Pastor Jeremy Stephens

20 years ago, Haiti was a different place. One of the guys in our group was telling us about it last night. He was born and raised here, but moved to New Jersey 20 years ago.

Back then, if you picked up the phone in your home, you could call anyone in the country.
Back then, if you flipped the light switch, the lights came on.
Back then, if the city needed to cut power, they would warn you 3 days in advance.
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The home we stayed in last night is a bit odd when it comes to power. Half of the home is powered by a generator, and the other half is powered by city power. Here, the city power only comes on at night, and only for a few hours.
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I was a little late to the party last night when we picked out bunks, so I ended up with a top bunk. Luckily, the bunk right next to the air conditioner was open, so I snagged it quickly. When it was time for bed, I gingerly lugged my 275lb frame up on top and whispered a prayer for the guy underneath…hoping the bunk wouldn’t collapse on him. I dozed off to sleep in a small room stuffed with 10 guys, glad that that little ac unit was functioning.

Then I heard a loud clunk.

The AC died. The fans died. The only sound in our room the loud snoring from several guys. I realized the city power had cut off. The sweat came, with that tiny room quickly turning into an oven fueled by 10 larger-than-average men. I waited a bit and hoped that the power would magically be restored. After what seemed like forever, I crawled out of the bed and checked my watch- 11:41pm.

Eventually I pulled my mattress off the bunk and joined a few other guys in the living room where the ceiling fan was powered by the other half of the house, and drifted off to sleep.
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The home we stayed in last night was nice. It will be far nicer than where we go the next few days. I won’t have wifi there and the power will be even more suspect. Its an amazing thing to see a country that has regressed, coming from a culture where progress is a god. I don’t know what to expect these next few days, but i’m praying to see how the Gospel of Hope is moving here among a people who struggle to have any hope at all.