Promesse de Dieu.
It’s been almost one year since an earthquake virtually destroyed the country of Haiti. It was a disaster that took poverty to a new level and shed light for the rest of the world to see the conditions of the most impoverished nation in the Western hemisphere. Our team left to work on the ground in Haiti, and they were clear when they returned that the spirit of the Haitian people was not destroyed, but possibly more importantly, God was at work in the midst of the disaster. For many of the Haitian community in Tampa, last January was an agonizing time of waiting to hear from family and watching the country lay in ruins. Their year began in pain, but clearly, God was at work.
PDD reaches out to Haitian women here in our city. The semester started out with leaders Deborah, Enslie and Romy with 4 other women on a retreat asking God for vision for their next year. It was a small group. The women cried out to God asking him to bring other women who needed to experience the same feeling of belonging to a community that they had found. They continued gathering on Tuesday nights, sharing dinner, discussions and bible studies. And more women came, and more, and more. Within weeks their meeting exploded to around 20 women coming to find a home with PDD.
One woman, in particular, was reluctant to come. She has been hurt in the past, and was against studying the bible. But she came one night and shared dinner and a discussion. She returned the next week and the leaders were sure after they studied scripture she wouldn’t return, and she did. The next week after a long time of prayer, they were certain they wouldn’t see her again. And she came back. Recently, Deb and Enslie recently spent time at her house to get to know her better. They shared how they were scared each time she wouldn’t return. She told them something kept drawing her back. She didn’t know what it was, but she knew she was making a good decision for her and her daughter.
God is at work in the Haitian community. In Haiti. and in Tampa.
