What was I thinking?

Many people have asked me “What were my thoughts of Haiti?”

What could I possibly think of a country that has such a severe level of poverty that it is unimaginable to the vast majority of people in our country? What could I possibly think of Haiti when I saw children with distended bellies due to the result of malnutrition? What could I possibly think of Haiti where the average yearly income for a Haitian family is less than the average weekly income of an American family? What could I possibly think of Haiti when everywhere I would look I would see garbage and debris? What could I possibly think of Haiti when well over 95% of Haitian homes lack running water and electricity? What could I possibly think of Haiti when just obtaining basic medical care for most Haitians is non-existent? What could I possibly think of Haiti when I saw many Haitians who get up each day to simply scratch out an existence not unlike the countless chickens that roamed everywhere that were doing the same thing? Maybe that is the way that the world would think of Haiti but I found myself thinking of Haiti with a different mind not rooted in the world.

The thoughts that grabbed me the most were those that were on a much different level as I found myself thinking of Haiti the way of Christ. What would Christ be thinking as He was sitting amongst the Haitian prayer group that meets each morning at 4 am as they pray for their fellow Haitians to come to know the one true savior? What would Christ be thinking as He witnessed the smiles of the many children? What would Christ be thinking as He watched the family that was overwhelmed with joy as they received their new 2 room home that lacked running water and electricity but they understood that it was because others loved Christ more than anything else that with through a labor of love this home was built? What would Christ think as He watched young school children receive a nutritious meal and an education that would give them hope and joy in their life? What would Christ be thinking as He spent time in an orphanage that gave some children a chance to make a life for themselves off of the streets of Port au’ Prince by learning about their savior? What would Christ be thinking as He watched families that resided in the surrounding tent cities with young children receive from the hands of others a nutritious meal? What would Christ think as He watched young Haitian mothers who were given essential items for their young infant child so that their child could start their life in a positive direction as they joined with those who chose to go in prayer? What would Christ be thinking as He was amongst the Haitian Church in Grand Goave as they celebrated His life as both young and old sang, danced, raised their hands and prayed aloud for an entire 3 hour service?

I think that Christ is pleased when He sees that all of these things that were done to make Haiti a better place as they were being done in His name. I think that Christ is thinking, “Well done my good and faithful servant!” Although I know that I personally will never be able to change Haiti, I do know that by my being there it did indeed change just one small part of Haiti with those lives that were touched by my following His command to GO. My being there allowed one more block to be added to His church as He rebuilds His glorious temple here on earth. What I think of Haiti is that it has changed me in a way that I have come to understand that which Christ would ask me to do in His name. I find myself asking in a more deep and profound way, Lord what would you have me to do now and I patiently wait for His answer.