Happy Easter!!! It has been more than a week that I’ve been back from Haiti and I’m still processing all that occurred… Especially too because as soon as I got back I was catapulted back into the busyness and blessings of life back at home. Thank you all for your prayers and to those who gave so generously to make this trip possible! It has blessed me and the many people we were able to serve in Haiti!! In short: Haiti was awesome!

We gave food, spent time with children at two shelters our church supports, helped a septic tank project at one of the shelters, visited the “field of dreams” where Chanje bought a plot of land and is building a church! I learned a little Creole, got to know our translators, visited and prayed for many people on the street and in villages. We were even honored to visit and pray for the babies and elderly who were abandoned and rescued by Korean nuns and living within the safety of the Korean nunnery. Those nuns who commit their entire life in Haiti to God’s work of compassion and love in the midst of such extreme despair, are the true super heros of the world! ' “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ ' (Matthew 25:40) Truly living the life of the sheep that will be at the right of His throne. (Matthew 25:31-46)

We went to the outskirts of Haiti and gave food and experienced worship where some songs were apparently the same songs of hope that were sung by the slaves in the cotton fields of early American History. Then the worship at Roc Solide Church: You could feel the voices of the many praises in your chest, like the kick drum at a concert. We walked the halls of a Haitian prison, gave hygiene supplies, and talked and prayed with something like 20 men within a single prison cell, and witnessed the men I went with do the same thing at 5 others cells at the same time. We talked with lots of people about Jesus, the meaning of life, prayed for many, and was honored to introduce new believers into a relationship with God through our savior Jesus!

'For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. ' (Ephesians 2:8-9)

At the end of each day we would cap the night off with the power of 20 men worshiping at the top of our lungs and sharing stories of the day.

A common phrase in the Bible, “...troubled in spirit”, comes to mind as my heart breaks and aches for the people of Haiti. The trash, poverty, and the very real and scary influence of vudu in their culture. “...the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8) came to mind when seeing peering eyes at the borders of our community in the villages and areas we visited.

'For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”' (Matthew 11:29-30) came to mind when seeing a man pulling a fully loaded cart barefooted down the street.

But in the midst of it all “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. “ (John 1:5) comes to mind when we were greeted with joyful faces and hugs from children and elderly: A true testimony to the fruit of the spirit despite the circumstances.

The Chanje guys had an awesome plan for our trip and God took those plans and made them better and blessed us with so many “unplanned” experiences! I thank God for the vivid personal experience of a deeper understanding of His word and relationship with Him. Though this life is temporary and will suck at times, we choose to have faith in King Jesus. We rest in Him and His Holy Spirit who gives us an eternal perspective and inner peace from the good news of Jesus and the place He has prepared for us in His kingdom forever.

Life may be temporary but relationships can be forever, with God and your neighbor. I encourage everyone to go, do, and live out the relationships God calls us to be in with Him and our neighbors, sharing in the Love of Christ Jesus:

'Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ (Deut 6:5). A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ (Lev 19:18). This is the first and greatest commandment. The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”' (Matthew 22:37-40)

Please consider sponsoring one or more of the children I had the pleasure to spend time with at the two shelters for $40 per month:

https://chanje.org/child-sponsorship-all/

God Bless you guys and thank you all again so much!!
God willing, I'll be doing this again next year!!

Lots of love!!
~Dan Erwin