Merry Christmas

On Christmas Eve I spent the morning with the children at Kay Ste. Anne.  In the afternoon with all of the children and workers we went to Ste. Louie, the home for the children over the age of six.  There a big meal was served to all of the children and they had an enjoyable Christmas party.  One of the most enjoyble activities was the pinatas.  This is not a Haitian tradition, but a Mexican one, but the first NPH orphanage was in Mexico and the man who oversees the Angles of Light program (which includes St. Anne, St. Louie and the schools) is from Mexico. 

Later, I went with another sister and two medical volunteers from Italy to the Sisters of Charity (Mother Theresa's congregation) for midnight mass.  It really started to feel like Chirstmas especially when we sang familar Christmas hymns in english.  Everyone removes thier shoes when they enter the chapel and the sisters sit on the floor during the liturgy.  Afterwards we had cake and hotchocolate before returning home, in record time since there was no traffic at all. 

Yesterday morning, I went to Kay Ste. Anne, wanting to spend Christmas morning with the children.  There were no special activities planned there for Christmas morning.  When gifts are exchanged in Haiti, they are given more often around the first of January which is when Haiti celebrates independence day, or on the feast of the Epiphany.  Chirstmas is generally celebrated in Haiti by attending church and a family meal.  I enjoyed spending the morning with the children, appreciating their presence and the gift of their laughter and lives. Special moments yesterday morning, had to do with a successful step twords toilet traning for one little girl, and a negative cholera test for a little boy with diareha (better than anything you can put in wrapping paper.) 

  There was liturgy at 5:00 in the chapel, a beautifully simple and reflective mass.  There were two bodies in white bags on the floor of the chapel, cholera victims whose names we did not know.  At 6:00 on the roof of the former volunteer house we continued our Christmas celebration.  It was a fun  party and a delicious meal.  At my invitation Sr. Mary and another friend from Matthew 25 came.  It was great to see them.

Thanks to skype, I was able to wish my family a Merry Christmas.  My relatives including aunts, uncles and first cousins on both sides of my family, have chipped in to purchase a portable library of children's books in Haitian Creole for the children I work with.  This was done instead of choosing names and buying gifts for each other.  I am so touched by their generosity, their willingness to change a family trandition to benefit the children here that just thinking about it, causes my eyes to water.  I am unable to explain to anyone that this is what may family is doing for Christmas gifts this year without crying.  So many people have been so generous to the people of Haiti, and so supportive of my work here in so many ways.  Thank you.

Thanks to for all those in my community, family and friends who sent greetings.  Be assured of my appreciation and prayers.  May you enjoy these days of Christmas!