Cross-Cultural Evangelism

For a while now, I've been working up the courage and the insight to share a bit on Matt's and my take on evangelism and short-term missions...and not just short-term missions, but in any context where there is a great limitation on understanding of language, culture and possibly, on doing evangelism where there is no relationship base.  

I am THRILLED that Dr. Phil Thorton (who is coming on Saturday for a week to work at Emmaus and who was my foreign missions professor at Asbury) beat me to it.  

He is way better equipped, w-a-y smarter :), and much more experienced and gifted to write on such a difficult but important topic!

He asks these key questions:

     1)  Can we do evangelism without knowledge of the language?

     2)  Can we do evangelism without understanding the culture?

     3)  Can we do evangelism without relationship?

     4)  Can we do evangelism from a position of power?

     5)  Can we do evangelism for the wrong reasons?

     6)  Can we do evangelism without words?

THIS IS WORTH READING!!!

If you start to feel prickled, stick it out....open heart, open mind (I should make everyone sign something along those lines before you can subscribe to our blog :) 

Let me know what you think, and if you have any questions, he'll be here this weekend, so I'll get you an answer!

go

I don’t even know where to start. 

 

Today was GREAT.  When you tell a group who’s been in Haiti for 2 whole days that you’re going to a remote village and that they are then going to walk around and share the Gospel with complete strangers…I was just thankful there wasn’t a meltdown.  That’s a lot.  I would have understood if they did.

But true to form, these 18 are no complainers.  There were a few tears, and more than a few fears, but we spent the evening planning, and at 6 am this morning, we those to Jesus, climbed into the truck, and went. 

 

     Go, therefore and make disciples of all the nations…Matthew 28:18

It took two hours to get there, and with grime in our teeth and sleep in our eyes we met in the church where dozens of children had already gathered.  We worshipped through song and prayer for a bit and broke into three ministry groups: sharing the gospel with kids, with women, and door to door.

     For I did not shrink back from declaring to you the whole purpose of God…Acts 19:27

From 8 until noon, joined with a slew of students, members from the church and members of an evangelical group Junior’s been working with, we worked.  The church, His church.  Teens, adults, Haitians, Americans, English speakers, Creole speakers, going through this huge community.

Sharing testimonies.  Praying with people who were hurting…Women who recently lost children…Mothers of 7, 8, 9 children completely unable to take care of them and worried…A woman who was demon possessed…A witchdoctor…children. 

 

Telling charcoal sellers why God made them: to be in relationship with Himself.  Sharing with households that sin, unlike commonly believed, is not just murder, but anything that rejects God’s plan or is less than holy.  Drawing lines in the sand to show people the divide now created between a Holy God and unholy men.  Glowing to tell attentive children and smoking old men about God’s solution to the problem, and the opportunity to live with Him now and forever. 

     To open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by Faith in me…Acts 26:18.

Matt worked with one of the door-to-door groups, but I worked with a group of 5 women, sharing with all the women (and quite a few men and children) that we could find.  All the women in the market, families frying fish, women nursing children, groups chatting around the lottery booth.

We were working along a fantastic young man, Lindsey, who is currently being discipled by Jodenel.  Everywhere we went, we greeted everyone, and then he opened with this:

“I know when you see groups of foreigners like this, you think that they are here to give money or to give food, because that is what foreigners usually do.  But let me tell you that today, they aren’t giving those things.  But they are giving something more precious than gold.  Something that lasts longer than food.  I’ll let them tell you.”

 

     Do not be afraid any longer, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for He is with us…Acts 17:9

Then, the women I was working with took turns sharing their stories, sharing the gospel message, and praying with everyone.  Tentatively at first.  Scattered at first, but then more and more passionately, completely, powerfully.  I was so incredibly, for lack of a better word, PROUD.  I mean, sister proud. 

The Gospel was shared so personally, so passionately and so purposefully that I was just astounded, blessed, and reminded all over again that Lindsey was right.  We DO have what is more precious than anything else.  We DO have the only thing that lasts.  We DO have the one thing that EVERY person, regardless of race or national, culture or language, sex or age NEED. 

