A VISIT FROM OUR HOME CHURCH

Tonight I got Melissa back.  For the past week she's spent every spare moment with her friends from back home in Indiana.  (Reminded me of the week she discovered "Downton Abbey" DVDs!) 

Three of our visitors over the past week - Kate, Keri, and Karen - are women Melissa numbers among the best friends of her lifetime.  The fourth - Kelly - came as a stranger to us and left as a new friend.  (And with the four of these ladies came four other new friends from Ohio.) 

One of the first things Keri did was to show pictures of HER four kids to OUR four kids who are all really good friends.

In the afternoon of the Wednesday they arrived, several team members joined all the regular missionaries for the prayer meeting at our house.  Prayer and Bible study - a great way to start their week!

During their stay the team got to visit all of the various OMS ministries in this area, like the Emmaus Biblical Seminary.  It was our privilege to show them around a bit.

On Thursday afternoon, we took the team over to The Potter's House orphanage.  Keri and Karen both work with the kids' ministry at our home church, Community Church of Columbus, and they had led the kids there in raising money for bunk beds for the orphans.  What a joy for the team to meet the kids face to face.

Karen bonded with this little girl who is a recent arrival.

While Kate put her Creole skills to use in getting to know some of the boys.

The kids of CCC sent hand-decorated pillow cases to the orphans.  What a cool idea!

Meal times were spent at the Holiday House.  Melissa snuck down there for as many meals as she could over the course of the week.

On Saturday, it was our pleasure to take the team to Dhaloo Beach.  Folks are always struck by the beauty of this place.

On Sunday, we joined the Bundy family and the team for a trip into the countryside to worship at a church in Grison Garde.  We took the big flatbed truck in order to fit everyone in.

I was glad to NOT be behind the driver's wheel this time around.  After an hour's drive, Brett drove us down a steep bank and through a river for a quarter mile or so before we hiked the last little leg of the trip to the church.

A beautiful church with beautiful believers inside.  This little girl kept looking back at me and smiling throughout the first part of the worship service. Eventually she came back and held my hand for a bit - a precious moment.

Here's Keri introducing herself to the congregation.

This is the church's school building.  Employing this site and the sanctuary next door, the church works with about 200 students on a regular basis - the only opportunity for education in their area.

The main thrust of this team's visit, though, was sharing the Gospel in two remote villages:  Leroux Caichiman near Trou du Nord on Friday and a village called Adam outside Dondon on Monday.  Melissa took both days off from school to go with the team and on Monday Caleb and I also joined them.

Contact with the village was made in advance through a local church.

 
The local congregation provided guides and prayer coverage as the team of Americans divided into smaller groups to disperse throughout the village.  A Haitian translator also went with each group.

Upon finding a willing audience, a team member, via the translator, would present the Gospel. Regardless of whether or not the homeowner responded to God's call (many already claimed to be Christians, in fact) we left a solar-powered radio tuned to OMS's Radio 4VEH.  These radios are very gratefully received and have a proven track record of drawing listeners closer to the Lord - and even introducing folks to Christ.

I had the privilege of leading these three young people to Christ.

I enjoyed watching Caleb in action, too.  Here he was challenging and encouraging a sister in Christ.

The four ladies from Indiana gathered back in the sanctuary after an afternoon of doorway conversations.

Dondon is in the shadow of one of Haiti's most famous landmarks - the Citadel, a vast mountaintop fortress built two centuries ago.  We haven't had the chance to explore it yet, so this is the closest I've been to it.  Gorgeous.

 It was a two hour trip back to OMS grounds.  Keri, Karen and Melissa were sad to say goodbye to their interpreter, Orinel.

And then, just like that, the week was over.  We said our (temporary) goodbyes outside our front door this morning before our family left for school and the team prepped to go to the airport.  If all goes well, the team should be back in Indiana about the time I get these pictures posted tonight.

Again, we found this visit from friends from the States to be such an encouragement and we thank God for that and for all they accomplished while here.  I know their visit especially recharged Melissa's batteries. 

That's important because we have just over FOUR WEEKS of school left and we need to finish strong.  When Sarah shed some tears last night about the team's departure, I was able to comfort her with a reminder that we will be flying back to Indiana for a visit ourselves in just five weeks.  We would appreciate your prayers as we finish up the school year, pack for a two month trip, and finish making plans for church visits over the summer.  Thanks for lifting us up! 

And thank you, CCC, for sending this delightful, humble and encouraging team our way.