The Gospel . . . and Dirt Bikes?

An ordinary dirt bike. 

Another ordinary dirt bike.

If you have ever been to Haiti then you know that these are a normal sight on any road.   In fact many of the roads are clogged with men carrying at least 2 or 3 or 4 other people (or goats, or live turkeys or chickens or large jugs of water…you get the point), swerving in and out of traffic at death-defying speeds.  Each time I am out driving around I am constantly worried that I'm going to run into one of these speed demons.  You may be wondering why we are posting about something that is so normal to everyday Haitian life.  There is good reason.  These dirt bikes were delivered today to two district pastors in the Gonaive district.  These pastors will utilize these motorcycles to effectively shepherd their many flocks.  They will be used for many different purposes: visiting church members in the hospital, delivering food and supplies to needy families, sharing the good news of the Gospel to the far ends of each of their districts.  Each district has a district pastor that helps to guide and shepherd each of the churches under his watch. The number of churches per district can range from 4-18 spread out over many miles of rough terrain.   Because of the number of congregations, it is impossible for the district pastor to be at each one every Sunday, thus lay-preachers are utilized to preach the word of God in their absence.   It was humbling to meet with the pastors today and hear their visions to reach their neighbors with the Gospel.

BHM Field Director Rob Baker and Pastor O'Nell

One pastor we met today was named Pastor O’Nell.  After spending a few years in the states, Pastor O’Nell returned to Haiti to begin pastoring a local body of believers.  Pastor O’Nell has been a district pastor for approximately 10 years.  It was incredible to see and hear the vision for his church.  Initially the church building was used for church services as well as classrooms for school.  Now they are in the process of building a larger church building and they have already completed dedicated classrooms for their many students. 

Classrooms

Pastor O’Nell understands clearly that as a local body of believers that they have the responsibility to meet the physical and spiritual needs of their brothers and sisters in Christ.  Today he shared with me that once a month he encourages church members to bring in items (food, clothing, basic necessities, etc) that can be stored at the church and then given out as needs arise.

Inside a classroom

I know that most pastors in the United States would not consider a motorcycle a necessary tool to minister to his flock, but in Haiti they are extremely valuable.  However, Pastor O’Nell and the many other district pastors would say that their primary tool for ministering to the people in their churches is not a motorcycle but the living, active Word of God.  Please join us in praying for these godly men who tirelessly serve the churches God has entrusted to them.  Pray for strength to continue to work to meet the overwhelming physical and spiritual needs they face each day.  Please pray for strength to continue to proclaim the good news of the Gospel clearly and boldly.  

-Scott

It's Normal . . .

As this past week has marked our 7 month anniversary here in Haiti, I was looking through some pictures and journal entries and thinking about how much has changed since moving here.  In the states, there are so many things that were "normal" to everyday life, when compared to how we live here, they could not be more different.

A few examples for you:

In the States, if I were to put my car into drive and begin to back out of the driveway and notice that one of my children were improperly buckled, I would throw it into park, hop out of the van and make sure everyone was fastened tightly before proceeding on.

In Haiti, this is how my children ride in cars.

In America, I would be giving my children their Flintstone multivitamins with breakfast.
In Haiti, I am giving them their de-worming medication with breakfast.


In the U.S. of A, when I would meet a new friend at church, we would exchange names and talk about our families.  I would go home and set up a playdate with our new friend!
In Haiti, often when I meet a new friend at church, I introduce myself and my kids and she responds with, "I'm hungry" or "can I have one dollar?"  I sometimes wonder if I will be able to have real friendships with Haitian women or if I will only continue to be the white American missionary.


In America, I would think about the plight of the poor when I saw a documentary or a child-sponsorship commercial.
In Haiti, the poor have names and precious faces and they live all around me.  They are my brothers and sisters.

In America, my kids often got excited about a trip to the pool, getting new toys, going to the movies, and eating out.
In Haiti, my kids get crazy excited when a sweet friend sends a VCR and tons of her kids' old VHS tapes in her husband's luggage!  Thanks, Tera!   You blessed their socks off. 


In the States, a typical lunch for us consisted of a Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwich, baby carrots, and applesauce.
Today in Haiti, we had pates (pah-tays) from a street vendor, fresh pineapple from the market, and Limonade (think Sprite and lemonade mixed together) in a glass bottle.

But, really and truly . . . it doesn't matter where you live, contentment is always a struggle.  There are struggles I had in America that I do not have in Haiti, and there are certainly struggles I experience in Haiti that I did not encounter in America.  It is not "holier" to live on the mission field than it is to live on Main St. USA.  Some of these Haiti/America comparisons are funny, some are more somber.  It's good to reflect on them from time to time.  At the end of the day, you are where you are because God, in His perfect sovereignty, has placed you there at that specific time.  In the words of Jim Elliot, "Wherever you are, be all there.  Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God."

