iTeam Haiti - Not the Same Old Sunday

FoH,

I suppose most folks have Sunday routines, whatever they are. Church, coffee shop, golf, sleep-in, maybe visiting someone who can't get out of their home. No matter what the norm, little things come along changing the pace.

We have had two nights here, so the bed springs, tent flaps and crooning chickens are becoming familiar. The food is novel, but at least the dining line and plastic folding tables and chairs are starting to feel right.

Then, along comes church. The one across the street is an upright block shaped structure with a crows nest top and cross. French and Creole songs, Creole prayer time with a hundred voices out loud speaking a mouthful we cannot digest. Communion with Ritz crackers. A Down's syndrome chid roaming the seated congregation hugging and slapping hands and circling the communion table. It got a little closer to home singing a couple Creole camp songs. All this with 40 people outside, listening to Brian O preach the sermon through open windows on folding chairs.

Then, a rush is on to ride a sailboat to Tortuga Island, 8 miles offshore of SLdN. The group changed clothes from church garb to beach attire, vit vit (very fast). A quick lunch and down the hill to a shoreline littered with trash mostly disposed food packaging. Ride the shoulders of a skinny Haitian man to the waiting boat, board with 29 others and head for the island. Have the love of Tortuga church members showed upon the "blancs" (whites), and have a campfire on the beach. (More on this adventure next time.)

Then, carry 35 church pews (benches) across the street to the mission for iTeam patients the rest of the week after a hike to a "waterfall" holding the hands of your new best friend, a 4 year old with no mother in sight.

Then, plan another emergency trip home for Kathy C whose aged father is near death (please add Kathy and her father to your prayer list).

Then, take a walk to visit city jail inmates who only are fed when family or friends bring it to them. Hand them food thru the bars, with soap and lotion to make more friendly their stay in that place.

Sunday is different in Haiti. It is also the day of The Lord, a day to raise our hands in his praise. That part is wonderfully the same. Our Haitian hosts have crowned us with blessings we do not earn, from our Lord who did the same.

Mark Lancaster