And the more I was overwhelmed by how grateful I am for His forgiveness, His death, His redemption and His Holy Spirit, the more I wanted to share it. 

Which is EXACTLY how it’s SUPPOSED to be. 

Sharptown, the family you sent to Haiti knows the Truth.  And shared it boldly to hundreds of men, women and children in Haiti today.  They were not phased by the demon-possessed woman chained to cement blocks, but put their 14 year old hands on her and prayed for her instead. 

They were not intimidated by the dying woman on the floor, but instead crowded into her home and sang her songs of His peace.  They stepped their beautiful feet over running sewage, blackened their hands holding hands brimming with charcoal, burnt their flesh standing in the blazing sun to tell His story, OUR story, over and over and over, gave all their energies climbing the Zaccheus tree, slithering like the snake and singing their hearts out with clingy, desperate for attention children. 

     We are also just men of the same nature as you, and preach the gospel to you that you should turn from the vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them  (Acts 14:15).

Sometimes, "We must obey God rather than men" (Acts 4:29), just means obeying God rather than ME.  Doing what He asks us to do:  Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation” (Mark 16:15), instead of what is comfortable, what is easy, what we feel like, and what we already know how to do. 

     We are also just men of the same nature as you, and preach the gospel to you that you should turn from the vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them  (Acts 14:15). 

We had some follow up as a group of 60 afterwards that was also very sweet and shared lots of conversions, follow-up names and phone numbers, and hundreds of seeds planted.

Ah, I could talk about it all night, and Matt had several moments that he has detailed as some of the “very best of my life that I never want to forget” that I’ll share with you soon (BUT I AM TOOOO TIRED!).  It was great. 

THANK YOU for your prayers for the day and all the encouragement and love we've received since yesterday's doggie drama.  (Sof is still doing well...)
THANK YOU, Brenda for keeping the girls so I could do this with the team and translate and share my heart out

THANK YOU, Sharptown Group for being willing to do something so crazy and for pouring yourselves out so selflessly

THANK YOU, Junior for helping us plan and tweak and set this all up,

THANK YOU, Jodenel, Jean-Marie, Jean-Baptiste for being faithful to Him in this large zone so we had true disciples and fired-up evangelists going with us,

THANK YOU, Cammie, for stretching way out there (“I’ve got to be the Yay-Rah person?  AHHHHH”) and leading the kid’s evangelism,

and THANK YOU Lord for BEING more precious than gold, everlasting, for WANTING to be in relationship with me, for going so far as to even sacrifice your ONLY and innocent Son to reconcile that relationship that I screwed up, for forgiving me, for giving me new life, for letting me follow you, for HELPING me follow you by the Holy Spirit and for giving me LIFE, now and forever. 

Oh man.

goats, friends and the harvest

Having these two weeks off school (and having Dad's extra set of hands) has given us more time in the community, too.   Yesterday morning we visited several good friends, and went to see "Oreo's" new baby goats.  

Sofie and Kevins are only 3 weeks apart, but he is beating her in chub and in hair!  It was wonderful to be able to catch up with lots of friends in Saccanville, and Lily REALLY had a good time making new little friends and playing in the mud and with all the goats, chickens, dogs, cats...

We also had good time here at home with Grandpa, with Dodo and Bubba...

...and with Junior, Civil, Fanfan, Belony, and other staff and students as they are using the campus as "ministry headquarters."  If this was a women's university, we would have a lot less dinner guests :)

Junior, Belony, and a box of Bibles headed out yesterday morning to Yolene's church community, and met up with 11 other students.  They all then joined with member's of Yolene's church plant and broke into three groups, going throughout the entire area, preaching the Gospel.  

"I'm not going to lie to you," a very weary Junior and rather down-trodden Belony told me upon their return.  "It was a really hard day.  It was like EVERY person we met wanted to fight with us.  One long debate after another, everyone had so many arguments.  Some days, it seems like everyone is interested in Jesus, and today it seemed like NO one was...everyone was interested in being told that nothing needs changed."

