“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.” 1 Peter 4:12-13
The attached photo was taken from Google Earth and it is a section of National Highway Rte. 1, about one and a half miles east of Gonaives. This location will forever be a reminder to me of the above scripture. I have been through this location on many occasions, driving alone and driving with others but always with Him.
Before I tell you about this ‘test’, I would like to share with you that when I say ‘the other day’, I could be referring to any time between yesterday and five years ago. And when I say ‘back in the day’ that can be anywhere from five years to five decades ago. If you walk in my sandals for a while, you might more fully understand my reasoning.
Back in the day; there were four of us riding in my Mitsubishi truck, up and over the mountain from Cap Haitian to PAP in the heat of an early afternoon; Pastors Daniel Paul, Eliona Bernard, my driver Joey and me. We had stopped in Gonaives to get fuel for the pickup and had learned that a Haitian Senator from this area had been assassinated that same day in PAP and there were some serious problems brewing in Gonaives. We decided to leave immediately and not stop to visit Pastor Revenel Benoit before leaving.
We reached the location in the photo and the road was “broken”; a term used by Haitians to describe the road being blockaded by something. On this day two semi-trucks were parked in such a manner as to straddle the highway from ditch to ditch making the road impassable. We stopped and a group of armed men wearing plaid shirts and blue jeans motioned for us to get out of the truck and stand still. Prayer time for me that was followed by words drifting in my mind from a Kris Kristofferson song. “Why me Lord, what have I ever done to deserve even one of the pleasures I've known. Tell me Lord, what did I ever do that was worth love from you or the kindness you've shown.”
The four of us got out of the truck and placed our hands into the air as their Haitian arsenal of outdated and unclean weapons were pointed at us. The man who approached me was carrying an old 410 shotgun that he was obviously very proud of as he broadly smiled while he placed it’s barrel a few inches from my face. I uttered the words ‘mwen pa gen lanjan’ and ‘missionary’ and pointed to the cross on my Christ Lutheran Church ball cap on my head. I asked if he was a Christian and knew about and believed Jesus Christ; he nodded that he KNEW Jesus. “Lord help me Jesus, I've wasted it so help me Jesus, I know what I am. Now that I know that I've needed you so help me Jesus, my soul's in your hand.”
They wanted money (lanjan), or drugs or weapons and sadly we didn’t have any of these items. We had Jesus and that was a problem for them, as they were sure that we had the treasures of their world somewhere in my white truck. We walked away from the truck as they searched the interior, and in the bed and gave up as another vehicle came down the road and they went through the same routine with them.
Our journey was delayed by an hour, waiting as they marched back and forth, shouting and pointing their guns. “Tell me Lord, if you think there's a way, I can try to repay all I've taken from you. Maybe Lord, I can show someone else what I've been through myself on my way back to you.”
I have shared this story with a number of people but never did with my mother. Many asked what was going through my mind while staring down the barrel of the shotgun. I recall being calm and at peace; seems odd but at the time, that is what was occupying my thoughts; wondering if any of these people knew Jesus. “Lord help me Jesus, I've wasted it so help me Jesus, I know what I am. Now that I know that I've need you so help me Jesus, my soul's in your hands.”
When mission teams travel to Haiti to visit Trinity HOPE feeding programs, please keep the team members and Haitians with them in your daily prayers as one never knows what will be around the next bend or just down the road. It is always comforting to know that people like you are praying for each of us as we visit schools in Haiti.
Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you…Jay