I'mm back! Thanks to Jesus for being my redeemer and my life! Here is what has been going on! During the week that no one was here, we had an staff volleyball tournament, more Bible studies, we went to Port au Paix to relax, we went to Anse a Foleur to visit Twin Basins and the House of Spirits, we had many movie days, we made cakes, did street ministry and had an intern obstacle course!
Here is a bit more detail about those! So the last time I talked, we were having staff bible studies. They were really great and they really help refocus the staff outward to the streets of Haiti! We needed that! After our days of bible studies, we had relax days/bonding days! On thursday (the 14th) we had the staff volleyball tournament! I was on the yellow team our of four other teams (red, green, gray). It was much fun! Unfortunately, my team did not win, but it was fun to watch and enjoy the game!
On that friday, the interns and some staff went to Port au Paix to do pretty much exactly the same thing we did last time! Another much needed relax day. Not much else happened on that day. The next day however, was quite tremendous. The staff went to Anse a Foleur and we visited the new sites.
The first site was called Twin Basins and is very sacred to the voodoo people. This is where they come to cleanse themselves (and when I say cleanse, I mean deep cleansing)! They strip completely from their clothes and climb down into a fifteen foot hole that has very clean spring water in it. They begin to scrub themselves deeply and then a child (the local children are in charge of the place) takes a bottle of red soda, to symbolize blood. He drinks some of the soda and then pours it over the person who is cleansing themselves!! They then leave the clothes on the ground that they arrived in and put on clean garments to symbolize the washing. They also believe a very large spirit snake lives in the cave. They say it has two heads and is rainbow colored. How odd.
The second site that we went to is a place called the House of Spirits. In essence, this place is a very large cave with caves the branch off of the main one. The Haitians believe that a different spirit lives in each one of the caves the branches off the main one. Our staff went into this cave, ducking under bats and making our way across very wobbly rocks to the center of the main room where we had a Bible verse sharing time. All the Bible verses that we shared consisted of spiritual warfare ideas and the best ways of defeating the enemy. We prayed loud in this place and enjoyed the company of our Jesus in the midst of this spiritual battle! Praise Jesus for what he is doing here in Haiti.
Following Saturday the 16th, we relaxed for a majority of the week and continued to minister to the local people! On the Wednesday before the groups arrived, that would be the 20th, we had an intern obstacle course competition. This is an annual event and the winners, the fastest boy and girl, were treated to a lobster dinner in Port au Paix. This obstacle course took place around the entire mission and consisted of an egg on a spoon, tabasco applesauce, balance obstacles, wheelchairs in gravel, shooting soccer goals, and an assortment of other fine activities! Needless to say, I got the fastest time by about a minute! I got to go to Port au Paix and have non-battered fried lobster with potato salad, rice, and friend plantanes! It was soo good! Definitely worth that tabasco applesauce! :)
On thursday, the groups arrived and ALL of the interns were happy. We were starting to get bored during the week and a half of no one being here! :) I am partnered with Brittney, one of the other interns, and we have the coolest group! They are so fun! We already have done a street VBS, which was so amazing to me to be able to give food to many of the children that I have built a relationship with! We have gone to Anse A Foleur, and done all the activities except for the temple, twin basins, and house of spirits! Today is Sunday, a relax day. It is the last Sunday with all of the interns here because next Saturday, about half of the interns leave. The entire family will begin to vanish and the dynamics will be changing! I can't believe that I have already been for about 6 weeks.
Continue to keep us in your prayers! Pray that our ministry would be effective! Pray that the hearts of those who we will come in contact with will be prepared for us! Pray for all those who are over seas doing missions in the name of our Lord! Pray for health! Pray for strength! Thanks for all of your support!
Nathan
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