We were at his church before 8:00. When we backed into our parking spot I glanced over and saw the sign that read, "God's Littlest Angels" and was SUPER excited! I'd only heard of this wonderful orphanage. Never had I been anywhere near it. It was right next door to the church.
Simon in a black suit jacket with his brand new blue checkered tie that Erin from Godet had brought him back from the states walked us up the hill just a couple houses and introduced us to the GLA director who was on the porch. He and his wife run the guest house. He's an apparently strong man with some version of a beard on his face and a few tatoos on his arms or legs. I can't remember exactly. But, he's the kind of guy it would never hurt to keep on your good side. He seems like a gentle giant. He shared with us that he had just gotten up out of bed for the first time in almost a week with a relapse of the Chickengunya virus. He'd already suffered through it once, but more and more we're hearing of people experiencing a relapse. It had knocked him off his feet pretty sudden this time.
We enjoyed an hour of Simon teaching "Sunday School" to a room that was almost full by the end of the hour, but at the beginning was just us three and a man with a briefcase. The last half of the hour was spent with Simon quizzing people on the verse they were memorizing. They'd all quote it out loud together and then he'd go around the room and say it out loud. What discipline they showed memorizing scripture. They were quite serious about it. It made me think of how much time we wasted in "Sunday School" over the last 25 years talking through prayer requests or events that were coming up. They didn't waste anytime at all digging into the Word. They all had it memorized by the end of the hour. Unfortunately, I didn't understand the verse to be 14... I thought they were memorizing verse 16! LOL! Oh, well... I didn't get quizzed. It was all in Kreyole.
I was "memorizing" verse 16: "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work."
They were memorizing and reciting verse 14: "But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus." (2 Timothy 3)
After Sunday School we walked back into the "sanctuary" and they were playing "Scandal of Grace" through the speakers in English. As I looked around there were many young people and they were singing quietly preparing for worship. The room quickly filled with young people. It was awesome. Church began around 9:45 and ended at 12:15. Simon asked a youlng man to be our interpreter. At one point during about the 3rd special music he leaned up and showed us a note he had written on his phone. It read, "hang in there, only 1.5 more hours!" We all chuckled and knew he was not exagerating.
During church there was a pastor visiting from Brooklyn, NY who is Haitian, I believe, but travels back and forth. He was one of the 4 special musics for church. He got up and sang some song we didnt know in Kreyole and then broke into "Without Him, I would be nothing. Without Him, I'd surely fail. Without Him, I would be nothing. Like a ship without a sail." I cried. It was very moving. The little girls across the room from us were tickled by the Kreyole song and his delivery of the song. But, when they saw my tears freely flowing down my face became serious. I think they were part of the chidlren from God's Littlest Angels Orphange, but I'm not certain.
I think these were the God's Little Angles kids because they spoke to us afterwards in English. They weren't afraid of us. And they were all together. SO SWEET!
Simon preached on the Lord's Prayer for a long time. Our translator had slipped out to restart the generator when the power ran out and never returned because then the row was filled up with other people. I think he was still around, but truly couldn't get back to us. Simon seated us up front next to the fan. We had "A/C" for church! It was actually quite cool sitting by the fan. There was only one fan in the room and it was pointed towards the pulpit. We weren't 5 feet away from where he preached. It's nice and cozy.
The pastor from Brooklyn came up after the sermon and sang, "The Lord's Prayer" and it was quite moving.
After church we drove the visiting special music pastor home. Here's a picture I quickly took of the road as we dropped him off at his friend's house. The road was really rough. I don't know how autos survive here. They drive across terrain I never would drive my car across... ever. And I would take my time crossing with my legs not to twist my ankles!
We were back in our apartment by 12:45 ready to whip up some lunch. We girls had some Kraft Mac and Cheese and dad had some rice (his belly was a little wonky feeling). The mac and cheese was the best one yet! The whole dry milk thing is tasting better... only because we know we can't have real milk and it's the best we've got. We put a lot of pepper on it...
There you have it! Another Sunday in Haiti. The Lord's Day. We rested and played Mexican Trains and watched "Last Chance Harvey" on Netflix. We should have been memorizing scripture. We truly are lazy Americans. How was your Sunday?
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