The impressive set-up on the YWAM pick-up, ready to hit the streets for our week of outreach during Carnival. The float that we constructed on the trailer, in the back of the truck, consisted of wooden boards, colored lights, and a fog machine. I'm sure you can see the speakers rigged up, Haitian style, behind the generator. It was a miracle that we (and the truck) survived the week. God was definitely holding us in the palm of his hands!
Here's a close-up of the crazy, rigged up sound system. It was POWERful! Our goal was for the gospel, the dramas, and the worship music to overpower the words, drums, and music of the Mardigras (and pre-Mardigras, ie: Carnival) celebrations. And it worked! God really used this week of ministry to spread his light and his truth among the people of St. Marc.
The DTS students performing, "Freedom" - one of their most powerful dramas. It was amazing to see the crowds that were drawn out by these performances. When we began, the streets were almost empty, with just a handful of children and adults walking towards the Boulevard in downtown St. Marc, where most of the festivities took place. But within minutes, they were coming out of the woodwork, crowding up close to the float, intrigued by the loud music, the lights, and the color-coordinated DTSers. Drama is something very new for most Haitians - they usually respond with laughter! They aren't used to seeing people acting ... it makes them wonder if we do the same things in every day life too ;)
Part of "The Cage" drama, in which each student represents a Haitian from a specific sector of society (a single young mother, a businessman, a gang member, a politician, etc.). As they make their way around the cage, they cry out for freedom from the lives they find themselves trapped inside of... the close of the drama brings Jesus to the stage, as one by one, he offers them "LIBETE!!!" This was a powerful message for the people of St. Marc. I pray that it stays in their minds and hearts in the weeks and months to come.
Esther, Junior, Gras (Philipson and Peterson's little sister), and Mike on the back of the float. You can tell we were enjoying ourselves ;) As we drove from place to place, blaring our Haitian worship music, we were usually up on our feet, dancing and clapping and praising the Lord for all to see. But when the roads got to bumpy, we sat down for our own safety. This must've been taken then ...
At one point, the actual Mardigras parade passed by us, coming in the opposite direction. I have NEVER seen so many Haitians in one place before. There were thousands of them streaming by us, with brightly colored clothing, masks, trumpets, drums ... Many of them were from St. Marc, but hundreds came from surrounding villages as well. It was a night to remember. Especially as we watched the crowds leave their rum and their zanmi yo (friends) to watch our dramas unfold on the Boulevard. Wes, one of the DTS students from Tennessee, also shared his testimony on Tuesday night, the biggest night of Carnival. It was amazing to see how much the gospel attracted these people ... it was more appealing than anything else they had experienced that week. Praise the Lord!
Taking a breather and a soda break in front of SD (the market we frequent in downtown St. Marc, also right across the street from the park). It was probably around 11pm at this point, and we were still going strong! We returned between 12:30 and 1:30 am each night during Carnival. And the next several nights, we kept wandering down to the cafeteria and finding half of the DTSers and staff, wide awake, well after midnight. It took a while for our bodies to get used to a regular sleep cycle again ... =)
And this was the Mardigras float that led the way during the parade.
Elizabeth Snow has been working with this group of young ladies for about a year now. She teaches them dances to a variety of Christian songs that they share in the Sunday evening church services, and this spring, on the float as a part of the Carnival celebrations. But Lizzie has been frustrated with the lack of respect and love that they show her, and one another, as they work on their dances every Wednesday and Friday. So when God put it on Rhodes' heart to begin a weekly Bible study with them, Lizzie was more than eager to see it happen! Our women's small group had also been praying for ways to ministery together in the local community, so this was an awesome opportunity for us as well.
We have been taking turns teaching the girls each Friday and having one-on-one time with them afterwards, to answer questions, listen to their hearts, and pray for them. I was so struck during our first evening together, when Rhodes was teaching on the Father heart of God. She asked how many of the girls live with their birth father. One out of the ten girls raised her hand. ONE! It is my prayer that these dear girls, who have felt so abandoned by their earthly fathers, will come to understand the unconditional love of their heavenly Father.
These pictures were taken after the girls had each received a gift of new Old Navy flip-flops, from Lindsay. They were so excited!!! We read the verse to them about how beautiful their feet are if they bring the good news to others, and as they left, we encouraged them to do just that =)
Next time we meet (probably after Easter), we hope to give them each their own Creole Bible. We are seeing such transformation in these girls, in their attitudes and their actions. It will be neat to see how this 15 week study will impact their dance ministry as well. Watch out St. Marc, here comes the "Hearts of Angels" Dance Troup! And now, they have hearts to match their name.
A close-up of all the 'beautiful feet.'
Two young boys who rode up to greet us as we paid a visit to Luben - the neighborhood in the 5th section where we are building a new church and school. There is a team from Tyler, Texas coming in next week to join forces with our DTS to do this work. They will also be holding a crusade in this area, April 5-9. Although I will be teaching for much of that time, we will be holding next week's worship service out there, for the opening night.
There is a real hunger among these people - not just physically, but spiritually as well. I cannot wait to see what God has in store for them! And for the rest of St. Marc. From the way God has already been working this year, it looks like He may use these people, the poorest of the poor in St. Marc, to touch the rest of the city and bring them back to God. I love seeing God's upside down Kingdom at work!
Some dear little ones, showing their excitement and surprise at so many 'blans' entering their small village.
Because of the many individuals and families who have been turning from their voudou practices and coming to God, there is a real need for discipleship here in Luben. God placed a call on Jude's heart (in blue, with guitar) to meet with the people of Luben every weekend, just to see how they are doing, to worship and share God's word with them, and to better know how to pray for them. This set of pictures was taken from our first visit, over a month ago. Here, Jude and Rodney are beginning to talk with the people to see where we should meet.
After a time of singing, we marched our way (to the lively Creole song, "Mache"...) to the small church building that the community had erected for us earlier that week.
Here, the worship continued. There was another pastor with us that morning as well, from a neighboring community. Apparently, God had put the same thing on his heart! So, while this made things a little confusing and awkward at first, it was exciting to see how God was providing shepherds and pastors for these new Christians in such abundance!
Here, Jude blesses the young congregation (this was their first EVER worship service here in Luben!) with his gift of music.
Women and children of Luben sitting on some make-shift benches in the make-shift church. It was a very exciting morning, but the humidity, flies, and 90 plus temperatures made it a little hard to stay focused on the pastor's sermon ...
Lindsay with an adorable little girl whose mother gave her into our care during the worship service. Lindsay, Esther, and I all took turns holding her. But by the end of the morning, when the mother still hadn't showed up, we were getting a little worried. It is not uncommon for mothers to just hand over their babies to white people like us, hoping we will have pity on them and adopt them. To our relief, she did come back for the little girl =)
Mike, having some fun trying out one of the kid's bikes (bekan).
The children were sad to see us go ... especially after a rousing game of soccer with Clayton, Mike, and Lindsay.
Back on the YWAM base. Elage and Anacias, two of our DTS students, working hard to build a stone wall that will protect our front yard from wandering pigs and goats.
Holly Auker, who was with us for the month of March, helped the grounds maintenance crew with some landscaping around the base. Looking good, guys!
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