A Change of Plans

For the September Summit Church Team, change was the theme of the week. 
They were supposed to fly into Port au Prince Thursday night, stay the night and take the bus to Cayes on Friday.  Due to a mechanical error, they were late for a connecting flight from Miami to Port au Prince and missed the flight.  The airline had no flights out of Miami that day or the next, so they transferred their flight to the Ft Lauderdale airport for Friday.  They would now be overnighting in Florida.  Due to the late arrival of their flight, they would then stay Friday night in Port and head towards Cayes on Saturday morning. 
As of Thursday night the new plan was that RMI team would meet the team at the Retreat Center in Zanglais, because its closer to Cote de Fer, we’d eat lunch and then head to Cote de Fer.  In the mean time, late Thursday night, in Haiti, a thunderstorm rolled in and dumped torrential rain in Cote de Fer.   Due to the recent rains from Tropical Storm Isaac, an already soggy town was soaked; and this time the rains brought with them mud.  The entire town was filled with sticky, wet mud.  The church yard as well as the rooms at the school were the team was to stay were also covered in mud.  Rob and Benson drove out to access the damage.  There was no way we could stay in Cote de Fer. 

The church yard filled with dry, cracked mud (on Wednesday).
A new plan was needed.
The plan all along was for the team to build two houses in Cote de Fer.  Where the houses were to be built was on ‘this side of the river’ where there was no mud.  The problem was now where the team would stay.  It was decided the team would stay at the RMI Retreat Center in Zanglais and commute the 1 1/2 hours back and forth every day.   It wasn’t ideal, but it made the visit possible so that became the plan.  But it also meant making a new plan for meals; making a menu, planning for lunches to take with the team, early breakfasts, gathering the supplies, etc.  It was a big job but after three hours, some 25 phone calls back and forth, and a few emails, a plan was in place.  RMI staff held our breaths hoping that this time, this plan would stick.
And for the most part it did.
We went to Cote de Fer on Sunday for the service, and then set to work right away on house number one.  The team worked hard and got a lot accomplished on day one!

Benson and Jordan working on the roof.

Wilrid and Tony measuring pieces for the porch roof.
Day two was just as productive. House number one was finished and it was presented to the new owners, a faithful deacon of the church and his family. The team handed them the keys and prayed over them.

Presenting the house to the Deacon and his family.

The Deacon and his family.
The team then headed off to location number two and got to work.  By the end of day two, the house was well under way. 

Putting in the first two walls.


Putting in the support beams.  All hands on deck!

Wilfrid and David installing the window.
Day three brought with it new energy and the completion of the second house. It was also presented to its new owner, a single mother of two and a faithful member of the Cote de Fer church. The team handed her her keys and prayed over her and her family before leaving. 

Praying for the new owner of house number two.
Wednesday morning, the team headed back to the church and spent some time sharing with and praying with the Deacons.  They then split up into two teams and visited the homes of some of the church members and delivered boxes of food and prayed for each family.

The team and the Deacons.
While the week didn’t turn out how originally expected and a lot of adjustments on everyone’s part had to be made  we rejoiced in the kingdom work that was accomplished despite the enemies best efforts to hamper God’s plans.  Two families now have safe dry places to call home.  Six families don’t have to think about where their next meal is coming from for a few weeks.  The relationship between the Summit Church and the Cote de Fer Baptist Church is strengthened as they can both see how committed to the relationship one another are.  And despite all the changes, and all the adjustments, and all the twists and turns the week threw at us, God has been honored.  And we pray that above all, His heart was pleased. 

“Bondye Pap Janm Kite Ou”

“God will never leave you”.

Its one of the truths the Summit team shared with the Kids at the Cote de Fer church during Vacation Bible School last week. With over 200 kids in attendance, over three days the team presented truths from God’s word using skits, songs, and memory verses set to actions to help the kids remember. They also had the kids break up into small groups and review the lessons. And then a mass exodus led the kids outside to games which were designed to reinforce the theme for each lesson as well. They enlisted some of the young folks from the Cote de Fer church to help with the program and lead the small groups and games. The kids had a blast!

The team singing with the kids during VBS.

Playing Duck Duck Goose out in the street

The mass exodus of children during game time.

