The day begins at about 6.30am for us in the flat, though it
has already made itself apparent from about 5.30am with the first of the
semi-continuous church services that are held throughout the four lower levels
throughout the day. Most of them are
accompanied by singing, at some point, and it is for us a gentle nudge into
awareness. Evanet is the church care-taker,
and he unlocks the door at 5.00am for people to come and go. Groups of up to 100 meet for prayer, bible
study, preaching (some of which sounds very vigorous!), counselling, choir
practice – there are probably 25 official choirs and singing groups associated
with the church and who help with leading worship in the various Sunday and
weekday services. There is also a style
of ministry that is not commonly seen in the UK or New Zealand which is offered
most weekdays: people are invited to sit or lie on mats and the scriptures are
read, or accurately “chanted” over them for up to 2 hours at a time. (Though there is no fixed start or stop time
and folk come and go at will.)
The bible is well known to many in Haiti – Bernadette is
Robyn’s housekeeper and our cook, and a member of a local Baptist Church
(itself no light-weight in the congregation stakes coming in at about 1000
every Sunday morning) could recite from memory Psalms 1, 23, 121, 91 and
more. At the opening and close of the
Physiotherapy School the students take it on themselves to start with a hymn,
and a communal recitation of a psalm or prayer.
(I feel rather embarrassed at my attempts to learn a Psalm every
holiday, and failing to complete Ps 27 over our last NZ trip.)
As we make our way up and down the stairs there are always
individuals, couples, and groups receiving or giving ministry throughout the
day until Evanet will lock the doors at about 8.00pm, and music accompanies
much if it.
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