Haiti–April, 2010

Mission Trip to Haiti

April 13 – 19, 2010

Praise be to our Lord through whose help we were able to return to Haiti for a short but fruitful five day trip. Our planned trip for January 12 did not materialize as we expected, just to see later on all the media the disaster that came over this already impoverished country. We were planning a follow up trip to our 2009 mission trip in order to encourage churches to seek the power of the Holy Spirit and to find other opportunities to get involved. After the earthquake, God’s call to be partakers in the Haitian’s people suffering became stronger. Because of the great need in Haiti we involved multiple people and churches. The unity created enabled us to have a bigger impact.

There were people from three churches in Chicago, specifically from Golgotha Church: Constantin Lupancu, Pavel Sav, and FG; from Gethsemane: Pastor Aurel Balici, Radu Vlad, Vasile Rodila and from Elim Pastor Pavel Murza. Pastor Ioan Blaga from Seattle’s First Romanian Pentecostal Church, and Viorel Gromic from Betel Romanian Church in Portland, OR. Grace Romanian Church in Houston, TX and Knox Romanian Church of God, IN made generous contributions for the people of Haiti in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We were grateful to have Pierre Gelinas who helped with translating, and Haitian Pastor Serge Demonsthenes.

The first part of the trip was revisiting New Covenant Christian Church in Gonaives pastured by Joseph Jules Jasmin. The big school bus shook and rumbled on the 80 miles road to Gonaives from

Port-au-Prince but we got there in about 3 hours, which was good considering the 6-hour drive we did last time. Our host was Pastor John a friend of Jasmin and the leader of a church in the vicinity of Gonaives. The roads, poverty, and heat were a shock to our group but greater was the joy when in open air we were able to worship with our brothers and sisters in Haiti.

For two nights we had worship services in open air because the house used by the New Covenant Christian Church was too small to hold all the attendants, which came from all the area around. It was a great joy to see the children singing so loud and fully hearten, to hear their prayers and see their thankfulness even in the face of such harsh life. The church had multiplied since last year and nylon covers were put over the yard so services can be held there. A girl whose parents practiced voodoo was brought and she was shaking and screaming infernally.

She loved coming to church but her parents always try to stop her or send her to buy something at the market when time to go to church was. We prayed for her and after a long while she became calm as dead, barely the pulse was beating. The pastor was to follow up with the parents as they probably influence her state.

We also held a seminary regarding the Holy Spirit. The church did not have the baptism of the Holy Spirit but they received our teaching with gladness and some people started praying for God to send the power and gifts of the Holy Spirit over them. Part of the group went to buy food for the poor families in church or whose children came to church. The church leaders arranged the distribution at a safe location. We also searched for land so we can help New Covenant build a church but were not able to complete a transaction. We pray God will open the door and give the necessary resources so the church can have a building where they can worship. On our way to Port au Prince, we stopped for a couple hours and visited the prison of San Mark city. We delivered goods and bibles to the inmates and also ministered to them.

Our next destination was a town in the mountains called Jacmel. To get there we had to go back to Port-au-Prince, change our school bus to some smaller vans and drive 2 hours on the wavy road up and then down the mountain. Here the air was clean now and there was well-watered vegetation, almost jungle looking. Town after town we can see the effects of the earthquake: housed destroyed, schools in rubles some still with the dead inside, big cracks in the road, landslides, and tent camps. We got to Jacmel just in time for a church service, held at a rented location in Orangers. Pastor Medit Sanon started this church about a year ago and now it was packed with people of all ages praising God. The frequent electrical outages, bad sound system, or dire heat did not stop anyone from coming before the throne with all their hearts. In Jacmel we had similar activities as in Gonaives: worship services, seminar, and food about 200 families. Pastor Medit had a list with the very poor of around the town and part of our group visited them. It is hard to describe in words the poverty but we did what we could materially and spiritually.

Our time here was less than two days but by God’s grace accomplished much. One of these things was baptizing 10 people. Pastor Medit had been planning for this and the 10 young boys and girls were ready to make the commitment to serve God their entire lives. Pastor Aurel Balici and Pavel Sav performed the baptism in the ocean. It was a time of celebration for both us on earth, and the angels in heaven. There was a piece of land Pastor Medit showed us that he wanted to buy for his church. The person selling the land was not in town but we asked for a sign from God, that if its His will to buy this property for things to work such we will be able to buy it. The old man selling the land was afraid to sell it so fast and was worrying about having $4,200 on him. Also he was not willing to negotiate. God worked in his heart and by the end of the day sold the land to Blessed Hope Mission under the signatures of Constantin Lupancu and Aurel Balici. Praise Be to God!

From Jacmel we headed back to Port-au-Prince where Pastor Serge used to live. This is where the bulk of the destruction took place when the earthquake happened. If the poverty in the rest of the country was shocking the situation here is indescribable. Every street in the city was affected. It seemed like someone had decided which house to destroy and which to allow standing. The stories of the survivors are amazing. We stopped by the ruins of one church. It was in full service and was holding about 500 people when the earthquake happened. The building collapsed but none died. A similar story took place at the church where we attended two services. The 1,000 people cathedral collapsed yet everyone ran out before the building fell. Now it was just a nylon-covered yard where people still came to worship by the hundreds. Believers come here every day of the week at 4 am and pray for two hours. It was frustrating because their prayers awoke us. At the same time, it was somewhat embarrassing to think how little effort we put into prayer services at home. The part of the building, which housed classes, the kitchen and bedrooms, did not fall and our hosts were kind to let us sleep there. It was one in a lifetime experience to hear the voices of 1,000 worshiping God without songbooks, projectors, or electricity, yet loud and clear. Heaven came close to earth, and God gave grace in the time of such trouble. Many of us encouraged them to stay close to God and reminded them they are not forgotten by their brothers in the United States.

The church seemed like the only organization in Haiti that still had some structure to it. People were able to come together and clean the ruble, or even go to other town in mission trips. Classes were held in the church “tent” since the schools were destroyed. Bed sheets were the only walls between the classes, the school supplies few, but those young minds were eager to learn. The Pastor took us through tent camps where we helped many poor families from church. In one tent lived a 90-year-old lady in close to 100-degree heat, limited water, nowhere to wash, and restrooms (if you can call them so) that were not meant to service so many people. Yet there is still hope in every person eyes that something will change and God will provide.

Many missions and governments took it upon themselves to go help in Haiti, and it may come to our mind that they are getting enough help. Yet as we saw the need there is so great that much more help is needed. Much of the resources available do not get to the person on the street and that’s what we did there. Our help was little but if we put many put their little together it becomes much. As the disciples asked Jesus why the tower of Siloam fell on 18 people we look and ask why such destruction came upon the Haitian people, such that 250,000 of them died. Simplistic answers are given such as the disciples gave. Only our God cannot be fit or understood in our little mind. If He were then He would be human, or we would all be gods. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord.” God is doing something more complicated and greater than we are; yet He gave us good instructions for what we have to do “Seek the Lord while he may be found”. As you finish reading this article, seek the Lord and sense what He is directing you to do with your life!