Celebrating the New Year

New Year’s Eve there was a night service at church. We arrived around 9pm. We alternated between singing and someone sharing what God did in their life in 2013. At five minutes to midnight we sang and praised God to ring in the New Year. We exchanged hugs and said, “Bonne Année.” Then for two more hours people shared what God did in 2013. It was a good time of remembrance and celebration looking towards the future. I got up and spoke, telling everyone I am thankful God called me to Haiti at this time and thankful to everyone who welcomed me like part of the family.

New Year’s Day is also Haitian Independence Day. There was a slave revolution and in 1804 Haiti became the first black republic. The French settlers and slave owners apparently ate a lot of pumpkin soup. The first thing the slaves did after declaring independence was eat pumpkin soup. Now every year all over Haiti that is what is eaten to celebrate Independence Day. It’s delicious. It is a pumpkin broth with potatoes, carrots, cabbage, and other vegetables.

Worshiping Together

When the electricity comes on a night it is a celebration. The lights flicker once or twice and then stay on for several hours. We say, “Wé”, “Mesi, Jezi” and “Halleluiah.” Then we plug in our phones to charge and set up our chairs in front of the TV to see what is on for the night. But if it starts getting dark and the lights haven’t come on yet someone will get the oil lamp, light it, and set it on the table. Last night was one of those nights. We were sitting in the dining room with Ronika and Abed running around getting out energy before it was time for bed. Abed lifts his hands and says, “Halleluiah”. At least that’s what we think he says. He is only 16 months old. Asmene, his mom, starts singing “Broken Halleluiah”. Since it’s in English I join in, but neither of us know all the words so when we finish we look at Abed and he raises his hands and wants us to sing again. And again. And again.

As we were singing I was thinking how awesome it was to be worshiping God together. Because we are all God’s children. He doesn’t just love me because I came here. He doesn’t just love the ones who do all the right things and have all the right answers. He doesn’t just love the ones who have an eventful, redeeming story. He loves all of us. He loved us all before we did anything, before we had a story to tell. Sometimes having electricity can hinder these moments.  

Prayers: Because of your prayers I am able to sleep at night even though it is noisy, I am safe, I am healthy, I am learning Creole, I am willing and don't get too embarrassed when asked to do something out of my comfort zone, I am the closest I have ever been with God, and I have a desire to pray for others. Thank you.

Three stories

Cannon, nothing was here before

The city of Cannon did not exist on January 12, 2010. It was created by displaced people after the earthquake. Cannon added itself to the east of the greater Port-au-Prince area. After initially living in tents, some Haitians chose a new place to live and started building. Now there are business, churches, and schools in Cannon. The department of agriculture planted olive trees in Cannon because you can eat virtually every part of it; the fruit, leaves, and roots.

I’ve been saying yes a lot here. Would you like to try a coconut? Yes. Would you like to help cook? Yes. Would you like to go to the beach? Wi. Would you like to learn a game? Wi. Would you like to go to Cannon? Wi. Would you like to go to church with Carline? Um…I don’t know what happens at church at 10am on a Saturday morning but ok, wi. I ended up at choir practice. A maestro from the big Baptist church in town comes to our church to teach the ladies new songs. He wrote the words on the board and everyone wrote them down in their notebooks. He played the keyboard and led us in singing. Since see and hear the words at the same time. The ladies were s excited that I was singing along.

Every first Saturday night of the month the church had Communion. They moved it to Saturday night because they want to dedicate the proper amount of time to the practice. There is singing, prayer, and a message before the bread and juice is taken. Whether you call it Communion, Eucharist, or Common Meal as Christians we remember Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection together.