Torturing the visitor (or at least that is what he says) …
Well everyone I have exciting news: Dave Eleiott from the Christian Church of Casa Grande is here visiting us. It is so great having a familiar face here with us, and experiencing the mission that we have put so much of ourselves into; especially since Dave and CCCG set us out as their missionaries. So far we have had a lot of experiences and he has only been here a day and a half, and trust me there are many more to follow.
Well, yesterday I took Dave to Basketball practice with me. We both had a great time and Dave was able to meet several of Lorraine and I’s high school students. Also, Dave was able to sweat a lot and enjoy an interesting journey (like an obstacle course) to get to the Bball court. Practice was great, but Dave told me later that he was worried the entire practice about making it back through the same obstacle course. He was a trooper, though, and he made it very well.
We took Dave to church with us this morning, and we all had a great time. The whole service, at our church, is in Creole: the singing, the preaching, and everything else, and I don’t think that Dave was expecting this. We all followed along like usual, and sang as loudly as we could, hoping that we wouldn’t mispronounce the Creole and French words and phrases.
The final big adventure that I took Dave on was actually an adventure for me too. I was asked by one of my bible college students to go to the church that he is starting. Now, they are meeting as a bible study on Sunday nights and there are about 20 to 30 of them. I told them that I would, but that I was going to bring Dave with me, and he, of course, agreed. My plan, though, was that we would go and observe, and support Mr. Simprius and Mr. Patrick. However, I was unable to get by with just that. Last night, Simprius stopped by our apartment and asked if I was still planning on coming. I told him that I was, and then he asked me if I would present the message. I am thinking to myself, “a little bit last minute don’t you think,” but I sucked it up and told him that I would. So today, Dave and I hopped on taxis and headed to La Coup.
I must interject here with a comment, though. I don’t think that Dave was properly prepared to ride a taxi, because even though I told him that a taxi is just a moped you hop on the back of, I don’t think he really believed me until we got out there. Dave told me that when he got on that moped, he simply prayed, “Lord if I am going to go, help me to go soon.” Dave did not get hurt in any shape or form, but had a wild experience for sure.
Now, back to my story. We arrived at the area where the church plant is and it was a decent area. I had personally never been there before, so it was a completely new experience for me as well. But the whole church experience was great. I ended up speaking through an interpreter for about an hour; and besides being soaked with sweat Dave enjoyed himself as well. We also, after the service was over, got to go to some peoples houses and lay hands and pray on them. One man had a very bad case of shingles, and another lady was not feeling well. It was certainly an honor for us to be able to share with them, and for them to share themselves with us.
The terrain here is rough everywhere you go; and so it is not conducive to someone who is not used to it: like Dave. He has been through everything great, but he just kids me and says that I am torturing him by taking him on all these journeys. Truthfully, though, he has loved everything we have done, and so have we. We absolutely love having a visitor. If we come back to Haiti, keep this in mind. Blessings!
Kyle and Lorraine
