The group woke up early. See the aforementioned roosters in the previous article. After a hearty breakfast (superb oatmeal among other things), the group went to church. The church was lively and even though most didn't understand the sermon's or the songs' words, they understood the sentiment.
There was about an hour for relaxation before lunchtime, another beautifully prepared meal. Spicy coleslaw, fried chicken, fried plaintains, and french fries. Yummy food by anyone's standard.
After lunch it was time to board the adventure bus and head for Bordelaire. For four and a half hours the group bounced around, sitting three in a seat instead of two, and some interpreters sitting on bags of rice in the aisle.
The ride was full of laughter and song with occasional passionate arguments about Haitian politics.
It seemed like forever before they arrived a their destination. The people at the church greeted the missionaries warmly and provided a feast beyond measure. Four types of salad, beans and rice, and goat.
After dinner Betty Prophete, the co-founder of Haitian Christian Mission with her husband Etienne, gave an informal presentation about how the mission was formed. They've gone from one small mission church to 74 churches in Haiti and Florida, a small hospital, clinic, school, and orphanage. The orphanage is relatively new and was part of the response to the earthquake. It has nine children so far, including a two month old baby girl who grabbed everyone's hearts. She came to the orphanage right after she was born. Adorable, and such a sad story.
After Betty's presentation the group had evening devotions and got instructions for tomorrow when a huge medical clinic will be mobilized at the church where they are staying. The group slept in several different rooms on mats on concrete floors, but it was cool, and that was a relief.
The missionaries took a lot of snapshots with their cameras, but more importantly with their minds--storing many memories.
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