DAY NINE

Luke 11:20 "But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you."

In our 10 years in Haiti, we have been privileged to witness the finger of God at work in “the other five” on numerous occasions. While the Protestant church has rapidly grown in Haiti to percentages of nearly 40% of the population, syncretism and “magical thinking” are still very common in the church of Haiti.  Thus, in many ways, the population remains “mis-reached.” 

Emilien came to the last day of a medical clinic we were hosting in 2011.  She had a non-malignant facial tumor that was just beginning to encroach her left nasal passage and eye.  I remember vividly as Emilien sat on a plastic chair on the porch of the clinic on Gelee Beach, tears streaming down her face.  

Greater than her physical pain was the loss of relationships and the overwhelming feelings of rejection from the father of her son, her mother, and the church.  

Responding to Emilien's felt medical need opened the opportunity to build a relationship, pray, and share the truth of the Gospel and the beauty of Jesus with her over the next several years.  Before her passing in 2015, she would have two facial surgeries to remove the overwhelming tumor which continued to grow until it would finally disfigure her face beyond recognition while at the same time threaten her ability to eat and breathe.  In the end, she was at peace, embracing that she was radically loved and accepted, not for what she had accomplished, but what He accomplished on the cross for her.

James Courter - Haiti

Prayer: We praise You Lord for the opportunities that come our way to share Your love and life in You.  Thank You for this testimony and for our own personal testimony of all You have done and continue to do in our lives.  And for those who do not know, for The Other Five, we ask that they would come to fullness of life in You. Amen.