FOHO and further updates

Hello again, to all my faithful readers!

Now that the technology is working again, I can update you all on what has been happening!

Sunday morning the group of missionaries from Ohio, left for home.. They were an extremely good group of people! Every single one of them was more then willing to do any sort of work and I never heard any of them complain a single time. I had the pleasure of getting to know several of them well.. I had several really cool, deep conversations with a few of them. They quickly accepted me as part of the group, and we all got along, and worked together really well! Even though most of them battled sickness throughout the week, they were always in good spirits, which made for a pleasant week. :)


From left to right.. Pastor Scott, Terry, Shauna, Me, Tony, Pastor Ted, Daniel, Butch, Andy, Lauretta, Jim, Lucian, and some random guy on the street.


On another note, as I have already mentioned I have been helping clear the rubble from the FOHO building that collapsed. This is what the site looked like right after the earthquake...


This is what the site looked like right after the earthquake...



This is what the site looks like now.. What you see here is the garage, and basement of what was a 4 story building.



Here is another angle from on top of the old FOHO building.




This is the old FOHO building which stood next to the 4 story building.. It lasted the earthquake, but will be demolished due to structural damage.


Tonight God has laid on my heart a burden of compassion. As I write, in this moment there are people right outside this house which I am staying, that are living in tents lined all along the street.

Here I am...

Comfortable.

Dry.

I am equipped with everything I need right here, all the while there they are trying to sleep under a tarp with a dirt floor and water running through their tent... How this fair? Simply because I was born in the US, I am given a life full of everything I want, whereas they have almost nothing.

I pray so fervently that God will bring good from this poverty!

On a more positive note, I had the pleasure of handing out some of our extra ready-to-eat meals to one of the families that live down the road from Me and Larry. Between the last two teams of Missionaries, we were left with more meals then we knew what to do with.. I know that our contribution is extremely minute against the starvation in Haiti, however generosity is contagious and I pray that each Haitian will excel further to look after his brother.

As my trip is winding down to a close, I am constantly reminding myself to live in the moment and soak up every sight, sound, smell and memory. I am continually reminding myself to appreciate every person I am in contact with; for I don't know if I will see any of these people again... But I hope that again I may be blessed enough to return to this country.

Lots of love!


-Elijah

Rest and passion.

Sometimes it seems like the days that you sit and relax are more tiring then when you work all day! Today we took a much needed sabbath day, and we got back around 5PM here and I was so exhausted I could barely keep my eyes open! So now that it is 11:30PM here as I write, I feel as though I have already had a full nights sleep!... But then again, my tiredness could have been due to the HUGE and LOUD party that was going on right outside my window last night, which dragged on apparently until about 3:30, and was finally crashed by some police who unloaded their guns into the air. Needless to say Saturday nights in Port Au Prince are crazy!

Today we went and worshiped God in a tent, right next to the school we have been working on. My understanding is that it is a Haitian free methodist church. The Haitians are so VERY passionate when they worship! I didn't know what to think when a woman up front began praying at the top of her lungs. It sounded as if she was screaming because she was angry. Because of the language barrier, I didn't understand a lot. But I soon realized she was crying out to God... Possibly in desperation? Many of the women in are group were moved to tears by her passionate prayers. I realize this is a different culture then at home, but either way it still got me thinking..

Why are so many Christians back home so scared to show passion for the Lord? Surely it's not because Americans just aren't emotional.. As I say this, I realize that there are "charismatic" churches, which are full of emotion.. But I am not saying our faith should ONLY consist of emotions... However I believe there is a time for sadness, a time for anger, a time for excited-ness, a time for peace, a time for calm, and a time to let loose your heart before God. But it seems our worship services consist of very little WORSHIP! It is as though we have gotten comfortable with watching others worship. Don't you realize that God gave you emotions for a reason? Don't you realize every emotion can give God worship? Why are we ashamed of emotions?.. One of the greatest ironies I have seen, is an entire congregation sing about being free to run and dance...... Yet doing neither. Does it show holiness to act bored? Be aware, that I am speaking to myself as much as anyone else!

On another note, after church today me, Larry and the group of missionaries all went across Port Au Prince, out of town, and through some incredible wilderness, to an extremely nice beach. I swam for the first time in the Caribbean! It was the warmest salt water I have ever experienced. The water was so CLEAR and beautiful!

Here are a few shots I took today..




Outside of Port Au Prince there are long stretches of just prairies, with the occasional "tent city" or small town.




One of the small towns we passed.




We had mountains on one side of us...




And the sea on the other side of us!




Here is the beach we stayed at. =)



I will be praying for you all!
Thank again for all your guys support.
Much love.

-Elijah-