Some Trust in Chariots, and Some in Horses:

For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me.

This past week, Barry has seen more violence and hatred than ever before.  A few days ago, he received word that our dear friend, Ramou (lovingly also known as Ramos) was being held captive by Odmar and his friends. Ramos was trapped inside his vehicle while it was violently rocked and shaken, machetes were brandished, and angry men threatened his life. When Barry heard the message, he quickly got in his truck to head the scene. As he made his way down the road, he started passing more of his friends, each running full sprint toward the same scene, with machetes in hand.  These men, who have been working on the mission house, are from the mountain. There, the people uphold their own law. If someone does wrong, his life is taken by the people's own system of "justice." Now they are all ready to enforce it here in Arcahaie, on behalf of our own Haitian friends.  One by one, they jumped into the back of the truck as Barry rushed to find Ramos. When they arrived, a war broke out.   Hand to hand battle raged with machetes, rocks, or any other nearby weapon. Barry did all he could to try to get it to stop. Odmar, the man leading the whole insurrection, fled for his life, and the fight eventually dissolved without loss of life.

The battle, like most, is all about money. Years ago a few brothers purchased the land where the mission home is now being built from a middle aged man. That man took the money gladly and went on with life. Some time later, the man's nephew came around raising a stir, claiming the land to be his.  After months of digging and investigating, we discovered that Odmar, the nephew, would have had some rights to the land through an inheritance, but because he was in prison at the time of the sale, he was excluded from the money distribution.  Over time, he's done all he can think of to make up for the money he was shorted by his uncle. The land used to be a full field of plantains. Thousands of dollars worth of plantains were stolen from the land. Before we started building, the whole issue was settled in court, and Odmar was paid his share of the inheritance.

But it's not enough.  The heart that seeks after wealth will never be satisfied.  He has threatened the lives of our friend Merelin, whose name is on the land.  The men working on the mission home, who are many of Merelin's family and friends, have all taken to sleeping locked up together in the same house.  There is a price on Odmar's head, and these mountain men, without Christ, will not let go until they feel justice has been served. Odmar announces almost daily that he plans to come with guns.  Thursday night, he made claim that Ramos has less than a week to live. Knowing the reality of the situation and the hearts of wicked men, Ramos asked Barry to take care of his bride-to-be, with only a few weeks left until his wedding day.

Meanwhile, the work has to continue on the house. If Barry would decide to call it off because of the whole mess, it would only aggravate the situation even more. What little reserve the men have now would be gone. If they aren't working, they aren't making money, and Odmar would surely be killed.

Our prayer through this awful, messy situation is that God's mighty power can be revealed.  We desire that others can see, through a few believers, that we do not want to fight.

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle..."

We desire that all of the men involved may see Christ shine through in this.  Jesus said, "do violence to no man," and we pray that in refraining from the strife and bitterness that is so welled up, they will see something different in us.   We pray that God can be glorified as this is all somehow, someway resolved once and for all.

Eight Things We're Thankful For

In no particular order, a glimpse at a few recent scenes. 

The "backyard" of the mission home

8. The view of God's creation.  Haiti is a country where beauty collides with garbage.

Beautiful farmland meets rolling mountains and the bluest skies one can imagine, but

the cities are smoggy, dirty, and polluted. The ocean surrounding the island nation is the most inviting crystal blue, until a heavy rain washes trash and waste by the trainload out of the riverbeds and into the Caribbean. When we see God's splendor in the physical features of the landscape clash with the rubbish strewn about, it speaks to me about the people of Haiti as well.  Although Haiti has become a place that's drowning in corruption, false religion, lying, and indecency, we can remember that every person here was created by the same God who created the majestic landscape.  He created them with a desire to see them turn to Him and be redeemed from their sinful, polluted state.  

7. Visitors From Home.  After two months back in Haiti following furlough, it was a blessing to have others here to see what's been happening. They were updated on everything from the equipment, to the mission-house project, to the school in the mountain, to the lives of various individuals that have been in contact over the years.

Bobcat being repaired under plenty of supervision

School children in the mountain

6. Churches to Preach in. The time has not yet been appointed to build a church facility we can call home, but thankfully there has been somewhere to go to church nearly every Sunday since we've lived in Haiti, where Barry has the blessed opportunity to share his heavy burden with many souls.

