Day 9 (1st Edition)
Rest assured there will be another blog later today. To be honest with you, I'm just trying to escape the sun for a few minutes. Sitting at a computer makes it look like I'm doing something important. :)
There is such beauty here in Haiti. I told Mark this morning that there's something about this place that gets inside you. I have been in Haiti for a total of 36 days of my life, but it feels like home somehow. Everywhere you look you see poverty, things that need fixing, problems, brokenness...but after the initial shock of those things the beauty of this place, the small glimmers of hope, and the knowledge of a God who is in the business of restoration and redemption seems to take over. I still see the pain and suffering and all the problems, but I see them now through a lens of hope.
What do you see when you look at the pictures on this post? What do these pictures provoke in your mind and heart? Do you hear God say anything to you as you look at them?
I know it will take time for this country to be healed, and there will continue to be setbacks along the way, but something is happening here. Something good is happening here. And there is something that changes in me as I get to be a part of the change here.
In God's economy we learn that the last will be first. In our economy of things the privileged are always first. I often think of that when I'm down here. What does God see when He looks at the impoverished follower of Him here, in Haiti? Maybe for all our books, buildings, schools, and opportunity these Haitian Christians know more than we do about inheriting the Kingdom of God? If community is a central part of the Christian faith, than we have a lot to learn from our Haitian friends. If the life of the local church is supposed to intersect with all aspects of our daily life, than we have a lot to learn from our Haitian friends. This isn't a utopia down here by any means, but Haiti has so much to offer us.
Just some thoughts.
On a lighter note, as you may or may not be aware, I read all of your blog posts to the team each night. I am getting increasingly comfortable hugging, smooching, and kissing your loved ones. I figure I have to do all those "xoxoxoxo" justice. It was awkward at first, but everyone seems to be used to it now. :)
Talk to you later,
-Aaron
18 Comments:
I love you dad!!! I miss you. We're praying for you.P.S.your awesome LoVe GrAcE( :
Hey daddy ! Hows it going ? We miss you soo much . Cant wait to see you!!! I am not letting mom leave me at grandmas on friday night I am coming no matter what mom says !!! See you at the air port in four days !! LOVE YOU LOVE CHLOE xoxoxoxoxoxooxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxooxoxo
You may feel increasingly comfortable hugging and kissing everyone...but I'm feeling increasingly UNcomfortable after reading that!
Jax keeps asking for "more daddy" (talking about pictures) - he's very excited to build his boat on Friday. We love you Aaron and can't wait to have you home!
Shalene & Jaxton
Aaron asked what affect this morning's photos have on us…
I love, and hate, the photo of the two small children sitting on a step with “Aristide” crudely sprayed.
One of the children looks serious, puzzled, held back. The other is living in the moment, happy, maybe curious. This depth of contrasting mood in innocence, or perhaps innocence lost, is frozen in time for me -- above a name that provokes much debate.
Haiti is like a puppet with many strings, but with no two strings being pulled in unison. The country is at the mercy of opposing forces – internal political corruption, a people with a history of revolution, foreign corporate media, North American heavy-handed capitalism, voodooism coexisting with Christianity.
Like the Haitians, I am torn. Part of my ego demands that I drive myself crazy or numb or both, in order to find fulfillment, avoid pain, better myself in the eyes of others, or provide icons of happiness for those I love. The other part of me madly dreams for a simpler way of life where truly what matters is people not possessions.
On the surface, in these pictures, I may see poverty, dirtiness, desperation. I think part of me wants to see these things, because when I do, I can thank God my children were not born into such a chaotic environment. But I have a feeling most of the people in those photos are thanking God they were not born into the lifelessness of our society.
Is it really possible to have the best of both worlds?
When someone asked Mother Theresa what God's greatest gift to her was, she replied, "The poor people". Her reasoning? They gave her the opportunity to live every hour of every day with Jesus.
We would all be changed people if we literally touched the kinds of people Jesus touched.
As our family members follow the heart of Jesus in these few remaining days, I am reminded by these photos to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with my God. So simple, so life-giving, yet so damn hard to live out.
I know that god is blessing you all just as he is blessing all that you touch. I continue to pray for you all that you would be touched and encouraged. I pray for all your health. Michael, I'm so glad to hear that you are now okay. I wish that I could be there with you all, but at least I can be there in my prayers. Can't wait to see you all home!
The photos remind of a passage in Corinthians:
"So we're not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There's far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can't see now will last forever." 2 Cor 4:16 (The Message)
As early as Day 6, God has been prompting me to pray for you in these last days. Mounting fatigue, some homesickness maybe, intruding thoughts of responsibilities at home and at school and the mixed feelings of leaving a place of spiritual richness must certainly be weighing on you. May you take heart in this message from our loving Father.