Sunday Seven

So, the internet situation here in Haiti has been sparse at best over the past couple of weeks, but today it seems that we have a good enough signal to go for a blog post!  Prepare yourself.  It's a long one, but it's light on words and heavy on pics. Enjoy!

Welcome to Haiti!

1. We had a great visit last week with Monica's parents!
What a treat!  We spent most of it up here at the mission, but we got to take them to the beach at Camp LaPhare (BHM's camp property), a trek up into the mountains, down into Port-au-Prince, and a few other landmarks as well.  Best of all, though, was the time we got to spend at the house together just visiting, playing with the kiddos, and spending down-time together.  Despite a short bout with a nasty stomach flu for Scott and Kilee, it was a fun-filled 10 days together!  Much needed for this missionary fam.  We'll do another post with more pics from this special visit later.

Grabbing hugs at every turn

Always a UK family!

Nana and Spidey

Papaw and Kilee (with cast in grocery bag, ready to swim)

2.  The Annual National Pastor's Conference
Each year around this time, ASEBACH (Haiti's Association of Conservative Evangelical Baptist Churches) meets here at the mission for a week of encouragement, teaching, discipleship, and giving reports of the work being done in each of the 6 zones it occupies in Haiti. Several hundred pastors and lay leaders converge upon BHM Fermathe for this event and it is an exciting time!  Some of these men have to travel two days across mountains on a motorcycle to come.  It is incredible to see their fervor for evangelism and reaching out to their communities for the sake of the gospel.  We have enjoyed meeting many of the pastors and lay leaders this week as they have been here with us.

Our friends Trey and Chelsea took pictures from the conference.  Young and old gathered to hear the Word.

3. New Friendships

Monica and Ruth

The sweet woman who works in our home, Madam Ruth, and Monica have developed a special relationship as they spend several hours each day together.  Recently, Monica has been encouraging Ruth to bring her little girl to come play on Saturdays while she works.  She finally consented and brought her each Saturday last month.  Ruitchnadine, or Nadine (as Kilee calls her) is 7 years old and has been a fun playmate!  Kilee absolutely adores her and is learning quite a bit of Creole while they play!  In turn, Ruth desires Nadine to learn English and so Monica is giving Nadine (and Ruth) short English lessons each week.  Josiah likes to play with Nadine and he may just have a tiny crush on her, too.

Nadine and Kilee, the Haitian princesses

4. Gettin' Fit
Now in Haiti!  Introducing Denise Austin's Haitian workout girls, coming to a mission near you!  We tone, we tighten, and we burn fat -- then we go home, bake sweet bread and cookies and the cycle continues.  Lol.  This workout time 2-3 times a week has been a big blessing.  Love you ladies!

Adele, Monica and Chelsea

5. The Season of Ra Ra
Most things are very unpredictable in Haiti -- the weather, vehicles, technology, etc.  One thing that has been incredibly predictable lately has been the Haitian Ra Ra band.  Ra Ra bands are groups of people that walk through the streets of Haiti playing homemade horns, banging drums, and singing and dancing all hours of the night.  From Mardi Gras to Easter, you can bet that you will not get much sleep because they will be marching down your street from about 11 at night until 7 in the morning.  There's usually drinking and rough-housing going on, too.  Haitian culture?  Yes, we are experiencing it fully. :)

6. The Simple Life of Missionary Kids
The following pictures show what our children have been up to lately.  There is not much to go out and do like there was in America.  No Chick-fil-a playgrounds, no malls, lessons/practices, no parks, so we are learning to use our imagination a bit more to fill the time.  Josiah recently found an old pushmower with dull blades and has been doing some yardwork for us.  Kilee has been into making kites lately and has been flying her own creations around the mission.  She's doing loop-the-loops and figure eights already!

Lawnmower man

Kilee with her latest and greatest kite!

7. Festival Day!
Today, we had a little taste of America in Haiti!  A friend invited us to his granddaugters' school Easter festival.  Everyone there spoke English, which was funny because we started speaking Creole to them and they looked at us like we were nuts. There were bouncies, playgrounds, carnival games and great food!  It felt like the fall festival at our home church in Kentucky.  Thank you for the invite, Angus family!

A broken arm won't keep this girl off the bouncies!

Scott buying Josiah a snow cone while eating a little Chinese food.

Cookies and cream ice cream!  It just doesn't get any better than this!

While Scott and Josiah walked around, Kilee and I went to the arts and crafts booth.

They had a very nice playground.

Josiah thought the snow cones were awesome!