By Valeene Hayes

Excitement reigned as we left the Indianapolis airport on April 17 – not only would we be in Haiti within 24 hours, but we would be having a special evening in Florida with Gaudin Charles, our former Radio 4VEH director.

From the airport to the OMS compound – little had changed—just more of it, except cell phones everywhere. Unbelievable! Sunday morning worship on the compound brought back memories of our original church—a little platform, simple pulpit with a sign “Obeir Dieu” (Obey God). I held daily rehearsals in that church 44 years ago, preparing 16 teenagers and a male quartet for the first Men for Missions stateside choir tour, “Music in Mahogany.”

During my week in Haiti, “remaining fruit” from that group was seen: four pastors, a radio technician and program producer, all standing firm in their faith and ministry.
After seeing Bethesda Clinic, Cowman School, Radio 4VEH and Emmaus Seminary and meeting all the staff and missionaries, we spent four days with one of our national leaders, Emmanuel Felix. Traveling in a truck, we visited four villages with evangelism and radio distribution as our mission.

Each little village had its own personality – people walking, talking, selling, sitting in
“swept clean” courtyards. Many little children were around, but one thing I noticed – more of them were in colorful uniforms, attending school at a church in the village. In some areas, this is possible because of OMS Starfish Kids program.

Seventy-five Haitians responded to our sharing of Jesus’ love and asked us to pray with them. Their heart soil was ready as we had prayed. Christ’s love could be seen in the eyes of the older Christians, and some told us of hearing about Jesus on the radio.

One older man was a miracle before my eyes. He not only glowed with Jesus’ love, but when I gave him a picture with a Creole verse on it, he read it to me, then pulled out a New Testament and said, “I read this too.”

During my years in Haiti, very few older people could read. He was a miracle, and I told him so. We gave him a radio! Can you imagine his response? We gave 172 radios
to new believers, older Christians and even to some who refused God’s love at this time.
“Mesi Jezu, mesi Jezu” (Thank you, Jesus) was heard as they held them tightly, almost hugging them. One dear woman kissed hers.

One village seemed to be cold and resistant to our sharing. As I walked up to one of the
homes, two men were smoking, which is very unusual in the villages. I don’t know why I
asked, except the Holy Spirit led me to say: “Are you from this area?”
The younger man replied, “No, I’m from Plaine du Nord.”
“Then you must know Pastor Thony Paul?” (Thony was one of the teens in the choir 44 years ago and is now a pastor in Plaine du Nord.)
The man said, “He is my cousin!”
Shocked, I said, “Then you know Thony has been praying for you a long time!”
“Yes, and he has talked to me, too.”
My heart pounding, I responded,“Then you know of God’s love for you!”
As the conversation continued, I had Bill Evans, our MFMI leader, share his testimony with Henri. Throwing his cigarette down, Henri opened his heart to the Lord and prayed the sinner’s prayer with Bill. What a privilege being the interpreter for all of this!

I came away from Haiti rejoicing in the things I had witnessed, but I also came away burdened for more prayer. Pray with me for God’s choice of a radio director for 4VEH, also a program director for FM Stereo-Horizon 94.7.

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