These pictures are truly eye opening. As I sit here looking at each one trying to imagine what you must be feeling as you are living it out these last days, I find my eyes filling with tears. The work you are doing is not only immediate and tangible but more importantly eternal. So press on, toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Phil. 3:14) Love you Lisa, can't wait to see you. Love and Hugs, Char
wow. why are tears always the first thing to come up whenever i look at this blog? so many emotions evoked and thoughts racing through my mind that i can't even grab hold of them one at a time. so overwhelming. i see such joy and pain. peace and anguish. everything you think should never go together, yet somehow they do. i think of God's vastness, and how unfathomable it is to try and make human sense of Him and all that He is.
the impact of this trip can never be measured. not only are the members of team #4 being personally changed and impacted, so are all of the people you see and touch as well as those that they interact with in turn. then there are all of us who are left behind at home and every soul that reads these pages. God is doing something immense.
tomorrow is remembrance day and as i stop and think about the incredible blessing and gift that we have received,(NOT EARNED) the freedom that we take for granted everyday that so many fought and died for, it makes me think also of you and how on a different level you are also blessing others with the gift of God's freedom. Very different fights, yet they have so much in common.
okay, that was weird. just before i started typing this i was trying not to lament the fact that God's gifts to me did not include being able to write down my thoughts in a clear and interesting way. hmmm. don't know if any of you found this blog clear or interesting but i think that someone else was just moving my fingers across the keyboard, and trust me there is no one else here with me except sawyer and the ever present lightning mcqueen!
anyway, i think you all often and pray for you just as much! i'm looking forward to having you all back.
aimee.......all of the things i want to say to you just won't come out properly so i'm sending you a hug and you'll just have to try to interprit!
dan, chris, jonathon and mike, hugs to all of you too!
-erica
Just a cooling thought. It's 2 celsius (in Edmonton) this morning but forecast for the day is 5 celsius. Just a reminder that winter is coming.
I woke up this morning at 4:00 am feeling I should be praying for you and for the group to stay health. These pictures remind me of the time I spent in Peru. I get the thought every once and a while that I should be going back. The rewards were life lasting.
Eldon - Amy sends you an extra big hug
Take care Ken
how do the photos make me feel? pretty sure Gerrard can take a pretty good guess.... Make the most out of these last few days. Live every single moment. (corny i know)
mom: Larry has moved in and so far everything is rolling fine. Although, matthias and her seem to be up in arms... something about TT putting a frog in her bed?
Hanna
Hey dad it's Jeevin, hope you're having a great time in Haiti. We are praying for you and the team, and i can't wait to see you on Friday. We're all doing good, and mom and aman say hi. I look forward to hearing how God used you guys in Haiti
Cya soon,
Jeevin
The pictures are definitely thought provoking...all the poverty is overwhelming! Experiencing the life christian people have in Haiti probably makes you all recognize that we all have a lot of stuff that gets in the way of our christian lives here at home. It makes me think how many of them are poor and lost, while people here are rich and lost. In a way I would love to drop everything and move to a place like Haiti to be a "front liner" for Christ. As it is though, God wants me to be a "front liner" here in Powell River....doesn't seem quite so exciting. Rainer, I'm praying that this trip brings on a new urgency in you and us to reach the lost in our area and raise kids with a thriving relationship with Jesus Christ who also have a heart for the lost! We love you and if you feel called to move to Haiti as missionaries, I'm in ( I never did like it in Powell River) :D :D
5 tight hugs and 3 sloppy kisses!!!! (have fun Aaron:D:D & Rainer :D:D)
Coral
hey Dad it's me again i hope your having a good day and yeah p.s the lions are in the playoffs and the bluebombers are out. I saw in one of the pictures that there is scotiabanks in haiti WOW! i never would of guessed that. well have a good next couple days there and enjoy your flight back.
In Him
-Aman
Although I have no deep words to share with you - no great insight - please know that I have been praying without ceasing ... all hours of the night (managing to survive on about 5 hours of sleep right now as I'm constantly waking up and praying) and several times during the day. I will be praying for great strength and energy for you during these last few days in Haiti ...
Hey Dad! Hope everything is going well over there! I love you and miss you, see u on Friday... at 1... in the morning :P I guess I'm going to have to stock up on energy drinks! haha see you then!
Love Luke
Hey Dad i miss you and i am praying that you will make it back safe, and i cant wait till you come back..ill be waiting at the airport. By the way when you get home there is a computer to fix................!!!! JUST KIDDING!!!!
I love you dad :) Love Spencer
Hey I know I have already written but I miss you so much. Anyways cant wait to see you at the air port. Every day seems to take forever !! Love you LOVE CHLOE XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOOXO :)
Hi daddy!!! I miss you lots and lots and lots and lots!!!! Sorry I haven't written to you, but don't worry I've been thinking of you and praying for you and the team :) I can't wait till you get home and I love you SOOOO much! mom fixed the kitchen sink today cause it wasn't working properly, so it does now :) Anyways I love you and miss you and can't wait for you to come home so I can give you a huge hug!!!!!!!!!!
hugs and kisses, Melissa
Post a Comment
<< Home