Every church is either having service or the Christians are gathered in the Park, singing and praying for their country. All the stores are closed, traffic is blocked off, no public transportation. It is incredible how the people have mobilized to pray and recognize the God of Glory!!!
Tonight, they'll pray from 9PM until 3AM in their churches and tomorrow, they will gather again in the park or in their churches. There have been a lot of "firsts" for me during these ten years, war (a big first) floods, hurricanes, death everywhere, but , never has it been a people, an entire country gathered for prayer.
Remember, this is Mardis Gras season. This is when the revelry that goes on around the world comes to Haiti. Every year, each city in Haiti is given money to build stages for bands and singers. They have parades, dance, drink, anything and everything sin enjoys before Ash Wednesday. In Haiti, this revelry goes on until Easter. Mardi Gras will not and is not happening this year, what's happening is everyone, the entire church is worshipping and praising God.
Saturday Morning: The music has already begun for prayer this morning. Jeff, an engineer who came to look at our buildings (and others) and to instruct on how to rebuild "earthquake" safe, was in Jacmel, left today when he had the chance to get public transportation because everything is closed! Everything. It's most amazing how seriously the Haitian people have taken this call to prayer.
Jeff Samida, instructed Pastor Cesar and his people on how to rebuild the church and they are listening. It's been our experience that no matter what instructions you give as to a better or easier way to do things, it falls on deaf ears. Not this time. They are afraid and they are willing to do it exactly the way they are instructed. In times past, we'd give the money for better construction only to find short cuts, so the money could be stretched…there is always need for other things. This time, they are building to "code" so to speak. Gary figures the church will cost 10,000 USD before it's completed, but it'll be a building the church members won't fear falling on them.
Today, Gary is leaving for Port to pick up a big shipment of tents, a welding machine and various other items that will be necessary as we continue to plan for relocating people.
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