Haiti--the country with joy

Can I begin by saying that I love Haiti? This is the third time I have had the privilege to be here and I am enjoying every minute of it. When I stepped off the plane the first day, I was quickly reminded of the poverty and heaviness that covers the country of Haiti. From the trash dumps to the little children running around without any clothes on, Haiti is certainly lacking in almost every possible way except one...joy. If I had to describe the attributes of most Haitians, joy would probably the first word that comes to mind. 

Today, a group of us walked through the neighborhood where we are staying and introduced ourselves and prayed with the people in the area. Two of the girls in my group are nursing students so they asked some of the people we met if they had any medical issues. Most people described a pain in their back or a cough, but there was one lady in particular who stood out to me. She explained that she had experienced a rash for over a year. It was all over her body and as she showed us the cream she had been using to treat it, we quickly realized that it was not the right medicine. This lady then continued telling us about her life and that she walked over two hours a day to reach the spot where we met her so that she could beg by the gate--she said this all the while with a smile on her face. After we came back with some medicine for her, she began laughing and exclaiming her thanks to Jesus. The joy that she had even in the midst of her life was overwhelming and quite convicting. 

Another overwhelming sense of joy came tonight during our evening discussion and worship time. The lady that has been our cook for the week came and shared her testimony with us. She told us about some difficult situations in her life, but went on to say that she wasn't worried about being taken care of because Jesus would provide everything she needed. She then went on to share some medical issues that she was experiencing. She believes that if God wants her better, that he will heal her. We all gathered around her after she shared and we prayed for her and her healing. During the prayer she just kept exclaiming "Thank you!" in Creol. After we prayed, we went back to our seats and one by one she walked around the circle and hugged each and every one of us. The joy that she portrayed could have come from no one but Jesus. 

Through these experiences today, I have realized that even in the midst of trials and tribulations, God still can and does give us joy. This trip has been incredible so far and I can't wait to see what else God has planned for us this week! 

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." -Romans 15:13

-Bethany Eder