5. A Translator to Help Preach the Message. Josnel has been doing a fine job translating for Barry on Sundays and as needed. This particular Sunday, pictured, something came up and he was late for church. It was a reminder, after being a little shook up, that the message can't go out without an interpreter!

Counseling with two young ladies after the service

4.  Large, eight-legged visitors don't make it inside often.  There's no doubt that spiders are everywhere in Haiti. Some of them are big enough to make a grown-up squeal, but relatively harmless. Others are small, discreet, and dangerous enough to bring great harm, or worst case, death, to a small child.  God has been faithful in this area in keeping our children protected from yet one more potential hazard, building our faith and trust in Him.

3. Work Ethic.  There seems to be a growing number of able-bodied young men who have become afraid to perform any manual labor. Many of them have had everything handed to them and have no idea what it means to work.  "Give me one dollar" and "I am hungry" are the English phrases that everybody in Haiti seem to know. However, there are some who are not afraid to do whatever it takes to earn a day's wages. They'll eagerly push up their sleeves and dig in until they're exhausted. These are the ones who continue finding work and  putting food on the table.

2. The progress on the mission house. The result of hard work and close supervision is the future home going up at an exceptional rate.  

1. God's Promises.  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereunto I sent it. Isaiah 55:11

With fervent, righteous prayer and the zeal to continue preaching there will be revival here!

Mission House Going up

The mission house building project is well underway, as two dozen or so local men have been happily employed over the last several weeks.  The property that was purchased years ago is now realizing its purpose, and will, Lord willing be the location of a mission home and church, with room for future growth to focus on specific needs. It's been interesting to watch it all coming together. Barry's days are mostly spent being "boss" alongside Merlin, while still having Bible studies and preaching as time permits.

A larger building project like this is another excellent opportunity to financially help many families at the same time through the long term work provided. They are learning about consistent work ethic, that it's not just what you do when the boss is looking. They are learning about dependability, efficiency,  how to build things plumb and square, and honesty. Most importantly, they are being exposed to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, both in hearing and seeing. 

The house is designed to be home for a mission family, with plenty of space for "teams" to come and have a place to stay while they work and minister in Haiti. The picture above shows a small concrete pad in front of the future garage, attached to the house. . What a blessing it will be to have a place to fix and maintain vehicles! 

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When the concrete for the slab of the main house was poured, it was a very busy, fast paced day, with nearly 30 people working together for hours and hours in the heat of the day. Typically, concrete is mixed on the ground with a shovel, then hauled with a five-gallon bucket to the prepared area.  Since this was a fairly large pad of concrete to pour, a cement mixer was rented for the day, and it still took many hands to work efficiently.  Some carried water from the nearby canal, some fed cement into the mixer, and several formed a line from the mixing area to the place that was being poured.  They would  fill a bucket, then quickly pass it down the line until the last man received it and poured it into place. They all worked hard for their wages that day!

Merlin supervises while the first row of block is laid for interior walls.

Sunday mornings, thankfully, are still "preaching days."   We have been back in Oscar's church, down the road, as well as a newly formed church in the area. One well-loved pastor was fired from his position because of allowing guest speakers to preach "things the church doesn't agree with," namely, preaching against sin. Several people left the church with the pastor, and they meet regularly in a quaint little structure in the pastor's front yard. They don't seem to mind that they left one of the "fancy" churches in the area, and now come to worship with only tarps overhead and palm leaves for walls.  The dirt floor doesn't matter either when, perhaps, they are seeking after the truth. 

We are rejoicing again for God's protection, and thankful for all the prayers daily lifted up for Barry's safety! Last Monday, a tap-tap (one of the colorful old pick-ups all over the roads that are used for taxis) made a sudden left turn with no turn signal, just as Barry was approaching on a motor bike. He reacted quickly enough to lock up the breaks and lay the bike down right before impact, and Barry skidded down the road apart from the bike. He walked away with some painful road burns, a sprained ankle, and some aches and pains in other areas, but relatively unharmed. Many of our friends and neighbors came to check on him at home as word spread about the accident. It was a scenario that was inches away from being much, much worse. God is always in control, even on a crazy, dangerous road like "the blacktop." 

