mutuality in partnership

I loved seeing the blessing of mutual partnership while I was in Haiti last week.  Orchard Hill and UCI have been building a healthy partnership of respect and trust over the past eight years, and it's beautiful to see!

Orchard Hill does not assume from Cedar Falls, IA, to begin to know what UCI might need in Haiti.  We wait to hear from them about what resources, skills, projects they'd like our help with as they progress in their development.  This year, we packed several extra large suitcases to take with us...all with supplies and resources that UCI requested when we asked them to make a wish list.

I also love how the money we've given toward the primary school, university, and things like concrete floors all help employ Haitian locals and are indigenous-led as well.  So, so good!  And I loved seeing Mick, Joel, and my dad help coach carpentry skills to three Haitian men through the week, and Darwin walked with three other Haitian men as he shared how to plant fence posts around the perimeter of the university.  As the week continued, the work changed hands from our team of mentors to the Haitian team of workers. Awesome.

I also loved all of the mutuality that took place in Bible study and worship settings.  At the pastor training, JeanJean and other pastors shared about their churches and the ways that Satan works to deceive and attack.  We also shared about our church and the ways that Satan likes to work in our culture.  In worship, Pat preached at an early 5 a.m. worship service, while Mike preached the next morning at another 5 a.m. worship service and at the baptism.  I gave some Christian Community Development resources to JeanJean, my dad and Sara helped give hymnals to the newly baptized believers one evening in church.  All of us in return humbly received from the praise and worship, the devotion and passionate faith of our Haitian brothers and sisters as they walked long distances and awoke early to gather for prayer, singing, and teaching.

It will be so, so good to see how God continues to help ALL of us grow through this partnership!