This was the Lord’s Day! It was an amazing day as we attended Sunday School, morning and evening services worshipping with the Haitians in Maniche.
As visitors we found ourselves ushered up to the second row.
Sunday School – started at 8 a.m. We met in the church first and then the classes split up. We didn’t know where to go but were ushered by our Haitian friends. Mike went with the older men. Grant went with another Haitian friend. Madam Pasté told me to go with her. Trinity and Grace did not want to be separated from me so we stayed together. We listened and tried to catch what the lady spoke, but it was a long hour. Afterwards we found out why we were in such demand. They are very competitive with their stats, how many in each class, how many visitors, how many brought their Bibles!
The Pastor didn’t have a microphone so were glad to be near the front!
Singing practice after church. Every MEBSH church has the same tin roof and the same benches!
Church service – I wasn’t sure if we would be asked to speak that day, but I thought to myself what could I say if the opportunity was given. Just in case, I tried to be prepared in Creole in what came to my mind. Sure enough the Pastor asked all of us to stand and speak a little Creole to the church. This was the first time for all of us and we were out of our comfort zone.
The singing was wonderful. Alive! It was so touching to sing with these people that we got to know this week. We loved it!
Here, as everywhere in Haiti, they wore their very best to church.
Afterwards we went for a walk to the river. This time we had a few Haitians that went with us. It was very hot. We finally got to the river and it was very low. It is the rainy season and it is not raining much. They say this is the second year in a row this has been the case.
On the way home, Grant’s Haitian friend wanted us to stop and visit his Aunt briefly so we followed him. When we found her in the back yard with a small circle of friends, I leaned against a tree and a lady sitting there told me “Don’t touch!” (in Creole) I was surprised! They were making some kind of drink or liquid for something in a large basin which a man was pouring over the Aunt’s foot. It was green and it had an unusual smell. I didn’t feel comfortable. Mike heard the explanation, “Exorcist.” He told me quietly that it was probably a witch doctor so we said, “Ale!” (Let’s go!) and headed out of there really quickly!
We enjoyed a walk Sunday through town and to the river.
A view of the new levee walls they are stacking to prevent the town from flooding. These were incredible, at least a mile long!
A very tall mapu tree. Haitians involved in voodoo activity associate these with evil spirits and so they do not cut them down!
Evening song and prayer service – We sang and then everyone prayed out loud. A special Haitian friend invited our family to sing a special song to the ones there. We stood in front and sang, “The Solid Rock” in English (3 verses we could remember!) They loved it! They said, “Amen!” afterwards. Then they were so excited that they wanted to also sing it in Creole! Pastor Enock preached to all of us from Luke 12:32–35. He talked on trusting and staying fixed on Jesus. It is dangerous to put your trust in anything else, like money, a house, things, etc. It was a good sermon from what we could get out of it!
His Heart for Haiti 