We can't thank everyone enough for the prayers and support while the work continues here! 

New faces peeking in from the front steps of our current home.

Pressing on

We've been in Haiti for a week now after a month-long furlough. It was a blessed time visiting family and friends, Barry sharing at different churches, and trying to get some much needed rest.

Just before we left Haiti at the end of October, the family of our neighbor, Alice, finally completed funeral arrangements and laid her body to rest. It was everything typical of a "proper" Haitian funeral, and everything we would consider to be completely improper in the States. There was a brief time to view the body before the service started, which was also the time for family photos around the casket.   Then began the wailing and crying. Most of this  bemoaning was done by the women, some of which were family who seemed to never take any interest in Alice's well-being while she was still living. Now, though, they were devastated.

The crying stopped upon the entrance of a brass band, playing cheerful, celebration-type music.  So many people were packed into the tiny church building that many  were standing in back, and dozens more waited and listened outside. The crowd in back parted as a line of young men squeezed through, dancing their way up the center aisle and then to the front of the church. All decked out in hip-hop gear and their faces half-covered by aviator shades, they put on an MTV type show in semi-unison at the front of the building.. After the young men filed out, a group of girls took their turn. Their shimmery blue uniform skirts swayed as they performed their moves to the music of the brass band. One young man in an all-white sailor suit directed it all, blowing a whistle to indicate when to march, when to dance, and when to stop.

The funeral service itself wasn't long. The pastor of the hosting church shared an introduction and prayer, followed by one of Alice's great- grandsons sharing a brief story of her life.  When it was Barry's time to preach, he knew it had to be quick and powerful. It was almost entirely an "unchurched" crowd, and it was obvious. He had been told to keep it short, so the Lord gave him the words he needed to speak in his allotted time.

When the service ended, it was time to begin the half-mile funeral procession on foot. The band, the dancers, the crowd, and the casket all proceeded down the rocky path toward Alice's home, where the tomb was built and ready for the burial. As the trumpets blared and the drums kept time, all the dancers spun and bounced their way along.  From our perspective, what seems to be the strangest tradition they have is rocking  the casket up and down to the rythm of the music, almost dancing with it in a ceremonial way. The pastor had a brief time of prayer at the burial-site, and Alice was slid into the tomb, the first of many family members that will likely follow after her in the same hole.

Months ago, one of Alice's great grandsons, Will, said that he would become a Christian after the funeral. Now, over a month later, he's still not ready to give up and give his life to Christ. Last night as Barry spoke with him, he was clear that he's not there, but knows where he needs to be. In a way, he has a better chance than many people around us who, simply by going to church, believe they are Christians on the right track. Will sees the hypocrisy in that and doesn't want to profess anything unless he's truly converted. He's at the top of our prayer list!

Back on the Mission Field

Our first week back in Haiti has been a reality check and a reminder that, well, we're back in Haiti. We've been without a truck, Barry's been terribly sick with an unknown bug of some sort, we've run out of diesel fuel, water, and almost out of toilet paper. Katie Yoder is back with us and joining in the battle, including the big fight against the cockroaches that did their best to take over while we were gone. One of their favorite places to reproduce was in the boxes of gospel tracts and literature we keep on hand.  The motorcycle has been sufficing in getting Barry back and forth to a few places he's had the strength to go, but he returns home worse off than when he left.  Part of his running has been to work with 20 or so locals in the  building of a wall around the parcel of land that was purchased for a future mission house.


The drama really exploded earlier this week with one of the families we've been working with for quite sometime.  A 20 year old girl with no parents had been living with her aunt and her aunt's family, but they kicked her out because they were convinced she was telling us bad things about them.  It was revealed that the girl's parents were killed by witchcraft spells that were imposed by this same family. When Barry called a meeting witc
h them and their pastor to get to the bottom of everything, the aunt got so angry with the girl that she
 picked up a dense two-foot-long stick with several sharp protrusions and began beating the girl over the head with it, accusing her of lying. Who can we believe? Everyone wants the upper hand, and it seems they'll do anything to get it. A few different, uninvolved Haitians said "maybe they will kill her" when they heard what happened.  We're doing what we can to help this girl and prepare her for eternity.

