Today is our first full day in Haiti and it has been a full one! We had the blessing of experiencing the Morquette’s church; using the Creole Hymnal, we could follow along with the music. Although the message and prayers were delivered in the native tongue, the passion of what was conveyed was clear to us all. Our first interactions with the congregation were an exchange of peace at the conclusion of the message; the welcome was warm - matching the temperatures here! A tour of Port au Prince was conducted by Belezar, giving us insight into the progress that has been occurring in Haiti since the Earthquake. The streets were busy with merchants and we noticed a saturation of product segregated by streets. (i.e. The mattress merchants on one street; the electronics dealers on another) After lunch, we spent the remainder of the afternoon at the orphanage, meeting our VBS enrollees for the first time. J

Those who had been to Kings Hospital and the Orphanage in prior years, were remarking on the new additions to the property as we arrived on site. An ambulance, a playground, and the apartment built for visiting medical professionals are the most noteworthy.  The children came out to meet us soon after we arrived, and in spite of small communication challenges, the universal languages of art (drawing) and basketball broke through the barriers. The children ranged in age from 2 to 15 and were content to tour us through their school, be pushed on the swings or merry-go-round, chased playing tag, and indulged in both taking and receiving many photos.  Some of the older children are learning English and were very resourceful in translating for us and communicating verbally with the younger ones. We promised to return in the morning and promised a full day of activities and fun throughout the week. At the conclusion of our visit, we were taken to the new apartment and met a Doctor who was temporarily staying there. He shared some of his background with us and prayed for us upon departure.

The postlude to the day has been planning sessions for the remainder of the week and testimonies from three team members. The authentic conversations that we have collectively enjoyed are clear illustrations of God’s work in community.

We would be remiss not to acknowledge the incredible hospitality of the Morquette’s and the indulgent food that has been prepared on our behalf for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner. Stay tuned for tomorrow… (Erica)