This morning we awoke to the first full day in this wonderful and troubled land. I continue to be startled by the contrasts: extreme poverty and passionate faith, horrible living conditions and deep gratitude, very little according to my consumer mindset and yet great joy.
We arose early to go to worship at one of the church's that Pastor Rene Dorilien leads. Amidst crowded conditions in several small adjoining spaces some 60 worshipers sat on benches singing praise to God. I had the amazing experience of preaching to the attendees--and being translated into Creole by Frenaud who is the Pastor's son. Quite an adventure to speak a sentence or thought at a time....and I had lots of "amen" and spoken approvals of what I was saying--after the translation!!
I spoke on John 17: 20-23 part of Jesus' prayer for his followers that they may be 'one' living united in love for one another and God. I said that our unity must be visible and real--in two circumstances in particular: when life is desperate and we don't know whether we can cope and when we find we are disagreeing with someone in the church. In both of these circumstances we have the opportunity to demonstrate loving unity.
Our youth were "upstairs" partly because of no space, and partly to be with the children who were having church school: singing and lessons. We gave out the necklaces that the children of First Church made and taught them the song: Send Me, Jesus.
We will have some of the youth blog later today! Hold us in your prayers!
You are all in our prayers here at First!
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