One woman argued that she never had sinned, therefore had no need of Jesus.  Many argued that they pray to demons and spirits, Jesus, God and Satan, and that it didn't matter who you spoke or committed to, as long as you were committed.  Lots of people felt that a commitment to the saints was the same as a commitment to Jesus.

As Belo and Junior revealed conversations from the day, I found myself uncertain about what the right response to varying debates should be!  These were hard issues, hard arguments.  "What did Brave SAY when he said that?" I kept asking, or "How did Jasmine respond to that kind of an argument?"

As Junior and Belony told me what each of the students had said in response to each debate, I quickly felt as if I had been to church.  AMEN, I kept thinking.  Hah, YES...that's it.  Ah, what a relevant Scripture to bring in at that point....YES, way to go, Benjamin....that IS the truth!  Amen!

While the guys were exhausted and a bit discouraged in the retelling by people's responses to the Gospel, I was invigorated, thrilled and blessed by the students' presentation of the Gospel!  THEY HAVE GOT IT!  What Matt and I came to Haiti to do, to accurately teach leaders the Gospel so that they could take its' transforming message throughout Haiti, has happened, is happening.  

We tend to get so frustrated by the immediate picture that we haven't seen the big picture like I did yesterday.  A student threatened another student, and had to be expelled.  Failure.  No matter how big the portions are, a small group of students continue to gripe that they aren't served enough food.  Failure.  We want the seminary to have a high academic standard, and half the first year class didn't even know the books of the Bible.  Failure.  By OUR standards.

And yet here this evangelism day yesterday and the fluency, accuracy and passion with which the students were able to boldly present the whole Gospel in the face of persecution, ridicule and worldly thinking...Success...By His.  

To encourage Belony and Junior, I told them again that they weren't responsible for how the Gospel was accepted, for people's responses, or for conversions.  They weren't responsible for what kind of soil the Seed fell upon.  They were responsible to give it.  To preach it, and they had.

As they drug themselves back to their dorms for a well deserved rest, holding my hands and affirming, "Yes, Sister.  You are right...praise the Lord"...I realized that this same message was for my encouragement, as well.

I feel so blessed and encouraged to be used by Him, to give the Gospel...unresponsible for how the students accept or apply it.  It is He who cares for the harvest...and He is. 

Praise the Lord...

p.s...11 new brothers and sisters joined us in His Kingdom yesterday!

help!

"Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace
that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
Hebrews 4:16

"A God Perspective" has been my prayer the last several days in light of every circumstance, from playing with the babies to receiving news to preparing finances or for class...How does God see this?  What is His perspective?  What does He want mine to be?


It seems simple, but man, it has really been revolutionizing my thought and heart life these past few days!  I have even been surprised several times by my very-different-than-usual response to several situations, feeling far more grounded and joyful in Him as I work (and it is) to be like Him.

As we draw boldly to His throne this week, we need your help!

...prayers...

We thought we had a generator problem...then thought it was an inverter problem....then thought it was a pump problem...and realized this morning that we actually think there is a major water leak.  Somewhere.  This leak could be causing all of our other problems.  Please be praying for Matt and Maxi as they try to find the underground source of the problem, and as they try to fix it.   Big project.

Internet...We're having some big issues (don't think the water leak is at fault here :) that's Matt's working to remedy...please pray the Lord will supernaturally help with his understanding of the whole thing and to fix it.

Staff...several of our staff are currently dealing with a lot of hard things.  The school year in Haiti begins October 10th, and paying for children and grandchildren to attend is a major stress on many.  One of our staff lost his cousin this week to a violent beating.

Lucner, Vilmer and Matt leave on Monday for Jackson for their final two-week intensive residency for their master's.  Please be praying for their travels, for their time, and for their families in their absence (especially for Lucner, whose wife is expecting their first child ANY day).

...support...


Bibles
While most of Emmaus' administration is in the States the next two weeks, EBS is taking a fall break.  Because this break does not coincide with any major events in the life of the church, like Christmas or Easter, our students are "extra" available to participate in special ministry, which was great news to Belony!

