Pastor Joseph has worked as gatekeeper at Adoration since June 1, 2010. Before Adoration he worked for big t-shirt factory as a supervisor/inspector. He also is a local Pastor at The International First Church of God (L’eglise Internationale Primitive de Dieu), with 30-50 regular members. Most pastors here in Haiti, have other occupations to support their families.
Pastor Joseph has been married for 7 years, and has one daughter, Hadassah, who is 5 years old and attends Adoration school.
So, what is a gatekeeper? Not a typical Canadian job, but here in Haiti it is very important. Every home and workplace here is surrounded by a wall, usually with barbed wire or glass on top to keep out intruders. There are gates to get in and out of each property, and Pastor Joseph acts as a security guard/monitor to know who is coming into and leaving the Adoration property.
On a typical day, he leaves his home around 5:30 a.m. and arrives at the school around 6:15 (he walks to work, or takes a tap-tap). When he arrives, there are often people already waiting out front for the medical clinic, so he takes their names and gives them a numbered waiting card. (Dr. Ed will see the first 50 people who come, so this is an important job.) After that, he unlocks the doors, and oils the gate if needed. By then, teachers and students start arriving and he lets them into the school and courtyard. After school opening (8:00), if students are late, Pastor Joseph escorts them to the office, so they can explain why they were late, before being admitted to class. (Attendance and lateness are recorde
d diligently, and it is an honour at graduation to have had no late or absent days.) During the school day, Pastor Joseph manages who is coming in and out of the property for the school as well as the medical clinic. He takes names of any visitors, who they are here to see, and records when they arrived and when they leave. He will escort visitors to the office/class they need to get to.
Having Pastor Joseph is a great blessing, and assists with security and
maintenance of our supplies and property, although, Pastor Joseph was adamant, that he does not give security, only God can give security. He read me Psalm 4:8 ” In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety.”
Pastor Joseph would like prayers for himself and his family, for continuing to grow in their spiritual life, for his ministry, and to open doors to help his family have a better life.
