Today came early.
The very determined rooster walking around the yard near my window crowed about the morning long before it really arrived.
Breakfast was at 6:30 am and then off to church. We walked the 2 minutes to the church and entered through the back door because we came later to service than the Haitians. It is cooler that time of day, relatively. Church service is a serious business here, lasting hours in duration. The songs are sung with passion and fervor, the Pastor speaks with strong conviction. I couldn't understand one word he was saying but that made no real difference.
Our team was privileged to be asked to sing a song of praise and we did. The Haitians are a gracious people who have well behaved children who sit in the services with them. Soon I was pleased to have 2 beautiful sisters sitting next to me on the hard wooden pew, both dressed in clean and pressed brown matching dresses with matching ribbons in their hair. They appeared to be around 5 & 6 years of age. The older one smiled widely at the invitation to join me, the younger wasn't so sure. But the end of the service, which I believe was cut short for us, the sisters were happily holding each of my hands in theirs. I wish you could hear the sound. I wish you could see the joy on the peoples' faces as they sing praises to God in the midst of poverty. Something binds people together when they are in circumstances together out of their comfort zone. In the middle of the sweat, swaying and singing - I closed my eyes and heard it. Different tongues, tribes and nations singing to the same God. It was like a preview of coming attractions.
And finally I felt it- Joy that I had come back to this place.
Oh Praise Him.
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