Last Friday we returned from one of our many trips to Haiti. RTS Missions has been serving Haiti since July of 2006 and I can tell you that every single trip is humbling, amazing, God glorifying, hard, and special. This particular trip however was just a little more special than the others. This trip I was blessed to have my wife and my 7 year old son with me for the very first time.
For years they saw the pictures, heard the stories and watched their husband/dad cry like a little child as I tried with all my might to articulate the experience...the heartache...the despair...the destruction...the beauty...the love...the richness the Haitian people experience and live with. No matter how hard I tried, it was just impossible for me to get it right.
For the last couple of years my son has always given me books or small toys to give to the children i meet on my trips. I would always take a picture of the little ones who received his free gift, so I could show him what his giving meant in the lives of these precious ones who have so little, and ones who have nothing.
He was so excited to see the pictures I would bring home, and I would always tell him that it would be great for him to come and give them away himself. Caleb would always say, "no way daddy. I don't want to get those shots!" Remember he is only 5 or 6 at this time. :) But, just after this year's missions conference he woke up and announced to his mom, "Mom, I have made a decision. I am going to Haiti with dad."
So this last week my wife and son had the honor of becoming the hands and feet of Jesus in Haiti. My wife and the team did an amazing job ministering to over 400 people everyday through Bible presentations, crafts, recreation, and action. The team was able to feed every child, worker, parent, and anyone else who needed a hot meal every day. Caleb ministered to the children by playing with them, coloring with them, getting muddy with them, and crying for them.
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Just after Caleb realizing we were leaving the next day,
Trying to smile |
The last night of service before we were to leave for Port Au Prince and fly home, Caleb realized we were leaving the next day. My son started crying uncontrollably, telling his mom and me that he didn't want to leave. It broke my heart. I am tearing up as I write this. At that time, at that moment at night in a church 700 miles off the coast of Florida, with very little lighting, and with the Haitian people lifting up their arms in praise and singing loud to their God, to their Hope in a different language that my son didn't understand...Caleb got it. My son got it where it mattered most...he got it in his heart.
On the way home Caleb looks up at me and says, "Daddy, I want to come back every time you do."
My son and the rest of this team, because of the support of gracious people who have a heart for reaching the lost were able to serve over 2,000 hot meals while we were there, purchase additional food for those who need it most over the next month or two, see 51 people make first time professions of faith to the new Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and see people come forward for us to pray over them that lasted over an hour. Because of the support given to this ministry and the prayers that were lifted up for this trip...LIVES WERE CHANGED.
"Daddy, I want to come back every time you do." Amen.
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