The journey started early. Neither Trev or I can remember when we last got up at 3:30 but sacrificing some sleep turned out to be completely worthwhile. Trevor finished some last minute packing while I got ready to drive him to Living Waters. From the church the Anthem team would be heading up to Portland to catch their first flight towards Haiti.
We were incredibly blessed that morning by the hearts of the team and some other friends who had walked over from the Anthem apartments to say goodbye. We sat on the sofas for a while--some of us sporting our PJ's--and just talked and laughed. When things were all loaded up in the "burb" and the van, we circled up for some prayer time. As we gathered just hanging out and talking at a time when most of us are usually fast asleep, the love these people have for Jesus and for each other was so evident. They were all there to pour themselves out and believe God for divine anointing--more of God personally, more for Haiti and more for the world.
Once the team hit Foursquare base camp in Port-au-Prince, they quickly became aware that this trip would prove a unique challenge. They had planned primarily on working hard to build a new base camp setting for Las Cahobas, a mountain village a drive and 2 mile (vertical) hike from Port-au-Prince. When they arrived, they discovered the village did not actually own the land, so plans changed. The team ended up simply hanging out with the Haitians in the village for the whole of their stay. Some of the team members shared that it was difficult to rest and lay aside the desire to "make something happen that would make things physically better for the people". Instead, God was asking them to connect in a different way that would end up ministering deeply to the Haitians and Medford team alike.
For four days the Anthem team "lived Acts" with the people. They ate together, colored together, popped balloons together and when it was time to sleep the villagers put mats on the floor of the chapel and slept close by the team. No one wanted to go home. Though the language barrier was definitely real, the Holy Spirit used this for His glory. The connection the team experienced with the village went beyond words to hearts and spirits. Age also proved to be no hindrance in Las Cahobas. Young and older people alike jumped into every activity the team provided and everyone had a blast. Undaunted by rainy days, they all rocked a lively progression of mud football games. The Anthem girls were some of the toughest players out on the muddy, rock-littered field. Way to go ladies!
Gale force rain and wind couldn't keep the village from having a blast, or Trevor and Anthem from sharing Jesus' love with the Haitians. Even in the sometimes hectic rhythm of waiting out the weather and reorganizing the camp, there was plenty of time for singing, praying, sharing testimonies and getting into the Word. The team enjoyed the help of a couple of interpreters who helped them plan some of the activities (on Haitian time :) and got the message through whenever they stood up to speak in front of the village. The people were very welcoming and excited to hear about the Lord and invite Him to work in their lives. Many were added to the Kingdom of God, and many grew stronger in faith and were deeply encouraged. The Haitians told the team that they were an answer to prayer, that they had been "praying for someone to come." God is good--they got a whole bunch of someones--during one of the final meetings the team had with Las Cahobas, they were able to lay hands on everyone and pray for healing--around 30 people!
Real life in Las Cahobas touched the team in amazing ways, and last Wednesday night they stood at Living Waters and shared all they ways they were transformed. They learned how to use a stone slab (with a hole) as a toilet, showered in a water fall (right near a main path--don't worry--they covered for each other) and slept in rain drenched tents with multiple roosters crowing and strutting around their heads. They got little sleep and ate their fill of delicious Haitian chicken, rice and beans. The mealtime highlight of the trip involved an honorary chicken killing by one of the women in the village. Holding the chicken up ceremoniously for all to see, she plucked a feather out and sliced it's throat, letting the bird bleed to death before roasting it up for supper.
Through all the laughs and times of stretching, God's hand on this village and on Haiti was incredibly evident to everyone. As Trev and I get more and more honed into His life calling of hopping back and forth between Medford and Haiti, we know the Lord will do above and beyond our dreams. He will do His. For now, Haiti is already becoming home away from home.
Current info and updates on Trevor Bruce's ministry focus as Missions Coordinator for Living Waters Church of Medford.
Missions Heart
We believe that God has called our Missions Ministry a "ready" place of abundant overflow in resources, service and life. Not only will we be known for loving and supporting the Nations but also for cultivating that same heart of outpouring and service close to home. We'll be present and supportive for Dear Friends who have allowed God to lead the course of their lives into the field. We'll be known for our consistent readiness to serve and to be sent out year round. This means that we won't pour our efforts into focusing only on our next Missions trip, instead we'll focus on growing a constantly fruitful heart hungry to surrender to God and say, "Here am I, send me", no matter what that might look like.
Being a missionary on the Go Team or Send Team at Living Waters is about listening, obeying, serving and surrendering. We'll keep learning Christ's dreams for us in reaching out, and pouring out--giving out of the resurrection power of God in our lives.
Secondarily, Living Water's heart for our commitment to Haiti is to invest our time and energy to honor the Haitian people by recognizing and supporting their individual and cooperative ability to be self-sufficient. We are dedicated to sustainable practices in a creative framework of stewardship with the goals of providing jobs and educational opportunities as well as meeting basic daily needs. We plan on consistently giving of ourselves long-term as we realize that specific projects supporting these goals will take time.
We consider relationship with the Haitians a privilege and we are excited to work alongside them to plant and increase God's good gifts for their lives. We enjoy working with Foursquare Missions International and John and Debbie Booker at the Foursquare Base Camp in Port Au Prince. Anyone who would like to donate finances or supplies towards our service in Haiti can be sure their gifts are directly reaching Foursquare Base and being invested wisely for the hope and health of the Haitian people, and most importantly, for the glory of God.
