Haiti – Day One
Today was our first full day in La Croix, and the first opportunity for the team to see their new surroundings in the light of day.
We started our day sitting down with the leadership council and getting to know each other. A few familiar faces, and some new faces. We have a new trip leader, Champlain, and two translators, Frantzou and Lucner.
After meeting with the leadership council, we took a drive into La Croix. We took a walk down toward the beach. I am amazed that no matter how many times I walk down there, it still takes my breath away every time we round a corner and that spectacular view is spread out before me. And to know that the same God who created this work of art also made each of us, Americans and Haitians.
My favorite part of walking on the beach is watching the fishermen bring in their nets. When Americans think of fishing, we think of fishing poles, sitting by the side of a lake, or sitting in a boat. This is something much different. They take a large net out into the ocean and drop it, and then use does to pull it back in with everything that it catches as it is drug back to shore.
I think about the disciples on the water, doing very hard work in their boats, dragging the nets in, their muscles straining with the weight of the catch. After watching the Haitians struggle to pull in their nets, I get a much better picture of what the disciples life must have been like before Jesus. But He never promised to make their lives easier, he told the to follow Him, and He would make them fishers of men. I think when we picture that, we see our version of fishing, and not theirs. We think we can sit in the boat and wait for the fish to come to us. When Jesus called them, he called them to their kind of fishing. The kind where you take the boat out and find the fish. The kind where you struggle to land your catch with all of your strength. And i wonder, how different would the Church be today if we had that mindset. If we went out in search for the lost, if we put the kind of effort in to it that Jesus called us to give.
Today I watched the team take a hold of that rope and strain at the weight of the load. I know they have a much better appreciation for the work that the Haitians do. I am excited to sit down tonight and recall our day and talk about the experience.
The afternoon was spent at a local school. The children from two different came together for a competition. We taught them a song and played some games, and then prayed over them before heading back to the hotel for the night.
Tomorrow we will split up and attend two different churches. Thank you for praying for us as we continue to grow in our own walks while we fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ here in Haiti. Pray that we can continue to learn from each other and encourage each other as we continue to share God’s love.
Written By: Dave Breaux, Haiti Mission Trip Leader
