unexpected gifts

Today has been one of unexpected gifts.

First, our visitors.  All our visiting professors this session are men and women we know well and have worked with multiple times before...but getting ready for them?  When you're shopping and cleaning and scheduling meals and making beds, looking at your head counts and buying 100 lb. bags of flour...it's easy to forget what a GIFT they are.

They surround Matt, our staff and students with challenging, like-minded, like-interested, greatly experienced and godly men and women.  Do I understand a lot of what Matt and them talk about?  NO.  Do I love that Matt is on cloud nine?  YES.

They are funny, friendly, passionate about Haiti and our students...and I'm so thankful to have them!  Just hearing what God is doing in Brent, Larry, Jerry and Pam's lives is downright inspiring.

Second, church.  Long story short, we ended up worshipping at the church here in Saccanville this morning which has a rather sad reputation.  Some of the corruption and manipulation that Haitian culture is known for continues on in this small body, and pride, threats, ego, competition and complacency always seem to abound.

After working hard to try to help the situation change our first years in Saccanville, we have largely stopped attending the church as major issues were refused to be changed and as things seemed to be growing increasingly worse with the presence of foreigners.

So, you can imagine our uncertainty in taking a large group of visitors there this morning...we were just hoping for the best...but not anticipating it.

And don't get me wrong, it wasn't a whole new church.  But there were big little things, noticeable things, that were exciting to see and brought about entirely as a church absent of outside aid.  Even one of our seminary staff was there, leading the choir, despite being a member of a different church and community, just trying to help and giving of her time and energy to a body she knew was struggling.

The best part, however, was that one of our VPs, after being introduced as a man with an evangelical heart, was asked at the very last moment to preach.

If you know Jerry, he is exceedingly humble, soft-spoken, servant- and soft-hearted, and though he would have rather not, finally they convinced him...

And preach he did.

We had CHURCH this morning, and the foreigners weren't the only ones on the edges of our benches.

Jerry shared about John and his knowledge and use of WATER throughout his book (something I'd never really noticed.)  He hit story after story...water into wine, the woman at the well, Jesus walking on water, the Sea of Galilee.

He talked about how John knew water to support life, he himself supporting his family as a fisherman, and to bring death, terrifying storms killing sailors.

And then he reached our audience with the knowledge that they know a lot about water, too.  Haiti still battles with cholera...a disease only rampant in water, unseen by the naked eye, water necessary to bring life and yet entirely capable of bringing quick and violent death.

Then he finished with Jesus's teaching at the feast in John 7, a story I've never really understood.  He told his friends he wasn't coming, told them his time hadn't come.  Then, a few days into the 8 day festival, Jesus showed up, alone.  (remember the one?)

What I never realized until this morning was that the NEXT time Jesus would come into Judea, it would be the time when men and women would call out to crucify him.  When Jesus came to this festival, it was the last time he would emerge.  His time had not yet fully come, but he, and he alone, knew what was coming...knew the days ahead.  Knew the need for URGENCY.

Then Jesus boldly shares all kind of truth about who he was and is and then waits until the last day.

On the last day, Jesus broke all kind of social and cultural and religious boundaries, standing up (vs. teaching from a seated position), yelling out (vs. holding composure) and addressing the whole crowd (not just the men or spiritual leaders.)

ARE YOU THIRSTY?
If ANYONE is thirsty, let him COME to ME and DRINK.
He who believes in Me, from his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.
John 10:37-38

As humble and gentle, seventy-five year old Jerry charged to the front of that stage this morning, thrusting out his arms and calling out to the broken brothers and sisters all around me with all the passion he had within him, "ARE YOU THIRSTY?  COME!"...God gave me an unexpected gift.

Re-gratefulness.  Re-newed.   Re-passion.  Re-commitment.  Re-vision.

There may be many who have heard the Gospel before in Haiti, in the world, in Saccanville, in my life.

But there are still a very many thirsty.

And while I don't understand how drinking water quenches thirst, it does.  And while I don't fully understand how drinking in Christ flows out living waters, it DOES.

My frustration and hopelessness for this little community melted into renewed determination to call Him out to the many, many thirsty.

Today marks four years since the Haiti's great earthquake, known as the deadliest earthquake perhaps ever in the world.  I can't believe it's been that long since that day, but more, I STILL can't believe how many were lost in an instant, how many lives were forever shaped and scarred that day.

And yet what Jesus was doing that day, HE IS STILL DOING.

Here He is, still standing, calling out yet again, to everyone...

Are you thirsty?  Come to Me and drink...from your innermost being will flow rivers of living water.

Tomorrow starts a new semester at Emmaus Biblical Seminary, and wherever you are, tomorrow starts a new week, a new day. 

There is a life in Christ still unknown, still unshared, to SO so many.  Many don't know that the day of His return is coming.  But WE DO.

And the reality is that the innermost being of almost EVERYONE around us is PARCHED and DYING.

Stand up with me.  

Shout.  

Without discrimination.  

Whatever that looks like where you are...

Is anyone thirsty???

come.