But we went into these tent cities bearing the smallest of gifts… 1 story, 1 song, and 1 bag. We met with children in small tents, or small make-shift buildings (tin & 2X4′s) who gladly sat on the ground to hear us tell them stories, and teach them funny American children’s songs… “I love You Jesus, deep down in my heart…. tootsie wootsie…”

But the greatest experience of it all was after the songs and the stories, we opened our bag. Having nothing but notebooks and bundled crayons, we began passing them out to the children. Two pieces of paper torn from a notebook and 3 crayons to these kids was like a Wii and a 42″ LCD for kids back at home. EVERYONE wanted to color… even the grown men were asking for crayons and paper. It’s really a different experience.

In our devotions the other night, I shared with the team something that God put in my heart in my own devotional time. Micah 6:8 basically gives a great Christian job description…. Administer justice, Love (Show) Kindness, and Walk humbly before God. This became our grid while here. But the power of that verse to me is the preceding question… “What more has He required of you?”

Funny how much we prepare for trips like this… Vaccines, Sun Screen, Insect Repellent, Anti-Bacterial wipes, Snacks (I have a GANG of trail mix & granola bars!!!). We even try to learn the language a little bit. That’s all good and everything, but what has He required of us as missionaries to these people for such a time as this?

To administer justice: This is something that I believe is done with time. It is something that the Drisdelle’s are able to do because they have planted themselves here. As a foreigner, I can’t always see what is right and wrong here… who should receive help first. It’s like the young guy Jean’ Jeffrey that came to me the other day asking for money…. He lived in tent city… my heart says GIVE IT TO HIM…. he’s lost everything. Then Andre (Drisdelle), the missionary comes along and asks what he needs money for. He needed it to catch a cab to school because he has to walk about a mile every day. Andre gave the boy a mighty tongue lashing…. “YOU HAVE 2 FEET!!!” He said.  In Haiti, school is a luxury. So justice says, NO! You don’t get money to catch a cab when other people want money just to feed their 6 children today.

To Love (Show) Kindness: This we can do in the short term. You don’t have to know the story to show kindness. You don’t have to speak the language. You don’t have to “know how it feels”, or even “understand”. To show kindness is NOT to show pity. It is an act of devotion or concern. It is a few minutes of conversation…. “but I don’t know Creole…” Kindness is letting a kid from tent city feel as if he is doing something major by TEACHING YOU Creole. I asked the kids in one tent city what they do for fun… THEY SING!!! They have no toys, no television, no ANYTHING, so they gather in a shade somewhere and sing songs… songs that they can’t even apply to their life. Songs like wash your hands, brush your teeth…. THEY DON’T EVEN HAVE CLEAN WATER at one we went to. But we loved (showed) kindness to the kids there by letting them teach us their songs, then teaching them some of ours.

Walk Humbly Before The Lord: Funny thing… the Hatian kids thought we were NUTS for laying in the ground with them. We came, sang, talked, and gave gifts. But them, the biggest gift was to lay in the floor with them and color. They thought it was crazy because they know how hard it is to wash their dirt out of clothes. But what has God required of us but that we become as them. God’s not asking us to purchase food from the street vendors. Not asking us to bathe in the mucky waters. Not asking us to come and dwell in a tent. But He does ask for humility, and when you find yourself proud enough to give a gift, but not humble enough to be the gift…. you just missed it.

God doesn’t ask for us to always have the answers, give the answers, or even be the answers when it comes to sharing his love. Only in Apologetics (defending the faith) does He ever say for us to be ready to give an account. Showing the love of Christ is not about speech, language, resources, or any other thing that we so often attach to missionary work. It’s about connecting with a ministry that is Administering justice, that we may love (show) kindness to a people, and humbly being all that God asks of us in the moment.

AjR

Andre & Sylvi met this young girl several months ago, and saw this sickly baby boy who was suffering SEVERE malnutrition. In fact, a missions team came just over a month ago, and some of the physicians were asked to treat the baby. Their professional, (and very accurate) opinion said that the baby would not live much longer… that within a week or so, it would be gone. The malnutrition was that severe.

Andre & Sylvi would not let this be the last diagnostic! They put all their faith in God, and WORKED THEIR FAITH! They brought the precious young girl and the baby boy into their home to live with them. It’s been over a month now, and this precious little boy is growing healthier by the day! He is only 15 lbs, and has the motor skills of a 4 month old. Though a long ways to go, he is showing great signs that he will grow to be a happy little boy.

The young girl’s family are still displaced, living in a small tent while Andre completes the construction of their new home, just a few yards from their home.

The baby crying is no small matter to me! It is a reminder of how wonderful God is. The news will cover many stories of the devastation that the earthquake caused, but leave out the countless miracles that have, and still are taking place here.

Not knowing what to expect… we came expecting!

Blessings,

Pastor Aaron