Break thru at the prison-January 2014

After a breakfast of spaghetti with hot dogs, one of my staples here, I went to the prison, accompanied by 16 year old twin boys who want to become priests.  We had no appointment at the jail, no paper from a judge for access, and no gifts to bring.  But we prayed, that God would open doors. And He did.  We waited inside the prison gate for the commandant to arrive and give us permission to enter. And we prayed for favor.  After a few minutes, a very short wait for Haiti, a guard came over and asked what our intention was.  I explained I wanted to talk about Jesus and pray for the men.  He asked what I had brought to give them.  I explained that I didn't have enough money to continue purchasing soap or food for the 300 inmates and was hoping to visit them without gifts.  He exchanged looks and then words with his fellow guards, then told us to follow him as he escorted us to the cells.  This was our first answer prayer.

Let me set the stage.  The prison has 5 cells and 300 men.  The cells are very small, dark, crammed with bodies, and smelly.  A few lucky men sat in buckets at the barred gate, breathing in fresh air.  One cell 30'x40' held 120 men.  An experience you have to see to comprehend.

I have visited before so after quick introductions, I begin to speak of the hope in Jesus to the first cell of 80-100 men.  Before i could ask them if i could pray, they asked me to pray for them and then told me they had been praying for me since my last visit.  This greatly encouraged me. 

One man from the next cell, had given his life to Jesus during my last visit.  I asked him how he was doing and if his life was any different.  He explained, with a huge smile on his face, that he no longer felt like fighting with the other men.  But when he tried to sleep, the devil would bother him.  This opened the door for me to tell them about using the name of Jesus to stop the plans of the enemy.  

The juveniles were next.  Most of them hung with their heads low as I shared Jesus's love with them.  And explained that they needed to have a relationship with Jesus, not just have knowledge about Him.  That God had good plans for their lives and they needed to make good choices.  I asked if anyone wanted Jesus to come into his heart and life.  One young man slowly looked up at me and declared he needed Jesus.  And then 3 more followed.  As we prayed the sinners prayer, I gazed at the other 'boys' and saw most of the saying the prayer with me.  After praying, they still looked downcast and hopeless.  I told them that the angels were rejoicing because of their decision and they needed to have happiness in their hearts too.  Slowly they began smiling and soon there was snickers in the cell.  God released his joy just like we prayed.

As we were leaving, I asked the four guards posted at the gate if I could pray for them.  As I prayed, The Lord gave me a word of knowledge about the man to my right having back problems.  I finished praying and opened my eyes and asked the man if he had back pain.  Before my translator could interpret, another guard who had arriving after I began praying, and who was standing directly behind the man to my right, stated in English, "That is me!  I have back problems".   I explained that when God gives a word of knowledge that He would heal that person  and asked if I could pray for him.  He asked how long it would take because he was on duty and had a task to complete.  I told him 2 minutes and proceeded to pray.  He confirmed everything that I prayed for when I was through and I believe The Lord healed him fully and completely.

I walked down the muddy, dirt street rejoicing and praising God for His faithfulness. This is the reason that I am here.  To proclaim God's promises and to share the love of Jesus.  

Thank you for partnering with me and please continue to pray.  We are making a difference.

God bless you!  

Morning of a market day in Haiti September 2013

9-9-13. I sit on my front porch spending some precious time with my Jesus, preparing for the day ahead.  Thanking him for safety and for loving me the way I am.  Asking for a message for the prisoners today and experiencing His peace.  I sit with a soft pillow behind my head, with my IPad plugged into electricity, with a cool welcoming breeze blowing across my body, before the heat and humidity of the day begins. I sit.

It is still dark and and the sun is just starting to brighten the sky into a beautiful medium blue hue. The trees making a dark silhouette against the sky, as if praising The Lord for creating them, reaching their branches in worship.

I sit and reflect and listen.  It is quiet for Haiti.  Too early for the shouts of children playing soccer on the road in front of my house.  Too early for a heated game of marbles, played in the dirt. Too early for my neighbor to blare his radio so loudly that I can't have a thought of my own.  I sit.

They do not.  They are the women heading for the market.  I hear them before I can see them.  I hear their footsteps, walking quickly and with a purpose.  I hear their shoes struggling to stay on their feet as they walk through the mud and the puddles left by the previous nights downpour.  (A downpour that filled my home with 3" of water as it came pouring in through my electricity box.).  I hear a few talking, but most walk quietly, determined.  I hear a song, someone is singing her praises to The Lord.  I hear clip, clop, clip, clop as the donkeys and mules and sometimes horses parade by carrying the wares to be sold.   I hear an occasionally swish and thud as the freshly picked branch connects with the 4 legged cargo van to reminds the mule who is in charge.  Then I hear, click, click, click, click, click as the donkey picks up the pace.   I hear the squawks of many chickens, not enjoying their journey to their final destination.  And the loudest of all, the squeals of a pig, declaring his objection to his upside down ride to the market, wishing he could have been the little piggy that stayed home.

The day is dawning, and I begin to see outlines of them walking.  Tall and straight as they balance baskets, tubs and even their chair on top of their heads.  Their eyes dart back and forth but their heads are fixed,allowing the perfectly balanced objects to stay afloat.  Some hold hands of their small children, who are required to help mom for the day.  Some are pushing wheelbarrows full of freshly picked mangoes, pineapple, potatoes, carrots, and many other vegetables that I can't identify.  Their shoulders sagging under the weight of their job.  Some walk unobstructed, allowing their mules to do the heavy work, holding only a switch in their hand.  All are focued.

A few are carrying phones that are being used as flashlights, but most walk confidently in the dark, a feat that would be miraculous for me to do.  A few carry umbrellas that will protect them from the blazing sun during the heat of the day. 

I am told some of them have been walking since midnight, bringing their wares from miles away.  Only to repeat the journey after a long hot day in the sun.  

They are going to the market.  To sell the organic grains and vegetables that they have raised.  The only source of income most of them have.  They will set up shop,  laying a tarp down on the dirt road, and placing their finest selections in small piles, arranged in a way that looks appealing to the passerby.  And then...they sit.  Waiting for someone to buy their wares so they can buy food that can't raise for their family,  so they can pay for their children's school, so they can buy clean water to drink.  They sit.

And I sit.  Enjoying the cool of the morning, thinking about making a cup of coffee, and reminded of how blessed I am.  Even the spaghetti that has become my new breakfast food, is sounding wonderful. Time to go and cook food that I purchased from these women.  

Thank you Lord, for the reminder of how blessed I am.  And bless these women today.  Amen!