Water is something many take for granted, but for Pastor Tercichrist Accilien and the people of the village of Maissade, Haiti, water is a desperate need.
Pastor Accilien gave an update on mission work in his village during a visit to Blackshear recently. The pastor spoke at services locally, including at Bridge Community Church and Offerman Baptist Church.
Pastor Accilien recently returned home to Haiti aboard a converted 1935 DC-3 military transport plane operated by Missionary Flights International. He departed from Ft. Pierce, FL and landed on a grass runway in the Carribean.
While in Blackshear, Accilien stayed with his friends, missionary volunteers Johnny and Glenda Aldridge, people he calls family. This is not his first visit to the U.S. In the past, he came twice a year to visit friends and help with fundraising for the churches, schools, and clinic that are his life’s work. Now, with the rising cost of travel, he comes once a year if he can.
Last year, he made the trip to receive cataract surgery. Anonymous donors paid for half of the procedure and the surgeon would not let them pay for the other eye, doing the remainder free of charge.
Pastor Accilien is grateful for such generosity and hopes that his most recent visit will inspire further generosity toward his home village of Maissade in the central plateau of Haiti.
In the midst of a humanitarian crisis with commerce at a standstill and violent gangs controlling up to 80% of the capital city, Port-au-Prince, people might think it is safer for Accilien to remain in the U.S.
“Some don’t understand why I go back. They say they can find something for me to do here,” Pastor Accilien says in a calm, soft-spoken voice, “When I am here, I am comfortable, but what I do here will not have much impact. What I can do in my country will make a difference.”
A pastor for 30 years and a full time missionary for 11, Accilien has passionate supporters in the Aldridges. Just as he is welcome in their Blackshear home, they are welcome in his village.
The couple says, “It is hard work, but it is good work.”
On their last trip to Haiti, the Aldridges met a woman that drills wells. As the village of Maissade is desperately in need of clean drinking water, the couple saw the work of Divine Providence in the meeting.
Now Accilien and the Aldridges are hoping for another miracle. A well will cost $8,000 and provide fresh water for 2,000 people plus their animals and gardens. After a month long drought, it is sorely needed, but they have faith the need will be answered.
“Scripture says you have not, because you asked not,” Glenda Aldridge says, “We have asked Him, so we know it is coming.”
For now, villagers walk a two mile round trip up and down the mountainside to get water from the same river where livestock come to drink. Children as young as four years old can be seen carrying gallon jugs on the journey.
When asked what his dreams are for Maissade, Pastor Accilien gets a far off look in his eyes.
“I want to change my village, but sometimes I don’t want to think about big things, canals and a tractor. We need clean water and must take the small steps first,” he said.
Those who would like to donate toward this cause please go to theholtrowlandfoundation.com/donate. For information on missionary trips Haiti, please email [email protected].
