This Week’s Highlights

Let me try to give a “quick” run down on this week’s highlights, because it’s yesterday’s wedding that’s really dominating everyone’s minds here at the mission today.  What a beautiful event it was.  But first, there were quite a few other beautiful happenings this week, as well…

Gloria’s Return

Gloria Harvell, one of the MOHI USA directors, returned to Haiti this week.  It’s always such a blessing to have her here.  She has been working with our staff on graduation preparations, as well as interviewing individual teachers.  She hopes to get a clearer understanding of how classes are being taught here and perhaps add some new techniques and skills to our staff’s repertoire.  The two of us also have plenty of details to cover concerning the different programs and projects we are involved in here in Haiti.

Clinic

Angela enjoyed some help again this week, as Be Like Brit shared their visiting nurse, Tom, with MOHI for a couple of days in the clinic.  He was a great help to so many, including little Kristie…

We also had a big day of medical and dental clinic with our local UN Peacemakers from Sri Lanka.

 

 

Church

It was a wonderful service in Thozin this morning, with the sweetest spirit of worship.  Pastor Lex brought forth a very liberating message, ending up with a big conga drum on his head.  It was a great illustration of how we take on heavy loads that we don’t need to.

Here in Haiti people often carry very heavy loads on their heads.  Although it can be very damaging to the spine, it does feel easier and doesn’t throw off a person’s balance or posture.  Before putting, say a 40 lb bucket of water on their head, they will first prepare a “tòke” to put on their head to cushion the bucket, so it doesn’t hurt so much.

Pastor Lex encouraged us not to let our friends prepare a “tòke” for us or allow them to put a heavy load on our heads.  Jesus says in Matthew 11:28-29, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”  Let’s give up the burden that living in this world gives to us and take on Jesus’ burden instead.  His won’t cause our health to deteriorate and it comes with peace of mind!

I love that when Lex “gave his burden to Jesus” he was able to utilize the “tòke” to clean himself up.  Carrying a heavy load can really make us sweat!

It was really exciting to see Totou’s mom join others who came forward with a desire to lay down their burdens and follow Jesus.  You may have followed Totou’s story in my previous posts.  He was severely burned on his arm when a pot of boiling rice dumped on him.  He came to the MOHI clinic when we “just happened” to have a burn specialist working in the clinic that week.  God brought through many doctors and nurses, along with Angela and Alexis to bring him all the way through the long process of caring for his wounds.  He has now recovered and has only a tiny scar on his wrist.

Visit from the UN

If you’ve been paying attention to MOHI for very long, you already know that we have a very good, working relationship with the Sri Lankan army officers that serve here in Haiti as UN Peacekeepers.  Late in the week, the Sri Lankan officers escorted Mr. Mantulak from Argentina, and others from Sri Lanka, Peru and … wait for it … a US Army officer!  (We don’t see many American officers, so it was extra special to me!)  They sat with Lex for about 45 minutes and then requested a tour of our Thozin campus.  They expressed an interest in helping out with the school in some capacity.  I’ll let you know if anything comes of it.  If there’s one thing I’ve learned since coming to Haiti, it’s to never count my chickens before they’re hatched.  I sure do enjoy them when they do hatch, though!

Pictures of other interesting happenings at MOHI this week…

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Pelio & Darline’s Special Day

Pelio Desrosiers and Darline Desir.  I first met them when they signed up for school in 2000.  Pelio was in third grade and Darline in second.

Today, Pelio works in construction and as a driver at MOHI.  Darline works as a teacher in one of our first grade classes.  They are the first of our students to marry each other, so it was an extra special day for the MOHI school staff and students, as well as our church.

I’m so proud of the young people in our church who pulled together with Pelio and Darline, along with the best man and maid of honor, Mr. & Mrs. Renord St. Aimé, to create an amazing, memorable day.  So many details were planned and carried out so well.  The church was beautifully decorated, the bridal party was gorgeous, the reception had food for everyone and that mint green and white was everywhere.  Here’s a picture of how the wedding went:

1.  The ushers and brides maids enter    2.  Almost all of the wedding party does some kind of “dance” to enter    3.  The entrance can take half an hour or longer, depending on the size of the wedding party.    4.  One of two “announcers”    5.  Berlandie also filled the role of “announcer.”    6.  Jeff and Naderge, Prince and Princess    7.  Luc Sony and Esther, King and Queen    8.  Flower girls    9.  Woud and Doudley, ring bearers    10.  Bearer of the Word of God    11.  Renord and Pelio, best man and groom    12.  Madame Renord, maid of honor    13.  Darline, the bride (with Doudley in tow!)    14.  Pelio meets Darline in the isle    15.  The couple heads to the alter