busy couple of days

The team is off now.  We dropped them off just before seven this morning at the airport and since I haven't received any phone calls I am assuming all has gone well there.  Becca and I really enjoyed spending time with them and we are sorry to see them go.

After leaving the airport I dropped Becca off at Christian Light Ministries for her first full day of working with the children at Sherrie Fausey's school.  She was a bit nervous but I know she is going to do great.  Hopefully she'll be able to post something about her day here on the blog tonight when she gets home.

We've had a busy few days here in Haiti.  On Friday the team headed out to Fond des Blancs, a village nestled in the mountains just north of Port-au-Prince.  I was planning on going with them and had agreed to drive a few days before we were to go.  Friday morning however, Becca reminded me that I was supposed to go pick up the mail that morning and that it would only be available for pick up from 8:30-11:30 am.  Mail comes in once a week from the States and is flown here from Florida by Missionary Flights International.  We are only allowed to pick it up on Wednesdays and Fridays from 8:30-11:30.  While we are here I am responsible for picking up not only the Chapel's mail, but also for all the MAF pilots and all the mail that is flown to the missionaries on the island of La Gonave.

Pastor Martinez told me it would take about an hour to drive to the town of Cazalle, from which the team would then walk the rest of the way to the village as there is no road in.  We were planning on leaving Port-au-Prince at 6:30 which, after an hour driving out and then an hour driving back into the city would put me back here in plenty of time to get the mail.  Well, after leaving much later than 6:30, and after an hour and a half of driving and one river crossing we were still not at the drop off point.  I was beginning to realize that I would not be making it to get the mail. Finally, about two hours after leaving Port-au-Prince, we arrived at the drop off point.  I called Becca back in the city and asked her to get a message to someone from MAF telling them I would not be able to get the mail and then began the trek in to the village.

Aside from the intense heat, the walk wasn't too bad.  We had some beautiful views as we walked parallel to a river and snaked our way up the side of a mountain and then down into a valley where the village was located.  We stopped a few times along the way and at one point were able to enjoy some mangos that were growing along the trail.  Since Pastor Martinez is 68, he set the pace for most of the time and after an hour or so of walking we arrived at the village.

Our purpose was to distribute some food with the funds raised by DBC's gleanings offering.  The people of the village knew we were coming and they knew what we were coming to do so there was a small crowd gathered by the time we arrived.  After a brief water break the process of distributing the food began.  Within a few seconds we had a mob scene on our hands.  People were trying whatever they could to get to the front of the line to ensure they got some food.  There were literally women crawling over each other and a few of us had to physically block them from storming the place where the food was.  Eventually we were able to distribute all the food and some clothes and the mob began to dissipate.

These people are surviving, but barely.  They are desperate and desperate people do desperate things.  We were able to distribute some food, but not nearly enough.  In fact, most of the food we distributed has probably already been consumed and now they are looking to where they can find more.  It can be discouraging at times to see such overwhelming need and know that you'll never meet it all.  The important thing, as Pastor Martinez reminded us that evening, is to be faithful with what you have, and commit them to God.  That is what we are called to do and I can say that on Friday, Danville Baptist Church was faithful in the sight of God.

So, the mail is still sitting there, waiting to be picked up.  I'll get to it on Wednesday.  Instead I was reminded again of the pure desperation there is here.  I'd seen it many times before, but it was good to be reminded.  People are hungry and often have no idea where the next meal is coming from.  At times I'm tempted to question why I was born in such a land of abundance, but being faithful is more important than wondering why.  To whom much is given, much is expected.