The first week he will be leading a group of students in helping past-graduate Yolene.  Yolene has a huge three day weekend of evangelism and services planned for her area and church, and has asked Emmaus to help.  Students will be working alongside of church leadership to go out with church members to spread the Gospel (and to train people on how to do this), and will be leading services in the evening to help His children walk deeper with Him.  

The second week, students and Belony will be working with Civil, fourth year student who has recently started a church in a zone called Breda.  As a new church plant, there is a lot of work and training to be done, as well as continued evangelism in the area.  

Everyone is really excited about both of these works, and so I wasn't surprised when a common need came up...BIBLES.  Where the Gospel is preached, there is need for the Gospel to be HAD.  At $8 US a Bible, obtaining God's Word is no easy task in Haiti.  We would love for the students to be equipped with some Bibles to place in the hands of new (and old) believers, but currently have no Bible money.

If you're interested, email me (staceyhaiti@gmail.com).  Pray about it...If you feel led to be a part of all that we're expecting Him to do over this fall break, this is such a tangible need.  $8.  One Bible.  $40.  Five Bibles.  We'll go to town on Friday and buy however many Bibles we have the money for and send them out with Belony.  Thank you!

Contacts
Finally, we have several staff members who are very ready to begin doing their masters, helping Emmaus in it's accreditation process, helping bring better, more qualified teaching to our classrooms, and helping greatly in the formation of men and women for Him in Haiti.

Vilmer, Guenson, Matt, Bryan and Lucner have all been either students or professors at Wesley...now we're looking for another sister seminary!

However, the program that Vilmer and Lucner have been doing through Wesley Biblical Seminary is no longer available.  We have been looking far and wide for a seminary who has an on-line program (with a limited amount of Stateside work being required) that is willing to partner with Emmaus to educate some of our staff!  So far, nothing is working out!   If you have possible contacts or information regarding a continued education institution that may be interested in this kind of a relationship and ministry here in Haiti, please contact Matt!  This is a major step in "working ourselves out of a job" at Emmaus and a major priority for us and for Emmaus...we need help!

catch up...

1) Internet is 100 times better, ever since I screamed at it!  Thank you for your help praying for this situation!

2) Check out the EBS blog for some pictures of the past week...

3) Praise.  Gesner was able to return to class yesterday and is feeling a hundred times better.  Thank you for your prayers!

4) For your prayers...This Friday, Saturday and Sunday 7 of our students will be participating in EBS's "Missions Trip of the Month".  

The student body selected and suggested several areas and ministries that are in great need of some kind of help, either teaching, evangelism, encouragement for Christians, children's ministry, etc.  Belony, the Assistant Director for Student Ministry, is co-leading each trip with students volunteering and going out each month.

Friday they head to an area past Promago, about 2 hours from here, and will be working in a zone where Brave's (1st year) family lives.  There is no church in the area and very few Christians, so they are planning to do a lot of door-to-door evangelism, show The Life of Christ film Saturday night, and hold an outdoor church service Sunday morning.  

Please be praying for this group as they go...for their provision, safety, work and for many to hear about Jesus.  We're praying the Spirit will be working in hearts even now preparing for this trip!  I'll have a full report next week.

5) A few photos from the last days...

 Lily and "Baby Shesha" (Alisha), Dr. Rodney's youngest.  We had a great supper with their family and Luke's Saturday night, with lots of laughter about cultural comparisons :)

Sunday, we attended a little church down the road, a split several years ago from the Saccanville church. It was great to worship with this body of believers, and to be there for the "presentation" of one of our baby friends, pronounced "Abby-guy-ee."  

 These are all from class last week.  Above, Paul Vilmer, Discipleship with 3rd year...

 VP John Jording, 1st and 2nd Samuel with 2nd year...

 VP Pam Simpson with fourth year, teaching General Epistles...

and VP Jerry Caskey teaching 1st year the Synoptic Gospels.

deadly trees, Story #1 and power

Get ready to get REALLY excited about this blog...

Side note:  Our internet issues make me want to SCREAM!  A few days without internet is no big deal, but by today, day NINE, I am nothing but irritated at our inability to communicate, see pictures, show pictures, upload an interview which is already late, talk to our families, upload Matt's master's assignment, download his lectures, order materials for the seminary...all of which is dependent on internet! You are missing out on some GREAT pictures!

