Revelation 1:18…” I was dead, and behold I am alive forever and ever!!!!”
Verse 1: I serve a risen Savior, He’s in the world today: I know that He is living, whatever men may say. I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer, and just the time I need Him, He’s always near.
Verse 2: In all the world around me I see His loving care; and though my heart grows weary, I never will despair. I know that He is leading through all the stormy blast; the day of His appearing will come at last.
Verse 3: Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian, lift up your voice and sing, Eternal hallelujahs to Jesus Christ, the King! The Hope of all who seek Him, the Help of all who find, None other is so loving, so good and kind.
Chorus: He lives, He lives! Christ Jesus lives today!!! He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way, He lives, He lives!!! Salvation to impart! You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart!
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RESURRECTION WEEK IN SCHOOL
I woke up at 2am and could no longer fall back asleep. This song began to flow across my heart as I recalled the past week. The kids and I had spent the week digging into The Resurrection Story. We discussed what happened on each day from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday. You could say we dug deep and hearts were stirred…. Well as much as 4-almost 9 year olds can dig…which incidently is beautiful and taught me a thing or two!!! SUCH CHILDLIKE FAITH:>)
On Wednesday we watched the Jesus film for children and I watched the girls as each part of the story was told. I watched their faces and their eyes. I listened to the questions as they asked me: why Jesus? and how come the people were excited sunday and now they want to crucify him? What did he do wrong? Why did Peter say he didn’t know Jesus? Was Jesus mad at Peter? Did the 2 men on the crosses die too and did they go to heaven?
Such good questions, but what stood out to me was their reaction to the crucifixion. Rosie sat curled up next to me with her hands on her face and peaking thru her fingers. Mikela sat fighting back tears in her eyes and Malaya did a combination of the two together, but turning her head toward me with a look in her eyes saying…did this really happen?
They continue today to ask questions and I am reminded of how Jesus told the little ones to come to Him. The week has been a hard week for all them as they have missed their Mom and Dad and their concern for their Papaw who had a heart attack a few days before Palm Sunday. Sharing the hope of Jesus with them, praying with them for those that they love so much and miss, writing sweet notes to their Nana and Papaw to encourage them, it has been an emotional week for us all. HE LIVES!!!!
(As of this writing Papaw is now home doing well and gaining strength and God is not through with him yet:>) To God be the Glory!! and today Jody, Jose and Asher are all back home in Haiti. The reunion at the airport was priceless, especially btw. Asher and Levi. Such a beautiful embrace!!! HE LIVES!!!!)
THE WALK JESUS ENDURED
Since Sunday we have had a Rah Rah band playing and marching down every street of the Mole. Remember the chicken looking like boys that wear scary masks for Mardi Gras and wield machetes and whips. Well this is a continuation minus the chicken looking get ups.
Wednesday I was sitting on the porch after our staff meeting and intrigued by this band. They play the same tune over and over and over and over again as like a a broken record (those who don’t know what those are google it:>) lol
The sound had really disturbed me internally and as I watched and listened I took note of the cracking of the whips. (No machetes, but I know in other areas of Haiti they do and it is much wilder) I asked Jocelyn to tell me more about these Rah Rah bands. I know a bit of what others have shared with me and I have read as well, but I wanted to know his insight.
I asked first the question that I felt searing my heart. “Are they mocking what happened this week to Jesus?” He told me yes and then told me that in some towns they take a man to a witch doctor. Then he gives him some type of drug to help him not feel. He puts numerous clothes on and then they march around town with the drums, horns and whistles a blast and whip the man – with the whips imitating what Jesus endured – and laughing at the man.
In some towns there is more than one Rah Rah and they can get into fights with one another similar to gang wars. Here in the Mole not quite that intense, but the mocking is still the same.
Oh how this saddened me, yet confirmed what my heart was feeling. After we talked I closed my eyes and listened. Within seconds the tears were rolling as I could see in mind’s eye and here with my ears the walk Jesus had to suffer. The cross He had to bear so that we could live eternally with Him. “Father forgive them for they know not what they are doing!!!! Open their eyes Lord, Open their hearts, Open their minds to the truth of your gospel. Glorify your Name Oh Lord!!! HE LIVES!!!
RESURRECTION SUNDAY
Resurrection Morning was a hard morning on many levels physically, emotionally and spiritually. As I said I had been up by 2am and we had sunrise service at 6am.
Since Jan we have had hardly a trickle of rain and of course this day it the rain came. We needed it, but I know it slowed and kept people from taking the walk out to the church.
When I arrived the ladies were fixing hot cocoa (Haitian style) and preparing the bread and peanut butter. Pierre was preparing his words that he would bring to us and I was enthralled by the morning sky and watching the sun slowly arise.
I looked over the future campus and envisioned what the Lord was doing not only here, but across the Northwest. I envisioned a tearing down to build up, a cutting and pruning to dig deeper and grow stronger and produce fruit…fruit that will last. What will hold tight and what needs to fall.This process is never easy, but as I have seen in my own life, necessary in order to grow closer to the One that is to be glorified.
As we began our service my heart was heavy for the people of Haiti. Not just for the people of the Mole, but for this country and for the world.
“Lord let it rain…open the floodgates of heaven…let it rain!!!!! May Your Will Be Accomplished and Not Our Own. Live and Reign in Our Hearts Oh Lord. Lord Let It Rain!!!!! Amen”
HE LIVES AND HE IS THE REASON I LIVE !!!
