A year has gone by, some language is under my belt so it's time to meet new people. Monday, Thursday and Saturday are my typical running days. Running seemed like a good way to meet people. Run by, say hi and pray I have the nerve to stop and say hello. The first month I just ran. I didn't stop, just waved. The second month I prayed the Lord would give me the boldness to stop and say hi. The first time out, I chickened out, not stopping. Second time out? Chicken again! I was soooooooo nervous not able to get passed fear. Third day, a woman stopped ME! ME!! I whispered to myself, "Thank-you Lord, oh thank-you Lord". Poor guy (the Lord), working with me. He must think, "Oh dear, I have another Moses on my hands! I have to, like, throw people at Joy to be able to use her!'...The woman and I chatted for a few minutes and I felt like I had succeeded, overcoming my fear, even though it wasn't on my terms! The next time, another woman stopped ME (thank-you Lord, again) and I have been getting to know her ever since. Currently, I have faced my fears meeting family after family along the road I run on with the basic Creole I know. I run for exercise but with a purpose; stopping and meeting neighbors along the way. Instead of the little children calling out, "Blanc!! Blanc!!" now they yell "Madame Josh, Madame Josh". It is slowly beginning to feel like home here. One morning a week I walk and pray with Pam (missionary friend) for this little neighborhood we are a part of. And in the afternoon we visit one family, trying to get to know them better. Pam is fluent in Creole which makes for a better understanding of how each family works. I also work on my Creole getting pointers from Pam after our visit. I have learned a lot from this community. Most women in our area have children and are living with other women or family members. A friend of mine sells alcohol to men after the work day. I have been surprised to learn their struggles are a lot like ours in America. Broken homes. Alcoholism. Struggle. I know I will learn much more as time goes on. My desire is, a year from now, I will have the boldness to begin a Bible Study with the women from my running route. My language is still very basic yet I hope in a years time it will grow as I am out more and more among the neighbors.
Josiah and Hope are now in the 3rd and 1st grade. I school them at home. Our school year is going smoothly. Josiah has quickly picked up Creole. He can take things to our neighbors or ask them questions for me, all in Creole. He is always playing with the neighbor boys. Some of them are around his age. Hope's language is coming along. I think a lot more is in her head! I think she knows more than she lets on. One day I overheard her speaking to our neighbor! I just about died because I had no idea she could understand let alone respond in Creole. That girl! Hope just celebrated her 7th birthday playing games the neighbor kids thought were crazy!! It was a great time!
All in all, relationships are growing and forming. Reaching people for Christ is not just providing nice housing with plumbing, electricity and a refrigerator. This is what people 'see' Paulos Group doing. It is the behind the scene things that people don't see. Our relationships with people, striving to love them, forgive them and respect them during difficulty. Living among them, day in day out. Facing some of the same difficulties they face. Our actions "show" Christ. Loving them through difficulty is hard to do at times. Sunday mornings we open God's word in their language, teaching them things they have never heard before. We pray solid christian leaders will be formed through this. The huge obstacle we face is why they come to church and why they "love God". Are they saying the right things and attending church because we are white Americans and have something nice to offer them, such as a work opportunity or a home? We are trying to figure out how to overcome this. Just the color of our skin sets us completely apart from them. We pray and trust that one day we will see a life truly transformed for Christ. We pray our hearts will be attentive to the Spirit, following It's leading. You might have heard or read about someone working in another country. They plaster the number of people that have 'come to Christ' on their website or newsletter or in their speech. "327 People accepted Christ", "135 people accepted Christ". Now that I have been here for a year and see the difficulty for 1 Haitian to truly know God puts lots of questions in my head about the "number game". Desiring hearts for Christ should be our desire, not to make us feel good or to see people as a number or project. It is out of genuine concern for their soul, not being able to tell home (Americans) how many lives have been saved. It is a lot to think about...
This past year has been a year of learning, growing, battling and loving. It has been good. But it is also difficult. We are beginning to truly love this country and its people. And our hearts break more as we see their need for a Savior. Pray for sensitive hearts ready to receive the Love of Christ. Pray for our family, endurance, grace, and a servant's heart daily. May we live out Christ and speak Christ to those around us. Pray for Paulos Group as we move forward seeking the Lord for the months and years ahead.
