Sunday was a gift

Saturday night before bedtime prayers, I asked Handy, “Do you have your clothes ready for church tomorrow?” to which he replied, “Frè Steeve told me to wear jeans and a t-shirt to church tomorrow.”

Me: “Do you have them?”

Handy: “I have my jeans.”

Me: “Handy, you have so many shirts. Why haven’t you chosen a shirt?”

Handy: . . .

Sunday morning when I walked into church, I understood.

The majority of people at church were wearing t-shirts, shirts welcoming me back and wishing me good health. I even received a bouquet of fresh flowers as a gift.
Here are just a few photos we took afterwards.

But this surprise, as big as it was, wasn’t the only surprise on Sunday.

Later in the afternoon, Steeve had invited me to attend one of the church’s community groups. He had told me there was no obligation, but I was welcome. Of course, I went, but I didn’t find a community group when I got there. Instead this happened.

I wept for the next 20 minutes. I couldn’t stop the tears. How blessed am I to know this amazing community of people and to be loved and accepted by them?

Soon I will share one last story from this most recent trip to Haiti, and in many ways, what happened on Monday morning, tied the entire trip, this entire story, together.