Pray that whatever the problem is would become resolved, or that the Lord would work on my attitude and teach me something from all this!

Besides, I have lots to be content about, and today ended up being downright exciting...no computer required.

I had shared with you a few days ago that Junior was to begin a "Front Gate" ministry today with community members that want nothing to do with church, but want to know more about the Bible.

Well, this afternoon at the set time, no one showed.  I would have been disappointed, but would have appreciated the afternoon off.  But not Junior.

He decided instead to spend the time he had dedicated to evangelizing, and just "headed off" in search of an un-evangelized area.  Heading straight out the gate to the first house across from us, he asked the grandmother if there was a zone nearby that had no church or Christians.

She kind of looked at him funny, and said, "Uh, YEAH.  I mean, haven't you heard of Konpech?"

"Well, yeah," Junior said confused.  "Of course I've heard of it.  Everyone knows that is a "mystic zone". (an area in Haiti with a history of being a choice dwelling place for demons and spirits)  But I had meant someplace I could walk to!"

She laughed at him again.  "Uh, it's a 15 minute walk from here.  Straight back.  Just keep going straight back.  I'll send the kids with you to show you, but don't touch ANYTHING once you arrive.  Even just touch one of the trees, and you will surely die.  And DON'T tell them about Jesus, because the last time a group tried to evangelize that area, they threw stones and bottles at the pastors, hurting several of them."

I would have been nervous, and come home to plan and prepare a trip to the area with a large group or something.  But again, not Junior.

He happily headed off with the kids, excited to have discovered an area "in desperate need of Christ" only 15 minutes away.  Upon arriving, however, he was not warmly greeted.  At all.  As soon as he announced to the community, a series of about 20 homes arranged in a circle with several large trees in the middle, that he came to tell them about Jesus, they firmly asked him to leave.

"Unless you're here to tell us more about Satan, you can leave" he was told.  "And don't touch the trees, or you will die!  Our spirits live in them."

"OK, then!  Let's talk about Satan!" Junior said (ah, I LOVE this guy.)  So he began at Story # 1.

Junior's the one that taught me the Bible Story Telling Method of evangelism that I use on Saturdays.  There are about 200 stories, working through the Bible, to be taught ideally each one a few days apart for a full year.  Junior has these chronologically memorized, but I look up each pre-assigned passage ahead of time, review the facts and memorize the story and the questions.  And Story #1 is about the existence of God, and how Satan fell and came to be.

So, Junior told them all about Satan.  Who he was.  How he fell.  How he came to be.  Junior told us this afternoon that everyone in the village seemed to be there...very excluded area, nothing to do on a Sunday afternoon.

When he finished, he walked over to a tree and put his hand on it.  Immediately, everyone (who was beginning to like Junior) apparently freaked out, warning him to quickly offer a sacrifice in order to spare his life.  (How can it be that this community has existed for hundreds of years and today still lives in complete fear of their TREES!)

"Next week," Junior told them, "If you want, I'll come tell you about how these trees came to be (Story #2, Creation), and about why I am not afraid of what you have been afraid of your whole lives."

In the middle of the path upon entering the village, Junior saw the communities "battry."  This is like a spiritual booby trap, something unusual or attractive that people would want to touch that has been cursed and is said to hold much evil power.  Anyone who touches a "battry", a sign of power for the community or witch doctor, is said to die soon after.

Junior said that he could see that this object, in this case a small plank of wood that looked like a small door and wrapped in some kind of ribbon, was highly regarded as a symbol of Satan's great power.  Before he left, Junior picked the embedded "battry" out of dirt path, and quickly broke it between his hands.

"This doesn't have any power over He who is in me"  Junior told them.

"Come back soon," he was told, "So we can see if you are alive and to tell us more stories about our trees."

Junior came home pumped, excited to be back at Story # 1 for the hundredth time in the hundredth place, excited to have found Konpech in his backyard (Konpech is mentioned in Emmanuel Felix's book on Haitian Voodoo), and thrilled to have actually been invited back TO tell them about the very Person they insisted he not mention.

