SPIN LIKE THE WIND-the blog of Nigel James.

A PAIN IN ....THE STOMACH.

Been at home resting up after a bad bout of stomach pain which has variously been diagnosed as severe acid reflux, peptic ulcer,hiatus hernia, or a combination of all three. The National Health Service can't give me a gastroscopy (camera down the throat into the oesophagus and stomach) until June, so I'm having to go private on Wednesday to try and get to the bottom (or stomach to be more precise) of this. Hopefully sorted out before I fly out to join Third Day on tour, but I'm not counting on it.

LESSONS LEARNT IN HAITI.

In a number of ways the trip to Haiti was quite disappointing. My background check with World Vision UK didn't come through in time which meant I couldn't visit any projects with children on- so the meaningful part of my time there really only lasted one morning; not much for 7 days and 8 flights! I either caught a bad cold on the trip, or one I already had got a lot worse-so I was coughing and spluttering and have only just begun to get over it. Security conditions were such that we couldn't see any of the capital Port au Prince- so no view of the earthquake damage, the tented city housing displaced people, or the destroyed presidential palace- this was a disappointment to all of us. In retrospect, it might have been better for me not to have gone on the trip, and for the last week I have been feeling pretty confused about it-especially as I received a couple of significant prophesies before I travelled out.

However, sitting in church yesterday morning, I allowed the Lord to minister to me and reveal that indeed there were valuable lessons learned on the trip:

1. It's not about me!  I need constantly reminding of this central truth about the Christian faith. In the great scheme of things so what If I have what on the face of it appears to be a wasted trip to Haiti?

2. There is great need in the country of Haiti. Despite the efforts of many, there appears to be little change since the earthquake- there has been much talk of low cost, earthquake proof housing, but none has been constructed yet. The capital remains a scene of ruin and unrest.

3. Many young, educated, Christian people in Haiti are committed to rebuilding their country-rather than emigrate to the USA or Canada as many upwardly aspiring Haitians do, there are a significant number of Christians in their 20's and 30's who are working for Christian charities and aid agencies and are determined to rebuild spiritually, physically and politically -as with the World Vision staff in this picture with Third Day:

4. Missionaries from all over the world are responding to the plight of Haiti-especially from the USA. One of the hallmarks for me of the American church is that it understands the imperative to get involved in the Great Commission. The work of World Vision, in particular its partnership with USAID to deliver nutritious food to those Haitians that desperately need it, was impressive. Churches in the USA are so good at resourcing the mission field with people and with money.

 I was able to deliver a suitcase to Jackie Griffiths, a missionary from Elim in the UK- the church movement I'm part of- who arrived in Haiti the day after I did. She'll be there for 3 years, and I willingly carried out an extra suitcase as she was only able to take 2 cases with her.

5. I still find it hard to fight off fleshly attack- illness, tiredness, difficulty and disappointment, all now and again set me back and reduce my effectiveness in  ministry. I think I'm getting better at dealing with this issue, but it's a struggle!

I have posted some photos in a new album entitled Haiti-Third Day.