Haiti: Day 7

Friday chapel at Emmaus Biblical Seminary

It was a more routine day for me in Haiti as I continue to settle into the rhythm of life here.  I am reminded that work on any mission field, whether in Haiti or at home, is really just the living out of whatever Jesus desires to do through us at the moment wherever He has placed us.  It is Friday, the end of the first week of classes (hard to believe we are half-completed with this course!), and the students were all very busy completing the assignment that was due today.  They were to have chosen a passage for study for the entire two-week course, and they were to simply make observations (“What does it say?” or “What do I see?”) of that passage, just being immersed in it and using whatever tools are available to them, following some of the categories we looked at in class.  

We have had tremendous discussion in class about this process.  I am very encouraged about how the students have embraced this. One of the most difficult parts of it, which we discuss often, is that there is the temptation to hurry ahead to interpretation and ask “What does it mean?”  My interpreter, Simeon, and I will be grading these papers together on Monday and seeing how the students did with this.  I already have the sense that they have done extremely well.  We spent nearly all of class today talking about the priority of the Word of God in our lives.  Why is it so important?  One of the highlights of the discussion, with enthusiastic response from the students, was when we discussed how the Written Word is the revelation of the Living Word, Jesus.  I shared about the powerful impact and transformation that takes place in our lives, when we simply allow Him to be revealed through the Word, both to us (in our own study) and through us (in preaching, for example).  One of the students, Bernard, raised his hand and shared through the interpreter that he felt that he was experiencing revival in his own life through this class.  It was a joy and a divine teaching moment to be able to share with the students that it is Jesus that brings revival through His Word, and that He is not exclusive or selective about this --- He will do this in the heart(s) of anyone that will seek Him in the Word.  Benito told me after class that he feels the Holy Spirit at work.  This has been my deepest prayer for this class --- that the students will realize that it is all about the Word, and that they would come to depend upon Jesus in the Word with their entire beings.  I have prayed that there would indeed be a revival atmosphere in the class, and He is indeed bringing that about.  This trip and this class are about students like Bernard and others like him who are open and seeking the Lord.  Matt Ayars (seminary president) told me this evening that some of these cannot afford to be here at the school.  Would you pray with me for God’s provision for these students?  

After a great dinner we had a fun evening of fellowship playing some board games with the missionary husbands (Matt Ayars and Phil Heckman, with son Ethan) and the visiting guy professors, Bob Petruccio, Larry Lain, and myself.  It is great to have such a sense of being a team, which is so strong on this campus.  I feel that support and connection with so many of you at home who have been praying and encouraging during this trip.  Thank you for your prayers --- they are making a difference and God is bringing about revival in the class. 

In Christ,

John

Clockwise, beginning bottom: Matt Ayars, Phil Heckman, Bob Petruccio, Ethan Heckman, Larry Lain