The Setting: I was just returning from a full day visiting the congregation of Savann Mouton, a new fast growing congregation in the Pine Forest not far from Oriani. Since Janurary 20, 2011 there is now 29 members and it is now time to start organizing a school for their children. (By the way they need a US sponsor to help pay the teachers.) Missionary Russ Toews from Chadek was going home and Wes Koehns were taking over for a short term before another couple takes their place. So the visiting that day centered around saying good bye and introducing the new missionaries and I happened to be fortunate to ride along.
So as I was saying I was returning from a full day encouraged with what I had witnessed that day and ready to rest. As I entered back at Keith Toews house that evening I noticed Keith talking to three brethren in the entry. Fre Jwa, Fre Tinom, and Fre Julian. They were all young married men around the same age--I would say in their thirties. They were waiting to talk to me. I had expressed my interest to visit with the local brethren in Oriani and here was my chance. I ran inside to get my notebook. It was dark and we sat cramped together in a circle there in the tight entry, gesturing as the shadows flickered from our oil lamp. I caught my second wind as I was ready to see what these our brethren had to say.
As they had been waiting they had been talking about getting more doctrine books and literature in Creole about the Church of God. I had no time to make a nice sequence of questions so we just asked as the questions would come and scribbled down the answers as they came.
To introduce the brethren, I will have to give my first impressions as time was passing and it was already dark we did not have enough time for small talk.
Jwa: (Joy) Was the main spokesman, very expressive and vocal. His eyes are opened wide and seems quite excitable, nearly jumping out of his chair to make his point.
Tinom: (Little Name) Seemed quite cool and relaxed, would raise his hand when he had something to say and motion to one of the others when he sensed they had something to say.
Julian: Had a ball cap nearly down over his eyes slouched down on his seat.. Kept reminding me as "One of the boyz in the hood" back in the States. However when he spoke he was brief to the point and I sensed a certain gravity in what he had to say.
Whether I am right or wrong in my first impressions I think they will help you get a little more of a picture as they told me their view point on the matter.
QUESTION #1
WHAT IS YOUR OPINION OF THE CLINIC AND ITS FUNCTION IN ORIANI?
Fre Jwa: It was hard for me to develop as a child. There was a Catholic clinic but it would only treat, "the good Catholics". It was also nearly impossible for transportation to Port for the serious cases---many died. We people would constantly ask God for improvements. In 2005-06 the Catholic Clinic loosened up. Fre Ozias' clinic also helped the poor receive treatment. 2009-10 the Church was established in Oriani. The Church and clinic work well together to reach out to people in the surrounding area. My wife would have died if it were not for the clinic. I do not know the future, but by the grace of God people are not dying like they use to.
Fre Tinom: People are not coming because it is such a great building, but they are coming simply for good service. 24 people would have died since January this year if not for the clinic. Not just this Oriani benefits, but people come from other areas to come to the clinic.
Fre Julian: It even started to get better when the missionaries came, they started to take the worst cases down to Port-au-Prince.
QUESTION #2
WHY HAS THERE BEEN SO MUCH RESPONSE IN THE GOSPEL IN THE ORIANI AREA?
Fre Tinom: It is so big it can not be explained. It has been revealed before coming by revelations from God. We knew it was going to come. The people here are extremely thirsty and it is really like coming for water.
Fre Jwa: The reason it is different is because it has been a special touch by God. The area has not had as many other missionaries to spoil it. The other Pastors in the area have not the same valor and values. (Like identifying sin, etc.). Alot of Pastors are "Sunday Pastors". There are actually lots of other Churches but they only help their own people. That is a difference.
Fre Julian: We are thirsty for spiritual water. When the missionaries came right at first the people were not to sure. The words spoken matched the works. People started asking, "How can I come to the Faith." Before this we started to hear the Word from other churches but did not have spiritual life. The thirst would not be quenched.
QUESTION #3
THINGS ARE GOOD NOW....BUT HOW IS IT GOING TO BE WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH?
Fre Jwa: We always have the weak, but there will also be the strong to carry the weak. The Lord gives tools to combat the devil. Satan has already caused damage, but together we'll put up a barrier.
QUESTION#4
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT A "BLANC" BRINGING THE GOSPEL, WOULDN'T IT BE BETTER FOR A HAITIAN THAT KNOWS HIS PEOPLE TO BRING THE "GOOD NEWS"?
Fre Jwa: It is the same thing. The Lord would have blessed either or; yet there are pluses and minuses to both.
