Rely on Christ Day 2- Water Truck!!

It is really hard to put into words the experience of being here in Haiti. Today was water truck day.  Last time I was here I had no idea what that meant, but this year it was one of the things that I most looked forward to!  It is a day that our team  had the opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus and is full of experiences.  As I reflect on the day, it started by having a cup of amazing coffee and sitting on the balcony of the guest house sitting and taking in the peaceful sounds and views of an early Haiti morning.  Sounds of roosters crowing and dogs bark and  horns honking.  What a glorious cool breeze blowing over us.  We go from that to eating a wonderful home cooked breakfast.  That is such a contrast to what we experienced over the next several hours.  We started by loading up in the tap tap (which is the vehicle that we travel around in) and then making our way through Port au Prince to Cite Soleil where we followed a tanker truck of water  in to the city.  As we enter the city we hear children shouting "hey you" to get our attention.  We are there to deliver water to a city full of people living where there is no running water.  What we actually do is sooo much more than that.  It is an opportunity to love on kids that are longing for human touch.  It does not matter that we cannot speak their language, we can speak Jesus language of love through human touch.  We are able to encourage the workers, love on kids, fill buckets with water, and most importantly offering them a glimpse at the living water that Jesus has to offer to all of them.  This puts new perspective on those verses in John that talk about water where they would not thirst again.  Water is such a necessity for human life and yet the water Jesus is talking about is the importance of having a relationship with him and how that is more important that life itself.  Water truck day is a ton of work but what a delight to be able to serve Jesus in this way.  It is hard to describe how different life is here than it is in America.  Our blessings run so deep that in some ways it seems to be a distraction that keeps us from hearing and serving God in the way that he intends us to.  After delivering water  in 3 different locations and getting a tour of Hope clinic, church and school, and a walk out on the ocean pier we loaded up on the tap tap for the ride back to the guest house.  Even here there is a stark difference from where we had been.  We came back to a shower and a wonderful home cooked meal again.  What a blessing to be here serving with this amazing group.  God is good!

Blessings,
Jeff Rud