore than you have met Him here! Hang on to the Haiti feelings. Don't ever forget how God triggered truth and revelation in you and for you on this trip. And keep living it out wherever you go!!
Love ya!
Missed you all.
See you soon.
ST
Hey Team,
I am praying for a safe flight for you all, can't wait to see you and hear about your experience. Dave I am so proud of you for going and can't wait to see you. I was thinking that it was this time of year how many years ago? when Garry preached and you accepted the Lord. And look at where your were, you have come along way baby! Kilo is anxious to see you and go to starbucks with you! (me too) xox
Marj
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