I got up, showered, and packed this morning. I am awaiting the 6:30 morning Bible study at Faith Hall, the final one of the trip.
As I sit here drinking my coffee while waiting, I'm reflecting on yesterday (Monday). At the close of Sunday's evening devotion I prayed that it would be the most productive day so far. It certainly was that!
After Bible study & breakfast, I got to preach to an audience of around 200-250 elementary students at an assembly at the church. I was accompanied by my favorite translator, Pastor Benjamin. Pete says he captured the whole thing on video, so I hope to see it soon.
After the assembly, I quickly changed out of my preaching clothes & into my scrubs for the medical clinic. We set a goal to see as many of the remaining high school students as possible, and by the end of the day we had seen every one! Over the 4 days, every student from every grade was examined & given needed meds & vitamins! They shared last night that over the course of the 4 days, we saw 638 people! Each one was presented the gospel in their native Creole language. Physical needs and spiritual needs were addressed in 638 lives!
After the clinic closed, Pete & I finished the electrical work at the elementary school. The light fixtures were installed, so now the entire school has lights in each classroom!
By the end of the evening we were exhausted. After nightly devotions (in which Dr. A.Z. Holloway & his wife Glean shared their testimonies), we turned in for the night. We enjoyed the well-earned rest.
I have to go to morning Bible study now, but I'll keep updating as I get the chance. Our plane is scheduled to leave Haiti at 11:30 local time today!
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Monday, April 16, 2012
Requesting Prayer
From 8am-10am Eastern (7-9am central), I'm preaching from John 9:1-11 to hundreds of Haitian school children, 1st-6th graders.
Please pray specifically for clear gospel presentation, clarity through the translator, my own boldness, open hearts & minds in the children, and freedom for the Holy Spirit!
Please pray specifically for clear gospel presentation, clarity through the translator, my own boldness, open hearts & minds in the children, and freedom for the Holy Spirit!
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Sunday Morning Church at Milot
This morning began with a 5:30 wake up (like normal at home on Sundays), 7am Bible study that Pete preached at, 8am breakfast (yellow grits & omelets), then getting ready for church.
Pete preached a great message at the Bible study! It was an early service for the employees of Mission de Bon Berger. Missionary Bill Younger translated his message from 1 John 4:7-11 about the love of God. His main points were that God's love is a seeking love, a saving love, and a satisfying love. Jocelyn led the singing, and a guy named Elefant felt led to sing a song, so he did.
After breakfast, we gathered and prayed for each team members home church and specifically for their pastor by name.
Then it was time to go to church. We worshipped with the Iglesias Baptiste de Bon Berger (Good Shepherd Baptist Church, located here on the compound). After a half hour of announcements and introduction of guests, an hour of singing, and an hour of preaching, we were in full assurance that we had indeed been in the presence of the Lord! One of my favorite things about local churches across the globe is that they recognize Sunday as the Lord's DAY, not just the Lord's one hour before lunch. They have a passion to sing and a hunger for the preached Word of God that America is missing. We thoroughly enjoyed a 2-1/2 hour time of corporate worship with Haitian brothers & sisters!
After lunch at 1:30, we are traveling to Sevan Carre to visit where GSM is planning to build a hospital behind a school. More information on this location is one their website, www.gsmi-Haiti.org
Talked briefly with Ashley a few minutes ago. She told me of the great services today at FBC, the great message from Jerry Simmons, and the great testimonies! I dearly miss my church family.
More updates to come later this evening. - KDG
Pete preached a great message at the Bible study! It was an early service for the employees of Mission de Bon Berger. Missionary Bill Younger translated his message from 1 John 4:7-11 about the love of God. His main points were that God's love is a seeking love, a saving love, and a satisfying love. Jocelyn led the singing, and a guy named Elefant felt led to sing a song, so he did.
After breakfast, we gathered and prayed for each team members home church and specifically for their pastor by name.
Then it was time to go to church. We worshipped with the Iglesias Baptiste de Bon Berger (Good Shepherd Baptist Church, located here on the compound). After a half hour of announcements and introduction of guests, an hour of singing, and an hour of preaching, we were in full assurance that we had indeed been in the presence of the Lord! One of my favorite things about local churches across the globe is that they recognize Sunday as the Lord's DAY, not just the Lord's one hour before lunch. They have a passion to sing and a hunger for the preached Word of God that America is missing. We thoroughly enjoyed a 2-1/2 hour time of corporate worship with Haitian brothers & sisters!
After lunch at 1:30, we are traveling to Sevan Carre to visit where GSM is planning to build a hospital behind a school. More information on this location is one their website, www.gsmi-Haiti.org
Talked briefly with Ashley a few minutes ago. She told me of the great services today at FBC, the great message from Jerry Simmons, and the great testimonies! I dearly miss my church family.
More updates to come later this evening. - KDG
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Plans for Saturday
At the conclusion of our devotion time last night, Bill gave us a few options for today since the medical clinic is closed on Saturdays.
