PVBC
Our last group was from Pleasant Valley. They just left today, along with the Snively family.
The first few days, the girls held a princess party. Each day, different girls were invited. One day was for the mountain girls, another for the Mole girls. From the moment they arrived, these precious girls were told how beautiful they were. They got crowns and they made their own princesses. They got to decorate cupcakes and listen to Once Upon a Time stories, of how God had moved in the lives of the group members. They heard the gospel through the lens of a princess, which was so cool. They spent the entire day just being loved on, which doesn't happen in many of their homes. Most of these girls have never been told they were beautiful. Their parents don't have time for them, they are too busy trying to help the family survive. Many of them had never been told that they were worth and that they were worth fighting for. Some of them struggled with seeing God as their Father because the things that their own earthly fathers had done to them. It was such a sweet time and I know those girls really cherished it.
One morning, we spent the entire time praying. We circled the Mole. We walked the streets and prayed for the needs and the issues the Mole is facing. It was awesome to see the intentionality that happened.
The entire week, the "adult team" held medical clinics. They did one here in the Mole. They traveled to Mar Rouge, Savane Mole, Daniel, and the fishing village of Preskul. They didn't just physically heal but they helped some begin the process of emotional and spiritual healing. They offered a hope of something greater. When we talk of Heaven to the Haitians, we don't say streets of gold and riches. We talk about no more hunger, no more pain, no more suffering, no more laboring tirelessly just to get by.
The village of Preskul is nothing like I've ever seen. We arrived and greeted. When we walked through town, no one asked us for anything but prayer. All of the homes were these tiny huts. Entire families sleep on top of each other. The homes couldn't withstand a strong storm or hurricane. The village works together. The men go fishing, not just for themselves, but for their community. There isn't a market, there isn't an economy. The people just make it day to day. They don't have a church there yet, but they are praying for something so they can continue to grow in their faith.
Preskul reminded me of what it would look like if the "church" actually became the church. If we truly helped each other, without there being an alternate motive. What would happen if the church left the building and lived out the gospel? So often, we say someone else will take care of that or that's not my problem. But it is our problem. What would it look like for the American church to really live in community? What would it look like in my own life to actually say, I'm not okay with moms tying ropes around their kids stomachs so their child doesnt feel the constant pain of hunger? That breaks my heart and I know that God is using that to change my attitude, my lifestyle. One church that came to the Mole took what they learned literally. They prayed with people everywhere here. When people leave, we always tell them, the ministry doesn't stop here- it's only just the beginning. This group started prayer walking a block of apartment buildings. Eventually, they started knocking on doors and the things that grew out of that are awesome.
The first few days, the girls held a princess party. Each day, different girls were invited. One day was for the mountain girls, another for the Mole girls. From the moment they arrived, these precious girls were told how beautiful they were. They got crowns and they made their own princesses. They got to decorate cupcakes and listen to Once Upon a Time stories, of how God had moved in the lives of the group members. They heard the gospel through the lens of a princess, which was so cool. They spent the entire day just being loved on, which doesn't happen in many of their homes. Most of these girls have never been told they were beautiful. Their parents don't have time for them, they are too busy trying to help the family survive. Many of them had never been told that they were worth and that they were worth fighting for. Some of them struggled with seeing God as their Father because the things that their own earthly fathers had done to them. It was such a sweet time and I know those girls really cherished it.
One morning, we spent the entire time praying. We circled the Mole. We walked the streets and prayed for the needs and the issues the Mole is facing. It was awesome to see the intentionality that happened.
The entire week, the "adult team" held medical clinics. They did one here in the Mole. They traveled to Mar Rouge, Savane Mole, Daniel, and the fishing village of Preskul. They didn't just physically heal but they helped some begin the process of emotional and spiritual healing. They offered a hope of something greater. When we talk of Heaven to the Haitians, we don't say streets of gold and riches. We talk about no more hunger, no more pain, no more suffering, no more laboring tirelessly just to get by.
The village of Preskul is nothing like I've ever seen. We arrived and greeted. When we walked through town, no one asked us for anything but prayer. All of the homes were these tiny huts. Entire families sleep on top of each other. The homes couldn't withstand a strong storm or hurricane. The village works together. The men go fishing, not just for themselves, but for their community. There isn't a market, there isn't an economy. The people just make it day to day. They don't have a church there yet, but they are praying for something so they can continue to grow in their faith.
Preskul reminded me of what it would look like if the "church" actually became the church. If we truly helped each other, without there being an alternate motive. What would happen if the church left the building and lived out the gospel? So often, we say someone else will take care of that or that's not my problem. But it is our problem. What would it look like for the American church to really live in community? What would it look like in my own life to actually say, I'm not okay with moms tying ropes around their kids stomachs so their child doesnt feel the constant pain of hunger? That breaks my heart and I know that God is using that to change my attitude, my lifestyle. One church that came to the Mole took what they learned literally. They prayed with people everywhere here. When people leave, we always tell them, the ministry doesn't stop here- it's only just the beginning. This group started prayer walking a block of apartment buildings. Eventually, they started knocking on doors and the things that grew out of that are awesome.
Comments
Post a Comment