April's Testimony

Colfax, Texas

I will never forget my experience in Haiti. God is so good. My view of the world, my life, and most important of all, God is bigger than ever before. I leave with a sense of sadness because I am leaving a new family behind. At the same time I am happy because God's work will continue on.

Two things God showed me in Haiti was that we should always serve one another with a servant's heart and should strive to have better attitudes. We went to Haiti to serve, and we did. But we also got served like nothing I've ever experienced. The people have such loving hearts, not only to us but also to each other. They are truly people after God's own heart. The girls came and worshiped with us, and it was awesome to hear our two languages together. I know Jesus was blessed. God handpicked our group. We were united together the entire time. It blesses me to see teenagers that will be obedient to the still, small voice of the Lord. I thank God, Hope for the Hungry, and Power Plus for giving me this opportunity. It is one I will carry with me forever.

Chris' Testimony

New London, Texas

I used to think I had figured out the ideals of blessings, love, joy, and the power of God. I had no idea. My view of blessings was limited to the tangible, materialistic nature that is so prevalent within our society. My view of love was confined to my personal experiences, and therefor limited to what I knew and understood. The concept of Unconditional Love was foreign and benign to me because I never allowed myself to fully experience it for fear of being hurt, or changed, or pushed beyond what I thought were the boundaries of my faith. My joy was based on circumstantial surroundings that I had placed in my life to make myself feel good. My view of God's power was understandably insufficient. As I said before, I had no idea.

God's power is amazing because it encompasses the far reaches of the universe that He created. The God that I serve in America is the very same God who is being served all over the world by His people. And because we serve the same God, His power makes us the same people with the same purpose.

The joy that I knew was not really joy at all because it was circumstantial. It was limited to the opinions of others, and to my worthless possessions. I trudged through this great test forgetting all the while that a man can gain the entire world, and it can be all for naught. True joy only comes from the Father and is not rooted in the human condition because with it comes the knowledge that the grass withers and earthly kingdoms fall, but the kingdom of God is never only limited to progress.

Love that comes from a perfect God and is bestowed on imperfect people is the only constant in life. It is indeed beyond all human rhyme and rhythm. It is a painful, paradoxical plan that would involve the King of the Universe dying for the scum of the earth. Yet Jesus died for everyone who would receive this gift, be they in Haiti or Texas.

Marie's Testimony

Bryan, Texas

Haiti was poor, but still rich; ugly to man but beautiful in the site of God. It is hard to understand, but the people don't let their poverty hinder their joy. In America we just assume that God's blessings are wealth. The big super-churches must be the most spiritually attuned. That is not the case in Ferrier, Haiti. The church service we attended was by far more amazing than words could express. The single light bulb hanging from the ceiling revealed a people more eager to worship God than look around and notice what others did. It didn't matter that not everyone sang the same song or that the prayer lasted 10 minutes. There was no bulletin to follow and not a word of English was spoken. God was in that place and you could sense His presence and power.

God is the same at home and in Haiti. You don't all need the same language to have the same prayer. "Mersi, Pappa" is a phrase I will never forget. To thank the Father for a gift incomparable to any other, even if it is all you have is the true sense of worship. I thank God and want to live like I am that thankful.

Testimony of Jamie Bales

Elkhart, Texas

As our plane soars away from Haiti, I think about my brothers and sisters in Christ that I was able to spend time with. I have to leave my new Haitian friends behind, but I will never forget them or how God used them to speak to my heart. Some say that these people have nothing and live in poverty, but they showed me different. They are rich because Jesus Christ has filled their hearts and given them joy. My brothers and sisters in Haiti taught me what it really means to worship God and seek Him without the luxury we find in America. They live their lives with great passion. As we sat around the dinner table with oil lamps lighting our faces, I would feel God smiling down on us as we joined together to sing praises to God in two different languages. Hallelujah! I also learned what its like to serve God with all I have, but it was Him through me that got the job done. There is no way that I could have endured the hot sun and hard work without the Almighty God. He opened my eyes to the need in this world and caused my heart to burn with a passion to serve Him by helping them. I can't wait to get home and share with everyone about my extended family in Haiti. I will tell of their beautiful smiles, their hospitality, and their love for God the Father. I will share of their need and their ministry and with God's help, maybe my family and friends will catch a spark and begin to blaze with the same passion God gave me to help our brothers and sisters in Haiti. I give Him all glory and praise because He is worthy of it all.