It's a Matter of Life and Death by Drew Allen

Ironic isn't it, that while we were trying to breath "life" into the sick and dying today by visiting with, offering healing massages, and the much needed human touch, death was looming there among us, waiting for it's next victim.

Minutes before moving to the next row of beds filled with men waiting for our gift of "life", death beat us there, and took the life of one of the men.  A man nearby, with eyes filling with tears told my son that they had become close friends over the past couple of weeks, indicating that it's easy, when there's nothing else to do but lie there.  As they turned to leave, with heavy hearts, my son looked over his shoulder to see another cloth being placed over the face of another "victim" passing from life into death.
I couldn't help but feel like yelling to the assumed victor, the familiar words...

"Death has been swallowed up in Victory.  Where, oh death, is your victory?  Where oh death, is your sting?" 1 Corinthians 15:54-55

The thought felt all too real that up the stairs and down the hall some of the women we had loved and comforted with much anticipated and desperately needed massages, may also be at deaths door........And then the beautiful words came to me again from 1 Corinthians that says:

"No eye  has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him."  1 Corinthians 2:9

A quick stop by Apparent Project,  provided a timely distraction and reminded us that having meaningful work to do makes life purposeful, hopeful and worthwhile.  Apparent Project employees hundreds of Haitians in hand made jewelry crafting.  Then Moses spoke of a man who is a master craftsman, and expert in working with gold silver and bronze (or in this case cereal boxes!).  We all left with Haitian handmade jewelry to remind us of our visit.

Well they say that all is well that ends well.  So we ended the day with thirteen beautiful Haitian guests who shared dinner, danced in the rain, showed up the Americans in a Happy Birthday song, (theirs far more fun!) and sang "au revoir" on our front steps:

"You hear me when I'm calling, You catch me when I'm falling, You show me who I am.......I am yours!"
                                                        Who Am I? by Casting Crowns