Mission Moment: Haiti (Monday, Dec. 10, 2012)

‘The Son of God truck’

Climbing For Christ was blessed in May 2009 to purchase a used 2005 Nissan Frontier truck after having spent US$15,000 to rent vehicles to do the Lord’s work our first three years in Haiti. We named it “the God truck” because, of course, He provided it.

The truck delivered construction supplies to build churches; plants, seed and fertilizer for farmers; carried those in need of medical care, and brought missionaries (indigenous and short-term) as far as possible to share the love of Jesus and teach the Gospel. The truck was a crucial tool.

It also became costly. More than 3½ years of driving on the so-called roads (riverbeds and carved-out mountain pastures) left the truck in constant need of repair.

A frequent scene: 'The God truck' broken down in Santo Domingo only a few minutes after returning our Mission: Nepal 2012 team to the airport.

Parts are outrageously priced on the island of Hispaniola, which Haiti shares with the Dominican Republic. For example: both an alternator and a starter costs US$1,500 each, and a set of four (not-so-gently used) tires is US$900. We were exploring ways to ship parts from the United States to cut exorbitant expenses.

This prompted us to pray for a new vehicle. On Wednesday, Dec. 5 – the third day of our 2012 “12 Days of CHRISTmas” e-appeal – we focused on asking for help to purchase a 2012 Toyota Hilux. We estimated a cost of US$650 per month after we made a down payment.

God opened the door so that we could sell our current vehicle and put those funds toward what we are calling “the Son of God truck.” We are walking, not to mention driving, by faith.

On Saturday, Dec. 8, Haitian missionary Miguel Ruben Guante attended a vehicle fair in Santo Domingo and purchased “the Son of God truck” – a 2013 Toyota! To close the deal, Climbing For Christ must deliver a down payment of US$3,863 by Dec. 17.

'The Son of God truck' with its hood up, not for repairs, but to show off what's new.