Option 1 was a trip up to the Citadel. If you're not familiar with the Citadel, it's worth reading this: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citadelle_Laferrière
Option 2 was a trip to a resort on the other side of Cap Haiten. I've never been here, but they say it's a very exclusive beach resort.
Those options were dependent on the weather. Since it rained all night long, it looks like we are doing option 3: stay at the compound.
I personally hoped to go to the fancy beach resort for two reasons. One, I went to the Citadel last year. It was incredible beyond description, but the hike was steep, long, and difficult, especially in last year's heat & humidity. Two, I figure that at a tourist attraction resort area, I might could find today's Alabama A-Day game on TV.
So far, I'm catching up on blogging/journaling and preparing for tonight's Bible study.
Two new developments today are that I found out that there is a school assembly Monday morning and I'm the preacher! I get to share the gospel with hundred of Haitian students!
The second development is that the mother of Gnu (director of the school) passed away suddenly. He was in desperate need of financial assistance to help with funeral & burial expenses. We collected most of the money needed among ourselves. Please pray for Gnu (pronounced "ga-new").
We'll see what unfolds today. Maybe we can watch the Tide roll from Haiti!
Option 1 was a trip up to the Citadel. If you're not familiar with the Citadel, it's worth reading this: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citadelle_Laferrière
Option 2 was a trip to a resort on the other side of Cap Haiten. I've never been here, but they say it's a very exclusive beach resort.
Those options were dependent on the weather. Since it rained all night long, it looks like we are doing option 3: stay at the compound.
I personally hoped to go to the fancy beach resort for two reasons. One, I went to the Citadel last year. It was incredible beyond description, but the hike was steep, long, and difficult, especially in last year's heat & humidity. Two, I figure that at a tourist attraction resort area, I might could find today's Alabama A-Day game on TV.
So far, I'm catching up on blogging/journaling and preparing for tonight's Bible study.
Two new developments today are that I found out that there is a school assembly Monday morning and I'm the preacher! I get to share the gospel with hundred of Haitian students!
The second development is that the mother of Gnu (director of the school) passed away suddenly. He was in desperate need of financial assistance to help with funeral & burial expenses. We collected most of the money needed among ourselves. Please pray for Gnu (pronounced "ga-new").
We'll see what unfolds today. Maybe we can watch the Tide roll from Haiti!
Saturday AM Reflections
We had a very busy day on Friday, so I was unable to find spare time to journal.
The day began as normal with a 5am wake up, 6:30 morning Bible study at Faith Hall, 7:30 breakfast (pancakes & bananas), and med clinics began at 8am.
It didn't rain at midday as it had the 2 previous days, so children came to school and we were able to have med clinic for the full day. According to our records, we ministered to over 200 kids yesterday. That puts us in the neighborhood of 440 kids over 3 days (1 full day and 2 half-days)!
Pete got to learn some of the pharmacy duties, but he did a little bit of everything. It is obvious to everyone that he is extremely gifted with the children. He is such a blessing, and our church is lucky to have him on staff.
For the evening devotion, I had prepared a message from John 9:1-11 on the healing of the blind man, which I entitled "Seeing a Nobody." God confirmed to me yesterday that this was exactly what needed to be shared. Here's how...
About mid-morning a Haitian man in his late 50s or early 60s stood in line waiting like everyone else. After patients receive their medical cards they came to my station where I charted their height & weight, wrote their name on a brown paper sack (to put their meds in after they saw a doctor and went to the pharmacy), handed them a gospel tract in creole, and seated them in the order they arrived. The line was long and non-stop throughout the morning, so every time I turned around there was another Haitian waiting.
The man's name was Roland. When I greeted him, he politely responded as most did. When I asked him to step to the tape measure so I could measure him, he just stood there. Then one of the translators from the check-in station came to me and told me Roland was blind. Actually, he was later diagnosed with severe cataracts. The translator helped me stand Roland up against the wall for measurement and then helped lead him to the scales for his weight. He helped Roland step up on the scales, but then Roland tried to sit down. We helped him back to his feet and led him to a nearby chair where he could sit and be the next patient to see the doctor.
Roland captured my heart yesterday, especially in light of the message I had been preparing to share that evening. People around us are blinded by sin, and it's up to us to lead them to the Great Physician! Here's the outline from John 9 that God burdened me with about seeing nobodies:
1. It Takes Time (v. 1)
2. It Takes the Truth (v. 2-5)
3. It Takes a Touch (v. 6-7)
4. It Takes a Team (v. 7)
5. It Takes Them to Jesus (v. 8-11)
Please pause a moment to pray for Roland. He was a blessing to me yesterday!
The day began as normal with a 5am wake up, 6:30 morning Bible study at Faith Hall, 7:30 breakfast (pancakes & bananas), and med clinics began at 8am.
It didn't rain at midday as it had the 2 previous days, so children came to school and we were able to have med clinic for the full day. According to our records, we ministered to over 200 kids yesterday. That puts us in the neighborhood of 440 kids over 3 days (1 full day and 2 half-days)!
Pete got to learn some of the pharmacy duties, but he did a little bit of everything. It is obvious to everyone that he is extremely gifted with the children. He is such a blessing, and our church is lucky to have him on staff.
