By Yvonne Roller
“The buildings are coming down!” The phone went dead. J.W.’s voice, lost.
Frantic phone calls to Haiti. But nothing, No voices. Fear-filled calls between offices and homes from east to west. But no voices. It could be days before we’d know anything from the Haitian leadership or from the missionaries.
Near midnight, we all agreed to leave our cell phones on and try to sleep. Then, a sweet sound: a phone call at 3:00 a.m. on Wednesday morning. Missionary doctor Dan Snyder was granted limited e-mail access at the U.S. Embassy. There was immense relief in receiving a partial message of the missionaries’ whereabouts.
More phone calls. Incredible teamwork of His church in action. Free Methodist World Missions personnel worked day and night — calls to a Medivac team, to family members and government officials, all deployed in rescue.
Still nothing from the Haitian church. Finally, we heard from District Superintendent Delamy. He had borrowed a phone. We talked briefly. The call was cut off.
“Did anyone get his number?” We lost his voice.
The phone rang. It was Andy Yardy, the first FM representative making his way into Haiti. Long wait. And then, “It’s Andy. Good to hear your voice!” Andy had a borrowed cell phone. “Tell us about the Haitian leaders, pastors and missionaries!” We named them by name.
The voices are etched in my memory. Important voices. Important messages.
We listen with that same desperation to hear Jesus’ voice. How can we show His love?
In supernatural ways, He nudges us to connect with a fellow passenger or says clearly, “Speak my name to the family on an elevator.”
“What?” I question, “Them?”
Confidently submitting to His voice, I say something simple, introducing Jesus into the conversation.
This rescue mission is urgent. How can we acknowledge the presence of each person? Each one is so deeply loved by the Father.
It’s so good to hear His voice, to simply submit to His voice, “Go there. Bake this. Speak now. Hush now.” Jesus’ voice lovingly leads us in rescue.
Yvonne Roller is married to Bishop David Roller. When not traveling in the Eastern area of the United States, the United Kingdom or Latin America, they reside in Baltimore, Maryland.
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