We did enjoy a small, impromptu children's Bible lesson here on our porch. We had some booklets that briefly spelled out the death and resurrection of Jesus in English. We had Peter goal through each page and translate it for them, and he took it a step further and really elaborated and shared the gospel with the children. It was really a blessing to see him so willingly jump in
and start teaching with such zeal. They all took their booklet and a small box of crayons home with
them.  Despite having children coming and going all the time, it's hard to get them settled down and organized to actually share with them in that way.

Pray for us as we try to get the ball rolling again here. We look forward to what the Lord has in the coming months. There are several churches on the schedule, and Barry's ready to get back to teaching and preaching.

Hurricane Matthew

A few days ago I thought we were surely about to have another story to tell.  We got the first phone call about the approaching hurricane on Friday evening, and began watching the storm travel through the Caribbean.  On Monday we made preparations.  It was a fitful night of sleep when the wind started to pick up around 2am. Though it was a pleasantly cool breeze blowing through that would have made excellent sleeping conditions under normal circumstances, we couldn't help but wonder what was coming. By the time daylight came it was raining, but the wind wasn't getting any stronger at our house. We were in contact with people in southern Haiti who were detailing the ferocity of the storm as it ripped through the area.  At the rate the hurricane was moving northward, we expected it to really hit us around 11am. We waited as we watched the rain pick up intermittently. Several times we thought it was about to get ugly for us.  We knew many people at home were praying for us as we braced for impact.

But the impact never came. Hours went by and all we saw was steady rain with an occasional gust of wind. It was as though we had a strong hedge around us while the rest of the country was hit terribly hard. Howling winds and rains pounded the towns and villages across Haiti. We heard about thousands of homes being completely flattened. Yet here in our little neighborhood, you wouldn't know it was happening without the watchful eye of technology.

Although the storm has passed, it's all far from over for many, many Haitians who will suffer the impacts for months or years to come. While we hear the nearby river raging as it nearly bursts its banks, we are thankful that we don't have an "exciting" story to tell. Lord willing, we will have something more to share as we try to help anyone in need in the coming days and weeks.

Consider this post a thank-you to all who lifted us up in prayer.  We have once again seen the evidence of God's watchful hand over us!

The End of the Road

This morning the rain still drizzled as we ate a late breakfast.  When we were nearly finished, we heard the uncomfortable sound of loud crying coming from nearby. It was a sound that we've learned can only be associated with death. We looked at each other and agreed that it must be Alice. Barry quickly got up and went next door, where a large crowd had gathered outside the home of our dear old widow friends. There was a whirl of commotion, and before long Alice's frail, thin body was wrapped in a sheet and placed in the back of our truck.  Several of her grandsons and great-grandsons jumped in and filled the truck while Barry drove her to the nearby morgue, where she'll be for fourteen days until burial.

Barry will likely have the opportunity to preach at the funeral, and is looking forward to many of our distant neighbors who never go to church hearing a solid message. Pray that it will be a time for God to really speak to their hearts. Pray also for the many people who have lost homes this week, that perhaps they may turn their hearts toward God.

We Wrestle Not Against Flesh and Blood...

The team recently had another mountain "adventure," but thankfully this time it was much more peaceful and accident-free.  The trip began at six in the morning, with nothing more than a piece of leftover bread to fuel the journey. The terrain of the mountain road became impassable by vehicle, so the team had to set off on foot in order to continue. They hiked for several miles down a narrow path that crossed several streams and small rivers. Holes have been worn through Barry's shoes, so his feet were wet while they hiked. What a blessing to reach the church building, after several hours, that was found "in the middle of nowhere!"

Each day holds something unexpected while they typically travel to preach six or seven days out of the week. Most days there is at least one person, but often more, at our door asking for different things. Many want money for school, some want money for food, and sometimes they just want to sit around. We pray for discernment as Barry tries to do the Lord's will with each case.

One recent Sunday in particular held something that was quite unexpected.

The truck was finally "fixed" very late Saturday night, after waiting for the usual mechanic to run to and fro while he went to get parts and tools.  When he disappears for hours at a time, it starts to look like there's no chance the truck will be put back together, but somehow, he manages.

