Thankful for our Daily Bread

“Praise the Lord now…I will praise Him everyday…Praise Him everyday…I will praise the Lord!

Loue bon Dieu…map e loue chaque jou…loue chaque jou…map e loue bon Dieu!”

It is my turn…Carol… to share with you some of our experiences of this Sunday…Thanksgiving Sunday. It began for me before 5:00…sitting on the roof…time spent listening to the roosters, the donkeys, the goats and seeing the sun rise…such a beautiful sight…Thank You for eyes to see it and yes, ears to hear it! There was much to be thankful for…after breakfast… Ti Luc and I were singing and I was telling him that I was thankful to be here with him. For years now, I have prayed for him…and the whole HATS family…I have followed their many adventures…but now I am here and part of the adventures…Thank you Lord!

As I type this, there is a lovely little fan cooling me down…Thank you Keith!

I have also just enjoyed a Haitian Thanksgiving dinner with Karen and the team…Thank you Joan!

Now…about our day…

We all dressed in our Sunday best and walked over to the Church…located on the School grounds…with timbrel bags in hand and rhythm instruments balanced…I tried to balance one on my head…I was able to do it…but walking with it was much more difficult…I only managed a few steps…I’ll think I’ll need a few more lessons! Everyone helped, even the little ones…one big family off to Praise and Worship. The church has some beautiful new benches…Thank you Guys! They quickly filled with the arrival of the extended family…the children from the School and some of the Teachers.

It was a joy to see some of the older children take their place in the service…leading worship, reading scripture and playing in the “band”. I sat close to a few of the little ones and was blessed to hear their voices being lifted in praise… “I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart”…I was filled with emotion as I joined them… “And I’m so happy, so very happy…” I am indeed happy…very happy. The message reminded us of God’s promises…Thank you Gary! There was a special timbrel presentation by the children …Thank you Lily and Cathy! We also heard “Ton nom…Emmanuel”, God is with us…Thank you Joan and I helped a little! At the close of the service everyone was given a little treat…a gift of a cold pop and biscuits…Thank you Team and Thank you Karen! We all walked back the house to have our treats here…in the shade…did I mention that it was hot today…Haiti hot!

On our way to Church…everyone helping

In Church

The children taking their place

The reminder of God’s Promises

The Timbrels

Later in the afternoon the children and I found ourselves in the Devotion Room, drawing , playing games and singing…oh have we sung! I brought a few songs with me…Thank You to my friend in Montreal! The children have taught me a few…it is just a joy to share my love of music with them. So many of the memories that I will treasure on the cold winter days in Montreal…when I will enjoy thinking of Haiti hot…will be of the children and I singing…Thank you God!

We made our way outside when we heard the sound of the hockey sticks and the older ones playing…Thank you Al, Gary and Keith! So, as the sun was setting on this Haitian Thanksgiving, I walked back to the house singing and smelling a lovely chicken dinner that I would be privileged to share with Karen and the rest of the team…a big Thank you to the Patterson family for sharing me with this family!