Words are fleeting.  Emotions strung high.  Today has been a day full of worshiping our God in all His glory.  But the emotions don’t start with today, nor the praising God for that matter. 

I arrived here in Haiti, expecting a better understanding for the ministry I work with and support.  I expected to meet people, and to see everything I have been hearing about and reading about.  I. did. not. expect. to. be. changed.

Andrea holds a little Haitian girl

Why do we do what we do?  Why do we try so hard to send the money we have earned so far away?  Why not share more in America, we have hungry here, too?  These are questions that have been asked and are all great questions, whittled down to one grand answer.  We go where God tells us to go.  Our money is His.  And this week, God has been showing me, not just the physical ramifications of His abundant blessings (which are fantastic and wonderful) but the spiritual and soulful reasons on why we are here in Pignon, Haiti.

This week I have been privileged to take photos of all our sponsored children while the team weighed and took their heights.  These kids, who literally live in shacks and huts, are flourishing.  They are joyful, smiling little humans who love deeply and boldly.  We are greeted in the streets with shouts of “Blanc!” (white) with wide grins of excitement, and children running up to us to hold our hands.   Often as we ride through town, the local people stare.  Some do not look friendly, and in my head, possibly even irritated that I am there.  But God nudges my fearful and judgmental soul to smile, and say one of the very few Creole words I know, “Bonjou” (good day), and immediately a smile radiates the face of this man or woman as they greet me with the same. 

Two smiling Haitian boys

Today (Sunday) began with worship in a local church.  Today began with God humbling me once again, for He was in that room, in the sound of His children worshipping Him and cherishing Him.  I understood very little of what was being said or sung, and just as I was beginning to question the sincerity of their words (because I am so untrusting at times), Heidi leans close to my ear and sings the English words to their worship song, “You are Alpha and Omega and are worthy to be praised” Okay God, Forgive me. Keep teaching me to listen to you, and see through your eyes. 

Haitian church

And He has been. After worship, we went back to the dorm to relax before lunch.  As I was sitting in the kitchen, I heard Heidi playing her ukulele and lifting her voice to our wonderful Father, on the balcony.  God pulled me out to join her, and despite my discomfort, brought me to singing.  While treasuring Him through song, God implanted the words “And through it all, through it all, my eyes are on you. So let go, my soul and trust in Him, the waves and winds still know His name. ”

We all loaded up to go to lunch, but instead of heading into Pignon, Craig turned the opposite direction and took us to the new campus.  The Haitian staff, along with Craig, Christi, Heidi, and many of our Haitian friends threw a surprise party for us, to thank all the staff and volunteers in the US.

Woody (left) and Appolon (right) leading the surprise party

We sat around talking and getting to know one another over a meal.  God blessed me with conversations with many of our Haitian brothers.  As one of them shared his testimony with me, God brought the song back into the forefront of my mind and my soul began to worship, “Far be it from me to not believe, even when my eyes can’t see.  Through it all, through it all, my eyes are on you. Through it all through it all, it is well.  So let go my soul, and trust in Him, It is well”

The finished Equipping Center Sharing a meal in the Equipping Center

One by one we were blessed by these people, as they stood and shared their love for God and the work He is doing through MH4H.  Some sang, some danced, and ALL praised God. “Through it all, through it all, my eyes are on you.  So let go my soul, and trust in Him, It is well” 

Woodson (left) and Beatris (right) dancing at the party

As we left the campus party, we drove to town to go to Chalissa’s funeral.  We had visited her the afternoon before.  With broken hearts we prayed over her while she struggled breathing.  Tears flowed as we witnessed her battle. Our prayer was for God’s protection of her soul, and for His will to be done.  Chalissa was a 3 year old, losing a battle against cancer.  She passed away early Sunday morning.  “So let go my soul, and trust in Him, Let go my soul and trust in Him. Through it all my eyes are on you. It is well”

Her funeral was filled with people worshiping.  There were tears, many words shared, and a tiny casket holding the shell of a little girl, called away from this life.  Lord, is she with you?  Do you have her? Please keep her safe Lord… “Ohhh Let go my soul, and trust in Him, Let go my soul and trust in Him, LET go my soul and trust in Him.  It is well. It is well. It is well.”

 All week, each time I entered the new Many Hands for Haiti campus, God has been pulling at me to walk through the banana fields and seek Him.  Standing out there, amidst the trees, with the mountain in the distance, the sun peeking through the scattered clouds, and the breeze caressing my face I watch the people God has brought together, as they laugh together, work together, pray together, and worship together.

The Sylvain campus

God is turning hearts towards Him. God is healing. God is moving in this land. God called us here to serve Him, because He has a plan for these people, and God has called us to be a part of it. God is building this family of Haitians and Americans, to serve His purpose, for His will, to honor Him, in His way. “It is well, it is well, with my soul”