As we left the airstrip crammed into the "airport shuttle" bus we began the journey of seeing Por de Paix close up. Many of us (myself included) for the first time. It was during this first few minutes that the local reality struck me. I had given thought to what I would experience. I had read about the conditions I would witness. I had listened to the team members that had been before. I had prayed about the impact it would have on me. But it was during that bus ride that the reality of the local conditions really hit me.
It was then that I understood what a community with no water and sewer system smells like. I realized what a city with no land fill or trash system looked like. I heard the harsh sound of the local language (Creole) and the shouting of the merchants in the streets, people desperately trying to make a living. I felt the hot air of the city made out of concrete...the way the air is heavy and does not move. I quickly felt myself being pushed to the edge of what I thought I could absorb for the day, overwhelmed by all of my senses.
As we came upon a roundabout type of circle in the rut filled road, I saw this amazingly beautiful church sitting in the midst of what i felt at the time was total chaos. The beauty of the church took my breath away. I felt at that moment that God had whispered into my soul one of the most important things I would learn during this weeks journey. In the midst of this chaos, heartache, poverty and sadness....He let me know that He was there!! Later in the week, we had an opportunity to revisit that church and go inside. I took that moment to thank God for letting me so clearly see Him on the day we arrived and for letting me know that He was on this journey with us.
"I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land.
I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you." Genesis 28:20
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