Pancakes and The Man With No Teeth

We have a little kerosene stove that I use to make breakfast, for the four of us living here at the property. I like to make pancakes a few times a week, and I always try to make a little extra so we can share with the three gardeners and our daytime security man.
Benoir is one of our gardeners and he proudly refers to himself as a ‘king without teeth’. He really enjoys our pancakes…I think especially because he doesn’t need teeth to eat them. He’s a poor man, who usually doesn’t have more than one meal a day, but he’s full of the Holy Spirit and the joy of the Lord. This is part of the reason we try to share what food we have… the people we share it with are sincerely hungry.

One day, when Benoir and the others were eating pancakes with us, I jokingly asked Benoir if he’d want me to teach his wife how to make pancakes. He thought that was a great idea and yesterday he and his family walked Rebekah, Rachel and I over to their house on the other side of the river. It was a blistering hot day and we were all drenched in sweat by the time we arrived, so Benoir’s wife was kind enough to offer us some of her clothes to change into, since ours were completely soaked. Although grateful for her offer, we declined… preferring to stay in our sweat soaked clothes than to make more work for a lady who has to hand wash everything her family wears.

As soon as the family changed out of their ‘wet’ clothes, Madam Benoir started the coal fire, so we could make lunch. It took awhile for it to heat up, but once it got going, it was really hot! I had so much fun teaching her how to make pancakes, on the dirt floor of their house! Fortunately, we brought all the ingredients, cuz I didn’t see any food in that two-room house. Madam Benoir was a fast learner, despite the fact that she seemed slightly overwhelmed at first, cuz she’d never made anything that needed flipping before. With a little practice with the flipper, though, she was a pro in no time!

The whole family seemed to really enjoy the pancakes and I explained to them that if she makes pancakes for her family, she’ll save money on buying them bread. It’s also something she could make to sell at the market. Please pray for Benoir and his family. They are in great need of food that would provide them with a well-balanced diet. There are so many hungry people here. Sometimes it really is overwhelming.

I was really touched by the prayer time we had with Benoir and his family. He specifically asked us to pray for him, his family and their house, while we were there. I got the impression that he appreciated our prayers more than anything else that day. Christians here are so desperate to be prayed for. They really understand that they have NOTHING without God. Benoir and his family also took the time to pray for the three of us. They thanked God for sending us to Haiti to bless them, who have nothing. They prayed blessing over each of us, our moms, dads, brothers, and sisters. I found it difficult to fight the tears, as I listened to them thank God for us. I honestly don’t think I’ve ever felt so loved or appreciated in my life, as I do by my family in Christ, here in Grand-Goàve, Haiti.