What kind of faith do you have?
James 1:2-4
Consider it a sheer gift, unbounded joy, my dear friends, when tests and challenges, difficulties and pain come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.
Does your faith allow you to praise God in the middle of intense pain? Or is it the kind that finds it's much easier to praise God when life is comfortable?
Matt Redman's 10,000 reasons starts with these words
The sun comes up it's a new day dawning , it's time to sing Your song again.
Whatever may pass and whatever lies before me, let me be singing when the evening comes.
When I sing these words do I really mean them or do I only mean them if everything is fine and easy, trouble free. WHATEVER may pass and WHATEVER lies before me? Really?!
Song 2
114 kreol Chan de Esperance
1.
Chè Ségnè kinbin min-m, Edé mouin rété fèm; Precious Lord take my hand, Help me stand firm
Mouin bouké, fatigé, tèlman. I am tired and completely worn out.
Nan loraj, nan fè noua, Kléré rout la dévan; In the storm, in the darkness, light my way;
Kinbin min-m, chè Ségnè, fè-m rivé. Hold my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.
2.
Lè chémin-m difisil, E m-bézouin ou anpil, When the road is difficult, and I need you
Ségnè, rété la tou pré mouin. Lord, stay close to me.
Lè mouin prèt pou alé, Edé-m pou-m pa buté, When I am near death, help me not to stumble,
Kinbin min-m, chè Ségnè, fè-m rivé. Hold my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.
3.
Lè solèy la kouché, E nuit la ap proché, When the sun is setting, and night approaches,
Et tout la vi mouin va fini, And my life is about to end,
Edé-m pa régrété, Nan ou sèl mouin konfié, Help me not regret, You are my only confidence.
Kinbin min-m, chè Ségnè, fè-m rivé. Hold my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.
Song 3
88. kreol Chan de Esperance
Kè:
Présié, présié Jézu, Precious, precious Jesus
Zanmi sètin, juska la fin; A friend for sure, all the way to the end;
Li ofri kò-l pou mouin gingnin la vi, He gave his body so that I can have life,
Jézu, présié Ségnè. Jesus, precious Savior.
God has been trying to teach me something this week, I think maybe I'm a little slow but I think I am starting to learn. I still have a long way to go.
My week went something like this;
Tuesday 7:15 am Boss Noel shows up at the door. Must be the load of cement (150- 94 lb. sacks) we have been expecting. ( why couldn't this have come tomorrow) oh well grab the keys to the gator, out the door, pick up Johnny and down to the school to unload the dump truck.
I am not sure if it was the first or second bag but something in my lower back just sent a message to my brain that was not very nice. I wanted to scream in pain and stop,
BUT Yesterday was Monday. (We'll get to Monday in just a moment.) Instantly,well okay maybe there was some griping and complaining that happened first but not long after that the three aforementioned songs started repeating themselves in my mind. I must carry on.
Wednesday
Today we are going to continue laying block in the shade house for our gardens. This is day three of laying block. I am not a mason and it is on the ground so a lot of bending over, oh sweet back pain, we meet again. But two days ago was MONDAY. Keep plugging away. 3:15 done with all the block we have for now. Let's rest a while. 3:17 Deborah " Do you think you could take my mom up to La Salle to get a view of northwest Haiti?" (I knew we had talked about this earlier this week but it had somehow slipped my mind) immediately three songs started playing in my head, okay maybe not right away but nonetheless my reply was "okay" (selfishly thinking to myself I really do not want to drive that road right now) BUT two days ago was MONDAY.
Thursday
8:00 AM. Truck loaded time to drive to Port-Au-Prince, I love to drive but more and more I really do not look forward to this trip. If you have been to Northwest Hait you know what I am talking about. My back just does not love this trip but three days ago was MONDAY, so off we go. 3:40 PM Arrive at Fermathe my back says thank you very much. Three songs rip through my frontal lobe. Man, when will I learn.
MONDAY was just three days ago.
Friday
Slept in today, what a great feeling. 8:30am. Off to see Noah. He asks if I would be willing to pick up George, (name changed to protect the innocent) a professor coming in for the Masters program, from the Airport. I inquire about the time of his arrival. Noah says he gets in at 2:40 pm. I think about the day ahead, we leave to take grandma to the airport at 10:15, I need to go to 2 different hardware stores and then to the wholesale depot, all in the area of the airport.
