Revival in the mountains of Haiti

 We praise God for His protection and anointing as we traveled to Cotes De Fer.  It was as if we had entered a new country from the other areas that we had been.  Deep into the mountains of Haiti, we found many people traveling with donkeys carrying large loads of supplies; houses separated by deep valleys, and a peacefulness that made us feel like we were home.

After several hours of travel; our road turned into a foot trail and finally we arrived at the church and our new home for the next couple of days.  We did not know what our home here would be like because we had been told many times that the people here are very poor and although they do not hold the riches of the world, they had great wealth of love in their hearts. 

 A family of four graciously gave up their house to us for the three nights that we would be there.  It was a small home but it appeared perhaps previous missionaries had assisted in building it as it had been built differently than the other homes with a well designed cistern.  Off to one side was a separate kitchen area built with sticks and banana leaves.  There were two homes and the church on the property and both homes were given to us and the pastors that traveled with us while the families slept on the cement floor of the church. 

As we passed the kitchen area, women were busy at work preparing to feed us and everyone that would walk the mountain trails to hear the word of God.  Thank you to everyone who contributed to the feeding for the people during our time here. 

I promise you that they do not waist a thing and on our first morning because of your generous donation, we were severed a breakfast of soup made with the intestines and other internal portions of the goat.  Admittingly, I picked through the soup to find the cabbage and yams, but even the broth shared the taste that I could have easily skipped.  For them, I am sure this was a great delicacy that they had saved for their guest. 

The floor and walls of the church were well built with cement but the ceiling was very low so Denver had to duck at points to make sure that he did not hit his head on the wood rafters above.  Fresh flowers had been picked and tied around the post of the church and the people were ready for revival for the time we were there.  After just a short period of rest after our long days traveling, the rival began the first evening.  Many people from other churches in the area had also made the walk through the mountains in the dark to be there. The people sang and danced before the Lord for around two hours and so the pastor asked them if they could stay an extra hour to allow time for the word of God.  Unlike, what we had encountered at the pastors training, the people were in no hurry to leave; so the revival continued.  There was a special dedication to Denver and I from two small children who sang in English “I have decided to follow Jesus”.   After Denver shared a powerful message from God and the service had ended, some of the people began to leave, but the music and dancing continued and when those leaving realized that we were still worshiping God, they turned and filled the church up again.  The worship must have continued for about another hour or so.  My heart instantly filled with love for these people and this place so deep into the mountains of Haiti.

The singing and dancing continued for the next two days as we fed on beans, rice, goat, and the gospel.   In the morning, I shared with the children and Denver shared with the adults about the finished work that Jesus did on the cross as well as a teaching on the old and new covenant.  So much of this was new to the people but we could see that God was opening their eyes, ears, and hearts to the truth of what Jesus had to done for them.  

As I taught the children, they were very honest about what they believed: that God had caused them to be sick and brought destruction on Haiti as punishment for things they had done.  I had not prepared for a children’s program but the Spirit of God lead me as I shared with them how God is a good, how they are good, and how much God loves them. 

In the evening, we did a healing service where I continued Denver’s teaching about how Jesus had redeemed us and that as part of that redemption, we had been redeemed for the curses of Satan and the sickness that he tries to put on us.   

On the final day, the children were not able to be there because of school but Denver continued to teach the people about the blood covenant.  The people asked him several questions which helped us know that they were hearing and receiving the word of God that we were sharing. There were many testimonies of God’s healing from the evening before. 

After just a couple hours rest, we awoke early to make the travel back out of the mountains and into the busy city.  I will simply say that God was watching over us and protecting us and we are thankful to be back and having a night of rest.

Please continue to pray for His hand of protection over us, for anointing as we preach the Good News of Jesus and for healing for a fever that has tried to attack Denver today.