Update: Historic Trip to Outstation Church

Bryan and Lisa Bartow in Doco, January 2014.

Bryan and I have been leading teams to Haiti for 25 years, following the example of my parents. We’ve seen government coups, embargos,  hurricanes, death, disease, earthquakes and drought. We’ve also seen the rain come. We’ve seen revival and restoration and rebuilding. We’ve seen people healed naturally and supernaturally. We’ve brought hope and been given hope.

The current President of Haiti, Haitian pop-star-turned-president is, for the first time in our lives, making good on his promises. Things are looking up. By “looking up” I don’t mean that there is enough medical care, or food, or an end to poverty. As Jesus said, “The poor will always be among you.” But there is hope. Even the bus ride only took 8 hours to go 120 miles instead of the usual 12 hours. This last trip was a beautiful time to be in Haiti. And for our family, it was historic. Let me explain:

My grandfather, Pastor George Clerie, was a native Haitian evangelist who preached the gospel in the remote regions in and around Jeremie in the the Grand Anse province. Many churches were founded in the mountains as a result of his ministry. When we take teams, we go to visit and encourage these people, who are George Clerie’s spiritual children, so to speak. I like to think of it as his physical children visiting his spiritual children! And I also believe that these generational connections are both physically and spiritually powerful.

This time, we were headed to the only church that we’ve NEVER visited and our parents have NEVER visited. In fact, our team was to become the first foreigners ever to visit this place. It is called Doco, with perhaps a couple hundred residents. We would enter the village as Pastor Clerie’s grandchildren and great grandchildren, and their friends. And yes, all of our kids were on the team, including our son Travis’s beautiful fiance, Kayla.

Before we left for Doco, we took the team to some traditional places to get a taste of Haitian culture: From the market, to the cemetery, churches, the public hospital, orphanages, and into the homes of the people. Some of the team felt called specifically to children’s ministry so we were able to give them the opportunity to work with children. They had expected to work with a small group of 30 but were quickly overwhelmed by 80. The rest of the team would go on to Doco.

The trip to Doco was 1 1/2 hours by truck, then 8 1/2 hours on foot. We would cross the Voldrog River 80 times. Our Haitian friends kept track of these crossings by putting a small pebble in their pockets on each crossing. When they were counted at the end, sure enough, there were 80 of them! 

On arrival, we were welcomed by a big crowd of curious and joyful onlookers, who shook our hands, hugged us, and showed us our accomodations that were specially prepared by the villagers. They had constructed a framework of poles and tarps for a shelter, and had dug an outhouse made of palm branches. 

Kate Bartow holding a little girl shortly after arriving in Doco.

After some games, visiting, and a meal with the Haitians, the lamplit night church service began. It’s actually a misnomer to call it a “meeting” or a “church service.” I would call it a “celebration” or a “dance marathon!” One of our team members called it a “disco,” but that’s still too tame! When Haitians praise their Creator, they actually do it...with every fiber of their vocal chords, drums, hands, and bodies. It's a breathtaking experience for the timid chorus-singer who can barely keep a steady clapping rhythm. Surprisingly, at the end of the night, the tin roof still remained. 

After the “meeting,” we rolled out our blankets on the ground outside the church to get ready for bed as 50-75 Haitians quietly watched us from a standing semi-circle. It was funny to be observed so silently and closely. I could hear whispers in Creole like, “Oh, that’s a nice bag she’s sleeping in.” I smiled myself to sleep. Except without the sleep part.

When the Haitians said it would be cold in Doco at night, I thought, “Yeah, right. To Haitians, 70 degrees is cold.” But they were right. It was cold. It was New York cold! We all froze during the night and hardly slept. But it was beautiful. We were happy to be there. Hot or cold.

One of the beautiful people of Doco 
showing  us the coffee beans she grows 
and sells in the markets. 

The next day we played games with the children and the many adults, who wanted to play, too! It was a wonderful time of fun and fellowship. We also visited many of the homes in Doco. They were proud to show us their humble huts and were regretful that they had nothing to offer us. We learned about their families and their crops and prayed and sang songs of blessing over their homes. Some of the oldest people remembered my grandfather and had accepted Christ when he had preached there over 60 years ago.  I was able to introduce them to his great grandchildren, who they were overjoyed to meet.

