back at the Quality hotel: Part 1

I've processed a trip in this hotel before.

The second time around, I feel like I have a lot more to process, though. Twenty four hours ago, my dear friend Megan was driving me to the airport. Tomorrow night, my wonderful parent(s) will pick me up from the same place. But a lot of things have happened in the short week that passed.

First, I had the opportunity to reconnect with old friends. People who take the mission seriously. Battle buddies.

Then, our team was blessed to join with the bold missionaries of Batey Los Robles. Their church has burst its seams at the small building on the bottom of the village. Now, they have a brand new cinder block sanctuary at the top of the hill, right a t the entrance to the community. It is sturdy. It is large. But it is not even enough space for Sunday school! Some classes still have to meet outside. The church is led by a brave man named Juan Jose. He leads a fearless band of young adults and teenagers, committed to seeing change in their community. Evil is very present, darkness is very strong in this community. But light always wins. These young leaders are learning the reality of spiritual warfare. They cling to promises in Scripture, memorizing it every week. They pray with expectation and experience the power of the Holy Spirit.

The body of Christ in Los Robles joined with our home churches to shower our team in prayer before we left for Haiti. The air was already hot and thick in the cinder block church, but as they prayed we felt God's Spirit so deeply. It was like an extra humidity in the sanctuary, filling our lungs and our spirits.

The trip to Haiti was "smooth" according to our staff guide, Malou. Still, we had to wait a few hours at the Dominican border because of a missing vehicle insurance document. Then, the staff from COTN-Haiti drove to the Haitian border to meet us. They had "rescued" their old Toyota van from the shop a few days too early. It kept spitting black smoke and dying on the side of the road.

We drove into Port Au Prince in the dark. Piles of rubble still line the streets. There are still tent cities, nearly two years after the major earthquake. In the dark, the roads are lit by the constant stream of traffic, but it is still hard to see each pedestrian as they cross the street. Many fires burn on the side of the road to get rid of the garbage generated that day.

I wasn't sure what I expected Haiti to be like.

Daniel, the COTN-Haiti country director welcomed us with open arms. He shared his nation's history. He introduced us to his entire family. Brian, the COTN-Haiti startup coordinator prepared a delicious American meal for us at the office/ mission house. His dog, Maverick, also greeted us with big pitbull puppy paws.

There is a lot of pain in Haiti. A lot of brokenness. Churches next to voodoo temples. Tents next to new construction. There's a lot of hope, though.

We sat in on a board meeting of Haitian men and women committed to seeing their nation change. They expressed the vision of sharing God's love with children, to empower the future of a nation. We interviewed beautiful children and teenagers with wisdom beyond their years. We heard stories of life before and after the earthquake. Stories of redemption. Stories of revival. Stories of powerful answers to long weary years of prayer.

Then, we prayed for our brothers and sisters in Gressier (the town of the COTN-Haiti base) and loaded back into the big white van. Our driver, Allejandro is fearless. It took seven hours, but we finally traveled the 100 miles back to Casa Betesda in Barahona. (On this trip, I experienced two new locations for the ever-changing list of "grossest bathrooms ever.")

Thursday ranks high on another list: Best day of my life. More to come...