Harvesting Fruit in Desire
by John Carr (GO Fellow) from Gonaives, Haiti
Desire: an unassuming village on the outskirts of Gonaives, Haiti. When one is able to spend the afternoon in Desire, a few things stand out…
First and perhaps most obvious is the source of water. Just a few months ago the well, which was used by the surrounding community, was contaminated and shut down. No one knew where water would come from, but by the grace of God a spring was found not far from the old well. The funny thing about the spring is that it appears to come right out of the side of a rock! It gives a perfect image of the Israelites drinking water from the rocks at Meribah when God told Moses to strike the rock with his staff. No complaints are heard about the long walk or the time it takes to fill up the buckets. The locals see the water for what it is: a gift from God, our Provider.
Second, at church the children outnumber the adults 10 to 1. The Holy Spirit is working in these children. When asked, “Who does God love?” every child’s hand shot up in the air to demonstrate “Me!”
Third and most exciting is the developing relationship between the local church in Desire and a church in the US. This past week members from this church traveled two solid days to visit Desire and deepen that relationship. I was filled with joy as I watched this relationship begin to take place. I can look at it and see it was God ordained; I am looking forward to watching this relationship ripen and witnessing the fruit that will come of it.
Some of this fruit is already evident. It is wonderful that God has been providing water through the spring, but He also recently provided funds (through this church) to build a well on the village property. This will allow the village to open its arms with love to the surrounding area by providing clean water. Children in the village now have the opportunity to attend school and the first permanent children’s home has been completed, with two more homes in the process of being built. All of this is because God decided to forge a relationship between two churches and both responded in obedience.