We recently got to experience something awesome yet extremely eye opening and humbling. Brad and I found out that our Haitian friend, Raynald, was having a birthday so naturally we threw him a surprise party! Everyone loves surprises! We planned an afternoon for him to come over to the Rowland's house and cook burgers and have cake and all that normal birthday stuff that you're supposed to do.
He had mentioned to me awhile back that he did not have a bible. He is Haitian but can read and speak English pretty well so we got him a new testament English bible!
He loved it! I don't think it has left his side since. It was his first bible to ever have and after opening it he began to tear up and thank us over and over.
After we finished eating cake and opening gifts and were sitting around just talking, Raynald tells us that he has never had a birthday party before... He turned 23 that day and through watery eyes he thanked us again for the 732 time and told us how special this day was and how he didnt understand how God would allow him to have such good friends and people that would do this for him. We were blown away. 23 years old and never had a birthday party. His parents died when he was young and he lived with a foster family that loved the Lord and showed him who God is as he began to grow. Raynald moved to the DR from Haiti about a year ago looking for an opportunity to start a better life which is the case for most of the Haitians we come into contact with only to be left with the realization that it is no better, in fact harder for them here. We got the chance to explain to him how we are able to do this for him because God first loved us and paved the way for us to receive a new birthday for ourselves when we were born again into His kingdom! Our relationship with Raynald continues to grow and not only is he apart of our men's bible study each week but we frequently spend time with him at his home or at ours. What a picture of the love of Christ as HE rules over all nations and for reasons I may never know, this divine encounter with a brother was perfectly orchestrated and ordained for a discipleship relationship, friendship, and brotherhood. Please pray for Raynald and that his heart is continually captured by our King of Kings and Lord of Lords!
We pray that this story may spark in your hearts a thankfulness for all God has blessed you with in the same way it did ours... a simple birthday party will never be forgotten. You could say that it was a
Birthday Party Like No Other.
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