The Truth Will Set You Free

Team Journal 7, written by Julia G.

Friday, January 10

This morning was filled with birthday well-wishes: two members of our team (Mel and I) had birthdays today, as did a lady from one of the other teams currently here.

After breakfast, we split up into two groups: my group went to the school and made paper tambourines with 70 preschoolers, while the other group met with some university students who wanted to practice English. The children at the school are so endearing and enthusiastic; they especially love having their pictures taken and then looking at the photo.

During the kids' recess time, Kelly, Michelle, and I sat on the ground outside and were quickly swarmed with so many kids that you almost couldn't see us. The university students are as excited to be around us as the kids!

After my group finished at the elementary school, we joined the university students and the rest of our team and were quickly bombarded with question after question in a mixture of English and Creole. One of the most common questions was "if we liked Jesus." This freedom to talk about God is just one example of the incredible change God has brought about through the ministry here. In the past eight years, this community has changed from being a central hub of voodoo - filled with distrust, sadness, and fear - to being a Christ-centered place with a school, a university, a nutrition center, and so many smiling, friendly people that are happy despite their poverty.

Tonight, Nelson, who used to be a witch doctor, came and shared with us how God delivered him from the power of the devil. It was incredible to hear about the freedom he and his wife have experienced through Christ, yet sobering to realize what a huge part of Haitian culture voodoo still is. While poverty and sickness are certainly major problems in Haiti (we've been seeing that everywhere), as Kristie mentioned tonight, "The biggest need, the biggest prayer is that the devil would be defeated, that voodoo would be eliminated from this country." So please pray with us that the precious people of this country would come to know the Truth, because only this Truth will set them free! And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:32 

The Day in Pictures. 

 Beautiful morning.

Beehive on the church office.

Making paper tambourines.

Cute boy.

Look what I made!

Best friends!

Partial group shoot.

All creatures great and small.

Sunset.