After a grueling day of work at the job-site Friday, we woke up Saturday morning and decided the we were just so fatigued that we could not work at the work-site. We used Saturday as a time to gather a little strength, unfortunately, a few members of the team began feeling a little ill and very, very tired so we slept and read and slept some more. We woke up Sunday morning excited and a little nervous about going to church in another country. Needless to say, not only did everything turn out well, it was amazing. During the first worship song, we began to feel the presence of the Holy Spirit move throughout the entire congregation and continue to flow as the song got stronger and stronger. Some of us hands held high in worship; others completely in tears ---- WOW! As we got into the Word, even thought we could only make out a few words and phrases, we all knew that somehow we were being changed. As the service ended, we were overwhelmed with the sheer number of people that were actually there. Roughly 300 people on the main level where we were, many more in the basement level watching via video projection and an overflow into the street, again --- WOW!
Sunday night we decide that on Monday, the entire team would spend our last full day in Haiti visiting the children in the currently rented children’s home. What a great decision that turned out to be! It didn’t take long for the children to warm up to the members of the team that they really didn’t know yet. After a few piggy back rides, some arts & crafts and paper airplanes, it was on! Hugs & kisses, photos, beach balls and soccer balls, it became a experience that we will never forget. They are all very sweet and completely innocent of the world outside. What a true sanctuary in a city full of chaos. Inside those walls you would never know that an earthquake devastated the city not so long ago.
My heart truly goes out to Pastor Wilson and Gladys Charles and the extended family of their household as they not only welcomed us into their home, but shown us love and compassion as if WE were also their family. Jesus will continue to build His church and in Haiti, He is also building homes for the little ones. After the new Wings of Refuge home is complete, not only will the 21 children that we spent today with have a home, so will many others. Children are already on the list. What a true honor it is to be a part of building a refuge, second chance, and haven in Haiti. God bless Pastor Wilson and Gladys Charles and God bless Wings of Refuge Children’s Home in Petion-ville, Haiti.
-Larry Sanders