Echoes from Maissade, Haiti
October was a signature month for our Haiti project. We praise God for the opportunity to serve Him through helping the Melchizadek Christian School.
A team of 22 women (and 3 men) journeyed to Port au Prince to begin their trek to the highland village of Maissade where their task was to paint the food service building constructed by 3 NCBC teams last February.
Complete that task they did … but the road getting there was a task in itself, which affected each member of the team in profound and various ways.
Reflections from some of the team members reveal God's power and providence. . .
"Our mission trip has really changed me…. Our "Road to Maissade" was my path to courage, perseverance, and trust in our heavenly Father."
Melissa Stuart, Benicia
"Just home, bathed in nice hot water and loving our families, I will have to say there was something about jumping in and out of that shower in Maissaide that I miss :)."
Lin Barrios, Middletown
"We could all see God's hand in every aspect of this trip…. If we didn't go through the 29-hour bus ride into Maissade, who knows what little things might have derailed us. A house with 22 women can be a scary place. God gave us that bonding trip to quickly bring us together to serve him. We all know now that He will give us the strength, when we need it, to do what He calls us to do."
Shelley Updegraff, Cornerstone/San Jose
"I am already seeing the transformation in my life. I have never been so scared in my life, but at the same time I felt closer to God than ever. I understood that what He wanted to have us go through would be for His glory. I learned that clinging so tightly to control is what makes it so painful when it is taken away."
Megan Updegraff, Cornerstone/San Jose
"It is an honor to help such a great school in Maissade by sponsoring a child and/or helping young children get at least 5 meals a week…. Thanks to Tom for making sure we 3 nurses visited the clinic."
Brenda Mitchell, Crosspoint/Santa Maria
"I thought of this scripture (Jesus calming the sea) at the moment our bus started fish tailing on the muddy road on the cliff. When I released to Him all my fear,
God stretched and strengthened my faith at that very moment. From then on, I continued to pray and sing praises to God to let Him know I trusted Him. What a blessing that bus trip was from God to me."
Kim Spratto, Golden Hills/Brentwood
"God truly has a sense of humor. How could it be otherwise? Having endured the stench of a burning clutch for over 30 miles, the bus's clutch "died" less than 300 feet from the only repair shop within 80 miles."
Dan Cousins, New Covenant/Fresno
"In Haiti, my life as an artist made sense in a way it never has here in the States. Bringing beauty into desolation feeds the soul in the same way food feeds malnourished children. If I can bring hope through art of God's beautiful creation, then I have found what I was born to do."
Melanie Weaver, Azusa University Professor of Art
|
