We’ve learned that it’s our
responsibility to God to let
the experiences and learned
lessons from our unique
lifestyle carry over into both
sectors of our lives. We’ve
seen how impactful it is to
bring the spirit and liveliness
of the Haitian church into our
Mississippi community. The
lessons of hospitality that
have been lavished upon us
by the Haitian culture have
inevitably seeped into our
house and our lives in the
States. We’ve learned to
be more resourceful with
what we have. Haiti has
taught us the importance of
relationships. Conversely, the
skills and habits we’ve formed
from our life in America
have been influential to our
time spent in Haiti. We have
experienced the huge impact
that technology can have
on the health and efficacy
of a church. We’ve been
able to experience so many
subcultures in the States
that we feel we are able to
connect with. We’ve been
able to show compassion
towards all kinds of people,
both when we are traveling
and when we are leading
in Haiti. One of the coolest
things we have witnessed is
the impact that our teams
have made on their host
churches. Many of our
Haitian church partners are
now sending out their own
mission teams within their
own country, internationally,
and even to the States!
There is so much that can be
learned from the cultures and
churches of both locations.
One of the biggest things
we have discovered as we
stay actively involved in
missions in both Haiti and
the States is that we all need
each other. We cannot do
this Christianity thing alone,
as people or as churches. It’s
time to throw out the rules
and regulations that divide us
as the Church. We often see
race, nationality, and creed
as reasons for division; we
need to start viewing them as
assets toward harmony. We
need each other in order to
see the Kingdom come in all
of its glory. The small Haitian
church out in the countryside
has things to teach the
American church that houses
8,000 people each Sunday.
The Chinese house church has
valuable lessons to share with
the Costa Rican church in a
remote village that is a fourhour
hike through
the mountains.
It’s time to quiet down and
listen to each other. It’s time
to break down the walls and
erase the lines that divide
us and become the united
Church that we were created
to be. There is no need to
fear cultural, generational, or
denominational differences.
Instead, we should embrace
them. If we, Rudy and
Caroline, let these differences
divide us, we wouldn’t be
where we are today in our
marriage, in our work, in our
individual journeys, or in our
faith. We will all become
better people and, more
importantly, we will become
a better Bride when we throw
out our differences, humble
ourselves, and learn from one
another. That is when the
Church will operate as it was
intended to operate.
Rudy and Caroline Bazin
began serving full-time with
Praying Pelican Missions in
2016. Their home base is
in Mississippi. They serve
primarily in Haiti, but have also
found themselves on other
islands in the Carribean and
in cities around the States
leading mission trips.
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