The Lord's Day in Haiti

Today was my first Sunday in Haiti

We were actually able to sleep in today! And by sleep in, I mean instead of waking up at 6:15, we woke up at 7:30. I am quickly realizing that Sunday’s are the best days around here! We got dressed and then actually had biscuits with peanut butter and jelly! Strange I know, but the other option of gravy this morning looked super sketch. But it was actually really great! The women in the kitchen actually make the biscuits from scratch and they are sooo good.

After breakfast we soon went to church. I like church a lot because we are able to take the Miriam Center kids with us! Gilbert and Joshua came with Kelsey and I. They are both great! Church in Haiti is so much different than church in America, but I like it a lot! We actually sat outside of the church under the shade today in chairs because we have a large group in (40 people are here that aren’t on staff or interns). The worship part of church is longer than in the U.S. and there are a lot more prayers (of course all of this is in Creole, so I had no idea what was being said), but the speaker today was actually a pastor of one of the visiting groups. He spoke in English and then another man translated it into Creole. Overall even though I didn’t know what was going on, I really enjoyed the experience of being at a Haitian Church. The people were so genuine and sweet. It was awesome.

After we came back from church I went downstairs and helped Stephanie with the Miriam Center put together the meals for the more high functioning kids. After that I went up for lunch which consisted of cream corn, rolls, and ham salad. If you read the words ‘ham salad’ and thought to yourself: “Ew that sounds gross!” You would be correct. It was nasty! But the rolls were incredible! Bread here is absolutely fantastic. My friend Kelsey and I went back and both ended up eating three.

After lunch was the survivor challenge. Turns out since there was already an even number on both teams, I am the mascot of Difi. Still awesome. We won our challenge today but only those competing in the game received immunity. So from our team, only Kelsey and Lisa were off the chopping block and since Sinclair was the first one to finish off of the Green Goblin he couldn’t be voted for this week either.

Once the challenge was over we headed to a soccer game. It was a fundraiser for the mission and tickets were two dollars. The game was NWHCM staff verses a Haitian team. I just watched which was really fun and our team actually ended up winning

When we got back from to the mission from the game I was able to a call my parents using the mission’s phone. The number is actually registered as a Kentucky number so we don’t get charge for international minutes, but we only get one phone call a week. It was so good to hear from both my mom and my day and be able to hear how things are going back home. I’m sad I didn’t get to talk with my sister, but Jenna I hope that the wedding you were shooting went well! During this time in the staff lounge I was also able to hang up pictures I had brought from home in my locker, which is great and an awesome reminder of home!

Dinner tonight was spaghetti and apple sauce. It was quite filling and devotional tonight was great! My heart was really open during worship and the message from one of the guys was about strength and he read a verse out of Isaiah 40 on hope and perseverance. It was a great reminder of why I am here.

After devo we had our first tribal counsel and Mary and Tosh were voted off the island because they are both leaving in the next week or so. Instead of touches (because Haiti is hot enough, we are using water bottles. A clear essential here.) Once we were done with this, I took my bucket bath for today and I am now in the staff lounge with a lot of the staff watching a movie and eating real snacks (Cheese Its and Captain Crunch)! It is certainly a great way to end the day!

“But those who hope in the Lord shall renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.