The following is a transcript of my journal entries chronicling
the events of my first mission trip (with wife in tow) to Croix Des
Bouquets, Haiti:
June 19 / 2014
Day 4, Thursday
Everything about this trip challenges our American mindsets. It is
a constant assault on our ideals and values. I cannot help but be
grateful for all that we have. Today starts the two day Pastors’
conference and I am personally excited to gauge the spirituality of
the Haitian leaders.
During this morning’s devotions I was drawn to Acts 4:13-31.
Whatever opposition we encounter today I believe that today will be a
manifestation of vs. 29-31; with boldness we go out to extend healing
hands with full expectation of signs and wonders for we know our God
is with us!
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| View from the "back" of the pastors conf. |
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| Long services are the norm here - children adapt. |
The Pastors’ conference went well. It was interesting to see the
reactions of the people to the differing ministry styles of the team
members. Pastor Joel Cisneros empowered the congregation to pray over
the U.S. team members. It was a beautiful sound and we could feel
their love for us. So far there have been very few negatives, (most
are beyond the scope of this writing) save for the horrible bus
rides, but that is a reflection of my height more than anything else.
We are settling in and becoming more accustomed to the people and the
atmosphere.
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| The beginning of the "dance off". |
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| Local Participant. |
The pre-crusade outing this afternoon was eye-opening. Our skits
and youth dancers attracted not a little crowd. The standout event
for many of us was watching my wife and two other sisters’ minister
to a crippled and mute boy. When the father (who we found out was a
former believer) brought his broken son to us he could not speak, his
limbs were contorted, and the boy had no hope of ever walking. After
the ladies prayed and interceded; battling a spirit of infirmity, the
boys arms and legs straightened significantly and his tongue was
loosed enough to say “Jezi” and “Hallelujah”. The ladies
tried having him walk, which he did difficultly with assistance.
After seeing the sisters progress; I and Pastor Joe Wentering jumped
in and began to pray also. We both noted a sense of spiritual
opposition and I attribute that to the “incompleteness” (at least
in initial manifestation) of the boys healing, which I found
frustrating. Even still, what we all saw today has left us with a
profound sense of the forces of darkness that are at work in this
nation. Despite our disappointments, we give glory to God for the
healing that was received and for the boy’s father (after
witnessing these events) re-dedicating his life to Christ. Today Gods
people confronted oppressive spiritual forces and we pushed back!
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