EBS Spring Break Missions Trip: Port-au-Prince

Diquini Church

The EBS 21 arrived Thursday night in Diquini and quickly set up tents, a sheet, speakers, a generator and a projector. The Easter weekend crusade was kicked off by a huge crowd attraction: the Jesus film. After hundreds saw the story of the life and death and resurrection ofJesus, they were invited to the following days of Bible study, preaching, worship and children's ministry.

EBS housing...and the tent church of Diquini

Fourth year student, Yolene

Junior had already set up a church here, a bamboo tent, right smack in the middle of the tent homes of Diquini. Friday morning EBS got going. Half the group started in on children's ministry, and half the group started in on the Crusade and on Evangelism. Service leaders were selected, preachers, songs, schedules, props, games, lessons, benedictions, times, everything.

From Julie's blog, one of the girls that went...

"Seven of us ran the Kids club from 8 to 10 in the morning, well that was the scheduled time but we are in Haiti so it was about half 8 before we got started. we had around 60 to 80 kids each time. Started off with some singing, praying, then a story, a memory verse and some songs in English.

On friday morning we looked at Abraham and how he obeyed God with the verse from Genesis 15 v 6 'And He believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness'. Creole being so simple translated word for word says....Abraham put his trust in the Lord and He gave him Grace.

Friday afternoon was about Jonah and his disobedience and the result of that. The verse was Psalm 30 v3 (From creole) You brought me out of a big pit, You gave me life and You did not leave me to die. Yolene (who was teaching the verse) did a great job and she compared it to what had happened in Port, that alot of people died in the earthquake and its only by God's grace that we were there, it was very powerful especially seeing all these kids are living in tents and literally have nothing.

Saturday morning was the story of Jesus death and resurrection and his obedience to his father in Heaven. The Verse was John 11 v 25 'I am the resurrection and the life. Then on sunday afternoon we had a special programme, a revision of the stories, of the songs we had learnt, the memory verses, a quiz and each child got a wee bag of a colouring book, crayons, a copy of Johns gospel and some biscuits and sweets.

You should have heard them answering the questions, they listened so well and knew all the answers and same with their verses. At home we write out the verse, repeat it loads of time etc...In Haiti they repeat it about 5 times and that is it, they know it. About 6 of them got up and said all 3 verses and a couple of them were only 5 or 6 years old.

While we were doing the kids club the rest of the seminary studnets were out in the area doing evangelism, and encouraging those new believers who had given their lives to God in January. Then each evening at 5 (well 6 by the time we got started) we had a service. The Students led all the services, praying, singing and preaching and they were brilliant. In the 'church' we had about 200 people packed in and Im sure there were around 100 or more standing outside. The presence of God and his Holy Spirit was so clearly felt. Throughout the weekend through the evangelism and the services there were nearly 100 people who decided to become Christians. "

The other major element of this trip was to be an encouragement to Junior, first year student, who is leading Bible studies, doing evangelism, training leaders, making disciples, leading church services, and giving his life for the cause of Christ in Diquini. While they found him his normal joyful self, he was obviously weary and lonely. They spent lots of time loving on him, and "having my friends alongside me" was such a sweet gift for him. We don't realize how precious it is to live in Christian community until we work for the Lord alone!

As Dietrich Bonhoeffer says of "Life Together"...

It is easily forgotten that the fellowship of Christian brethren is a gift of grace, a gift of the Kingdom of God that any day may be taken from us, that the time that still separates us from utter loneliness may be brief indeed.

Therefore, let him who until now has had the privilege of living a common Christian life with other Christans praise God's grace from the bottom of his heart. Let him get on his knees and declare: It is grace, nothing but grace, that we are allowed to live in community with Christian brethren.

Fourth year Yolene, Third year Nicole, First year Junior and Jean-Marie, back

The team was as grateful for him as he was for them, and Rachelle mentioned how quiet and withdrawn he became the last night, knowing his family and help were about to leave. PLEASE continue to be praying for this courageous and sacrificial young man, as he pours himself out like a drink offering...beautiful, but difficult in ways I can not understand. Pray that the Lord would continue to give him wisdom, joy, encouragement, and HIs very real presence.

Also, please keep praying for these beautiful people, and for the students, as God continues to work on their hearts...they are anxious for the next "EBS Missions Trip"! Maybe Baron??? Ah, Matt and I continue to taste and see that the Lord is good in and through the men and women of Emmaus Biblical Seminary...Praise the Lord!

Second year student Devicoeur