The Lord's Day

More often than not, Sunday finds us in church - rather, a couple churches.

The Sunday morning program at The Wesleyan Church in Anse-a-Galets starts early, with Sunday School at 6:00 a.m.  The church service begins at 7:00.

Entering the church at the front door.

We generally arrive just before 8:00, slip into our usual seats at the rear of the large sanctuary and join in with our Wesleyan brothers and sisters in song, prayer and listen to testimonies. That consumes the better part of an hour, sometimes longer.  The Haitians are very passionate about worship, through prayer and singing with hands raised, and in agreeing with a speaker, especially after "Bondye beni w" - "God bless you."  Words and phrases are repeated when delivered by the worship leader - "Mesi Jezi!"  Scripture reading is proclaimed with everyone standing.

The sanctuary at the Wesleyan Church in Anse-a-Galets.

After announcements, more testimonies and musical specials by individuals from the congregation, the sermon begins around 9 or 9:15.  Larry and I are beginning to understand more and more spoken Haitian creole so the time at church is spent listening carefully to the sermon and not just worshipping silently or reading our Bibles.  It is a thrill when we understand the page number of a song or the scripture reference and can participate in the service.

And then, there is that compassionate Haitian worshipper who, when noticing that we are trying to locate a song or chorus in our copy of Chants d'Esperance, or flipping uncertainly through scripture, politely takes our book, finds the passage or hymn we are searching for, and smilingly returns it to us!  Mesi!

Commonplace things that occur with regularity in church on Sunday mornings are the attendance by animals!  Not to be blessed, but rather just to stroll down the aisle and in front of pews filled with people.  Often, a dog will raise up on his hind legs and place his fore legs in the lap of an unsuspecting parishioner, looking for a pat or a treat.   Other animals seen inside the church during service include cats and chickens!  No goats yet........

The sermon is usually over around 10:00.   Leaving the church service is GREETING time!  Vigorous handshakes, touching cheeks or giving a hug.  These are such loving and demonstrative folk!  Often, big Haitian smiles of recognition or welcome are met with pigeon creole ( "Crenglish") which produces a Haitian chuckle and a hug!  Always, a "Bondye beni w!".

We usually get back to our house in time to make a cup of coffee to take to the next worship event - Missionary Church in the guest house dining room.

This past Sunday, we had two different short-term mission teams with us- one from Pennsylvania and the other from Indiana.  Also attending were a father and his teen-age daughter from Canada, a husband and wife from California, workers from the children's village project, and the Haitian husband-American wife owners of a small children's home outside of Anse-a-Galets.  Worship songs were accompanied by a guitar and the meditation was given by a team member.  We had a full house!

Listening to the devotional given by a team members at Missionary Church.

The Lord was present at both the Haitian and the Missionary churches.

Sunday afternoons often find us accompanying teams to our favorite swimming hole - the beautiful, Caribbean blue sea.  There, we are refreshed and amazed by the reef, tropical fish and other sea creatures   ...

On the way to the reef for some swimming and snorkeling

.... and continue this day of rest with a heartfelt worship of our Creator God.

So there you have it - Sundays on the mission field.

Oh, and one more thing - after lunch with our visitors, we OFTEN head back to our house for the  "Wesleyan hour" - the much-anticipated Sunday afternoon nap!

Mission field or not - some things never change!  :)