Reflections on Haiti

Many of you have been asking me about conditions in Haiti regarding food, water, security, rebuilding efforts, and the spiritual condition of the country. I can't give you a comprehensive understanding of what is happening in all of these areas. But I can tell you why I have hope about this country. My hope rests in the power of the gospel and the men who proclaim and live that gospel, the pastors, some of whom were present at our conference last week. Some of the stories they told us were heart breaking. One pastor who shared his testimony at the conference lost two of his children. One of them was his son who was studying for the ministry and died in the classroom building of the STEP seminary where we gathered. Another pastor lost 27 members of his church who died in the earthquake. Most of the pastors homes were damaged or destroyed. Many who came sacrficed a lot to come, leaving what's left of their homes and families. Two of the pastors I met not only are continuing their church ministries, but also started orphanages for children whose parents died in the earthquake.
What gives me hope for Haiti? Seeing these men, weary, overwhelmed, many suffering the effects of post-traumatic stress, respond to teachings we shared, all rooted in the gospel. This is not evidence of our greatness as teachers, but the greatness of God. If Haiti is to be changed and become a new nation, it will be as hearts are changed by power of God. And this was evident in the lives of these men who left different than when they came. Just the fact that these men haven't given up on ministry is an inspiration to me. Imagine what they have been through, and yet they keep on keeping on. In my first talk, I asked the pastors to give me a show of hands in response to various questions:
How many of you are haivng trouble sleeping at night?
How many of you are afraid to enter various buildings?
How many of you find yourselves crying on a regular basis?
Who are having nightmares?
How many of you have images, sounds, or smells you just can't get out of your mind?
Are you having trouble praying or reading scripture?
How many of you are having trouble concentrating?
Are you more forgetful?
How many of you are depressed, feeling overwhelmed?
All of the men responded in various numbers to each of these questions. But they were willing to come to learn how to minister more effectively to their people. To be honest, I don't know if I could do it. The grace of God was evident even in these men attending. And so I have hope, even in the midst of the most intense suffering I have ever seen.
Blessings,
Dr. Paul

Haiti Day 5

This morning was the beginning of a bittersweet day. It is my 6th day of this trip, and the last day of my part of the conference. The night before we had a very special time of sharing and prayer. We reflected on what God has been doing, and how our experience in Haiti has touched each of our hearts. We also began to debrief on the strengths and weaknesses of our conference. After another night where the power goes out, and then trying to sleep in 90 degree heat and 100% humidity, I wake up realizing that this is my day to come home (sweet), and saying goodbye to our team and the pastors who have been such an inspiration to meet (bitter).
Day starts at 6 with my last cold shower, followed by the dry cereal and breakfast bars to eat. Our team assembles as the morning meeting is about to being. David Shin from Churches Helping Churches is busy working with the STEP seminary staff printing out certificates of participation (very important to pastors in this culture). Lots of goodbyes, pictures, thank you's and sharing of email addresses.
My heart is filled with emotion as we leave for Port Au Prince airport. It is normally a 20 minute drive but with conjested traffic, poor road conditions, and streets blocked by police due to protesters, we take a round about route throught the chaos of the city. Pastor Jaques does a great job navigating the streets and it takes just under an hour to arrive. Thankfully it is 2 hours before departure and it takes almost the entire time to get through the security checks etc. It is a strange feeling to be in a third world airport when you can't speak the language and you are the only one there since other team members have different departure times (I chose to take a direct flight to JFK, most other team members fly to Miami and then flights to various parts of the USA). Sure enough there is a problem with my check-in with Delta, but after a round or two wiht the supervisor, it is through to the second of three security checks and then on to the plane. The flight attendants were very gracious and inquisitive about my experience so we spent a half hour talking about the ministry and showing them pictures. I was tired, but it was a way to pass the time and gave me another opportunity to share Christ.
A very intense week of ministry and experiencing some of the poorest of the poor anywhere in the world. I will be sharing additional thoughts about this trip and pictures soon, but for now, all I can do is thank God for His protection, watching over my family, truly there is no place like home!
Blessings,
Dr. Paul

Haiti Day 4

Today was another day of great ministry. I presented my final session today and worked with our team members to lead another Q and A session. My session today was following the example of Jesus as Prophet, Priest, and King (Hebrews 1:1-4) as a way to better understand how minister more effectively in the aftermath of the earthquake. Each of these roles can be used to help pastors understand in more detail what God is calling them to do. Part of this teaching also included how to evaluate and minister to the heart of the suffering person.
This was a day where many of our team members were struggling a little more with the heat, humidity, food, etc. God is good and we aLl found extra strength to sustain us in our ministry. My travel into the city today impressed upon me again the overwhelming needs here in Haiti. More to come!
Blessings,
Dr. Paul

