"NOT YET"

Many thanks to all who prayed for visas recently for our Haitian friends.

I am sad to report that our trip to Port-au-Prince did not yield the visas we had hoped for. Ruysdael, Johnny and Mikken were disappointed by the results, but they remain optimistic about the future and PATIENT in the present.  They know that sometimes God answers our prayers with a “Yes”, sometimes with a “No” and often with a “Not Yet”. We are hoping this is simply a “Not Yet” and we trust the Lord’s timing.

That’s not to say we aren’t frustrated. We took the 2 am bus to Port early Friday and it was BRUTAL. But we made it into town in plenty of time to reach the embassy. Outside the embassy, some dishonest men tried to scam us out of $60, telling us we needed to complete a step on-line before our appointment. We did not believe them and saved our money. At the front door of the embassy, I was told I could accompany my three friends to the interview but when we actually headed to the door, I was stopped and prohibited from joining them. I sat outside and prayed.

A selfie outside of the embassy - I'm praying, eating cashews and looking irritated...

The biggest frustration, though, was the sole reason Ruysdael, Johnny and Mikken are forbidden from entering the States: the U.S. government distrusts their desire only to visit the U.S. for a few weeks and then gladly return to Haiti. These three young men are followers of Christ and as honest as they come. The embassy official did not know them; if she did, she would have had no hesitation in granting the visas.

These three young men had two hopes in visiting the U.S.:

1)     To raise funds for continued construction at Cowman

2)     To visit FRIENDS

Lunch from a local "restaurant" - rice and
bean sauce with okra and a bit of beef.

They do not care about walking through giant grocery stores, eating at fancy restaurants, or riding a roller coaster. It’s not about driving on smooth roads, gazing up at skyscrapers, or visiting a zoo. They have FRIENDS in Iowa and Indiana and Pennsylvania and elsewhere and they would love the opportunity to visit those friends in their homes. It’s all about relationships.

The four of us spent the night in Port-au-Prince at Mikken’s cousin’s apartment before catching a bus back to Cap Haitien the next day. That evening we sat out on the street and chatted through the sunset. At one point, Johnny said, “I don’t really like Port-au-Prince.”

“Oh, yeah?” I responded. “Why is that?”

“Too many people. And they are people I DON’T KNOW.”

It’s all about relationships with these guys. And we serve a God who also happens to be “all about the relationships”. I feel pretty confident that someday these three will get to visit their friends in the U.S. (and make some new ones there while they are at it, undoubtedly). We will continue to pray, and seek, and wait for God’s timing.

A bit down, but far from out.

Until then, if you want to meet Ruysdael, Mikken and Johnny (and you really ought to!), you’ll have to come to Haiti to do it. And that’s not such a bad thing…

Perfect hair takes a lot of effort,
especially when the power is out.
I thought we were going to be late for the bus back to Cap Haitian!

P.S.  We need to give a big shout out and huge Thank You to Phil and Connie Dicks and all the wonderful folks at Grundy Center United Methodist Church for your generosity and efforts toward getting us to the appointment in Port-au-Prince. You all are the best!