Another earthquake story

Today was a one of the FIRST times since I've lived in Haiti that I have been able to understand and follow the sermon (in Kreyol) in church.  Jean Claude (one of the elders) preached, and I really like his style.  He's kind of ... um... "spirited" but not to the point of ridiculousness. 

Anyway, he shared this story from Acts 16:

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22}The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten. ²³After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. ²⁴Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.

 ²⁵About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. ²⁶Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody's chains came loose. ²⁷The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. ²⁸But Paul shouted, "Don't harm yourself! We are all here!"

 ²⁹The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. ³⁰He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"

 ³¹They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household." ³²Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. ³³At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized. ³⁴The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole family.

 ³⁵When it was daylight, the magistrates sent their officers to the jailer with the order: "Release those men." ³⁶The jailer told Paul, "The magistrates have ordered that you and Silas be released. Now you can leave. Go in peace."

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His point of the sermon was not that there was an earthquake.  But that was all I could think about. In spite of the 'violent earthquake' (not to mention all the OTHER reasons they had to leave,) they STAYED INSIDE OF THE BUILDING.  There was a freakin' earthquake.  Enough that it shook the foundations of the prison shook and all the doors opened.  That very thing happened here in Haiti.  And all the prisoners escaped.  And really, I don't blame them.  Our family LIVED outside for like 2 months after the earthquake in Haiti.

Paul and Silas had every good and logical reason to BELIEVE that this might be the way that God was rescuing them-- by allowing them to escape.  But no.  They stayed.  Against all logic.  And God had a bigger purpose. And people were saved. 

Oh that I could be stronger in the face of fear.  Oh that my faith would increase and I would have a desire to STAY in the hard times rather than trying to find the quickest route out.

I had a really grumpy start to my day.  Josiah peed in his bed.  We were rushing to get out the door on time for church (as Nick was in Port Au Prince).  When I got there it was really hot.  And church started 30 minutes late.  Which made me mad that I was rushing.  We didn't get to eat breakfast before church so we were all hungry.  Seven out of ten of my kids were complaining about each other "touching their chairs."  I had a lot on my mind...  I was just grumpy.

But when I heard the message--it was interesting.  The point of Jean Claude's message had nothing to do with the earthquake.  It was all about how God is a God of miracles.  He was then and he still is.

 This might sound like an exaggeration, but it was a small miracle today that I understood the sermon. somehow God opened my ears for the first time to understand the message in Kreyol, I couldn't help but leave with a grateful heart.  Motivated and challenged to move forward in my faith.  This is the first time this has happened for me in Haitian church. It felt good.

I am hoping this is just the beginning of what is to come.