We left rather early Sunday morning for services at a church an hour and a half north of us. However, when we were under halfway there, we pulled into a gas station after noticing the truck was not acting right.  It was evident that something had been done incorrectly the night before, so once again we waited for our friend the mechanic.  Several times we called him, and like always, several times he said he was on his way, but wasn't. When he finally arrived, he already had another part to replace the one he had just put in the night before, apparently already knowing it was bad.

It was a quick fix, so we were on our way again, but behind schedule. After an hour or so on the blacktop, we turned onto a dirt and rock side road. We bumped along and saw many rice farmers out working with their hands and simple tools to harvest their crops.

The church building, like many, was only partially finished. It looked as though it had been started many years ago, and was done with a vision of a very large meeting place. Only the walls were in place, and the hundred or so people who were there this Sunday were all gathered on one side of the "building" under a tarp roof that was supported on one side by crooked tree limbs, and the unfinished church wall on the other. They were all out of their seats when we got there, singing with great volume that could be heard when we climbed out of the truck. As our family, the team, and another pastor we had picked up on the way all entered and found our way to the front, Barry couldn't help but notice the unwanted presence in the second row of benches.

As he passed by, a young man forcefully sat down in his seat, and began shaking his arms and sort of growling and hollering. He didn't sit for long, but soon plowed his way through the crowd and was out in the open, uncovered side of the church, now turning about aimlessly and making obscene noises. His veins bulged as all of his muscles seemed to be flexed at once. Soon all of the pastors, Barry, and Josnel were trying to restrain this man, who clearly had inhuman strength. While the demon was rebuked, the song leader did her best to keep the singing and praises to God at ample volume. The battle went on for some time, and the other men stepped aside while Barry stood face to face with this evil. His eyes were completely white. The demon was commanded to leave in the name of Jesus, who has already won the battle. The demon had the young man tossing himself all over the ground, rolling around on the rough, dirty ground. . He said he couldn't leave, because his "mission" was not yet finished.  However, at some point, the young man stopped, stood up, and seemingly in control of himself, started asking what happened and why he was so dirty.  Seconds later another demon took over. This happened several times before he finally seemed delivered. He gathered himself and went home to shower.

After Barry began preaching, the man returned. Cleaned up and in a change of clothes, he came and stood directly in front of Barry, his eyes were back in his head and all muscles flexed. Barry continued to preach. When this demon saw that he wasn't going to stop the message, he put his fingers in his ears and walked away. Barry went to look for the young man after the service, but no one seemed to know where he went, or even care to bother finding him. Interestingly, the pastor said that he had been converted the Sunday before. God help that man's soul!


Given to Hospitality

After an unusual stream of events that morning and a service with some rather friendly church members, the pastor and his family stopped us as we were headed for the truck and invited us to their home. What we expected to just be a quick visit turned out to be a fine display of hospitality like nothing we've seen yet in Haiti. They sat us around their dining table, and soon brought out their nicest plates, and dish after dish of their finest Haitian cooking.  We were surprised but blessed at the warmth they showed as we enjoyed the meal and fellowship.

The work continues this week after a visit from Barry's parents and some time seeing other parts of Haiti, where their church and family has been working over the years. We are praying for strength both physically and spiritually to accomplish all that is asked of us on the mission field.

Traveling Trials

Nobody ever said getting around Haiti was easy. There seems to be a recurrent theme lately as the team continues to take the Gospel in every direction. They've been bruised, battered, and a bit shaken, but always protected by a powerful God who carries them through every trial they face.

An early morning departure for Miragoane should have had them all back home in the afternoon after preaching at another new church. On the return trip, less than twenty minutes from our house, a group of unruly citizens had a different idea. Without warning the truck was surrounded by a rowdy group of men, all hollering and shouting orders. Barry thought they were trying to rob him, but when one of them reached through the passenger side window, grabbed the keys from the ignition, and took off, he soon realized what was happening. The truck was being used to start a roadblock on busy Highway 1.