His excitement is contagious...it was all Matt and I could do this afternoon not to leave Lil with Dodo and Bubba and head back with Junior.  We'll have to wait till Wednesday.  (Don't worry, family :) Unlike Sophie, Lily won't be telling Bible stories in Konpech anytime soon!)

Why had I never tried that?  How have we been here for over a year now and not even know that this community existed ACROSS THE STREET?  Why had it never occurred to me, once everyone in Saccanville had heard about Jesus, to just ASK someone, "Are there any people around here that don't know about Jesus?"  How's THAT for an evangelism strategy!

I'm so thankful...as we continue to learn from, be inspired by, and be challenged by the men and women we are here to serve and teach.  Please be praying for this exciting new opportunity to share Him with a lost people.

the important question when standing alone...

Thursday, April 29th

Doing evangelism in Haiti (or anywhere, I suppose) is hard work. On one hand, it is incredibly eye-opening, stretching, personal and a fantastic reminder of what He did, and is doing, for and in me. On the other, it is challenging, often discouraging, mostly unwelcomed, and frequently wearying work!

“If I EVER complain again,” Paul told his wife after joining Matt and some of the students Wednesday for evangelism, “Just SHOOT me.”

After visiting a few families, a few houses, one of which being Pehpay’s, he was humbled to the core by the impoverished state of daily life for most Haitians. No matter how many muddy floor shanties I enter, I am still frequently stabbed with the unmistakable knowledge that people live here. EVERYDAY. THESE people.

There is just no explaining why I wake up in a comparatively ginormous house with tiled floors and screens in the windows and fans whirling overhead and a fridge full of food and a door, a real door, guarding my family….and a woman my exact age, Angeline, with a little boy one month older than Lily wakes up in a crumbling mud thatched hut after sleeping on a dirty mat and wondering what and if they will eat today.

I have climbed the Eiffel Tower, been to summer camp, graduated from college, white water rafted, played instruments, been to Broadway shows, traveled the world. She didn't have the opportunity to finish second grade. Has never left Northern Haiti. Never thought of flying, of movie theaters, of Wal-Marts or health insurance.

No explaining it. Don’t know why.

What I do know is that that is not the most important question. And the longer we’re here, the more we realize that. Full fridge, empty stomach…same real problem, same real solution.

“It DOESN’T MATTER,” Belony shared over and over again today as we went house to house in the scorching sun, “if your mom was a Christian! I don’t CARE if you go to church every single day. Doesn’t matter if you don’t think you’ve sinned as bad as the other person. Doesn’t matter how good you do.”

Belony, teaching the "first convert" out of John

“When He returns, or when you die, you, by yourself, will have to stand before Him, and He will say, ‘What did you do with the life I gave you? How did you live? Who did you serve? Do I know you?’ and you will have to tell Him what you did with what He gave you. You will have to tell Him, ‘I was Yours!’ or ‘I did not choose the salvation I was offered by Jesus Christ.’ Are you His? Will He take you up, or cast you aside?”

Talk about putting things into perspective! Every time Belony preaches the Word or speaks about the Lord, my heart is being touched as well.

What I’m doing with what He’s given me, hmmm.

It is beautiful work, telling people what He has offered them in Jesus…salvation and freedom from their sins, from themselves…abundant life…new life…a hope and a future. I get genuinely excited, overjoyed and overwhelmed just sharing salvation with each person...because it is something I have experienced! AM experiencing!

THIS is the good stuff, I kept thinking as we walked. There are many important things to do here, lots of kingdom work, lots of discipleship, lots of administration and paperwork and meetings and things that must be done, that should be done. But it is these hours of walking with my brothers and sharing with The Ones For Whom He Died that are the most sweet. As different as He has made us all, He put in us EACH a call to share the Gospel, to preach His word in His world, and fulfilling that call resonates deeply as "RIGHT" despite all the reasons that it is NOT fun or easy.

It is HARD work, telling people who are so lost! Hard-headed….angry….quick to fight...living in total darkness…unkind…stubborn….proud people (people like ME, without Him!).