That night, there was another 3 or 4-hour dance marathon. This time there were even more people crammed into the tiny church, since others had joined us from across the ravine. Perhaps they heard the celebrating the night before and didn’t want to miss the fun! They slept overnight with us, too.

The next morning, we left behind much of what we had carried for the people of Doco to use; tarps, sheets, blankets, backpacks, and Creole Bibles; and began the long walk home. Our hearts were even lighter than our packs.

Our daughter, Kate, has been dating a young man named Brock Lescheid who was also on the team. At a beautiful place along the river where the water was crystal blue, he knelt and asked her to be his wife. There was no better place in the world to win her heart than in the country that courses through her veins. She said “yes,” of course, and we all had even more cause to celebrate!

Back at the hotel in Jeremie, we had much to discuss with the rest of the team. Those that had worked with the children at the orphanage and hospital shared their hearts with us and we shared ours with them. There were many tears, as usual. There were many laughs, too, and even some engagement toasts!

The team that stayed in Jeremie had held abandoned babies for hours. They wept over the sick and dying as they prayed. They held orphans who had never known the love of a physical parent. The Doco team celebrated, played, and fellowshipped, even with our sore feet. We had different stories about the same God. 

Standing in the ocean, members of the January 2014 team, along with
Haitian friends, sing and pray over Charlie, following
his decision to be baptized.

Our trips to Haiti aren’t about “a mission” or “a project.” Our trips are about people.  We give whatever we have to give. It is about personally giving and receiving the love of the Father. The touch of the Master is very personal.

Bryan and I tried to explain to the congregation in Doco that the reason we had come on foot and traveled the path of the Haitians is because we wanted to honor them.

“You see,” Bryan said, “Every year you people of Doco come to Jeremie for the annual convention of churches founded by Pastor George. Every year we see you there, sometimes falling asleep in the pews after your long walk.”

They all laughed.

He continued, “This time, we wanted to come to you, in the same way that you have come to us so many times. On foot. We wanted to walk the same route that you walk.” The church errupted in applause and cheers and “amens” and there was so much joy at this news! It meant more to them than I ever could have imagined.

I suppose it shouldn’t have come as such a surprise to me that “walking in somebody else’s shoes” would mean so much, especially after having used this well-known cliché for so long!

But there’s a verse in the Bible that has also become a cliché. How many times have we heard “Deny yourself, pick up your cross, and follow me” without even thinking what that means on a practical level? We may think, “Yeah, it means being totally sold out for Christ,” but that’s just religiousspeak, that’s not practical. What does it really mean?

Jesus was calling us to get outside ourselves and walk his route.

The cross he carried was a symbol of the weight of the world in all its sin and suffering.  Maybe Jesus was actually asking us to unselfishly identify with and carry the burdens of others. Maybe Jesus knew the power of this act.

When we have compassion for someone’s struggle, for their pain, for their hardship or circumstances, and even when we identify with their joy, we are able to move in the power of the transforming love of God. What we say and what we do will minister to their deepest needs. People will actually believe us when we pray.

There is a reason that flowery prayers don’t speak to someone who’s suffering. But silent tears do.

There is a reason that Jesus layed hands on people. There is a reason that he touched them. There is a reason he was “moved with compassion” before he healed or before Lazarus came out of the tomb.

There’s a reason that going to Haiti moves people to their cores. It is because for one brief moment, we are taken out of our American “problems” and self-consciousness and actually identify with and have compassion for complete strangers. And Haitians see it and are forever changed by it. And we are surprised. Because we never knew we had it in us!  

If imitation is the highest form of flattery, then maybe we should copy Jesus.

Matt: 16:24  If anyone wants to be my follower, you must deny yourself, pick up your cross, and follow me.

Thank you so much for your prayers and support of this ministry, passed down, from generation to generation. If you are interested in going with us to Haiti, we’d love to have you. We’re even planning an “Old Duffers” trip for people wanting to minister in Haiti but who may not feel physically capable of being on an “Extreme Team.” I know, the name is not as glamorous, but the work is the same. May God pour His blessings on your life as you continue to serve Him.

Love, 

Bryan and Lisa