Not only is the sun still shining, but the little church is still coming together here in Hostin, Arcahaie. Not only the three regular meetings they had before, but three new meeting times have been added as well. They’re now holding twice weekly, 5am prayer meetings, as well as a leadership training meeting for those interested in pursuing the ministry. Barry said the prayer meetings are quite a blessing. It is still completely dark out as brethren gather under the metal roof and begin to sing. They had already begun to sing as he was finding his way through the quiet darkness approaching the church property. Their voices were all that could be heard, and it was quite inviting to hear that sound At such a time!
All of these meetings are more precious at such a time as this, when the country, once again, is turning itself upside down with riotous behavior for the sake of politics. The riots were becoming so violent that people began to question whether we should even go back to Haiti when we did , that it might be worth canceling our tickets. Under the Lord’s direction we still felt led to go, and landed safely in late afternoon of November 20th. Ramos, who always comes to pick us up at the airport, said there was no possible way he could come. Earlier in the week he had been robbbed on his way to buy pig feed, and he wasn’t about to try to come again just yet.
After some time waiting in the airport while Barry made some more phones calls, another couple we know was able to pick us up and take us to a nearby guesthouse. They had just flown in that morning and were also picking their daughter and a friend up that same evening. The place we stayed was only 5 minutes from the airport, and the route was clear as we made our way there just as nightfall made the situation more ominous.
We stayed there two nights before Ramos could make the trip. The leaders of the rebellion called for a “ceasefire” so that citizens could spend a day finding food and making a little money. We made a quick stop at the grocery store on the way, but by 11am nearly all the perishable foods were picked over. We got a bag of rice and a few vegetables and hurried home in the back of the tap-tap style Land Cruiser. I’m pretty sure it was the fastest Ramos had ever driven with passengers in tow. We would have been easy, obvious prey for anyone on the lookout for Americans to pester, but as usual the angels of the Lord were round about us. I sang that Psalm to myself all the way home as a reminder of how we’ve always been safe and protected.
Once we were back at the mission house, a different battle was on, but this one was only with the dust that had gathered on every imaginable inch of the house after three months of non-use. With Katie and Saloma’s hard work, we’re gaining some headway. The little ants, however, might be succeeding in taking over. Yikes! I’m so thankful to have the extra help along with all there was to do! I’m afraid I had underestimated when I thought about how we might’ve found the house. They’ve both been a temendous blessing with all of that, and even all the adjusting with getting a family with four little ones settled back in. It’s all new for Andrew, and he had some days that he just wanted to be rocked and held.
Barry jumped right back into the swing of things and is blessed to be preaching up North this weekend with Stanley Fox. He’s hoping to make it back in time for Bible study tonight. We’re thankfuk for all the prayers that lifted us up as we were able to get back safely! I want to take another opportunity to thank everyone immensely for all that was done while we were in the States during a roller coaster time in our lives. Your prayers and deeds of love and kindness are too many to write here!
P.S. Bear with me as a try to get more detailed posts done, too. The internet signal, or lack thereof, is one more thing to “readjust” to.
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