Our team had the opportunity to be guests in an amazing church today in the community of Bohoc. People walked from all over Bohoc to get to church. They walked in the ninety five degree heat to a large tent set up in a field. And they weren’t walking to a comfortable church with a/c and cozy chairs, they were walking in super hot weather in their best clothes to experience and worship as a community what they hold most sacred. The people we met were very welcoming and full of thanks. They welcomed us with hugs, kisses, handshakes and smiles. All things I am very thankful for because they express love even through difficult language barriers.  The service went on for almost three hours and consisted of lots of worship, scripture readings, a sermon on hope, an alter call, and a demon possession. Although these are somewhat common in Haiti, this was a pretty new experience for our team considering we generally don’t cast out demons on Sundays at Buckhead Church (well at least not in the way that the Haitians do). A young woman named Charlene was possessed by a demon and was painfully whaling in the back of the church. Members of the community prayed over her by laying their hands on her and Pastor George led us in prayer over the young woman as they proclaimed the power of Christ over the demon. “For Greater Is He that is in us than is in the world,” this was so powerful to see and not as hokey as it may seem. We all experience demons. The Haitians seem to be very intentional about recognizing demons in their lives and casting them out. We sometimes just seem to ignore our demons or mask them with things that temporarily make us feel better and separate us from God.  Thankfully Pastor George translated most of the sermon for us and we were able to experience worship and Gods word with the people we are here to serve.

After lunch we were on our way to an orphanage in Bohoc called Mathew 28. We were told for the last three weeks to prepare our hearts and to be ready to see some difficult things while visiting Mathew 28 and I really thought I had prepared myself. Upon entering the orphanage, we immediately had many (couldn’t count them) children approaching us. The children’s ages range from tiny babies to 20 years old. Most of the children are between two and seven. I was struck by the condition they were in. Many were naked, with no shoes, and swollen tummies from being malnourished, many skin conditions, infections, foot problems, and living in such poor conditions. This was very hard to see for someone who likes to jump in and fix things.  I felt awkward and speechless for about thirty seconds then I began to try and speak very broken French. Again, this was not necessary because children seem to speak another language that consists of hugs, smiles, hand holding, kind very random gestures, and wide eyed looks. I am so thankful that God has given us these commonalities and ways to communicate that extend past words.  We played and played and played and loved. I seemed to have an endless amount of little ones attached to me the whole time (which I loved and couldn’t have felt more at home).  About half way through our time at Mathew 28 Lachelle, a baby girl who couldn’t have been  much older than 18 months, gestured for me to pick her up and immediately fell asleep wrapped around me. It was nice to just hold her and be that person to rock her to sleep knowing that this doesn’t happen for her as much as it should. While I had Lachelle attached to me I was able to observe my team and the other children. They took to the children so naturally and loved them so fully it brought tears to my eyes. Some of us played soccer with the children, some held them, some played parachute, some colored and talked about Jesus, some spoke with the adolescents that could speak fluent English, and some of us used flash cards to help them with their English  and Creole words and numbers.  

Right before we left, I needed to see what was behind the cement walls of the orphanages. We were in a courtyard I guess you could call it but the orphanages were more towards the back of the property.  I needed to see where these little precious angels were sleeping each night and I needed to make this surreal experience less of a “feed the children” commercial that I just happen to be playing a role in and more of a reality. I asked our guide if I could go inside to see the orphanage (not that there was a door or anything).  He asked the owners son to give me a tour and hesitantly he agreed. I am trying to block the images out but I have a feeling they will haunt me for a while… but I will try to describe them anyways. They live within cement blocks with open windows. The cement floors are bare, wet on this day since it was raining, and most rooms do not have a mattress or any furniture really. They do not have the simple pleasures we have of electricity but sometimes he mentioned they have solar power. They do not have a stove, refrigerator, or any of the common kitchen items needed to prepare food for 75 children three times a day but I did see a few caldrons out back and fire pits. I didn’t see food or any remnants of food anywhere which is alarming. Drinking water came from a well in the yard. I have seen this all on TV but today it was a little too close for comfort. I wanted these images to stay on TV and not be my reality but it is now my reality. God has us here to serve and to discern what He wills for us to do for the children upon returning home.  I thanked him for his work with the orphans and for the tour and left with an aching heart. We don’t know where the resources are for Mathew 28 and we are not sure of how we can help just yet. We are asking God to open doors for us while respecting 410 Bridge and the community leaders of Bohoc. It is essentially the leadership counsels job to guide the missionaries work in Haiti and we have agreed to let them lead. This will teach them how to be leaders and make needed changes within their community thereby preventing dependence and empowering them. Saying goodbye was difficult. Some hugged and for some their smile turned into blank stares.  God willing we may be back to Mathew 28 tomorrow.

-NRM