I'm still in tears...
The dignity and welcoming presence of the Haitian people is still so overwhelming to me. I cannot get them off my mind or out of my heart—not that I would EVER want to, mind you!
Categorically, across the board, and hands down, 1-7 April 2011 was the best seven days of my life. THE BEST...of my entire life! And every day since then has been exquisitely fabulous as well.
The bulk of our time in Haiti was spent in Bohoc (which I have learned is correctly pronounced boh-hock), a rural mountainous village, located (as the crow flies) about 50 miles north of Port au Prince. The route to Bohoc, though, is well over 100 miles long and provides a stunningly beautiful view of the Haitian countryside. Making the trek takes about five hours by bus—four hours if you’re on a screaming motorcycle with no more than one pig or four people riding with you!
The village of Bohoc, like all of Haiti (and all of us, I would suppose), is in transition. I heard it put, once, that in everything there is no stasis…you or they or it—whatever IT might be—is either living or dying. Haiti, my friends, is very much alive. The Haitian people, though they’ve been beaten down time and time and time again, have an indomitable spirit that continues to rise again and again. The Spirit of Resurrection in Haiti surpasses completely just about anything I’ve ever seen in the states.
On Sunday afternoon (3 April), we had the humbling honor and absolute pleasure of being able to spend about two hours with the Bohoc leadership council, a group of men and women (I think there are thirteen total on the council) who have dedicated their lives to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and to supporting the rebuilding of not just their village, but Haiti as a whole. In their village, each council member is, I believe, like Nehemiah was to the disgraced Children of Israel in ancient times. For context, here’s an extremely brief history lesson on Nehemiah’s time…
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After the Jews were carried into exile by the Babylonians and then, subsequently, released some 70 years later, a good number of them returned to Jerusalem only to discover their city lying in ruins and the great wall, which had once surrounded Jerusalem, destroyed by fire. A man, by the name of Nehemiah (and Nehemiah means, “comforter”), was raised up by God to return to Jerusalem to help the Jews recover from their shame and to rebuild the wall around their beloved city. Through Nehemiah's leadership, love, and encouragement, the wall was rebuilt and the gates were reset, which provided the security the Israelite needed to pursue their destiny as a people chosen by God to bring blessing to the entire world.
---
“The Nehemiahs of Bohoc” have devoted their lives to helping their Haitian brethren rebuild their lives and create a community that embodies the themes of Psalm 37:1-9, which reads as follows:
"Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away.
The dignity and welcoming presence of the Haitian people is still so overwhelming to me. I cannot get them off my mind or out of my heart—not that I would EVER want to, mind you!
Categorically, across the board, and hands down, 1-7 April 2011 was the best seven days of my life. THE BEST...of my entire life! And every day since then has been exquisitely fabulous as well.
The bulk of our time in Haiti was spent in Bohoc (which I have learned is correctly pronounced boh-hock), a rural mountainous village, located (as the crow flies) about 50 miles north of Port au Prince. The route to Bohoc, though, is well over 100 miles long and provides a stunningly beautiful view of the Haitian countryside. Making the trek takes about five hours by bus—four hours if you’re on a screaming motorcycle with no more than one pig or four people riding with you!
The village of Bohoc, like all of Haiti (and all of us, I would suppose), is in transition. I heard it put, once, that in everything there is no stasis…you or they or it—whatever IT might be—is either living or dying. Haiti, my friends, is very much alive. The Haitian people, though they’ve been beaten down time and time and time again, have an indomitable spirit that continues to rise again and again. The Spirit of Resurrection in Haiti surpasses completely just about anything I’ve ever seen in the states.
On Sunday afternoon (3 April), we had the humbling honor and absolute pleasure of being able to spend about two hours with the Bohoc leadership council, a group of men and women (I think there are thirteen total on the council) who have dedicated their lives to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and to supporting the rebuilding of not just their village, but Haiti as a whole. In their village, each council member is, I believe, like Nehemiah was to the disgraced Children of Israel in ancient times. For context, here’s an extremely brief history lesson on Nehemiah’s time…
---
After the Jews were carried into exile by the Babylonians and then, subsequently, released some 70 years later, a good number of them returned to Jerusalem only to discover their city lying in ruins and the great wall, which had once surrounded Jerusalem, destroyed by fire. A man, by the name of Nehemiah (and Nehemiah means, “comforter”), was raised up by God to return to Jerusalem to help the Jews recover from their shame and to rebuild the wall around their beloved city. Through Nehemiah's leadership, love, and encouragement, the wall was rebuilt and the gates were reset, which provided the security the Israelite needed to pursue their destiny as a people chosen by God to bring blessing to the entire world.
---
“The Nehemiahs of Bohoc” have devoted their lives to helping their Haitian brethren rebuild their lives and create a community that embodies the themes of Psalm 37:1-9, which reads as follows:
"Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away.
"Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart.
"Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him and He will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
"Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.
"Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil. For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land."
I am in awe of God’s comforting and generative Spirit at work in and through these precious people.
Men and women of God…
…Stand with me, will you? Stand with our brothers and sisters in Bohoc and throughout Haiti—and seek the Father. Get on your knees and fight…
…Like men and women.
For prayer IS our first work.
Haiti is rising, my friends…from the rubble and destruction caused by sin and the influence of the enemy of souls. But, just as in the days of Israel and Nehemiah, the chief building material in the rebuilding is the rubble of brokenness. All of this just breaks my heart...
Peace to all of you,
The Blingster
"Now to Him, Who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His great power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen." (Ephesians 3:20-21)
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