My friends and I spent New Year's Eve ministering in the Aztec Community of Haiti. I did something I said I would never do and rode a motorcycle taxi up the mountain! The drivers were gentle with us and didn't fly up as they normally would. They were very confused as to why we wanted 5 individual taxi's instead of 2???? Haitians will pack 4 or 5 people on one motorcycle with several things on their heads and laps. We chose not to go that route. Wendy had never been on a motorcycle and didn't bother to tell us until we were at the top! Mission trips are meant to stretch us right??

We made it to Freedom Church of God. Pastor Louissiant was waiting for us. He had called me bright and early in the morning to make sure that we were still coming. He eagerly greeted us and took the girls inside to tell them all of the things that had changed since they were here before. Shortly after our arrival, he told us there was a woman he wanted us to meet and pray for. We walked to her home to find her naked and weeping. Her face was so swollen from days and days of crying.  Her name is Marie. When I entered her home, I could feel the presence of death. I asked her what was wrong and she told us someone she loved had passed away and it was hard for her. It turns out her daughter in law had died a month after giving birth to her first child. (five months ago) Marie is now caring for her grand-child and 6 of her own children alone. We gathered around her to pray.

As we were praying I realized that this woman wasn't physically dying. She WANTED to die. Her life had become so hard and the pain of losing people had become so much that she no longer wanted to be here on earth. Each time she looked at her grand-child, she could not see the joy of a new life, she could only see the pain of the loss.  I began to walk and pray, earnestly rebuking death from her and speaking life over her and her family. I grasped her hands and spoke life and strength into her. I asked her to begin to praise with her own mouth. We were standing in agreement with her and declaring the promises of God from His word over her.  I told her that I am looking forward to coming back and seeing her rejoicing. I know that God will do it!

I left with war in my spirit! I refuse to allow the enemy to continue to steal what God has rightfully given to people. Joy is one of those gifts. Peace and Strength are gifts that we sometimes take for granted. The people of Haiti are so strong in so many ways and the ones that love the Lord, truly love and serve Him with all that is in them. Living without food, adequate shelter, electricity and water don't deter them from serving their Lord. I have so much to learn from these resilient people and others around the world like them. I refuse to allow the enemy to steal what is rightfully ours. Greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world!