A Hike up the Mountain

Day #4 – Four AM Wake Up Call – First a quick breakfast and then onto what we thought was going to be an easy hike up the mountain to visit one of the schools the mission supports. We started our hike in the dark and it wasn’t too long before we realized it wasn’t going to be as easy as we thought. Several of our group was already feeling under the weather before we even started, one choosing to stay behind. Once we left the mission compound, the path quickly become rugged and steep. We weren’t even ¼ of the way up before two more members of our group got too sick to continue and turned back with one of the leaders. Several others were feeling ill as well, but were able to continue up the mountain with the help of the teammates. The prayed over each other, cheered one another on with encouraging words, carried backpacks, and even took turns carrying one of the younger girls. It was another great example of the unity amongst the body of Christ.

The scenery was beautiful if we remembered to take our eyes off the path and look up every now and then. The contrast between the beauty of the landscape and the trash strewn along the path was somewhat disconcerting, and the urge to pick up the water bottles and plastic bags was soon replaced by the need to concentrate on breathing and walking. It was humbling to be passed by Haitians of all ages carrying 50 pound buckets of water, bundles of sticks, or bags of bananas running up and down the mountain. And knowing they did this daily was even more humbling. Once we finally reached the top of the mountain two hours later, we were able to see God’s beauty in the beautiful blue of the Caribbean at the foot of the mountains, a striking reminder that He is always present, even amongst the ruin.

Once in the village, we joined the last few school children as they walked to school. We were met inside the school gates by an assembly of children who sang several songs during the morning flag ceremony. While they filed in their classrooms for their school day, we held our morning devotional in the church. Some of the group members shared their testimonies, and we prayed for the school and over the sick team members. We then distributed lollipops to the children, one classroom at a time. These children were different from the children from the village below in that they were much more quiet and reserved, probably a result of minimal interaction with the “Blan” (the “White”). This was the school we had made the benches for and our intention was to deliver them today. The benches were to be brought up the mountain in a truck via a longer route. By the time we were done distributing the candy, the truck had still not arrived and we were concerned that the recent storm activity had washed out that road. At the last minute, the truck arrived and the benches were delivered. We prayed over the pastor and then made our way back down the mountain, letting the two younger girls ride back in the truck. We made a stop at the local voodoo house and were able to talk with the voodoo priest and tour the house. He even allowed us to pray over him before we left. Voodoo is a common belief system in Haiti. The island was dedicated to satan twice in the past; 1991 being the most recent dedication. The walk back down was only slightly easier than the hike up, but what we lost in screaming lungs we made up for in screaming knees. Back at the mission it was a toss up what we wanted more: food or a nap.

After a short siesta, we spent the remainder of the afternoon working on some projects at the mission, building more benches, painting classrooms. Donald Jr, the President of CIL, arrived at the mission after dinner and gave us an overview of the ministry, telling us of its history, and its future goals. We were very thankful for our shower and bed as we ended this amazing yet long and tiring day.