BARON: the ask.

Being a foreigner means that there is something we have come to expect in Haiti: the ask.

 Someone explained to us once that it's not that we have to GIVE.  It's just that people have to TRY.

Maybe you don't know me from Adam.  But if your little girl desperately needs to go to school / eat / go to the hospital, and you don't have the money, and have no way of getting the money, you'd better bet that a good mama is going to ask anyone who seems like maybe they could help to help.

 This means that being asked, and figuring out what to do now, has been a major part of our life in Haiti.

Especially when we go places where foreigners don't usually go.

So I don't know how to explain Baron.

I hiked past hundreds of homes and thousands of people.  Sat in church for 4 hours with some of the poorest people this world houses.  Held hands with children with hair burnt orange from malnutrition.  Kissed cheeks of gaunt faced mothers.  Chatted it up with toothless, ribby old men.

And it. just. NEVER. came.

 I mean, not once.  Not once, the ENTIRE day long, from Christian or Voodoo priest, child nor mother, came ONE ask for ONE cent.

Not even ONE "Give me a balon!"...the common plea for soccer balls every child in Haiti seems to have learned at birth.

It was downright WEIRD.  I'm not sure when the last time a day passed in Haiti when there was never one ask.

And at the same time, I watched from the sidelines as Ezechiel was asked for all kinds of things.  Heard lots of people share with him great needs that they have.  Felt bad to see his shoulders stoop under the weight of so many needs.

I almost wished that people WERE asking me...just to help Ezechiel.

 After the service, he pulled Junior, Noel and I to the back of the church and talked to us in hushed tones.

"Did you see the man," he asked eagerly, "In the third row?  The older guy? On the end?"

I didn't know who he was talking about.

"The Lord showed me something today.  A few weeks ago, someone gave me a pair of new shoes."

He looked quickly at me, and then down at his hands.  It was Matt who gave him a new pair of shoes a few weeks ago.  His shoes, that he was still wearing now, are a hot mess with holes in the toes.

"Well, they didn't fit me.  Too big.  So, I brought them to church, and I put them on the altar, and I told everyone that those were for God, and that if they needed them, to take them as a gift from God."

"So, this lady came up and took them, and I was disappointed, because they were big men's shoes, and I figured now she was gonna go sell them or something, and I wanted them to bless someone in the church!"

"And then, I was even MORE disappointed, because a few days later, I saw the local witchdoctor, and he was WEARING them!"

"Here," sighed Ezechiel, "I had given this beautiful new gift to God, and they were on the witchdoctor's feet."

Suddenly, Ezechiel's countenance changed from amused-story-teller to humbled-brother.  "Do you know what God showed me today?  That witchdoctor.  He was sitting in the third row of church today for the first time in his life, wearing those shoes.  Because the church gave them to him."

"God showed me today that HE is God.  That He will take care of our gifts.  I gave those shoes to God, and then was worried about what God did with them.  And then the man I have prayed for and witnessed to a hundred times came to hear the Gospel, because the God he thought was his enemy gave him new shoes."

Ezechiel was visibly touched, and I was thinking about that story again yesterday when Ezechiel poked his head in my office.  He had a few things to take care of at the seminary, and popped in to see if I was sore.

"Hey, Zeke" I said slowly, wondering if I should ask.  "I've been thinking about something I don't understand.  Can I ask you?"

"Everywhere I ever go in Haiti, everyone asks me for things.  Everywhere.  Lots of people.  Walking around, out in town, visiting churches, even IN churches.  I've been to mountain churches similar to Baron where people climbed over aisles in the middle of worship to ask me for money.  And I've never met a group of kids who didn't ask for at least a soccer ball."

"But the other day, climbing with you and being at the church and down again, I promise you that not ONE person, from your church or otherwise, asked me for ONE SINGLE THING."

"I mean, I don't get it!  I KNOW the needs are greater in Baron than just about anywhere else.  So, what's the deal?  I mean, do you have any ideas?"

Ezechiel standing in the school.

Ezechiel wasn't even phased.  "Stace, everyone knows.  Everybody on that mountain knows that if I have 5 cents, and I know that they need 5 cents, that I will give it to them.  They know that the church, even if they don't embrace it, is ready to be poured out for them.  They know that everything I find, everything I have, I give when it is needed.  When people get in trouble, from the church or not, they come to the church.  And if we have ONE grain of rice to help them with, we give it to them." 

"People know you help me.  They know I've got no way of having money from anywhere else.  And they KNOW that when I see they are desperate, in great need, that I WILL give it to them.  Everyone TRUSTS me.  They know I'm not pocketing anything, not holding anything back, not lying to them."

"No one asked you for anything, because they know that when they really need help, the church will help them.  It's a trust thing."

I think through what he's saying.  I've never heard anyone say that before.  I mean,  as I've tried to figure out the ask thing throughout the years, I've said to people before, "Go to the church for help!" But they ALWAYS say that they HAVE.  And that the church doesn't give anything, there is so much corruption, they told me they have nothing, they do not help people who aren't members, etc...

After he goes, I keep thinking about all this.

They didn't ask me, because they trust the church, because they trust Ezechiel not to be a pocketing pastor, but a poor one.  And they know help will come from the church, even if they're not IN the church...just like even the witchdoctor got help.

All I could think about was He and I.

What people have in Ezechiel and the church is unwavering confidence.  Confidence that keeps them from going elsewhere with their needs.  Trust that kept their eyes fixed even when there was a foreigner opportunity to meet their needs.

Do I have that with Him?

Complete and utter?  

Am I completely unconcerned with whether others are helping me or not, with finding my own help, because I so entirely trust in Where My Trust Comes From?

In a dire situation, am I running to His feet?  Or venting on a friend or searching out Matt or worrying my head off?

When I'm hurting, when I'm lonely, when I'm frustrated, when I'm overwhelmed, when I'm ________________, am I dwelling in His peace, exemplifying complete trust and dependence upon My Healer, My Friend, My Helper, My Peace, My Provider?

Reflecting His peace is proof you are right with God, because you are exhibiting the freedom to turn your mind to Him...O. Chambers.

As trustworthy as Ezechiel and his church have proven, my God a thousand times moreso.  As many times as Ezechiel and his church have helped, my God a thousand times moreso.  As many times as Zeke and the Baron church have poured themselves out, my God, a thousand times moreso.  

As the people of Baron put their faith unwavering in Christ's bride, though God has used me and several of you to help provide, I seek to put my faith unwaveringly in HIM, though God has used many to answer my prayers.

Baron Faith.