As our week is coming to an end, I must say that my life has been enriched because of having the privilege to have been at HATS. Attending the church service this morning would lift anyone's spirit, and it would warm anyone's heart to see so many children in attendance. With a service like this one, there was no translation from Creole necessary...the rich sound of the homemade drums filled the building, along with the tambourines, and the children's voices in the choir. It was enough to let anyone know that there was nothing but happiness and love, enough to go around for everyone.
People came from nearby homes, and Josue (Joes-way), the young man from Deschapelles who delivered the morning message, walked more than half an hour in the extreme heat, dressed in his Sunday best. Josue's family is one of the many families who receive food from the orphanage once a month, and by coincidence, we ran into Josue when we were leaving the market yesterday, and Karen drove him back to HATS with us, so he could pick up his family's box of corn and rice. She asked him if he would come back today for the church service, and although it meant such a long walk, he was only too happy to do it. Not only did he deliver a great message of the importance of forgiveness and the challenges to "do right" in our lives, he plays a mean drum, and his presence was a gift.
I took some video of the children singing and the playing of the drums, because this is the way to 'do church'! But I was overcome with a 'leaky eye' at the end, because you could tell the families that were there came from all kinds of homes, particularly one young mother in her white dress with two little girls, who were just toddlers. Her children were dressed in their best, but it was obvious she didn't have it easy, not that anyone in Haiti does, yet she came to church, and her children were obviously happy and looked after as best as possible. When we gave out water, cookies, juice, and chips at the end of the service (this would be the only fresh water for some children would have today), the young mother in white stayed to see if there were some extras for her to take--and remember, we're only talking Arrowroot type cookies, and small bottles of juice. She was so appreciative, and it was clear that she really needed some help. I hope she continues to keep her connection to Karen and the Sunday services.
We finished our afternoon with the best water balloon fight I have ever been part of, especially considering the fact that I got to be part of "Team United Nations." The two female U.N. police officers who came to the compound joined us in an epic battle of water balloons, hoses, and buckets. Luckily, we had the best station on the second floor, but the children didn't let up on us when we got downstairs. I still think we won, but the kids would tell you otherwise!
So, I'm off for a final hair braiding session before we have to bring out the flashlights. Another day, another lesson-- church done right!
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