For months, I have been looking forward to the team from Immanuel in Brampton to be with us. They have a special place in our hearts for three reasons, now four. First, our friends, Erick and Ruth Ann Schuringa serve them as pastor and worship director. Since Erick and Ruth Ann were coming as part of the team, we were simply looking forward to spending time with them; Second, Immanuel's Ministry Director, Lesley Toussaint, was a part of the Sous Espwa team during her years in Haiti and so they came with a special connection to Haiti; Third, Immanuel is one of our supporting congregations. Not only have they taken a number of offerings for us, but they regularly send us notes of encouragement and remember us in prayer, an exemplary way of engaging missionaries.
The fourth reasons they have a special place in our hearts is because of the way God used our week with them to deepen an already meaningful relationship. Let me tell you how.
Our week with them began with a weekend trip to Jacmel, about three hours from Port-au-Prince. On the drive there and back, we had a chance to have conversation and to hear there hopes for what God would do in them through this trip. Some of them had been to Haiti before -- Al Bloemendal, Renee VanderKooy, and Anna Afful -- but Iona Buisman and Erick and Ruth Ann had not. We listened as they adjusted to the driving conditions in Haiti, trying to resist coaching the driver with words like "watch out", "yikes", and "everybody lean to the left as we go around this corner." But more, we listened to their hopes for the way this trip might change them, and by extension, shape the congregation they serve and love to serve and love the community back home in Brampton.
In Jacmel, we enjoyed seeing the natural beauty of Bassin Bleu where we swam, the picturesque cove on the Caribbean Sea where our hotel was for the Saturday night, and the deeper beauty of the movement of the Spirit in a Creole worship service at the Christian Reformed Church in Jacmel where Erick delivered (with the help of an interpreter) a solid and meaningful message.
Throughout the week, our times with the team from Immanuel were occasions of joy, whether at the work site or touring around Port-au-Prince, or in our home sharing dinner and conversation. Throughout the week, one of the things the Immanuel team was burdened with was deciding where to spend some money given them by an individual back home. This gift provided them with a real way of wrestling through the issues of providing meaningful support to ministries in Haiti and thinking through their and Immanuel's longer-term commitment to ministry in Haiti.
Over the first four months of our being here, our oldest and youngest daughters - Erin and Meghan - have been volunteering in two different Christian schools -- Adoration (www.adoration.net) and Maison de Lumiere (www.childhope.org). On Thursday the 15th while they were at our home, they asked the girls to tell them more about these schools, listening to their stories and seeing a video presentation Meghan had put together a few months ago. On the Saturday afternoon over lunch, the Immanuel Team shared with Carol and I that while their congregation's longer term commitment with Haiti would be in an area more directly related to the work of the CRC in Haiti, they felt called to give the money they had with them to be divided equally among the two schools Erin and Meghan are serving and for Erin and Meghan to determine how best to invest the funds.
As you can imagine, this was an incredible encouragement to us as parents. When we first voiced the possibility of coming to Haiti over a year ago, Erin and Meghan were quick to commit a year of their lives to this serving and growth opportunity. Like us, they have experienced the challenge of doing ministry in a country with broken infrastructure and diminished expectations. Like us, they have wondered if their work was making any difference at all. For them to have the Immanuel Team recognize the value of their work and to back that up with meaningful support that helps our daughters dream bigger, this was an incredible gift. It is also the fourth reason the Immanuel Team has a special place in our hearts.
Though we were looking forward to the 17th because that would be the arrival of the team from our home congregation of Maranatha, Cambridge, we were also sad that the 18th would come and our friends from Immanuel would be on their way home. They left behind a family deeply encouraged because of their words, their actions, and simply their presence. If you are part of Immanuel, give a hug to any from the team -- Renee, Anna, Iona, Al, Ruth Ann, or Erick -- and tell them they left a little piece of themselves here in Haiti, in our hearts.
