Throng

On kid’s day, we started our program at around 2:30 p.m. Beth had been very ill, and was struggling so we got a later start than planned. As we got underway, we had the kids congregated across the road and Robinson was in charge of crowd control while also serving as traffic police. We had passed out whistles, and it was pretty crazy as Americans and Haitians alike blew those shrill little tools to announce races, finishes, station changes, and trying to signal directions for the children. Rob would pick 6-10 kids randomly and send them in where we would set them to playing their games, rotating them around from place to place. We had to improvise quite a bit, and we learned a lot more about how to structure such an event. We are gaining more and more insight into working with masses of children because that is what always shows up. When we reached the end of our time, we had not even made a dent in the volume of kids. It was a little overwhelming. I finally made the call and told Robinson we would quickly clear the game activities and reset all the chairs and benches in the tent and bring all the rest of the children inside. When we were ready (or so I thought) I gave the signal and the throng of children came across the street and started through a 3’ gate. The pressure at that gateway was unbelievable as some 350 children desperately surged to get through, each one afraid of being part of a group that would not be allowed to come in, that there wouldn’t be enough room for them. Bob and I stood in that gateway and used all the strength we possessed to slow them and keep them from crushing each other. At one point a young child tripped and the kids attempted to run over her, and in that moment I came face to face with the force of sheer desperation. It must have been a certain God strength that allowed us to stop the forward momentum of that crowd of thronging kids long enough to reach down and free that little one. As their frantic bodies struggled to get inside, I wept. My heart cried for them. In that scene their agony of life flowed into mine. I could not feel anger, but determined instead to take their desperation upon myself. How can one fault them? Where are they to find hope if I am unwilling to share it? Where will they ever catch a break if I won’t give it to them? How can I show them Jesus if I am unwilling to first feel their pain? Once inside I had Robinson share with them our attempted endeavor; and apologized for not being able to get to them all. I told them we were going to do it again, but that they would all leave with the treat originally intended for each one. As we talked and sang, their desperate energy began to subside, and single file, those children ALL walked out of that same 3’ gate that they had crashed through earlier calmly with a sack of treats. Hope had found another foothold, somewhere they got the message that with God there is enough. Through an amazing ministry that Rob is putting together, 43 children connected with our ministry are attending school this year supported by wonderful Christian people. These kids deserve a break, pray God continues to help us minister both to the single child, as well as the masses. God is the difference maker, and only as He continues to help us, will we be able to minister this way. But it is working, and we are blessed to be a part! Stay tuned for more miracles of grace. Blessings to all.