Haiti story of the day

I've decided to tell stories about the trip bit by bit, since it was too much to write in one post. So, as my energy level allows I'll try to post a few stories and more pictures on the blog.

The Sunday that we were in Haiti we went to church. Marialyn had warned us that church could be a lengthy process, so we tried to plan it so that we'd arrive part way through, to avoid sitting in a hot church for 3 hours. We arrived one hour into it and the first notes we heard coming from the church were the hymn "Holy God We Praise Your Name" in Creole, of course. We entered and the Pastor sat us in the front pew. So much for being inconspicuous. There was much singing, by the congregation as a whole and by small groups and soloists. By the end 2/3 of the congregation had gotten up to sing something or another. We had talked about preparing something for the three of us to sing, but hadn't had time, with meeting the baby and all, and were disappointed that we weren't able to join in. At one point the Pastor asked us to come up front. Marialyn introduced us and explained that we basically only understood "Bonjour" and "Merci". The Pastor asked us to say something and assured us he'd translate. We said we were happy to be there and that we were loving Haiti and its people. The congregation seemed delighted to have us there and speaking this strange language.

As we sat through the sermon I noticed a giant spider in the rafters, a lizard crawling across the wall, in and out of the window, and a bird that flew in one window and out the other. I also noticed a man in front sitting by a little keyboard who just kind of made things up as people sang, hoping that every once in a while the note he was playing would be the same that they were singing.

We left before it was over and were back into town when the Pastor called Marialyn and asked why we'd left. He said that when we'd arrived that morning he'd had someone go out and kill a chicken for us. We had promised the baby's family that we'd visit them, but told the Pastor we'd be back later for the chicken. When someone kills a chicken for you, you don't turn it down! In the meantime we stopped at a roadside stand for a snack. There, on the ground, was the head and carcas of a pig and sure enough, they were selling grilled pork at the stand. Check out the picture on the left of Marialyn and me buying food there as well as a picture from church.

Thanks for all of the wonderful response to the pictures and stories! There's nothing we like hearing more than how cute people think Bedeline is! So many of you have already fallen in love with her. If only she knew how many aunts and uncles she's going to have when she arrives!

We're sending in the first official papers to US Immigration tomorrow. We're also getting tested for HIV, which we didn't realize was a requirement. Every paper needs to be translated into French, so once we get the results, we'll send them off to our trusty translators. The goal is to have all the paperwork in the mail to the US and Haiti by Friday. Then we wait. So this roller coaster is far from over, and did I mention that I hate roller coasters? In the meantime, we ask you to continue telling us how much you love the pictures and to pray for us, for her, for her family, and for the paperwork people here and in Haiti.