Rue Douze Eglise...

On the evening of our arrival in Cap Haitien, one of the first people we were introduced to was Pastor Megy Silvain, known almost universally as Pastor Megy (pronounced "mayjee"). (The pastor was the first Haitian Robyn ever met, while in the USA in the 1970s, and he is clearly a good friend to her). He is now 65, and ministers in the Evangelical Church of Haiti - a denomination of 63 churches that is growing rapidly. When Pastor Megy first started a bible study, in the 1970s, it was for about 4 other people. When he took over the church, again in the 1970s, there was a congregation of about 70, and when Robyn began to work with them in the 1980s it had grown to about 200 on a Sunday. Now the church recognises a usual Sunday attendance of 7000, spread over three services, and is open every day of the week for services of worship and service to the community.

Pastor Megy comes across as a shy man, and very quietly spoken. He is fluent in English, and was very interested in all that we had to say. But his quietness and humility cover a passionate committment to the gospel, and an integrity that is accepted throughout the city of Cap

Haitien. In February this year, following the earthquake, there was a time of prayer and fasting for three days throughout Haiti, with a near national response. In Port-au-Prince the thousands who gathered were joined by the President and Prime Minister. In Cap Haitien the prayers were organised by Pastor Megy, with literally thousands joining in a procession from the Cathedral in the city centre out towards a local national monument, five miles from the centre. (To give an idea of the numbers of people involved, the leaders had reached the monument before those at the back were able to get leave the Cathedral precincts.) So many had joined the procession that nothing but emergency services were available in the city, and this on Mardi Gras - Shrove Tuesday - an important day of celebration in more usual times. This reflects the very spiritual awareness and identity of most of the population. Despite the clear evidence of violence and disturbance, there is a very high church attendance on Sundays, reflected in all the denominations.

We attended the church for the first service on a Sunday - at 6.00 (AM), at that meant getting there about 5.40, and we were far from being the first. We had been warned that we were going to be introduced to the congregation, and so we (Dale and myself) sat on one of the front rows, with Robyn sitting behind (and in-between) us in order to translate - the services are held in Creole.

The current church building is still under construction, with the main auditorium - the

hall and balconies -able to seat over 1500, and a basement area with sound and TV link to the main hall seating the same. Still to be finished is the upper floors where there are planned to be meeting rooms, and accommodation for some of the pastoral staff.

The main hall has a mass of artificial flowers around the podium which provides a vibrant sense of colour to what is otherwise a simply decorated building. The stage has room for the music providers - the church has a lot of choirs - robed and otherwise, childrens, mens, mixed, and also a music group, or 2, or 3 or 7 or more! Accompanying the singers are a selection of keyboards, a set of drums, a guitar or two (I think) but very definitely a Xylophone. Set up in the ceiling, and scattered all around are fans which help to circulate the air. The wooden benches are hard, and packed tight, and there is a good feel to the place.

It was Mother's Day in Haiti (following the American system rather than the English or New Zealand one) and one of the children's choirs (there are many) was on duty: they were called the Ambassadors, all boys from about 9 to 15, and all dressed immaculately in crisp white shirts, black trousers and matching ties. They gave some musical pieces to start off the worship, followed by a prayer of invocation - delivered by one of the pastors.

There were two bible readings, and it is the custom for the whole congregation to stand when scripture is read. For the second reading it was tackled antiphonally, with the reader and congregation alternating. That felt good as I felt able to join in the congregational part, even if it was in my English version.

Then we were introduced, which meant climbing up to the stage, and then to the lectern, and being handed a microphone. Both Dale and I tried out our obligatory Creole (which in my case, phonetically sounded a bit like "mwen relly Steve, ou doctor Steve ou Pere Steve..." my name is Steve or Dr Steve or Father Steve...) Robyn then translated for us. Rather movingly when I said how I brought greetings and love from my rather smaller church in England, and that we regularly prayed for the people of Haiti there was a round of applause, and murmurs of appreciation. A salutary reminder to me to persevere in prayer for this devastated and desperately needy country.

After all this, and some more from the Ambassadors, an hour had already passed. Then the children left, the adult music group for the day - about 1o in total - took their place on the stage and it was time for congregational singing, which was done well, and in lively fashion. Some tunes were familiar, and to them I sang the English words as I remembered them, and everything seemed to fit. Some of the songs blended into others, and the Haitians are generally in very good voice. After this I was invited to give the "Pastoral Prayer" the meaning of which wasn't exactly defined... Anyway it meant another trek to the podium, and with Robyn translating phrase by phrase there was enough time to try and cover what I thought was needed - including mothers...

A bit more singing then Pastor Megy preached - for 45 minutes, that's something he doesn't compromise on, (and when preaching there is no sense of the shyness I felt at our first meeting), and a closing hymn and benediction.

So many people to meet and to greet and to remember after the service... it makes the 80 - 100 at St Luke's seem like a largish homegroup!

Haitians are intensely spiritual - many of the taxis and minicabs have religious slogans or bible verses painted on the windscreen or roof. And spirituality is something accepted. As I walked

about the wards of the hospital there were several bibles opened, and bible verses are not uncommon on the side of shops, businesses and restaurants. Quite what Proverbs 16.1

has to do with the "Botty Bar" I have yet to discern!

But there is a darker side to the world of spirituality, which is also evident here, and is more than the random acts of violence that are such a problem, but maybe more about that later.