(December 31, 2009)
Erin and I worked at the General Hospital again, but this time we basically shadowed a doctor that worked for the same company that Doctor Rachel worked for. I-TECH. He worked for I-TECH,which to my understanding is a government funded program in which those with HIV/SIDA or those with positive partners could come and receive tests and medicine free of charge.
We spoke to the doctor at length because he said that it is so difficult when people come in and have HIV and are married or planning to get married and have children. HIV is easily prevented if people just take the right precautions. However many Haitians refuse to do so. The doctor told us that HIV/AIDS work in a country like Haiti can be very frustrating!
We left the hospital right after lunch that day. December 31-Jan 2 are holidays in Haiti. They have New Years and then a holiday somewhat like our Thanksgiving on the 2nd. Traffic was terrible and I got to take lots of pictures from the road.
H1N1 (Swine flu) information and prevention techniques painted on a wall in town. These were everywhere.
A poster in the hospital about AIDS prevention.
This is what the houses looked like pre earthquake. All built up on top of each other on a hillside.
This is what the houses looked like pre earthquake. All built up on top of each other on a hillside.
(January 1, 2010)
Who knew what this year would bring? ... and what God still has in store for it!
We went up to the roof to watch the sunset on the last day of 2009 and then got ready for the church service that night.
Haitians always spend New Year's Eve at their place of worship, be that church or a voodoo temple. We went to Gersan's church, Church of the Evangelical Community of Haiti in Port au Prince and sang songs and Gersan gave a short message.This little girl sat with her dad as he played the bass for the music and she would put her hand on the strings and "help." SO cute! If you have never had the pleasure of hearing Haitians sing then you are missing out. It is a slice of heaven on earth to hear these beautiful people worship our God.
There were 20-25 people sitting in the front row of the church dressed all in white. The women wore white dresses and the men white pants and white shirts. Each went up one by one and gave their testimonies. These were the people that had placed their faith in Christ this past year. They were about to be baptized to bring in the new year! I couldn't understand most of what they were saying I could feel the joy and hear their love for Christ in their voices. I could pick out key words and try to figure out some of their testimonies.God was glorified that night! There was one lady in particular that had been deeply involved with voodoo and had accepted Christ a few months before. You can read about part of that here. I got to hear more about her story and how Christ has worked in her life and its truly incredible. She had previously been in a relationship with a voodoo priestess and I found out later that she, the priestess was actually at the service that night instead of being at the temple. She clearly heard God's word numerous times that night!
After all the testimonies Gersan baptized each one of them. It was so beautiful to see a Haitian, dressed all in white, formerly a captive sinner, saved by the grace of God being baptized and coming out of the water with joy painted on their faces. It was not much different that an American baptism, but to see it there, in another language gave me a clearer picture of all races and backgrounds and languages worshiping our God.
After the baptism service there was an open time for people to get up and talk about what God had done in their lives that year. One girl said that she was in the school in Gonaives during the flood earlier in 2009. She lost 4 siblings in that collapse and from her family, only her and her sister survived. She praised God for his protection and faithfulness.
I can only imagine the stories that will be told this New Years.
After the stories of thanksgiving the congregation began to pray. We prayed beginning at 11:55 and prayed until 12:05. It was neat to be before the throne of God as our last act of '09 and first of '10.
Then it began... "BON ANI!" (HAPPY NEW YEAR!) We gave each other the traditional greeting, a hug and kiss on both cheeks. Then we drank hot chocolate and ate pumpkin soup. A Haitian tradition.
Haitians spend January 1st & 2nd eating pumpkin soup and visiting friends. You don't eat a real meal, but go and visit people and at each stop you are supposed to eat pumpkin soup and catch up. We didn't do this because the Valcin's were very busy, so we didn't go around from house to house, but we did eat a lot of pumpkin soup.
Pumpkin soup is an interesting dish. Its different depending on who makes it. I like the broth and the vegetables, but try to stay away from the meat. If a Haitian can't tell me what kind of meat it is, I generally will still eat it, but I try to be pretty careful. Sometimes you find gristle, bones, or even a chicken trachea in your soup! (I found the trachea in my cup and asked Daryl if he wanted the rest!)
Erin and I preferred baby holding to eating!
By now it was like 3:30 am, so we went home to take a nap before dinner that night.
We went to a house party for someone from church the night of the 1st. GOOD Haitian food was enjoyed by all.
Also, Pascal came with us. She was a friend of the Valcin's. More about her later. She has a great story. That was the night that we became friends!
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