Our meeting did not go as planned...
Our meeting in Haiti did not go as planned. Visiting the Haitian pastors where they live was a growing conviction we had. Normally, we focused on training, more on the academic side of ministry. Traveling for Project Hope, Tom Cook and I were committed to three simple things: asking how we could serve them (instead of telling them); encouraging them, and then praying with them. We wanted to minister to the ministers. It was the last scheduled meeting of our trip and by this time we were really excited because it had gone so well. It was pastor visit number 14 and this one would catch us completely by surprise. The meeting would prove to be by far the most challenging, even disconcerting.
From the outset, he seemed at best disinterested and at worst, well, completely put out. Sometimes when a translator is needed for verbal communication, body language plays a bigger role and is more pronounced. Nonverbally, It seemed he was telling us, while not in a mean or threatening way, you are not welcome. We were seated outside, not far from his very humble home which was no bigger than the size of a common bedroom in the states. The longer my friend Tom and I tried to engage him the more it seemed we were getting nowhere. As our meeting went on it became more and more evident we just needed to land this plane. I don’t want to say we were wasting our time, but honestly, it felt like it. Not being known as a bastion of patience, the portion I had was quickly going bye-bye. I was praying silently asking God to somehow give us a breakthrough. Something was going on with this man and it wasn’t good. He wasn’t responding at all, not even a little. He seemed depressed, almost incommunicado.
A few feet away from us sat an elderly woman. We greeted her initially with no response. She most definitely had a vision impairment, possibly hearing also. Some children arrived pushing a wheelbarrow with plastic jugs full of water from the local well. About this time another woman took some of the water and poured it into a basin on the ground. She then gently helped the elderly woman up, out of her chair and over to the water basin. There had been no introduction earlier so it wasn’t until later we learned that the younger woman was the pastor’s wife and the elderly one, her mom. After partially disrobing her mother, she began to bathe her with caring hands. This was all out in the open and potentially awkward, but somehow it was not. It seemed very natural. No walls, no bathroom, no bathtub, just open sky. The daughter bathing her mother most likely the way her mother had bathed her so many years before. Funny how life works. After drying and redressing her mother, she helped her back to her chair. The whole episode was humbling, and what we tried not to watch we couldn’t help witness.
I have never been good at dodging the obvious, and feeling like we didn’t have much to lose, I thought it might be time for a good mother-in-law joke.(?) Like my wife would say, “Honey, and you call yourself a pastor!” Ok, it wasn’t really a joke, all I said was, “You must be a pretty good man to take such good care of your mother in law.” And with that I smiled. What happened next took us completely by surprise. Did we just see a crack in the wall? Did he kinda smile when he heard the translation? He actually looked at me and when he realized we were joking with him his smile broadened. Hanging in with that man, praying for God’s help while attempting to encourage him had finally broken through the darkness. Do I hear an Amen?! From that point on, the whole conversation was positive, no kidding. After a little while he called his wife over and introduced her to us. Tom and I had prayer with them both and asked if we could get their picture. I kept asking myself, “Is this the same man that we encountered a couple hours earlier?” How can that be? Like my mom would often remind me, “Honey, God is able…” (2 Cor. 9:8)
One encouraged pastor is one encouraged church. One encouraged church brings hope to their community. One hopeful community helps light up a nation. As we were leaving, I mentioned to Kethlin our translator to tell the pastor this, “If I were the devil, I would do everything in my power to keep you discouraged because your smile lights up the place!” And with that he smiled again. Haiti needs more light and one light broke through brightly that day.
I am in Haiti now as I write these words. This is my third trip this year. I will be here again next month with my best girl Penny. It will be her first time in Haiti, and I am really excited about her joining me. Not sure she shares the same level of enthusiasm about the grassy landing strip, the small plane, the bugs and the big spiders, but she is willing to go and for that I am glad. It will be her first time to Haiti, first time to any of the overseas places I have had the privilege to minister. Please pray for Penny and I to have a blessed trip and that we will be a blessing to the missionaries and to the Haitian people.
Prayer Requests:
Penny and my family when I am traveling
Penny joining me in June to Haiti
Effectiveness for me, leading and teaching with Project Hope
Wisdom to disciple men in their Christian walk here at home
“He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.” 2 Corinthians 9:10
We couldn’t do it without your prayer and support!
So grateful,
Keith & Penny
