Ayiesha Woods' tent city concert delights Haitians

Port au Prince in early January 2010 had one area of lush greenery, slow rolling hills, and a hint of what the Haitian landscape could be.

It was a beautiful golf course. Its beauty changed after the earthquake in mid-January as the land became a haven for 40,000 homeless Haitians.

Impacted by the plight of the people, actor Sean Penn helped to provide relief by organizing the layout for the new campsite for the tent city.

It is almost impossible to believe that less than a year ago, caddies, golf carts and golfers occupied the area.

During a walk today, as you are inundated with countless people, you will notice that Petionville is an organized, functioning city. 

You can identify tents that house barbershops, beauty salons, food markets, and even a church. 

The Petionville tent city is an example of the resili-ence of Haitian people. 

As we visited Haiti several times this year we built relationships with the ­people in the camps. They knew that we were not there to tour but to work. 

We taught in the Israel Children’s School, treated countless people in the medical clinic, conducted dental surgery in the medical tent, and held various programmed for children  and adults at different locations throughout the camp. 

One of the greatest highlights for us all – Haitians and Bermudians alike — was a Sunday afternoon concert that we organized. 

Difficult

Bisha, a leader in Petionville, and our team had developed a friendship as we tried to work out relief programmes for the 40,000 residents in the tent city.

Many months of difficult living conditions had drained the residents and it was clear they needed something to look forward to. He suggested the people would love a concert.

Immediately I thought, ‘Why not? What better place to have a concert of hope than the tent city?’ 

Ayiesha Woods came to mind as we made plans.

Before moving to Texas, she and her brother were originally from Bermuda.

The granddaughter of a professional musician and the daughter of a musical man, she had recently ­ministered first to our youth at Cornerstone and then the church.

Ayiesha had honed and developed her natural ­talent throughout high school singing in a chorus, playing in the school band, harmonizing in the church choir and participating in musical ensembles.

Music is such a way of life for her that even when she is not performing she strums the guitar, plays the keyboard, works with rhythms on percussion or pens lyrics.

We proposed the concert in Petionville and Ayiesha’s enthusiastic spirit to bring hope in a hopeless situation quickly saw her decide to join us for the first gospel concert in this camp. She was excited and we knew her award-winning talent would minister to the crowds.

We went to work organizing the concert. Using Bisha and the Haitian contacts we have, we produced promotional posters in French Creole, organized people to hang them, assembled a crew to build the stage to provide the necessary sound ­system and provide security, arranged transportation... the list continued. 

We got to know the local pastor who had been in this camp from the second day after the earthquake, conducting services each night at 6pm. He was more than willing to assist us to make this concert a reality.

The event merged Ayiesha’s performance with the local talent of the Caribbean Grace Tabernacle Choir and a singing group from the only tent city church.

As we watched hundreds of people enjoying the message through song (as translation was conducted regularly) we witnessed burdens being lifted as the eyes of children, teens and adults were glued to the wooden stage. 

At the end of the concert we gave out hundreds of tracts in French Creole explaining how to have a personal relationship with God. It was an awesome experience. Mary Samuels, vice president of the  Cornerstone Foundation, said: “These people are so precious. It is an honour to serve them and to see so many that were having a good time.

“It was a time of peace for the displaced and clearly stressed Haitians, and they left with joy in their hearts and liberty in their souls.”  

We witnessed that love is demonstrated not by what we say but what we do, not by how much we talk but how much we put into action, not by how much we plan but by how far we go to make a lasting difference. 

Divine

We learned first-hand that “if anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth”. 

Look for the divine appointments that God sends your way. 

Understand that life is not about obtaining the latest car, the larger house, or the higher position on our jobs. Life is about looking for the opportunities to make a lasting difference in the lives of others.