Singing with the kids

(Left: The kids playing a game to “untangle themselves from one another. Right: Potiphar, His wife and Joseph.)
(Below: Pastor and His future bride pretending to be Newlyweds)

During the week, the team enjoyed getting to know Pastor Roben and his soon to be wife Joslen. Joslen worked with the ladies to cook for the team and take care of us in every way possible. The team fell in love with her and commented many times on what a beautiful woman of God she was and how evident it was that she was created for the role of Madame Pastor. She tirelessly served the team, working with the ladies in the kitchen to prepare meals for the team; she directed the program for the Ladies tea and she helped lead the Vacation Bible School program for the kids. She was up early and to bed late and by the end of the week she was exhausted but the team was so grateful for her contribution and loved the opportunity to get to know her. When the team returns she and Pastor Roben will have gotten married and will be starting their life together.

In addition to the VBS, the team also participated in the more traditional RMI Sister Church Partnership activities such as the Open Air Service, Ladies Tea and the Deacons Meeting. Sunday afternoon, the young people on the team got a chance to sit down with some of the youth in Cote de Fer just to ‘chat among friends’. They talked about life in the US, life in Haiti and asked questions to one another about their lives. Sunday night at the Open Air Service the team sang for the community, Michael preached a gospel message and seven children responded to the invitation and gave their lives to Christ. Monday afternoon the team met with the Deacons and got a chance to learn more about the history of the Cote de Fer church and how things have been after the school and church were both damaged beyond repair in the earthquake in January 2010. They shared successes, struggles, goals and prayer requests and spent some time praying for one other. Tuesday afternoon they had the Ladies Tea where they sang together, laughed together, ate together and enjoyed one another’s company, celebrating their role as women. they gave each of the women in attendance a card with a bible verse as well as a small decorative jewel to remind them how much God treasures them. Wednesday after lunch, the team gathered in the church for one last time. They stood hand in hand, prayed for one another, hugged and said tearful goodbyes.

The farewell circle.

It was a great week working with the kids, getting to know the Pastor and Joslen, fellowshipping with the Deacons and the ladies who served the team. The children were taught how much God loves them, the congregation was encouraged and blessed by the team’s presence and contributions, the church was edified and above all God was glorified.

All the pics from the week can be seen here.

Ministry is an action verb

Ministry around RMI is an action verb. If you wonder what goes on from day to day, in addition to preparing for, receiving and caring for teams, take a look at Gary McLaughlin’s Facebook page.

Feb. 24: “Saturday I put in 2 BioSand Water Filters, Monday 6 with to Haitian helpers and today going to do at least 3 more in the Picot area. Take a break at the water falls while in that area. :-) Marilyn is working on HFKz like always.”

[Left: Gary with one of the biosand recipients. Right: Another family with their biosand filter installed in their Homes for Haiti home.]

Feb. 23: “Tuesday we got 4 more water filters put in Haitian homes and yesterday, after working hours, I got another filter installed. First 45 almost finished and getting ready to bring out the next 30.”

March 2: “Yesterday Marie France and I delivered a refrigerator, 50 French Bibles and 50 Kreol Bibles to Astruc and then drove to Lievre to deliver 48 songbooks, 50 French Bibles and 50 Kreol Bibles. All gifts from their sister churches in the US. Today we are driving to Cherette to hand out clothes sent in by their sister church.”

[Left: Children modeling their new clothes from their Sister Church. Right: The Women’s Group modeling their new clothes!]

March 2: “Waiting for Our Savior's Lutheran from Lake Owego, Oregon to arrive at our guest house. Maybe around 3pm our time.”

A team from The Summit Church in Little Rock, Arkansas just left today and a team from Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Lake Oswego, Oregon is going in today. When they leave Trinity Bible Church, Lafayette, LA comes in and a week later The First Associated Reformed Presbyterian Church of Gastonia, NC is going in for their very first visit. In addition to this a family will be visiting the field for 2 weeks as they consider serving there with RMI.

Oh, and Dan will be in Merritt Island, FL, Chicago, Haiti and the Carolinas this month. Stay tuned for other happenings in RMI – we’re not quite ready to unveil them yet but you’ll like it! Yes, ministry is indeed an action verb here at RMI. There are no idle hands around here!