That man in the middle, in the picture, the one that looks different from the rest of us. That man spoke so many words of truth and displayed such a heart for God and for the Haitian people, it was beyond inspiring.
This is Pastor Etienne. He is a pastor of pastors in Haiti. He owned "blessed and highly favored" and drove us each day to and from the village. I will forever be thankful for the bulging disc in my neck that allowed for me to ride with him and spend a little over 2 hours a day with him.
So many great things he spoke. How his heart broke for his country and if he was not 100% sure God called him to minister there he would not be there. To hear the joy in his voice as he spoke of his wife and children. I wish you could hear his voice, his perfect English in his smooth Haitian accent. I wish you could hear him say "Oh my sista, God is so very good to me!" But, I think it most appropriate to end the Haiti blogs on the Word he spoke into me. Sure it was for everyone in the whole vehicle, but it was like God spoke it directly to me.
Day 1 in the vehicle was full of questions from us about Haiti, about the land, about the people. We found out he had been a preacher and ministering to other pastors in Haiti for over 30 years! So, I told him we would like a sermon from him one day on our journey to the village. Wednesday was the day! And he did not disappoint. He spoke out of his own hurts and experiences and they shot to the depths of my own core.
Galatians 6:9 "Let us not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up"
He spoke how hard it can be to continue to do the work God has called you to when you feel completely unappreciated. When you do good for people and their response is "meh" or even negative. But, the Word says "we will reap at the proper time if we don't give up"! His short message encouraged us that no matter what happens when we do good, one day the Lord will bless us. We need not look for the approval or appreciation of others, but simply wait for the Lord's reward.
Oh, how those words sunk into the depths of my soul. This was, no is, an ongoing struggle for me. I'm a performer! I perform for rewards! (Yep, the book is coming on that one!) If I did things for the Lord and felt completely unappreciated for it by people, I would just quit. Why do it if they don't care? Because we are to NEVER tire of doing good! Even this week these words came back from the depths of my heart into my head. Words I desperately needed to hear again. Words that affirmed if I just keep doing what God has called me to do, I will eventually reap that blessing.
Are you tiring of doing good? Are you looking for that reward? I pray the words of my dear friend, Pastor, will sink into your heart as well.
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