love and marriage Haitian style

after the pastors ate lunch, there was some food left for the neighborhood children

ladies session

 

We enjoyed a wonderful end to our seminar today!

The pastors opened up, were honest, and engaged in the discussions. Pastor Bill did a great job of leading a discussion about relationships, marriage, and sex. He spoke about the need for men to be faithful to their wives, to love their wives, and to count their wives needs before their own. In Haiti, it is very common for men to have children by multiple women and they often leave their wife to be with another woman. Bill emphasized the need for Christian men to set an example for their congregations in their own relationships and marriages.

After this, Pastor Jake did a session with the men on preaching and the female leaders had the chance to lead a session for the women that was separate from the men. We asked the women what struggles they had and what obstacles they were up against. Many of them spoke of men who were unfaithful or who had more than one woman in their life. We encouraged them to wait for men who would love them and honor them and treat them the way Christ treats his church. We were fortunate to have two more mature Haitian women there who are both in strong marriages and could speak to their young friends with wisdom. We pray that God works powerfully in the lives of these women and uses them to touch the lives of many!

Before the close of the seminar, we handed out certificates for everyone who attended so that they can have proof of their ‘seminary’ training. I hope that the Lord continues to give us opportunities to come here and encourage and guide these pastors. I pray for this in part because it is so badly needed and in part because it is such a joy and a challenge for all of us to be able to serve them in this way.

Some of our team had the chance to spend the last two days with the children at Valley. They did VBS activities, medical check ups on some kids who are running a temperature, and get shoe sizes for everyone!

Tomorrow we will be worshipping at Williamson and then taking the Trou-Bagette (sp?) kidos to the beach for the afternoon. After all of the preparations and work that has gone into the last two seminar days, it will be a blessing to be able to sit back and enjoy some relaxed time with the children!

As you continue to remember us in your prayers, please pray for…

• Today we will join the church at Williamson for worship, and then we will take some orphans to the hotel for a fun afternoon at the beach. There will be many opportunities today to build/strengthen relationships with the staff and kiddos of House of Hope. Pray that we will have energy and passion enough to be present to people today, and to show the love of Jesus.

• If there are any loose ends from our work this week, we will work to tie them up today. Pray that no work will be left undone, and that we will have the presence of mind to know what needs to be done.

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~ by suzwilk on July 30, 2011.