Life Transforming Story #1

My first time in Haiti! My first time in a third world country and I was filled with optimism of all the love and hope of Jesus we would be able to share with the people of Haiti.

I was walking into the little town of Jeremie for my first time and there, as we were descending a little hill into the small town, I came across an image that would be burned into my memory for the rest of my life. It wasn’t even that what I saw was that uncommon, given it is an impoverished, third world country, but it was the moment when the realization of the pain and struggles, the reality of what life can be like in such a painful state hit me.

This scene that locked my eyes was an older man hunched over near the gutter of the street. His skin was like leather, scorched by the sun and abused by years of harsh weather. Of course his skin was so bad because he hardly had on any clothes. Some beat up looking jeans were all that clung to his nothingness body. His bones were pressing against all areas of his skin as if ready to puncture his skin and stab out of his body. His skeleton was clearly seen. It looked as if a very thin blanket, which was his skin, was laid over bulging bones. I couldn’t handle how skinny he was, it made me ache.

There was this murky greenish brown water trickling down the road just before the gutter. He squatted there and seemed like with whatever energy he conjured up he  trapped a little of the infested water in his hands and flapped it onto his body to what it seemed like, bathe. The pain of his physical and spiritual state was crushing to see. I don’t know his story, but it seemed as if he had just given up. Completely hopeless, just waiting to die.

How?! Why?! What?! Questions swarmed my mind stinging my brain with sorrow and compassion. This is the image that will never leave me. Perhaps because it was the first up close, real example of what life could be like in the grips of the most evil one. My heart ached as I thought, that could be me. How did I not end up here? Why was I born in the US?! In California of all the states?! A loving family…great education…friends…travel…vacation… love…coming to know JESUS. I saw EVRYTHING in my life as Gods mercy and blessings. I didn’t have to be born where I was and have the life that I have. I have absolutely no say so in any of that and yet it was given to me. I can’t believe this is not me here by the side of the road without friends, family, comfort, love or the hope of Jesus Christ!

I’ve have always thought the mission filed to be so joyful when people get saved and are healed and amazing miracles happen, but this was different than I imagined. I hurt so bad for this man, which lead to hurt for to all of Haiti, which then lead to compassion for ALL that are not saved! The verse that stood out was Romans 12:1, “Therefore, I urge you brothers and sisters, in view of Gods mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God-this is true worship.”

This man’s situation helped me to realize that it is only by Gods mercy that I am not just as in pain and lost as this man. And that this is the mindset I must have, a mercy mindset and that out of response to His mercy, my life should willingly... happily… be given as a living sacrifice to God and his work.