Nights and Days on the Haitian Queen

This past weekend was a historic occasion on many fronts. On Friday our team of about 10 moved into what was to become the Home Base, or HQ, of Touch Global Southwest in Haiti. We have named it “The Haitian Queen: HQ.” It is situated near a town called Gressier, not far from the epicenter of the quake, in fact. The area is relatively rural with open spaces and friendly country folk. Yet the destruction and loss are evident even here.









There was a mood of excitement and camaderie as we mobilized and got to work setting up. From the get-go we were confronted by challenges such as electricity, plumbing, shopping, security, sanitation (no drinkable water) and ongoing earth tremors. The guys rigged up a gasoline powered generator to supplement the solar panels, a water purification system, and installed a satellite dish for internet. We found a Haitian team cook, a night guard, a handyman, and a driver. We met the neighbors, including the mission compound nearby whose staff has helped us immensely. We went shopping, and outfitted the kitchen and bathrooms. While some stayed at “home” others went into town to meet with pastors and others in ministry, or to run errands in Port-au-Prince. We checked in on the orphans, checked in on those to whom we’d distributed tents. One errand or one visit can take most of the day just because of the horrendous roads and the obstacles (traffic, debris).

On Saturday we invited the staff from the mission compound over for dinner: our first day in the house and almost all stores were closed for the weekend of mourning. But we found enough food and our fabulous cook just in time to offer a celebration feast. We enjoyed sweet fellowship with these doctors, nurses, and teachers who lost many of their own buildings and cared for 100’s of wounded and dying in the days after the quake. We prayed together and encouraged each other in the Lord.

On Sunday we joined the Haitian believers in worship, and Brian preached in French. Linda and I were asked to pray over as many of the children as we could, so we weaved in and out of the crowd of mothers and little ones in a big room off to the side. We knelt and prayed with kids who were standing in praise while mothers brought their babies for us to bless. That was a powerful moment for us as women.

On Monday, more Touch Global volunteers arrived, including 5 robust guys to build the second floor (destroyed in the quake) and bunk beds for starters, and our own future teammate Trinity Kay of the Rome City Team!

I described the weekend as “historic” primarily for how God moved among His people in Haiti. A truly spiritual phenomenon took place: the president had declared 3 days of fasting and prayer for the people. For 3 days straight, droves of Haitians gathered and overflowed into the streets on every city block. The public park in the center became the scene of a massive revival meeting. From sunrise to sunset they called upon the Lord in song and supplications. They fasted - even the children joined in adoration and fasting. Lamentations and victory chants, multiple sermons and altar calls. For more than twelve hours each day the streets were filled with preaching and prayers and hearts crying out to God. Before and after the meetings, people poured into the streets to make their way, in their best clothes (many in white) and with Bible in hand. Most churches saw dozens or 100’s of decisions for Christ. The earth shook once more in Port-au-Prince but this time with the power of the Spirit of God. The Haitian people have thrown themselves on the mercy and compassion of the Almighty God. They have nothing else but Him. They are richer than we.