Haiti Day 3

Today was the second day of the conference. Each of the other counseling team members, Mike Wilkerson and Justin Holcomb of Mars Hill Church in Seattle, and Robert Cheong of Sojourn Church in Louisville, gave powerful presentations on how Faith, Hope, and Love can minister richly to the hearts of the these suffering pastors (Justin's presentation was so powerful that we had a mild tremor during it!). The idea of the conference is not only to give these men counseling insights on Post-Traumatic Stress but to minister directly to their hurts so that they will be renewed and refreshed. This will not only strengthen them, but eneable their ministry to their congregations and the people to be more effective.
We had a couple of Q and A sessions with the pastors where we addressed a lot of specific questions about what they are facing. Here a a couple of the questions we were asked:
The children of my church and the orphanage we run are acting out by fighting a being more physically violent since the earthquake, how do we help them?
A family in our church is having a lot more problems since the earthquake with anger between the parents and the children, and between the parents, plus itis disruptive to our entire church, why is this happening and what should I do?
Since the earthquake I have been more forgetful and confused, is this normal and what should I do?
I am struggling with hurt and jealousy of another pastor who received some aid money but would not share any of it with me, I now avoid him but I know it isn't right and I don't know what to do.
I have a woman in my church that is so depressed since the earthquake that she won't do anything as a wife and mother, won't come back to church, how can I help her?
These are just some of the many we are being asked.

In addition to these Q and A sessions I am talking to a lot of pastors, many through a tranltor, about individual questions and personal struggles. I have been so impressed with the resilience and heart of many if these men. They have been through so much,the weight of ministry burdens they carry is so great, and they continue to press on! I think of the Scripture, "Greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world." To God be the glory!
Blessigns, Dr. Paul

Hait Day 2

Today was the first day of our pastor's conference. What a blessing to meet these men and to negin speaking Creol with my cheat sheet. "Mewn rele Dr. Paul" My name is Dr. Paul. Listening to these men sing in worship of God is a inspiring experience even though I have no idea what the words mean. My first session introduced Post Traumatic Stress as a description of how people react to tragic events. I also covered how the Bible speaks powerfully to the heart needs of the these men and their people who continue to suffer. I ended by encouraging them that they are able to make a difference in many waysan and by introducing people to Christ. What does Jesus know about PTS? Just think about the cross for it is the ultimate experience trauma and suffering. Then we divided the men into small groups where they could minister to each others hurts.
During break times these men are already coming to me and our team for advice and counsel on how to deal with problems in their lives and the lives of their people. One pastor shared how he lost two of his five children, one was killed on the STEP seminary campus. Another pastor came to me because every time he hears a loud noise his heart begins racing. Other men have told us how they are having trouble sleeping, concentrating and making decisions. Many of the pastors are afraid to enter buildings, are crying, have anger issues, depression, and even having trouble praying.
Tomorrow I will be sharing my second session and continuing counseling for individual pastors.
Orevwa
Dr Paul

Haiti Day One

God is good in getting the first half of our tean here safely. After a tour of the city of Port Au Prince, I am taken back by the extent of the destruction. Everywhere you go there is debris, destroyed buildings, people living in small and large groupings of tents.
Some tent cities have as many as 15000 tents. In many ways I am reminded of Cambodia,crazy traffic, overloaded taxis, trash, high heat and humidity, ineffective and corrupt government,and great number of the poorest of the poor anywhere on the planet. Except Haiti is not only poor, but now in a state of trying to recover from the devastating earthquake. today we went to the Mega Mart to purchase 200 air mattresses since the container with the cots and the large tent is still held up in customs. Welcome to life in the third world. A lot of last minute planning took place today as we adjust to changing logistics. Tonight we spent a lot of time in prayer for the conference wbich begins with my session on understanding Post-Traumatic Stress and a biblically based response. May God do great things to His glory!
Blessings,
Dr. Paul

Container Update

Stuff always happens, and whatever you are doing always takes longer in 3rd world countries. Such is the story with our shipping container. Latest news is that the shipping company itself delayed the delivery into Port Au Prince, and by the time things make it through customs, it will be Monday afternoon by the time it arrives. So keep praying that it gets to the STEP seminary campus before the predicted time! I know, that just contradicted what I said in the first sentence, but our God is an awesome God!

Please pray not only for safety for our team as we travel to Haiti, but also for the expatriate Haitian pastors travelling to their homeland, and for the 200 pastors who will travel to this conference. I hope to be sending you updates daily if I have a working internet connection.

Blessings,
Dr. Paul