Heavenly Encounters, An Update from Haiti

Words seem insufficient on days like these. It is hard to explain what we have experienced and felt today. To sum it up for you seems to cut short the glory due to God. However, we will try.

We were in Leveque again this afternoon. We were there for something special. Something we do not usually get to do. We went to play soccer. Just to play soccer. But this wasn’t any child’s soccer game. You see, in the village of Leveque, there are two communities living amongst each other. Those who were living in slums and those who are deaf. MOH has combined these two communities to bring hope, life, Jesus, and permanent housing. The first soccer game was Haitians versus Americans. The second was the Deaf community against the hearing. The hearing won the game, which we were told doesn’t happen often, if ever.

After the game, all 200 short-term missionaries, people from the community, MOH staff, and interpreters gathered in a circle to pray. A deaf woman led us in prayer. Her prayer was translated to Creole and then to English. We prayed the same prayer in 3 different languages at the same time. What an amazing experience!

Later this evening, we went to church for a worship service. This is my favorite night of the week as it turns into unabandoned, joyous worship. We congo line in church! What is more moving is to watch one of our students weep through the worship. After service and talking to her, she didn’t know why she was crying. I knew. She was experiencing God, the Holy Spirit, in such a way, that she couldn’t sing. The only way to express her worship was through tears. It was beautiful!

So many times, those of us who travel on short-term missions trips think we are going to come and help all these people and build the Kingdom. And we do, there is credibility in that. But the most impact made is typically on our own hearts. It is fun and a privilege to watch this unfold in the lives of our teenagers at Forest Hill.