We enjoyed spending a few days with local missionaries and their families at a resort north of Port-au-Prince. It was truly an uplifting spiritual weekend. The adults explored the Bible on the subject “Jesus is God,” and Grant joined our class, which he thoroughly enjoyed too. In this class, we all went away with “true worship is costly worship.” The emphasis was: God doesn’t want to be included in your plan, He wants you to be included in His plan. What is His plan? To disciple the nations. (Matthew 28:18-20)

The kids were blessed with a Bible School that a group comes down from the States every year to hold for them. Trinity expressed how much she appreciated her teacher praying over each kid in her class and it brought many tears. Trinity said it was such a humbling and yet beautiful experience that she will never forget! Grace enjoyed her Bible class too and said the best part was learning more about God and Jesus, and His disciples. The kids even presented a program to our families at the end!

Other events were swimming, snorkeling, jet skiing and sand volleyball. Snorkeling was a whole new experience for us! It brought to life God’s amazing creativity that basically goes unnoticed until you take time to see for yourself. Wow! Sometimes there is a price to pay to see such beauty – Grant got his first encounter with a jelly fish. It stung him on his foot, but we don’t think it will stop him from going again!

The trip left us with conflicting emotions. While we enjoyed a stay at a top-quality resort on the sea, we had to pass through some difficult scenes before reaching our destination. Another missionary pointed out we were passing close by the mass graves where the dead were brought out from Port-au-Prince following the 2010 earthquake. We passed by this location north of Port-au-Prince and saw where many of the displaced survivors from the quake were now squatters on the barren and rocky hillsides all around. Who are we to deserve any luxuries when you see the absolute desperation for survival? On the way home someone mentioned being at the resort was like experiencing a mirage in the desert. Quite true!