Au revoir

Woke up today, late as usual. Everyone's eating or done eating breakfast, it's cool tho cuz today is Sunday so we don't have the typical work day (which starts @ 8) instead we have church, which starts at 10:30ish. It's a major blessing being able to eat this food here. Everyday has been delicious. I didn't expect to be so well fed on a mission trip, but God provides. We had homemade cinnamon roles, and a Haitian twist off of oatmeal they call laboui. That and some fruit, I was quick to finish the mango. Good stuff. But yea, so after that was straight to church which was another of the many blessings of the day.

Right before church (we got there an hour early) I was able to sit and talk to one of the kids (20yrs old) for a bit. He was really cool. I love being able to speak the languge because it allows we to connect with the people. These people are also really eager to connect with us Americans. Their joy and friendliness is contagious, I love them.

The service was even more of a treat. I knew some of the songs they were singing and was able to worship alongside people of my same heritage, it's an experience that filled me with a really passionate joy. I loved it. It was funny because I got called up by their pastor and leader of MTM, Willem Charles, and I spoke infront of the church for a bit, it was so great and after Wayne delivered the message. It was translated, again by Willem, and it was really beautiful how they seemed to flow together as one united sermon. Willem would not only translate the words, but also the gestures and inflections, the emotion behind it. They even gave us a present too-  the male choir delivered two songs  (in creole) that were both entertaining to listen to and watch ahahha. Saying goodby after the service was bittersweet, so many people we would probably never see again, or maybe we will in time, who knows, but it was a great feeling because these people genuinely did not want to see us go.

Afterwards though, we went through Port Au Prince, we went all over and it was great. Not that we saw beautiful and stellar sights, in fact quite opposite, but in seeing what we did, we gained a sense of understanding that yes, Haiti is in a terrible state right now, but even more true, God's blessings are being poured down. And there's more to come. A lot more. We went through noxious smells and tent cities, saw children running around half naked, the UN standing around with their weapons, and too much more to write, or even capture in photos although we tried. But that was just the surface, deeper than that was the view that Jesus has done so much. Seeing the contrast between Gramothe (where MTM is working) and Port Au Prince gives me a hope anchored in faith in a God of Love. And Our hope does not disappoint. I'm excited for the future of Haiti.

Today was nostalgic. It's weird that something can feel nostalgic after just a week, but that's what it was. We all grew attatchments to the place and the people. Part of me isn't ready to leave  yet, but it's time for us to head out. Maybe we'll be back again next year? I dunno, it seems like I-life and Mountain to Ministries may have a future together :) back in the States tomorrow!

Esdras and the Team