The fourth reasons they have a special place in our hearts is because of the way God used our week with them to deepen an already meaningful relationship. Let me tell you how.
Our week with them began with a weekend trip to Jacmel, about three hours from Port-au-Prince. On the drive there and back, we had a chance to have conversation and to hear there hopes for what God would do in them through this trip. Some of them had been to Haiti before -- Al Bloemendal, Renee VanderKooy, and Anna Afful -- but Iona Buisman and Erick and Ruth Ann had not. We listened as they adjusted to the driving conditions in Haiti, trying to resist coaching the driver with words like "watch out", "yikes", and "everybody lean to the left as we go around this corner." But more, we listened to their hopes for the way this trip might change them, and by extension, shape the congregation they serve and love to serve and love the community back home in Brampton.
In Jacmel, we enjoyed seeing the natural beauty of Bassin Bleu where we swam, the picturesque cove on the Caribbean Sea where our hotel was for the Saturday night, and the deeper beauty of the movement of the Spirit in a Creole worship service at the Christian Reformed Church in Jacmel where Erick delivered (with the help of an interpreter) a solid and meaningful message.
Throughout the week, our times with the team from Immanuel were occasions of joy, whether at the work site or touring around Port-au-Prince, or in our home sharing dinner and conversation. Throughout the week, one of the things the Immanuel team was burdened with was deciding where to spend some money given them by an individual back home. This gift provided them with a real way of wrestling through the issues of providing meaningful support to ministries in Haiti and thinking through their and Immanuel's longer-term commitment to ministry in Haiti.
Over the first four months of our being here, our oldest and youngest daughters - Erin and Meghan - have been volunteering in two different Christian schools -- Adoration (www.adoration.net) and Maison de Lumiere (www.childhope.org). On Thursday the 15th while they were at our home, they asked the girls to tell them more about these schools, listening to their stories and seeing a video presentation Meghan had put together a few months ago. On the Saturday afternoon over lunch, the Immanuel Team shared with Carol and I that while their congregation's longer term commitment with Haiti would be in an area more directly related to the work of the CRC in Haiti, they felt called to give the money they had with them to be divided equally among the two schools Erin and Meghan are serving and for Erin and Meghan to determine how best to invest the funds.
As you can imagine, this was an incredible encouragement to us as parents. When we first voiced the possibility of coming to Haiti over a year ago, Erin and Meghan were quick to commit a year of their lives to this serving and growth opportunity. Like us, they have experienced the challenge of doing ministry in a country with broken infrastructure and diminished expectations. Like us, they have wondered if their work was making any difference at all. For them to have the Immanuel Team recognize the value of their work and to back that up with meaningful support that helps our daughters dream bigger, this was an incredible gift. It is also the fourth reason the Immanuel Team has a special place in our hearts.
Though we were looking forward to the 17th because that would be the arrival of the team from our home congregation of Maranatha, Cambridge, we were also sad that the 18th would come and our friends from Immanuel would be on their way home. They left behind a family deeply encouraged because of their words, their actions, and simply their presence. If you are part of Immanuel, give a hug to any from the team -- Renee, Anna, Iona, Al, Ruth Ann, or Erick -- and tell them they left a little piece of themselves here in Haiti, in our hearts.
Thanks for revisiting some fond memories John. It was truly a pleasure sharing worship, meals, work and mostly felt very safe while driving with you at the helm! Don't remember driving on as many sidewalks last time around...
ReplyDeleteThank you for opening your home to a group looking to unwind and think we did all of that and then some. Gods continued Blessings to You, Carol and the family during the rest of your stay in Haiti.
I know that whenever we sing '10,000 Reasons' again my mind will drift back to a rooftop in Leogane singing with arms held high. I look forward to connecting personally upon your return.
P.S. Let Erin and Meghan know I shared the 'money' journey with my friend. He agreed the Lord definitely was at work in the whole process. I would love to share Meghans video with him.
P.S.S. Give Claire a hug for me will ya?
Al