As often happens in Haiti, today I had an experience that brought to mind accounts we read about The Bible. On these days and with these experiences, The Lord gives us the ability to deepen our understanding and grow in our faith.
We walked the neighborhood today, the neighborhood next to our neighborhood really. Some days we are blessed to have the time to walk around in communities we are not really embedded in, but are close by and are as important to God as every other community in Haiti.
We walk the neighborhoods talking and praying with people, treating illnesses and injuries, giving water or food or whatever needs we encounter. During one stop a little girl came up and grabbed my hand and told me “ manman mwen malad, tanpri vini wè li” my mother is sick please come see her.
She pointed the direction to her mom, but we still stopped along the way, as we always do in the community. She walked with us for a long time, as we continued toward her mother. She would tug on my arm every few minutes and say again “manman mwen malad” just a sweet reminder to please not forget her mother.
It was so hot today, I know we were navigating slowly and getting really worn out, I know our progress was slower than she was hoping; she just stayed with us, patiently, persistently.
When we arrived at a sort of entrance point to a neighborhood of cinder block structures, most sharing walls with a narrow walking path for navigating them, and began making our way to the girl’s mother. Weaving in and out of the structures, the heat radiated off the cinderblocks and the temperature was rising, the air flow decreasing.
She pointed to a metal door/gate - and we walked toward the area where she lived, navigating an even more narrow path of uneven concrete foundation. When she stopped in front of a group of people, I asked if her mother was here - she smiled and pointed. The woman she pointed to was busy gathering plastic chairs. Haitians are warm and friendly – even to strangers. I’m always amazed how they concern themselves with hospitality over other matters; sometimes pressing matters (including not feeling well).
We all surrounded the girl’s mother and prayed for her. She told us that her daughter helps her with everything; dishes, cleaning, running to get supplies, helping with the other 4 children, one of which is maybe 6 months old. She said she could do nothing without her daughter and asked us to also pray for her daughter, which we did. I was holding the girls 6 month old baby sister, rocking her as the Haitians sang a song and I sang the few Haitian Creole lines of the song that I actually knew.
There’s a point to this story, the whole time we were with this girl I could not help but think of the account in Mark 5:21-43 also in Luke 8:40-56 about the man who came to Jesus for help for his daughter. In both accounts, it says the man “pleaded and pleaded earnestly” and asked Jesus to please come and put hands on her.
This little girl today was pleading with us, for her mom. She had such a desire to do something, she was persistent and she did not give up.
When Jesus arrived to the girl, in both accounts Jesus tells the people to stop crying, to not be afraid and just believe.
I was truly impacted by this little girl’s faith and her persistent and dedicated desire to help her mother. She knew that prayer was powerful and her mother needed prayers, and she made it happen. I will never forget this girl and I will never forget the experience; seeing someone pleading for prayers for someone she loves. I will never forget this.
Today, please think about someone who could be impacted by your faith and desire to help. Also, if you are not a follower of Jesus, maybe consider reading those to accounts referenced above. You could be changed forever. God Bless you all and thanks for the encouragement you provide for our organization and our friends and family in Haiti,