We talked to a LOT of people today. It was SO HOT that most every yard had people just sitting, a bit glassy-eyed in the noonday sun. We talked to a bunch of people in the first three or four houses. Lots of people wanted to fight about Christ and truth and Voodoo, and since we don’t see a Biblical model of Christ fighting people to believe in Him, we just shared salvation and love and moved on.

Belony and Charitable, affectionately now known as Paul and Barnabas, head off the compound right after lunch every Monday - Thursday, boldy and tirelessly preaching, and teaching, the Gospel.

But the best place today, by FAR, was my first time evangelizing in a voodoo temple. I saw the temple approaching, but thought (I have no idea why) that we would pass over. Belony is NOT the type to pass someone over. We headed right in, and Belony, trying to warn me a bit, whispered, “THIS IS A VOODOO TEMPLE” as if I might not notice.

Just like Noah’s temple down the road, this one had mirrors and bottles and talismans hanging everywhere and flags in all the trees. But the more unique characteristic was all the chickens. Every three feet or so, filling almost the whole yard, chickens were tied…Each chicken with a small string from their foot to a stake. These were NOT scrawny Haitian chickens, but big, beautiful chickens, all tied to their poles.

Sacrifices. All for sale for different sacrifices. I almost laughed to myself, thinking, “Really? Chickens? Put your life in the hands of the God of the Universe or in…chickens? This is the hope of change and a better life that Voodoo has to offer?”

In the middle of them, the witchdoctor laid, sprawled out on a straw mat, lethargic in the sweltering heat of the day. He was a surprisingly young man, thin and in a red t-shirt. His eyes were clear, his mind quick, and the ‘closed’ look I had seen in the faces of many others was not there. He was the only person today that offered us a seat. The first one that got up to greet us. He listened to Belo for a minute or two, and then politely interjected.

“You are not the first Christians to come here. I know what you are saying, and I know it to be true. I KNOW that this way is not the way. God knows all the terrible things I do, even those that you do not know, and He knows they are wrong. I know they are wrong. I don’t want to do this, and I know it is not the true way. I have heard about Jesus many times now, and I want Him and want to leave this life.”

Rachelle joined the students this past Wednesday and was able to meet Pehpay...

Everyone in the area that follows this man was SOLD on the lies that he teaches…except for him! He knows the god he has served his whole life WELL, and knows him to be of no comparison with the Lord. He knows the slavery he sells better than anyone…PLEASE keep praying for the witchdoctors. They continue to be the ones that seem to have the best grasp on the truth...what a following Christ would have if these influential men gave Him their lives and work.

“Are you ready to make that choice?” Belo said, excited.

“Almost.” The young boko said.

“You see this house, this work, my things, my food. This work is how I have this, and I’m not in a place yet to leave it.”

We talked a little bit longer, and he promised that he will be making the decision to leave Satan and follow Christ before the end of 2010.

“You never know if you will have the opportunity to change after right now,” Belony warned.

“I know,” he said again sadly. “But I can’t leave yet. What would I do? I would most definitely become poor, lose everything, become hungry.”

How difficult it is for the rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven, I thought.

“Yes,” Belo agreed. “Probably so. Could I promise you something? You will NOT be sorry. Not for a moment.”

I thought back through my life, and though I have never been hungry, there have been many incredibly difficult moments, many valleys, many tears.

How many times has following the Lord probably made you look foolish, stupid and ridiculous to the world? (Remember the guy on the plane into Haiti that verbally ripped Matt to pieces about the stupidity of bringing a one-month old Lily to Haiti?)

There are dozens of times that we all could have done much better, in the eyes of the world, to follow a different path, an American path, a financial path, an easy path, a me path, a popular path, right?

It was then that I realized that Belo was right. I’ve never been sorry I made Him my Lord, or that I took up that cross. I have never been sorry, even on the hardest, loneliest, and hottest days, that following Him has led us a world away from home. As much as I have ever complained to the Lord about hardships, I have never wished I had chosen a path other than His.

Three hours of work, and no one accepted Jesus as their Path today.

But a lot of people heard that He has one for them. And until everyone has heard, we must stay on that dry and dusty road, family!