Fre Tinom: Race does not make the difference it is the Holy Spirit.
QUESTION #5
KEITH'S QUESTION: ARE THERE TOO MANY WHITES (BLANCS) WORKING IN THE ORIANI AREA?
Fre Tinom: Everybody wonders for all the stuff happening in Oriani that there is not more workers than there is. The more the better, the people receive strength from visitors.
Fre Jwa: We don't have the authority as Oriani to ask for more "blancs". The blancs don't have the authority. It was God's will. If it was our authority we would like to see more.
Fre Timon: The first year I worked with CSI, ( after the hurricanes) we worked, travelled and learned about the Faith.
Fre Jwa: Still so many thirsty souls even the blancs can not keep up. [named different towns that are extremely thirsty for the gospel] Oriani zone is huge with 13,000 people. Way more, no. In Oriani we could easily have 5 congregations. The sheep in Savon Mouton (the other congregational area) are still thirsty. Gwo Chevelle want to come, but too far away. Another zone is asking when we are going to come. It is not for material gain. We need to reach out to these zones. That is why we need more workers. We walked in Savon Mouton forest and the missionaries could not see anybody. The missionaries were scared about this work, but God knew. There are more unconverted yet but are waiting. Thank God it is in His hands.
QUESTION #6
WHAT OF THE JOBS AND MONEY POTENTIAL'S EFFECT ON THE AREA---WILL IT NOT BE A PROBLEM THAT PEOPLE WILL COME TO THE CHURCH FOR THOSE BENEFITS MORE THAN THE GOSPEL?
Fre Tinom: Absolutely not. The first converts were here before the influence of the clinic.
Fre Jwa: Absurd question! We used to go to Santo Domingo leaving our families to earn more money than here. We are staying here now because we learned about the Church. The doctrines of the Church weed those out that come for other reasons. The Church is not giving out money. I can go on and on. We have truck drivers that quit their jobs (to not drive on Sunday and other temptations) --now they live in poverty. A brother used to make a good living selling alcohol--now he lives in poverty when he gave it up. A brother used to limp and beg-- now lives in poverty.
Fre Tinom( or fre Jwa?): For example working for CSI we worked for money helping rebuild for Siklon victims. Our conviction made us reduce our wages. For our brethren we charged nothing.
Fre Jwa: The young people are helping out our singing.
Fre Julian: Here in Haiti we invite blanc workers here, but in Heaven we will be the same.
Fre Jwa: We can make alright without them, but would like more young people here.
Fre Julian: Local people also support the workers and visitors that come
QUESTION #7
IF WE HAVE ANY NEEDS AS FOREIGN WORKERS WILL YOU LET US KNOW?
Fre Tinom: We will let you know we are of the same flesh.
Fre Jwa: (most likely still answering question 6) Even non Church members cry when the blancs leave and wonder why people only come for only a week.
Fre Julian: We are one in the faith. We are of the same flesh. We are members of one body. I was impressed that we were all one at the Ganthier Conference (March 2011?)
Closing Thoughts
Fre Jwa: Salute the brethren when you go home. My name is Joy. When I came to the Church after two or three days I seen evidence that God was working with me. I was a bad person. God would show me these areas. I started to pray for these lacks in my life. I did not do enough for my family. Since I have chosen God God has solved those problems. Now he has filled those needs.
Fre Tinom: Alot of us here have the same problems. We grew up together and now we are in this church together. We used to go to that other church together. We went to the world together. Now we come to this church together. We were bad guys together in the DR., but now we do not leave our families anymore. The people in our area gave up on us and said that our lives were finished. We had a bad reputation. Our traditional ways were to leave for Santo Domingo. Pray for us not to leave when the going gets tough.
Fre Julian: When we were in the other church there was no limit, but since becoming converted I now have a limit.
Fre Tinom: This group did not have limitswhen we used to try to make money. We used to throw rocks at political rallies. This Sunday at church I seen our brethren singing instead of going to elections. It gave me pure joy being with our families in church (Instead of doing what we used to)
Fre Julian: Absolutely. We used to leave for town. We may live in poverty to stay here and go to church, but there is more joy being with the family.
That is all. It felt we were just warming up. I was looking forward to hearing more about how they had personally found the Lord, but it was already past the time they would usually be all at home possibly sleeping. Jwa was back early the next day to catch a ride with us down to Fond Parisian to see his sister who was possibly dying of Cholera. Let's pray for these brethren and their families; As we all know for every Christian there are challenges that lie ahead............
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