I had a brief conversation via email with my buddy Lucas today, and when that happens, you can always be sure that it'll be thought-provoking! Anyways, he brought up a very interesting thought, as well as a memory I had conveniently catalogued in the back of my mind. So thanks Lucas! All that said, I've slightly edited this post "Do you have Jesus in your heart?", to reflect those thoughts, so this'll be a bit different than if you read this April 7th in the morning.

Some schoolchildren waiting outside their school so they can take a test during their spring break.

While staying on the farm in Ferrier, we were actually not much help since the Haitians were much stronger and more skilled than we were. So whenever we tried to help, we did more harm than good. Well, I take that back...I'm sure we offered substantial entertainment for the town.

Since, we didn't do much good when we tried our hand at physical labor, many of us decided to help with Micah's English class. (FYI, Micah and his wife, Etta, go to our church and moved to Haiti to learn the language and culture, while trying to find a place to live and serve. Etta, a nurse, helps out at the town clinic and studies Creole. Micah's Creole is a bit more advanced, so he actually teaches an English class to about a dozen adult men who are learning agriculture.) Micah enjoyed having the "blancs" in class to help, as it offered up a change of pace and gave him some fresh ideas. Typically, he'd have each Amercan pair up with a Haitian and allow the two to try a conversation in English. After this got old, he called each American up one-by-one to stand in front of the class. Then, he'd have each student take turns asking the American questions in English.

Most of Micah's students were still at a beginner's level of English, so the usual question tended to be something like, "How many brothers do you have?", "Do you like Haiti?", or "How old are you?". However, one of Micah's students was particularly advanced in English, so much so that he could probably get along pretty well in the United States.

On one occasion, one of the college girls from our group was standing in front of the class, fielding the standard question concerning her family, hobbies, etc. The time eventually came for Micah's advanced student to pose a question, and when he did, he certainly caught our attention. As he stood, he confidently spoke in his thick French/Creole accent, "Do you have Jesus in your heart?" The question floored our young American girl, to say the least. She stood there for a few moments, which seemed like hours, with her eyes and mouth wide open. She eventually let out an uneasy laugh and asked Micah what he thought the student meant. Once Micah begrudgingly confirmed to her that the student meant what it sounded like he meant, the young American replied with an uncomfortable, "Yes, I do."

The Haitian student then masterfully and quickly gave a follow-up question, "Why?", to which the American replied with an even more uncomfortable, albeit protypical, response that had to do with loving God and wanting him as a part of your life.

Seemingly due to the "cuteness" of the situation, most of the blancs drew much hilarity from the situation that was torturing the poor American. I also found myself amused, albeit for a different reason. For me, the whole ordeal was a good illustration of how we as Americans underestimate the Haitians, or anyone of a different culture for that matter.

We often go into cultures like Haiti's with a sense that we have an awful lot to bring and teach them...particularly about issues of faith. However, what we find, is that we have an awful lot that we need to learn from them on such issues. The only things we frequently bring are our hand-me-downs and band-aids, which, as you know, deteriorate more quickly and only cover a wound that needs much more treatment and attention.

In addition to generating quite a bit of chuckling, the Haitian student also caused an odd sense of both relief and tension to swell up within me.

Why Relief? Because the question wasn't directed towards me.

Why Tension? Because if the question were to spawn a discussion, then my answer would undoubtedly be requested.

Why in the world was I so thankful to have avoided the question, while at the same time nervous that it might be deflected into my direction??? Or, in the words of my friend Lucas, Why does that question make us feel so uncomfortable? Was it because we were caught off guard? Was it because the question requires such a simple, but weighty answer? Or perhaps because there's no possible way to justify an answer to the question with a simple word? Maybe it was due to the person who was asking the question?

Perhaps it is a combination of all those possibilities. I'm not certain. One thing I do know is that as I look back on that scene in Haiti, I'm fairly ashamed at the anxiety that developed within me at that moment. Paul reminds Timothy to "be prepared in season and out of season", so it seems we should be ready to proclaim our faith when we least expect it. Right? On top of that, as a Christian, I try to make my faith a current that runs through every aspect of my life, so why would a simple question as that catch me off guard? Shouldn't excitement penetrate my being, instead of anxiety?



"Do you have Jesus in your heart?" A question evangelicals in America hear and say often. Not a question an American expects to hear from a Haitian. A question that is answered well by examining and shedding light on our mindset and attitude toward our brothers and sisters off the coast of Florida.


Deer in headlights? No, this is Micah and Etta at their home in Haiti. They graciously threw a big party for us one night. Half the town came. Much music. Much dancing. Much food. Much fun. Even more people. Fun was had by all. Especially once I started giving dancing lessons...Dowdy-style..



Above and below: Micah's English class. You'll never meet a more eager group to learn than this.