For the evening devotion, I had prepared a message from John 9:1-11 on the healing of the blind man, which I entitled "Seeing a Nobody." God confirmed to me yesterday that this was exactly what needed to be shared. Here's how...
About mid-morning a Haitian man in his late 50s or early 60s stood in line waiting like everyone else. After patients receive their medical cards they came to my station where I charted their height & weight, wrote their name on a brown paper sack (to put their meds in after they saw a doctor and went to the pharmacy), handed them a gospel tract in creole, and seated them in the order they arrived. The line was long and non-stop throughout the morning, so every time I turned around there was another Haitian waiting.
The man's name was Roland. When I greeted him, he politely responded as most did. When I asked him to step to the tape measure so I could measure him, he just stood there. Then one of the translators from the check-in station came to me and told me Roland was blind. Actually, he was later diagnosed with severe cataracts. The translator helped me stand Roland up against the wall for measurement and then helped lead him to the scales for his weight. He helped Roland step up on the scales, but then Roland tried to sit down. We helped him back to his feet and led him to a nearby chair where he could sit and be the next patient to see the doctor.
Roland captured my heart yesterday, especially in light of the message I had been preparing to share that evening. People around us are blinded by sin, and it's up to us to lead them to the Great Physician! Here's the outline from John 9 that God burdened me with about seeing nobodies:
1. It Takes Time (v. 1)
2. It Takes the Truth (v. 2-5)
3. It Takes a Touch (v. 6-7)
4. It Takes a Team (v. 7)
5. It Takes Them to Jesus (v. 8-11)
Please pause a moment to pray for Roland. He was a blessing to me yesterday!
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Thankful for the little things
This morning I woke up at 5am to begin the day. I began in prayer, mindful of what I am blessed to have.
I woke up by the alarm on my iPhone rather than the rooster crow that most Haitians wake by.
I consider the compound "roughing it" because it's army-style beds, with no air conditioning, and shaky electricity. When at home, I wake up from my air-conditioned sleep and get out of my king-size bed, head through our house towards the kitchen for a cup of coffee. My coffee is made at home with clean water that I don't worry about running out of, and it's made in an electric coffee maker that I programmed the night before.
Haitians wake up at the rooster crow, get up from their bed on the floor, and begin to find & prepare water to use that day. Most Haitians are blessed to have one meal per day.
One of the things I am thankful for about this short-term mission trip is the chance to have my eyes opened to how good we have it.
I have to go for now. Morning Bible study begins in a few minutes, then breakfast, then med clinics. I'll update later today.
KDG
I woke up by the alarm on my iPhone rather than the rooster crow that most Haitians wake by.
I consider the compound "roughing it" because it's army-style beds, with no air conditioning, and shaky electricity. When at home, I wake up from my air-conditioned sleep and get out of my king-size bed, head through our house towards the kitchen for a cup of coffee. My coffee is made at home with clean water that I don't worry about running out of, and it's made in an electric coffee maker that I programmed the night before.
Haitians wake up at the rooster crow, get up from their bed on the floor, and begin to find & prepare water to use that day. Most Haitians are blessed to have one meal per day.
One of the things I am thankful for about this short-term mission trip is the chance to have my eyes opened to how good we have it.
I have to go for now. Morning Bible study begins in a few minutes, then breakfast, then med clinics. I'll update later today.
KDG
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Wednesday Night
After a nap following a busy 1st day, we enjoyed a supper of spaghetti and fried bananas with jello for dessert. Very good!
We held our nightly devotion a little early so we could Skype with our church family. I spoke from Colossians 1 on "Christ In You = The Hope of Glory." Afterwards, Pete shared his testimony (a different team member shares their testimony each night).
We got to Skype with our church family! This was a historical night as the first video call from Haiti to Sand Mountain was made! Pete got to say hello to our wonderful students and I got to drop in on our faithful adults. We introduced every team member. We are so thankful for the technology that's now available!
I'm thankful also that my nephew Holland and his kindergarten class (Mrs. Baggett at Caldwell Elementary School) are keeping up to date on Uncle Kirk!
I'm looking forward to a good nights sleep, followed by a good morning Bible study and breakfast! Until tomorrow, please be in prayer for our time this week on mission in Haiti!
KDG
We held our nightly devotion a little early so we could Skype with our church family. I spoke from Colossians 1 on "Christ In You = The Hope of Glory." Afterwards, Pete shared his testimony (a different team member shares their testimony each night).
We got to Skype with our church family! This was a historical night as the first video call from Haiti to Sand Mountain was made! Pete got to say hello to our wonderful students and I got to drop in on our faithful adults. We introduced every team member. We are so thankful for the technology that's now available!
I'm thankful also that my nephew Holland and his kindergarten class (Mrs. Baggett at Caldwell Elementary School) are keeping up to date on Uncle Kirk!
I'm looking forward to a good nights sleep, followed by a good morning Bible study and breakfast! Until tomorrow, please be in prayer for our time this week on mission in Haiti!
KDG
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