Oasis

It's almost 9:00 pm and we are set up at the orphanage. I am typing my thoughts in the same room my daughter has just spent most of the last three months. Our two precious orphan girls sleep on their bunks barely three feet from where I sit in my little plastic chair, a fan blowing across the room brings a little reprieve from the hot day we have had to suffocate through. Our only oasis was at the few minutes apiece were we all we able the ride in the AC of Rob's Toyota, which we managed to get into the country last November. Did I say what a Godsend it has been! Although, I just got a call that it won't start. Oh well, it's Haiti. We'll cross that bridge when we get to the river. Today has been a day of much contemplation for me, as I ready to minister a message in the morning to a massive crowd of people, my thoughts have wandered the byways of the years of engagement in this country, of all the changes, and all the merry-go-rounds. As we hiked the mountain behind the church this morning, it seemed to me the rubble was worse this time. And yet it also seemed there were more homes. What is this terrible war between good and evil. Ethan mentioned corruption and evil in his earlier post today, he's right you know. There is no other way to really describe what you witness here. Evil in a very raw form. I am one to carress words, to soft speak the truth, always the truth, but the truth in love. With a doctor walking with me, even more of the raw waste and filth becomes apparent. My constitution is very strong, and while I observe and contemplate much, I can also swallow a lot. Years of hard, dirty outdoor labor, and in pastoring while fighting alongside fellow believers have conditioned me, calloused me in ways that perhaps border a bit on the uncivilized. War is that way, and I don't mind the skirmishes. As I have walked beside a doctor and fellow foot soldier the last few days in this land, it has been a bit on the sensational side to say the least. I have written much and often of the pestilence of this land, but it is brought into sharper focus with this new microscope trained on it! And eight brave souls have fought through all that dust, and dirt, and grime, and all out filth with me the last few days. We have lost a few battles, but we are winning the war! As we watched Germaine and Krystle teach the Bell Choir today, twelve children get to make a new kind of music in their homeland, and the expressions on their faces were pure gold. Germaine was brilliant! I am so grateful for his leadership and life change. He and his family have been so rock on this trip, it is hard to fathom for me where God has brought them from, and to where they are going! Therein in part lies my hope for Haiti, what God has done and is so powerfully doing in them, He is also doing here! Little by little we advance, and it seems now each step is getting easier. As I said earlier, I sit now in front of a strong sturdy high velocity fan, this did not exist years ago, I am going to sleep in a couple of hours in an orphanage, this did not exist two years ago. I am sending this blog up in a couple of minutes from right where I sit, this did not exist until four months ago. Today we fixed a well, and pumped about a thousand gallons of fresh water for a whole community who has been carrying water from long distances for six months. The air crackled with excitement as water was restored to the area! Evil beware...your future has been written...good will prevail! Allow me to take you back to the Chronicles of Narnia theme for a moment...there is melting, and dripping everywhere you turn now in Haiti, the cold of injustice still has many in its grip, but the breath of Aslan can be felt all over, and I know in a very deep place in my heart tonight that good will prevail! Of that fact I am most certain! Out with the sword I say, mount your steeds, the dawn comes, let's ride! And besides, I have a message to write yet! Blessings again tonight from your trusted band of warriors in Haiti, good-night to all!