There are many ministry options when deciding to come to Haiti on a Short-Term Mission Trip, these include:

• Building Churches and Schools
• Crusades in the Villages
• Drama in Schools and Villages
• Music Ministry
• Puppet Ministry
• Education
• and so much more...

Cayes, Haiti

by Gary Fincher

Feb 09

February brought our yearly trip to Haiti for my brother David Fincher and me. Mick Magostini came with us as well, and Mike Fisher joined us at David’s house in Kissimmee, Florida as we prepared for Haiti. We had all been there before, and knew that God will provide opportunity for service in a land that is filled with many of God’s children needing a little help. In some cases a lot of help

We left Saturday the 21^st, arriving in Port Au Prince. This time we were to travel by truck to Les Cayes. It took us 7 hrs and 30 minutes to get from Port Au Prince to Cayes.  We got stuck in traffic in Port Au Prince. Dead stop for 2 to 3 hrs.  Pastor's truck died a couple times from a dead battery.  We had to get out and push start it a couple of times.  We were finally getting out of Port Au Prince when the engine over heated.  Radiator was empty.  A guy near by got a bucket and lowered it on a rope in a well, to get us water to put in the radiator to get it going again.  We stopped to air up a low tire. Then onto the long drive through villages and mountains where you see the incredible beauty of the land.  These were two lane roads, sometimes dirt, sometimes paved, always rough and very narrow.  John Marie, Pastor’s right hand man and vigilant worker, rode in the back of the truck with paint supplies and luggage the whole way. We got to the guest house all tired and dirty.  We had to get up for early service at church, starting at 6am.

Attending church there is a different experience. Passionate singing and praying, and focus on the message. These people love God, and I don’t understand what they are saying. Church is a very social place there. They go everyday. When there is no real TV or movies, fast food or computers, the people do not isolate themselves in cars or houses; they are in the streets and church. Families are close and are needed. They are a happy people with deep spiritual lives. Pastor Ignace is changing a culture there, teaching the pure word of God to the parents, the teenagers and the children. The ministry there has the orphanage, a school and the big church where Jesus is taught everyday. In a land of greed and survival, there is compassion and love for God and one another. With Franchette, pastor’s wife, her spirit of compassion and hospitality is contagious and pure. It is a joy to see how she loves to serve.

I enjoy the little moments walking about the streets there. We discovered the tarantulas that come out at night. Looking at the people walking the streets and the way they get by. The children that have no idea that they are poor, they just love life. The simplicity of the life there allows them to strengthen their relationships, where in America we are often too busy to take time to just sit and talk with people.

We worked on the van that is kept at the guest house to transport groups to various functions. It was not as difficult as we had anticipated. God was with us. This opened up the opportunity to help paint the newly finished upper story to the orphanage. Concrete walls absorb paint and it is difficult to get good coverage. There are no good paint brushes in Haiti. Mike had thought to bring good rollers which made the job manageable. We got to work with several local men there. They love to sing, and we heard several hymns and songs that we recognized, sung in Haitian Creole. We had one gentleman who spoke English, so it was good to be able to ask questions about their culture and behaviors. The children on the first floor were always trying to sneak up and help us. Mick was a special favorite for the children. He is one of those men children love. One day we enjoyed a large meal with the kids at the orphanage, a special treat indeed. The children sang to us after the meal. God is in this place.

We spent some time off, snorkeling off a small island, just south of St Louis. There are two partially sunken ships there. The island was beautiful, with an old fort on it. It is a fun place to visit for a few hours. Pastor Ignace had arranged for a local pastor to get us a boat trip to the island. As always happens there, a few extra native Haitians climbed into the boat with us. Always the social people, even when the language barrier is there. You learn to love their company. They are so calm and quite. There is much for God to teach us in this land.

There is a dark or sad side to this land. These are a poor people for many different reasons. They sometimes struggle for everyday survival. The language barrier is frustrating sometimes as I want to help, but cannot determine the best way to serve. We go and help here and there, but our service is not the point, but the visit. They have people that can probably do the work. But it is the opportunity to share and work with a part of the body of Christ that is a little different than us. We both learn from one another, new ways to love within the whole church. To share moments with brothers and sisters in song, worship and service that grew up quite differently from us. The diversity of individuals under the unity that the blood of Christ brings us all, strengthens the ways we can reach out to a world that needs to be loved.

I enjoyed the evenings at the guest house downstairs where discussions often went all over the place. How God works in Haiti in ways that are different than the U.S. Mike mentioned how with some people he talks with are thinking about donating a certain amount to the ministry to help, he will often tell them to use that money to buy a ticket and go with him to Haiti. That is certainly how to understand this ministry. This is not a one way ministry that gives to Haiti, and that’s it. It is an opportunity to work and learn about you outside your comfort zone. I think of Psalms 139: 23-24; “Search me, O God, and know my heart: Try me, and know my anxieties: And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.” One way to help is donating money, but another is humbly taking what God has made you, to Les Cayes, Haiti, and letting who you are, influence them, and who they are, influence you. This is about interacting with others and glorifying God who loves people, right where they are, both physically and spiritually. I hope to someday meet you in Haiti.