“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, it is a section of National Highway Rte. 1 in Haiti, 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, sometimes driving alone and quite often driving with others but always with Him.
On one hot early afternoon, there were four of us riding back to PAP from Cap Haitian; Pastors Daniel Paul, Eliona Bernard, my driver Joey and me. We had a couple of plastic bags filled with fresh killed goat meat in the back of the truck on that hot afternoon. We had stopped in Gonaives to get fuel for the pickup and had learned that a Haitian Senator had been assassinated in PAP and because of it, there were some problems brewing in Gonaives. We decided to leave immediately and not stop to visit Pastor Revenel Benoit who was the District President, before leaving town.
We reached the location in the photo, just to the left of the bridge, 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 to straddle the highway from ditch to ditch making the road impassable. We stopped and a group of armed men wearing plaid shirts motioned for us to get out of our pickup truck.
Prayer time; followed by words from a George Jones 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 weapons were pointed at us. The man who approached me was carrying an older model 410-gauge shotgun that he was obviously very proud of as he placed the 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 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.”
The bad men wanted money (lanjan), or drugs or weapons and sadly we didn’t have any of these items; just a few plastic bags of goat meat. We had Jesus and that was a problem for them, as they were sure that we had the treasures of their world. After a minute we stepped away from our truck as they searched the interior and 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, and we waited as they marched back and forth, shouting and pointing their guns at the people they were detaining. “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.” Eventually, Pastor Daniel said let’s get back into the truck and leave as he saw a narrow trail leading away from the highway and into the hills and we calmly drove away.
I have shared this story with a number of people but never did with my mother. Some things from Haiti, mom didn’t need to hear about. 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 them in your daily prayers as one never knows what will be around the next bend or down the road. It is always comforting to know that people like you are praying for each of us when doing His work.
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