"Yeah, I think that is doable." I tell Noah. Traffic is great and we get all things accomplished in great time and are at the airport at 2:20. As we get out into the Port-Au-Prince oven that is the waiting area for disembarking passengers. Three songs dance through my mind.
MONDAY was just four days ago.
Two weeks ago we waited for Deborah's mom and to our delight there was a new feature that let us know that her flight had been delayed for 58 minutes. Not today however the new board gave us nothing except a one word message " Loading" I guess it should not surprise me but we did not even have a flight number anyway,so we wait. After an hour of waiting and playing the "is that George?!" no " game I decide to call and get some info on the flight. Reply, “it should be on the big board just above the door.” three songs softly begin to ring in my ears,
MONDAY was just four short days ago.
5:00 pm we leave the airport parking lot with George and company safely in the truck. Now just a quick stop at the grocery store for needed supplies and then back to Fermathe. Arrive at the mission at 6:34 tired and not feeling very happy but….
MONDAY was just four days ago.
MONDAY
8:00 AM. Boss Noel shows up and we need to go get the last 10 sacks of cement for the work being done at the training center. 8:20 at the house where the cement is and I am flagged down by the director of the National school in Atrel. I roll down the window and greet Ric. He tells me that last night a student was burned and needs to go to the clinic at Passé Cata Bois ( 10 miles away or about 40 minuets in the gator) and could I take them as there was no way they could ride on a motorcycle. Now, running through my mind are a plethora of thoughts, What, of all that has been told me is true and how much of this is just theatrical over exaggeration, are they just trying to take advantage of the blan (foreigner), etc.
I tell Ric I will be back as soon as I drop off the guys and cement. I wasn't really prepared for what I encountered on returning to town and to the house of Mishmana, a 15 year old girl. When I first hear the sobs and looked in the direction of the sound I was not sure what to think. She was still about 50 feet away but I could tell that this was not good. When she arrived at the gator the sight of melted skin almost made me vomit, I had to turn away.
Once everyone was loaded into the gator we left. What should haven been 40 minutes took one hour and fifteen minutes due to road construction and a detour that was more of a donkey trail than a road. I cannot even begin to imagine the excruciating pain she was in.
As we were driving I could hear both her mother and sister muttering what I can only guess were prayers, I say guess because what I could hear through the sobs of Mishmana were these words coming from her lips....
Chè Ségnè kinbin min-m, Edé mouin rété fèm;
Mouin bouké, fatigé, tèlman.
Nan loraj, nan fè noua, Kléré rout la dévan;
Kinbin min-m, chè Ségnè, fè-m rivé.
Kè:
Présié, présié Jézu,
Zanmi sètin, juska la fin;
Li ofri kò-l pou mouin gingnin la vi,
Jézu, présié Ségnè.
Lè chémin-m difisil, E m-bézouin ou anpil,
Ségnè, rété la tou pré mouin.
Lè mouin prèt pou alé, Edé-m pou-m pa buté,
Kinbin min-m, chè Ségnè, fè-m rivé.
Kè:
Présié, présié Jézu,
Zanmi sètin, juska la fin;
Li ofri kò-l pou mouin gingnin la vi,
Jézu, présié Ségnè.
Lè solèy la kouché, E nuit la ap proché,
Et tout la vi mouin va fini,
Edé-m pa régrété, Nan ou sèl mouin konfié,
Kinbin min-m, chè Ségnè, fè-m
Kè:
Présié, présié Jézu,
Zanmi sètin, juska la fin;
Li ofri kò-l pou mouin gingnin la vi,
Jézu, présié Ségnè.
For one hour and fifteen minutes singing praise to God. I cried for that one hour and fifteen minutes.
What kind of faith do you have? Could I have done the same thing that Mishmana had? I do not know, but this week has taught me I sure do complain a lot, about some pretty petty irritations. Can you praise God through your pain? I certainly can’t speak for you, but I have a very long way to go. Father forgive me for complaining about so many little irritations, minor setbacks, and petty inconveniences, for complaining when things do not go MY way, and failing to praise You for everything. 10,000 reasons and many more.
Please Pray for Mishmana as her road to recovery is going to be very long and painful, Pray that she will continue to praise God in the midst of pain and not become discouraged.
