joy for the journey

My camera is broken, hence the recent splay of older photos. However, I've been waiting to post these photos from our annual "Baptism", a Haitian version of Freshman Initiation. I don't know HOW long this tradition goes back, but each year we've been a part of it, the party is more exciting than the last, with the first year students having to pass through more hurdles each year.

The 2nd, 3rd and 4th year students delegate a few leaders, who wear overflowing graduation robes and tell lots of jokes that we never understand. (Haitian humor...it's a learned art.) Then, the first year students, always in an uproar of laughter themselves, parade all about the yard, wearing white shirts, black pants, one leg rolled up, and carrying stones on their heads.

Finally there is a "service", with the "pastors" preaching at each man before hand, followed by a time of confession from the first year student, which always includes ridiculous made up sins, the more ridiculous, the better. "I like my bicycle. I ride it all the time. I am so sorry for this great sin. I will always walk after today, and I will walk until my feet have much pain!"

Then, they are ceremoniously drenched in a pitcher of cold water, followed by a puff of flour on their heads, one by one. All of this is excitedly captured by the ever-popular camera phone, along with lots of singing, and all followed by cookies and juice.

Lily was quite puzzled by the whole thing (as were we the first time we saw it), and while we'll never understand why this is such a highly anticipated and joyous day for our students, it is always a beautiful thing to watch these men and women, normally heavy-burdened by difficult lives and many heavy responsibilities, tease like children and laugh pure and loud.

We praise the Lord for these sweet, joyful times of FAMILY in the midst of the battle always raging.

Drip down, O heavens, from above,

And let the clouds pour down righteousness;

Let the earth open up

and salvation bear fruit,

and the righteousness spring up with it.

I, the Lord, have created it. Isaiah 45:8