After lunch we did our our VBS skit for the Gran Moun at Miss Pat's. We were a little "rough" the first time at Sunday School at church. We did better this time! We told about Jesus: how he called his disciples after him, told them of his leaving, betrayed by the Jews in Jerusalem, dying on the cross, rising again from the tomb, and meeting Mary and Mary and the disciples. I narrated the story while Henry Joseph, our interpretor from Port de Paix translated into Creole.
Henry Joseph is one of the GREATEST persons I have ever met. Young people like him need to be the future of Haiti. He is very intelligent, detailed, friendly, and most important, Godly people I have ever met. He and I continue to email each other often. He attends college in Port de Paix and is training to become a teacher and pastor. Please pray for him that God would continue to guide him and he would continue to be eager in listening.
The Gran Moun (about 15, all women) were reacted very enthusiastically to our play. so much so that several of the women in our group were in tears watching how eagerly and happily these women reacted. I can only imagine the extreme trials these elderly Haitian women have endured. Lives spent in hard poverty. Yet they are so enthusiastic about our Savior! They commented frequently during the skit and gave a big applause when we were finished. It was very memorable for everyone.
What happened that afternoon though was nothing short of a miracle. We were doing VBS at the church for what we were told to expect was 120-150 kids (all from the area). Well, the word must have travelled quickly. 30 minutes prior to 2:00 there were well over 100 kids of all ages outside the locked church waiting to get in.
Roland, one of the workers at the mission had to let the littlest kids in first. Many were in tears due to the commotion and the crush of the crowd. It was getting to be an unsafe situation. It was clear we would have way over 150 kids. Roland patiently held the crowd outside and let the littlest kids in a few at a time. Soon the church was full and many of the older kids had to watch from outside. Some of the nursing mothers were let in and they stood along the back. We planned for 150 kids but God had a different paln. He brought about 350 kids. We had made peanut butter sandwiches for them and brought a goody bag for 150 kids with toothbrushes, shampoo, and toys. We frantically divided all the sandwiches in two so every kid could have some.
For many of these kids, this would be there only meal of the day. You could tell that some of the kids were definitely malnourished. It broke our hearts to have to divided the sandwiches up. We figured that some of the kids would just have to go without and that would break our hearts. You know what, God provided. we actually had enough for every kids and a fair amount left over to give to the nursing mom's and some of the older kids! We were amazed! Not one kid or mom complained and each took the half-sandwich graciously.
Before all this, Roland had led the kids in a raucous song service. Roland, who I thought at first was kind of rough and distant, did an excellant job of crowd control and was great with the kids as he led them in singing. The kids were SO INTO the song service. Here it was, a Monday afternoon, and these kids were eagerly praising God at the top of there lungs. These kids who have almost nothing. God was there in all his glory! Each of us was moved by the joyful worship of these people.
We gave our skit for the kids. We had it down cold by this time. Bob Helm (our 300lb soldier) virtually threw Ryan (Jesus) up against the wall when it was time to "nail Jesus to the cross". The kids got a real kick out of it.
After this was the feeding of the sandwiches and then handing out the now divided up toys and toothbrushes. This went well also and every child was able to get something. The amazing thing was that a good many of the kids didn't want the toys (balls and pencils) and instead insisted on the toothbrushes. Again, another sobering reminder on what a luxury item toothbrushes are to these kids. They are so grateful for even the smallest item!
After we let the kids out, Ryan threw up a couple of kickball we had brought for the kids. The kids mobbed after these and got into shoving matches for the balls. We should have listened to Dave (Danielle Rogers' cousin, a missionary out in Le Bay). He had wanted us to give them directly to him so that they would be better taken care of. We did leave two other balls and a ball pump with him.
Our entire group was stunned after all this had happened. So many emotions were present. Joy over all the kids who heard the of Jesus and were fed nutricious peanut butter sandwichs and the Holy Spirit. Sadness at the desperate needs of these people.
This is the third world we hear about but never take the time to visit and help. A good many kids were running around with pants or underwear and over half without shoes. As difficult as it was to believe, Ti Charles and the Far West are even more desperate than Port de Paix and St Louis du Nord.
Wrapup of Day 3 to come.
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