Come and See

          

         “Nathanael said to him, ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’ Philip said to him, ‘Come and see.’” John 1:46 (ESV)

           

            My daughter, Gabby, and I recently traveled to Port-au-Prince, Haiti to serve the children at Maison des Enfants de Dieu orphanage with TEEMHaiti. Although traveling overseas to go on mission had been a desire of mine for many years, I must admit, I did not immediately jump at the chance to go when my daughter initially made the request. To be honest, there are two things you should know about me: first, I am a “safety girl.” I am not a risk-taker, and at the time of consideration, the United States travel warning was at the maximum warning level of “Do Not Travel” for the country of Haiti. This was a huge concern for me, especially taking my teenage daughter. My thoughts continually fluctuated between, “Am I acting in wisdom by not going?” or “Am I simply allowing fear to control my decision?” Secondly, I HATE to fly, and I certainly don’t like flying over water! However, once we received my husband’s blessing to go, I knew the Lord was stirring our hearts, and He had called us on mission. To confirm our calling, the Lord blessed us with mission scholarships through our local church which paid for our airfare in its entirety, and friends and family answered our mission letter requesting funds for the trip, and every dollar was provided. In actuality, the trip cost me $140 which paid for luggage filled with supplies for the orphans, but little did I know as I stepped on the plane, it would also cost me my heart.

            As our plane made its descent into Port-au-Prince, I was initially struck by the astounding difference a 2.5 hour flight across the ocean from Florida to Haiti revealed the stark reality of American affluence to Haitian poverty. My first glimpse of Haiti initiated a well-spring of compassion and revealed the truth of my riches. I don’t often think of my middle-class life in America as “rich,” but as my eyes were quick to look around in an attempt to capture everything from the landscape, the houses, and the people, the truth of Isaiah 3:14 (ESV) whispered in my spirit, “…the spoil of the poor is in your houses.”  That would not be the last time I sensed that Scripture in my spirit during the trip.

            After making the drive from the airport to the guest house and quickly dropping our things off in our respective rooms, we piled into the van which would take us the short drive to Maison orphanage. Little did I know as we pulled through the large, metal sliding gate, a piece of my heart would be forever captured and irreversibly changed. As we stepped out of the van, beautiful, giggling children were there to greet us and to vie for our attention. Before I knew it, my hand was grasped by a little girl, and I was welcomed into a sea of smiling, sweet faces. As I settled onto the floor with several laughing children in my lap, my attention was drawn to a cute, slightly older boy wearing a gray hat with cat-type ears who revealed delightful dimples when he smiled although he appeared quite shy. I was struck by the fact he was wearing a hat amidst the Haitian heat, but I was captured by his shy smile. Over the days that followed, I felt drawn to this young boy of only 11 years, and I was impressed by his knowledge of the English language, his ability to read, and his lovable and caring spirit. My sleep throughout the trip was restless as I prayed, cried, and begged the Lord to show me how I could help this particular young boy.

            On my third morning in Haiti, during a conversation with one of our other team members, the Lord whispered in my spirit, “You must fight for him and for all of the children,” and He impressed Exodus 14:14 on my heart which says, “The LORD will fight for you, you have only to be silent.” I quickly wrote this word into my journal and spoke of it to no one. Later that evening, as we were traveling through town, a woman on our team asked, “What does Exodus 14:14 say?” She had seen the Scripture written on a man’s possessions, and although I did not happen to see the Scripture, I knew it was God confirming what he had spoken to me earlier that morning.

            On Sunday morning, our final day in Haiti, I was sitting on the balcony of the guest house enjoying the breeze and praying. I wrote in my prayer journal, “Lord, please stir the hearts of your people, the church, to come and see and to join the fight.” Just a few hours later, Dr. Brian Guenther preached the message the Lord had placed on his heart at church and a portion of his Scripture came from John 1:46 which asks the question, “Can anything good come from Nazareth? Come and see.” These words, come and see, have been whirling through my heart as a call to the church. Come and see what the Lord is doing in Haiti. Come and see the children in the orphanage and fulfill James 1:27. Come and see how the Lord desires to use you to be his hands and feet among the destitute. Come and see how he desires for you to “defend the rights of the poor and needy” (Proverbs 31:9). Come and see how your riches can be used in service for those less fortunate. Come and see a people who passionately love Jesus.

            I do not have all the answers to where God is leading me and my family in the fight for this young boy. I do know the Lord has directed a few first steps which I am attempting to walk by faith and obedience. I came across a quote by missionary, Hudson Taylor, which inspires hope: “I have found that there are three stages in every great work of God; first, it is impossible, then it is difficult, then it is done." I believe God is moving in Haiti, and I believe he stirred my spirit to be part of the ongoing battle for these lives of these children. The words of Pastor David Platt speak passionately and truthfully in saying, “We learned that orphans are easier to ignore before you know their names. They are easier to ignore before you see their faces. It is easier to pretend they’re not real before you hold them in your arms. But once you do, everything changes.”