"COME SUNDAY, THAT'S THE DAY"

Sunday, November 8

Pumpkin Soup For Starters

Sunday started out with a special breakfast celebration of pumpkin soup -- a traditional festive soup for Haitians that was forbidden to blacks until their liberation from white rule in the Revolution.  It is a rich hearty meat and vegetable stew.  A special feature is that a chicken foot is added for good luck to whoever finds in in their bowl.  We went into town for this meal especially prepared for us.
Pumpkin soup

Church In The Wildwood

We attended a Baptist church arriving just as the worship service was starting.  It was a fifteen minute drive to the small one-room structure.  There was abundant and hearty congregational singing.  Lots of volume and rhythm.  The order of service was hardly different from what we use.  The singing was followed by announcements, a special introduction of guests from Forest Hill Church and Haiti Outreach, then a sermon based on the text from Hebrew 10, prayer, song and benediction.  Church was a highlight for our whole group.  Even though the words were in different languages, there was a spirit of inclusion with the congregation.   The congregation numbered about 80 people.  It was a church familiar with Haiti Outreach, so they had some experience with visitors from the U.S.
Entering Church            Men's chorus

The Orphanage

Our plans to visit an orphanage were realized in the later part of the afternoon.  The orphanage is a mission established by an American congregation to care for children who were in danger of dying because their parents either died or could not care for them.  An American couple have been in charge for the past 12 years.  Many of the children have relatives who stay in contact with them and may adopt them; others will be raised in the orphanage until they can work and take care of themselves.  There are 42 children there now.  They attend schools in Pignon when they are old enough.  The children warmed to us quickly and there was an hour of happy play with the kids.  We left them with a large supply of Tylenol and toothbrushes.

Tomorrow will be a day of working on the completion of a well house which will be inaugurated on Tuesday.