I know, you’re probably wondering where “Day 1″ and “Day 2″ are. Well, I may post some short thoughts from each of them over the next few days, but for now I wanted to post on the present. Besides, if you want some great thoughts on the first few days, take some time to read the updates from the rest of the team: Seth, Marko, Adam, Anne, Rhett, Lars, Tim, Jeremy, and Clint. They’ve done a wonderful job telling some of the incredible stories we’ve encountered.
For tonight, I’m going to keep it simple and talk about two things I encountered today.
First, today was the third day of a three-day Haiti national prayer and fast, instigated by the local churches here in Haiti. The theme today was one of celebration. And we saw celebrations all over the city. Twice, we drove by what looked like parades of people dancing and singing down the street leading and following trucks. Loudspeakers blared from the trucks as people led in worship of Jesus and the people on the streets exuberantly sang along. Then we encountered an entire street blocked off with a large crowd dancing, singing, and jumping in front of a stage and sound system. On the stage were nearly a dozen pastors leading them in worship. Rather then me spend more words on the scene, watch it for yourself:
After soaking in the celebration, we went and visited a local community and broke off into groups of two or three (along with a translator) to connect with, listen to, and share the stories of some of the people that lived there. I was in a group with Seth, Tim, and a pastor from that community who served as our translator. I had the opportunity to meet and talk with a man from that community who shared a remarkable story with me. He showed me his house which, while not entirely rubble, was very damaged and collapsed in on itself. There were a few walls still standing, but not enough to still call it a livable house. He said that the day of the earthquake, he had been reading the Bible and in the middle of reading, he heard God tell him to “Get out.” He immediately gathered his family and rushed out of the house. As they ran out, the earthquake started and he and his entire family survived as their house collapsed. I am amazed by this story. Because I believe every word of it. I saw the gratitude and knowing blessedness in his eyes as he showed me his family and told of how God had saved them.
And that’s what was so incredible about today. It was filled with people expressing gratitude and joy for the life that God had given them, even in the midst of having everything taken from them.