Bloom Where Your Planted

Just before I found out I would be serving in Haiti, a word was given to me"Bloom where your planted". Little did I know that would mean blooming in average days of 100 degree temperatures. But, God gives you the strength. Even the locals sweat it is so hot, it is just a part of life on this Caribbean island.

It has made it much easier knowing it is God who has planted me, and He will provide the increase. So when the Bloom is full and fragrant, they will see God and not me, because the fragrance and beauty of God is the evidence of His Son. That is my prayer request, that I might be used by God in every way, that Christ might be seen. Like Paul said, that I be wrung out and emptied daily, so to be refilled and used again.

Creole is a unique language, even those who speak French have a difficult time understanding it. I had some small children come up to me by the construction of the sub base. They only  had tattered and worn t-shirts, thats it, nothing else, no shorts, nothing. I know they were trying to tell me they were hungry, but I could not communicate. It was frustrating. Their mom was under a tree doing voodoo, scrapping her stick upon the grounds, throwing little bones along with pebbles and chanting over them. I hope I see them again when we move into the new base.

The new compound will be ready shortly as our work load increases, with food distribution, shelter construction and rubble removal. We will be much closer to where the epicenter was. I know God is answering one of my prayers as they are erecting the same type of tents they use in Iraq with air-conditioning. this is being done by mission teams from all over. This is where I am being planted and where I will be based. There are many great Christian brothers and sisters working long hard hours and serving the Lord. May the Lord use all of us to be the hands and feet of Christ.

Spying Out the Land

Much contrary to the spies who were sent into the promised land, we have come with a message of promise to Haiti. Samaritan's heart beat is loving the people as Christ would. From many lands people have joined as one, Canada, Uganda, Chile, Ecuador, and more. I am so honored to serve with people that are very talented and dedicated, giving up comfort and enduring living with bare necessities so others might receive the promise of eternal Life. 


I am still just settling in to a culture and nation that is very new to me. It is too soon for me to put into words the amount of devastation that took place. But, I can tell you that the Haitian people are strong willed and resilient, jovial and lighthearted, I watch as workers have been putting together the trusses or cutting the sheathing for the shelters, singing while they work in extreme heat. Many hearts are turning to Christ.


Laying on my bunk at night, sweating as it rains, I can not help but to ponder the fact that I am under a roof, while hundreds of  thousands have just plastic tarps held up by sticks. Every open space is filled with blue plastic makeshift shelters. I pray that we might even do more, the immensity of this disaster goes beyond what we have known in this century.


I fly to Gran Guave tomorrow, leaving the main base and  going to the sub base, which will be moving two weeks after I get there to a different location. A big job to move a whole base, please pray for us. We are right next to the capital city of Voodooism. Our God is bigger than all of this, but we are in a spiritual war, and must stay in an attitude of prayer.

I do feel like I am looking through a periscope, just seeing a very small bit of all that is happening in this nation. I feel honored to be serving these people, at the same time serving with such wonderful people. Life is not easy, sometimes your reality is brought back into perspective as you look at the razor wire that surrounds our perimeter. But this is just for a fleeting moment and you quickly regain your joy, as the Holy Spirit wraps His arms around you and you know you are doing the Father's will.