A Mission Fufilled

And here they are...the Haiti Team and their Haitian friends at the culmination of their labor here in this country.  Their morning consisted of doing odd jobs around the campus at Lajeune, fixing doors, and cleaning a shed and office.  By the way, just a small tidbit of info.  Yesterday, Cam, James and Andrea found a large tarantula while cleaning.  This was posted on our Highview website, but not all of you may have read this.  Apparently it was the size of a blackberry.  Note to all team members:  PLEASE CHECK ALL POCKETS PRIOR TO BOARDING YOUR FLIGHT HOME!!!  I have it on good authority that two men in particular are going to need to abide by a rigorous cleaning process by a certain younger lady in this home before they enter.

Giving and receiving of gifts was the order of the afternoon.  Our team, bearing gifts, visited each of the five families who will eventually move into the houses.  Brian said that these families are so poor, they were probably given more gifts today than they will receive in a lifetime.  Each family was also given a laminated paper plaque with the following verse printed in Creole, French and English:  "Now therefore, let it please You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue before You forever; for You, O Lord God, have spoken it, and with Your blessing let the house of Your servant be blessed forever."  2 Samuel 7:29

Haiti is in desperate need of rain.  The heavens have not opened since January.  Last evening, the team spent time praying for rain for this country.  Later on, it rained for an hour.  At lunch today, the team again prayed for rain.  At 3:00 this afternoon, the heavens opened and it has been pouring ever since.  Shortly after Brian shared this incredible answer to prayer, the Spirit brought to my mind a scripture so fitting, that I am in awe:  "The Lord will open for you His good storehouse, the heavens, to give rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hand..."  Deuteronomy 28:12  If you begin reading at verse 1 of this chapter and further, you discover that God's blessings will be many if the people obey God and follow His commands.  Now, I am not a theologian, but I love God's Word and I'm wondering if just maybe, the God-honoring hearts of this team, and their acceptance of His time schedule has spurred Him to open wide the storehouses of heavens.  Would that not be just like God?!!

The team will leave at 11:30 tomorrow morning on a 30 minute flight, followed by an hour drive to P. Prince.  They will be staying the night at a resort on the beach.  It will be here, that they will relax and celebrate "the most bazaar mission trip ever." 

"The blessings, Brian said, "have been unbelievable and the frustrations...huge...big extremes." 

The three prominent lessons learned:
1.  God's clear protection for the team (Brian informs me that some of these stories are best saved for me to hear once they're home...a wise choice I think)
2.  Seeing that God is in control
3.  The Answered Prayer for Rain

In the book of Acts two men had been away on their own mission experience.  What follows are these words:  "Barnabus and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their mission..."  Acts 12:25

I'm quite sure there was still more work to be done in Jerusalem.  There always is.  And there is still more work to be done in Haiti.  But for now, this team of 9 has fulfilled their mission.

And they are on their way home.