Saturday, February 13th, 2010 4:00p.m.
“We are human, but we don’t wage war with human plans and methods.
We use God’s mighty weapons, not mere wordly weapons,
to knock down the devil’s strongholds.”
2 Corinthians 10:3-5
From the beginning, since we first arrived here, obstacle after obstacle has been dropped in our path. I knew Satan had his grip on this country, but never before have I seen evidence of this so plainly, right in my face, as it has been the last three weeks.
Thursday morning we finally made arrangements with our Dominican contact, and we quickly packed our bags and loaded up the trucks to go pick up our first big load of food and supplies. The long drive through northern Haiti was beautiful but as full of contrast as the rest of the country. We were surprised to see that Cap Haitian, the “tourist town” was just as filthy and destitute as the nation’s capital city. Every time my eyes are met once again with the harsh realities of this fourth-world country I have to fight waves of despair that rush over me like a flood. The enemy is very crafty in using these thoughts of hopelessness to discourage us from our work.
But when assaulting our emotions doesn’t work he turns to alternate, and more outright methods. Our pick-up truck broke down an innumerable amount of times before we finally reached our destination at the Dominican border. Then we faced a frustrating three hour wait while the border guards demanded more money, gave us more papers to be signed, and required more of our time before we could cross over. It seemed as though the devil was working overtime just to make sure we’d never get that much needed food. And then, when it seemed nothing could make it worse, and we’d received clearance to enter the Dominican Republic, the truck refused to start, again. The patience and peace displayed under such circumstances by those around me were astounding. The enemy would not prevail by gaining control over our attitudes as well.
When the engine was fixed we met our contact, loaded up the trucks ‘til they were near to overflowing with food, and were soon on our way back to the border, driving as fast as legally possible in order to arrive before the gates closed. But just as we pulled up, the guard who was going to work it out for us to get through was driving away, his shift over…and the border was closed.
At this point all we could do was laugh. At least we got to spend the night in a house with beds, blankets, good food, internet, phones, and electricity! And Crash and I got to sleep on the roof with a spray of stars across the night sky for a ceiling. Again I was grateful beyond words for God’s graciousness in knowing that “we are but dust” and that sometimes we need a break, even when such a thing may not be in our plans.
In the morning we rose early and made our way back to the border, only to wait once more while clearance papers for the rental vehicle were issued. What else would the devil come up with? Praise God that He is in ultimate control, for though we weren’t allowed in until four hours after we got there, and we had to send the rental car on its own happy way, piling all fourteen people in our three trucks for the ten hour drive, we finally made it home.
During my first three months serving in Haiti God showed me His unconditional love, His unfailing compassion, His enduring faithfulness. He taught me how He deals in His relationships with people. Since I have returned the lessons have been more blatant, and much more difficult to learn. He has been teaching me now how He expects our relationship to be, and how I am to deal with other people. I am to love the unlovable, those that in my estimations do not deserve love. I am to trust Him even when He gives me no answers for the “why’s?” I am to hope even when despair is imminent, and there seems to be no reason left for hope. Because there is.
For…though the fig tree should not blossom and there be no fruit on the vines,
Though the yield of the olive should fail and the fields produce no food, though the
flock should be cut off from the fold and there be no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice
in the God of my salvation: The Lord God is my strength, and He has made my feet
like hinds’ feet and has made me walk on high places.”
Habakkuk 3:17-19
And His will prevails. And we now have the food needed for our first distribution.
“But he who takes refuge in Me will inherit the land and will possess My holy mountain.
And it will be said, ‘Build up, build up, prepare the way, remove every obstacle out of the way of my people.’”
Isaiah 57:13-14
