haiti looked exactly like it looked in pictures and on the news. the second we landed and got to baggage, guys were asking to carry our stuff. a short, animated guy named marcio greeted us and told us, "dont let anyone touch your bags!" he was bossy and hasty.
the streets were absolute chaos. from the second the plane landed, you could tell that this country operated with zero order. this was made really evident in the way people drove. basically, they had no laws, stop lights, stop signs, road signals, speed limits, anything. and the fastest any of us went was like 40 mph. it took forever to get anywhere and there was alot of dust and gas and honking.
all of the people just sat on the side of the road. one thing i noticed immediately was no one was doing anything. they were just sitting there. there was graffiti everywhere, and dogs ate the trash. people took pleasure in kicking them and beating them. no one gave them food. and they were all skiddish all the time. that hit me really hard the first day, especially in light of recent traumatic adventures. some kind of pains are heavy, like trying to comprehend starvation and desperation and poverty. but some pains are sharp, like seeing a starving dog being beaten, totally helpless.
anyway, he told us his story. basically, ran away at 15, went nuts, was introduced to Jesus, became a wanderer that followed Him. he was in haiti when the earthquake hit, and has been here for a while now. hes been a Christian for 9 months. God sure does work in His own time, huh?
getting to the compound/place of residence:
we stayed in pastor christians house. the girls slept on the roof in tents, and the guys slept outside in tents. there were mango tents all over the place, and it was a danger to just chill outside because those things hit hard. but they were delicious. seriously. we had electricity and water sometimes, but no a/c or anything.
anyway, im hot and humid and surrounded by concrete walls. a chick named paige led our 3 person orientation. she just explained how nothing was planned, time isnt valuable, and spending time with the haitians was key. she told us that revival was stirring before and after the earthquake.
[some useful background info: haiti was the satanic capitol of the world. they made a pact with satan that went like this, if he freed them from french rule, they would serve him. and so, this nation has been reigned by satans kingdom for years and years. 750 pastors got together and prayed that God would do whatever it took to "shake the nation", and then the earthquake happened. since then, and before then, even, God has been in the process of taking His nation and His people back. revival really is stirring, people are getting saved by the thousands, churches dont know what to do with all the new believers, worship services are the bomb, stuff like that. instead of partying for marti gras, there was a nation wide 3-day fast & pray sesh. awesome?!]
then, the team got back. this is about the time i realized how antisocial i really am. it was so excrutiating meeting all these people and putting on a show.
[ie, nice to meet you. thats a lie, no matter what. because when you meet someone, there is no way to know whether you are going to be glad or not so glad you met them. so, its impossible to know ahead of time just how 'nice' it would have been to meet them.]
there is a reason God put us all together, but it wasnt something i am interested in participating in right now. i feel like i have a hermit abby and an outgoing abby. ive been shy today, and my mom has to introduce me as her daughter, because im 12 years old and cant introduce myself. awesome!
its hard to praise God for who He is. He just isnt in my face. theres so much going on, its hard to see Him kinda. thats not accurate. its just hard to describe.
Lord, please break down my walls that make me antisocial. i need You to help me relate and become bold like Jesus. theres something about this that makes You hard to find. i know You are here, working. so please, change my heart. make my life about You alone. let me praise You for what You have done and are doing. please, open my lips to bring You glory. change my heart to love impartially. Lord, use me as You will. make me a willing vessel. on my own, i am incapable of being friendly and real. i cant evangelize and build new relationships. i cant bring people to You. please, use me anyway. make me willing. open my mouth to speak and bring You glory. Lord, i can do all things through Christ. You havent given me a spirit of timidity, but of peace and courage. im gonna need alot of that this week. i need You to be an everpresent help in time of trouble. this is draining. Holy Spirit, intercede.
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