This slideshow requires JavaScript.
Today we welcomed over 300 parents and children to the compound to enjoy an afternoon of music, entertainment and food. Loving Hearts church held their first annual Easter celebration. Watson was a true entertainer as he hyped the crowd and organized hours of religious based skits, music and learning. The day was like most here in Haiti, full of obstacles, and thinking on the fly. Full of those moments where you want to scream, and full of those moments where you are touched beyond words. The day began with another grocery list, and a quick jaunt to Liancourt for butter, sugar, flour and plates. I thought we were done shopping, but the ever growing menu had exposed a lack of cake ingredients. This was odd to me because I didn’t know we were having cake, but we made the trip anyway. This party was supposed to be small in nature, a basic dinner, nothing fancy, but what began as simple spawned into an extravaganza. The food was crafted for 11 hours as the cooks began working at 6AM and dinner hit the tables around 5PM. Chicken, fried plantains, rice and beans, salads, fruit and cake filled the plates of some 300 onlookers. There was excitement abound and we were blessed to have the backing of our church who allowed us to throw this party for Watson and his church. It was fun to watch him throughout the day as he beamed with pride. He was excited to be able to give his children this gift, he is also very grateful.
We had no major issues during the celebration or the dinner, except for the occasional grabbing and mobbing of children and parents worried they would be left out. We had a debate over how to handle the amount of people we would let in, on one hand we don’t want to turn away anyone from hearing the word, on the other we have limited food, and limited security. We ended up not turning anyone away and monitoring the situation closely.
If you are from Liberty you might be asking, “why is he saying chicken fry instead of Fish?” Well we were unable to secure enough fish for the dinner through New Vision Ministries, we found out last minute and had to substitute chicken. In the end it was more economical at $35 American for 33 lbs. and much easier to prep and cook.
It was a great day. We have been invited to a baptism in a canal near the church we have been attending. I am contemplating being baptized as I feel so much of my spiritual growth has come from Haiti and these people. I’m concerned over the water. It is not as clean as Mike’s pool, not by a long shot. I hope to have pictures from the baptism for Saturday. Our time here draws close to an end and visions of cheeseburgers, hot showers and my comfy bed dance In my head, visions of my close friends here in Haiti also dance. It will be a tough weekend as we try to finish up some things and visit a ton of families to say farewell. Monday will be our last day on the compound, Athesian has been a huge help and we have spent nearly everyday with him. Bronson loves him so much and will really miss him. Although his name is not easy Bronson has mastered it. Athesian wants to come to the airport to say good bye on Tuesday since he has no school. I hope he does and wish he doesn’t at the same time. It will be tough to say good bye to him.