If there is a disagreement on an issue, be it political or otherwise, it leads to crime and violence as the upset party takes to roadblocking and rioting in attempts to get their point across. Vehicles are set aflame, fights break out, and often lives are lost with no remorse from the instigators. And now the team found themselves sitting right in the midst of all this starting, with no way out.

I don't know all the details of what went on while they sat there, but it became evident that there was a guardian angel around them that afternoon. After six hours of sitting in a situation that grew continually more dangerous, a man somehow came running with the truck keys and told them to get out of there immediately. We were very thankful to see Barry return to our house late in the evening.

The view from the truck; vehicles backed up for miles

On one less action-packed trip, they drove to Cap Haitian, at the northern tip of Haiti, to preach at an evening service. They stayed the night, then preached again in the morning before heading back home. This was Barry's first overnight trip without the family along, and a good first hand experience of staying in a common Haitian home. There were cobwebs surrounding him while he slept, and only one "toilet" that sat out in the open for an unknown number of people to use. He was thankful for the old pull-out couch that he slept on, and that the night was basically free of rats and other critters that like to venture inside Haitian homes.

Last Sunday they made a trip deep into the mountains, where Brother Nate and others have been working, on the motorcycles. Right from the start it had its challenges. They had just departed and were still on the blacktop when Barry heard Peter, riding on the dirt bike with him, give a startled gasp. He stammered while he tried to relay that Pastor Bazalet had just wrecked the motor cycle behind them. He was badly scraped and bruised but didn't seem to have any broken bones. He opted not to go to the hospital, but rather went home where he spent the next several days recovering.

Police soon arrived in an armored vehicle to monitor the scene

Pastor Bazalet suffered some painful swelling and roadrash, but thankfully was not seriously hurt!

After finding another driver, the rest of the team pressed on. Maneuvering the bikes up the rugged
mountain road was more difficult that they had first anticipated, but they eventually made it there and had a blessed service.

Before leaving our house, Barry had mentioned something about maybe being back before noon.
Twelve o'clock came and went, and I noticed he wasn't receiving my text messages. Soon it was 4:00, then 5:00, and I couldn't get through to his phone. By 6:30 it was quickly getting dark, and heavy winds were picking up, bringing a big storm with them. I still couldn't get through to his phone, so I
assumed it had died. After the downpour started, it was completely dark out, and still no team. Finally
I heard a motorcycle outside the gate. Peter's long arm reached over to unlatch it. He had left with
Barry, but came back with another driver on a different motorcycle. "Where is Barry?" I asked, assuming he was coming close behind.

"He take Josnel to Titanyen." That meant Barry and Josnel were still out on the dirt bike in the dark, with strong winds and a heavy downpour, driving along the most dangerous road I've ever been on. The boys and I sat at the supper table and prayed for Daddy to make it home.... And finally at almost 8:00, the gate slid open again and a bike came in, this time with Barry on it. He was drenched from head to toe and came in limping. After wrecks, flat tires, strained ankles, and the like, they all made it back home. It was a struggle, but all worth it for the work of the Gospel, he told us later.

This week's Sunday service took us an hour into the mountains to a small church in a beautiful setting. A cool breeze blew through as we heard the message about truly believing in Jesus.  It was a blessing to be among this group while we worshipped the Creator, without walls and surrounded by the beautiful creation.

More Behind the Scenes 

Along the dirt lane we live on, just off the blacktop, almost daily there sits a man in a wheelchair. He survives by asking for money and barely scraping by with enough to eat.  One day, he asked if we could build him a small house. After much prayer, Barry decided it was the right thing to do. The usual work crew is busy this week putting up a one-room home for him that should be done soon.

Just behind us in the widows' new home, Alice is still with us, but quite weak and frail. She was sick and really not doing well for a time, so the young men from the neighborhood started on a Saturday evening digging her grave.  Right behind her house where she could surely hear every scoop of the shovel, they picked away at it. Apparently it's common to make an event out of such an activity, so they all passed around a whiskey bottle and carried on well into the night. The grave eventually got dug, and now the open hole is there just waiting to fulfill its purpose.

As each day passes, we are made more aware of the severity of the work that has been set before us. Death here is common and frequent, however for most, a false hope has them believing they're ok. Please pray that God can help us to relay the Gospel of peace to the needy souls in this country.