Today
began with a trip to the memorial from the earthquake in 2010. It was
especially special yet somber because today, January 12, marks the 8 year anniversary
of the earthquake. There were close to 100 Haitians in and around the memorial.
Within minutes of our arrival, several cars came up the hill and parked in
front of the gate of the memorial. A Haitian mayor accompanied by several
security guards came by with flowers to pay his respects. The memorial marks
the mass gravesite where hundreds of thousands of Haitians were buried after
the earthquake. It was saddening to gain more of an understanding of the devastation
the earthquake caused.
The
next part of our day took a different tone. We were able to visit several of
the elders known by the Healing Haiti community. This was such a special and
humbling experience because we got to wash their feet, give a few treats, sing
songs, and pray over them.
MarieDeloude was the
first person we were able to visit. She had several children and grandchildren
who were glad to have their fingernails painted – each finger a different
color, of course. MarieDeloude also wanted to have her nails painted after
having her feet washed. Singing songs with her and her family brought so much
joy to all of us.
Our second
stop was at the home of a woman named Charite. She has a few children and one
granddaughter living with her. After having her feet washed and massaged, we
asked what her favorite song was so we could sing it. She decided to sing to us
instead. She knew all the words by heart and it was beautiful to hear her sing.
The English translation of the chorus was “trust and obey.” This seemed to be
an anthem for her life.
Our third
and final stop was at the home of Pierre and Lauremise. Although they have been
together for longer, they were recently married at Grace Church. When we first
arrived, only Pierre was home, as Lauremise had gone to the market. Pierre’s
personality was unforgettable. His joy came through effortlessly with his humor
and smile. Accompanied by upbeat guitar music, he danced and sang and clapped
with us. This was the favorite part of the day for many of us. Luckily, before
we left, Lauremise came back and we were able to serve and pray for her before getting
back on the tap tap.
After
our elder visits, we rode to Fleri bakery/restaurant. Fleri in creole means “flourish.”
Throughout the tour, it was clear that God has been helping Fleri to flourish
since its recent beginning. The stories of those who have impacted and been impacted
by Fleri are inspiring.
Grace
Village was yet another amazing place to tour and be inspired by. The church,
schoolhouse, garden, houses, and clinic make up the grounds. The impact that
Grace Village has had on the community in Titanyen has been amazing. Hundreds
of children have received access to education, food, and a family environment
that they otherwise would not have received. They then graduate and transition
to working or college to be able to support themselves.
Our
night ended with dinner at Fleri restaurant. The food was delicious. Some of
the foods we tried include pizza, chicken wings, salsa with plantain chips, and
french fries. Dessert was even better. We tried banana beignets, mango crème brule,
and cookies with ice cream. The service was excellent. It was a great close to
the day as we shared laughs and stories.
Charity and Moriah
