The Oasis

This past weekend as many in Haiti celebrated the Easter holiday I was on on Lagonav while Heather and the kids were on the mainland.  Two to three times per month I try to get over and visit the churches.  Lately one of the reasons for visiting is to hear the brothers at the church exhort the congregations from the Scriptures.  It was a good trip but I can also say I am happy to be reunited with my family.

Easter is a focal point for both Christian and Vodou celebrations here in Haiti.  And it is also the season for kites.  Everywhere you go you see the homemade “kap” flying high.  I asked a couple people the reason for the tradition connecting the kites with Easter time but they couldn’t tell me.

Ansagale, the town where the guest house is located has been a noisy place this past week.  The “ra-ra” bands are everywhere.  The musicians are followed by crowds of people all over town.  Our Wesleyan missionary friends said they are tired of the noise at all hours of the day.  With Easter finished the bands will be gone too.

On Sunday morning it was off to the church at Doglas.  The short drive is not too hard on the backside.  Pastor Lexene, one of two registered pastors we work with, brought a message on the resurrection.  He works on contract for World Vision and he passed on the way back to Ansagale on his motorbike.  Pray for Pastor Lexene as he juggles shepherding the flock at Doglas, a busy day job and taking care of his family.

After a small lunch and short rest it was off to Gran Lagon for the afternoon service.  The drive is a little over an hour, northwest up the coast of Lagonav.  You pass through some very dry areas, made more dry by lack of rain.  The rainy season is due to begin soon.  The saline shown in the picture above looks almost like a desert.  It is very dry and the dust is thick.  But we can get the truck up to about 30 miles per hour!

Right after the saline and before we reach Gran Lagon we come across this oasis.  The route was a new one for me.  The road closer to the ocean is usually too wet to traverse by truck.  As we came around the corner here was this little oasis.  It is a rare sight in Haiti.  Someone has obviously been looking after the trees.  We pray that the churches on the island where the true gospel is preached would be an oasis for those seeking the living water, Jesus Christ.

At Gran Lagon a small group of saints was gathered for afternoon worship.  But even with a few people they can sing!  Elder candidate Cenet brought a message from Mark 16, highlighting the resurrection of Jesus.  Pray for brother Cenet.  HIs wife has been ill for the last 7 months and it seems that the doctors have not been able to track down the problem.  We were able to pray with her and are happy to see her well enough to be home in Gran Lagon.

One final picture as I close this update.  Just before dropping me off at the wharf in Carries for the trip over, we passed the large quarry on the main highway.  This huge scar in the hillside is visible all the way from Lagonav.  It has mostly been cut out by hand.  The aggregate is used for building houses and putting up block.  Can you see the guys working?  They are about 200 feet off the highway.  Amazing!