Love is a Verb – Teach to Transform
Haitian Christian OutreachJostling down the rocky dirt road, laden with several hundred pounds of medical and personal gear, the houses became fewer and fewer, fading into the jungle like mist over the canopy. With every dip and turn, we neared our destination. Just when we thought we had reached the end of the island, there it was: Peredo Community Hospital. White sharp angles against the inky night sky greeted us as we entered the campus. Pulling up to the dorms, we had our first look at our new home for the next seven days. We also met our new colleagues, Pastor Ro, his wife Eline, the four summer HCO interns, and the rest of the staff and HCO family. Even through our team’s travel-weary eyes, the love and peace present in this place was immediately apparent.
1 John 4:7
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.
Our first day, Sunday, was filled with worship, rest, anticipation, and acclimatization. It was hot, but the occasional cool island breeze was a reminder of the Spirit which would guide our mission. The next four days were a blur of teaching, translating, assessing, and encouraging.
As a medical teaching ministry, Teach to Transform‘s primary objective is to teach basic medical, obstetrical, and neonatal resuscitation skills to local pastors and church leaders. These skills can then be used as an evangelism tool to share the Gospel in their local villages, as well as bring sustainable basic health and hygiene practices to remote parts of the country.
During this trip we had about 30 students of various backgrounds. While each student was unique, their passion for learning and their love of God and each other was a testament to the beautiful work being done in Haiti by the one true God.
Ephesians 2:10
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
After four days of pouring into the students, we were ready for graduation! The students were inspirational, some walking hours each day to get to and from the the training. Our sincere hope is that the skills they now possess will be used to glorify God and bring others to the saving knowledge of Christ!
John 15:5
I (Jesus) am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
All too quickly the week came to an end. Watching the Peredo campus fade into the distance, our team was able to reflect on our shared experience. The Haitian people have gone through many trials, but being able to serve them with TTT and HCO is evidence of God’s unwavering faithfulness. It was an honor and a blessing to partner with HCO. Their sincere love of God and their heart for the Haitian people are reflected in their amazing ministry, and they are a blessing to Haiti and the world.
Isaiah 52:7
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”
by Ryan Hata, MD
Teach to Transform
Louisville, KY
The Haitians have a saying, “Beyond the mountains, more mountains,” meaning that beyond opportunities and problems, more opportunities and problems.
Matthew 17:20
“For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”
