The Bench - Tuesday Update (Jacmel Team)

What a day we had today! Breakfast consisted of bread and pineapple preserves followed by noodles mixed with strips bologna. Haitian coffee is outstanding. After breakfast we walked to the church in time for Childrens' Bible School. Deb, Beth, Betty, and Ellen jumped right in and started to lead songs with the kids. It was a beautiful sound to hear them singing familiar songs in Creole. I begin to understand the true meaning of a pluralistic church. No sooner had several of the guys  moved some heavy concrete slabs, I suddenly heard Beau Wells teaching the children Jesus Loves the Little Children in English. (Complete with movements.) He wasted no time at the opportunity. I was humbled at his willingness to jump in without hesitation. He has an amazing heart. Randy and Scott took pictures of the kids and showed them their photos which caused quite a bit of excitement.

Beth led several games. Betty, Deb and Ellen jumped right in.I couldn't find Austin and then I noticed that he was blanketed with kids. We've fallen in love with these people and it's been one of the easiest things we've ever done. At one point I filed to the back of the church to take it all in. There was joy everywhere and the only thing that mattered was the next word in the song we were singing. It was heaven or at least what I believe it to be. I realized I wasn't alone in my watching. James Todd was taking it all in. He literally had tears in his eyes. I didn't have to say it. He felt it. Knowing that was enough for me.

The supplies arrived a short time after my view from the back (which felt like a view from above). Randy couldn't get to the truck quick enough. He was ready to hammer something...anything....no wood was safe. After getting all the boards to our work place the process began. Two Haitian workers took on the same task as our group. We had one goal. Our goal was to make a desk that would seat 4 students for school. They each had a section of the desk. And so it began....

Somewhere during our trip I began to view the world differently. It was in large due to the Haitian people and mysterious works of God. Nonetheless, everything has become metaphorical to me. Today was no different. I noticed the Haitian team using every possible scrap of wood they could find. Despite the fact we had brand new wood to use. They bent rusted nails back in to place before they used new nails that fit their job my accurately. They found value in literally everything. While I was taking a short break I notice a child playing with a tin can that had bottle tops glued to the side for wheels. Point being: They use what they have. What if we took this approach in our spiritual lives. What if you used every possible gift and blessing you possessed within your church? What if you made the best out of everything you had no matter how little or how much? There is a clear line Jesus drew in the sand. He warned us over and over of being naive to Christian responsibility. If the people of Haiti can find value considering losing virtually everything, how far have we walked past the line in the sand that Jesus drew? Think about your gifts and talents and maximize all you have to give to First Baptist Dalton. Let's make church a place that we put before social events and activities. So take some time and think....bend back the nails you think are rusty in your life. Gather the pieces of wood that seem useless. Let's rebuild together First Baptist.

- Christian