pumpkin soup, name that tune, and a gorgeous new beginning

We set some new traditions for New Year's Day this year! We had been invited to share in the traditional pumpkin soup with a family next door. What we didn't realize when we accepted was that Christian families go to church until midnight or 1 am New Year's Eve, then come home and make the pumpkin soup all night, and then eat it at dawn. So, we politely declined joining them at 5 am, and joined them at 8 am instead.

Though taking a gift wouldn't have been necessary, we wanted to share something with them in return, so I took the best thing we had: a big box of chocolate Turtles. We had so much fun! The soup was spicy and loaded with potatoes, carrots, spices, meat soaked in hot peppers, and squash. Lily LOVED it, despite the heat it was packing and the fact that it was 8 am, and the family all sat with us while we ate.

Then, at the ripe hour of 8:20, we ate chocolate turtles, loaded with pecans ("big peanuts") and caramel, and talked about food and family, culture and traditions. It was REALLY fun...Matt and I have been really touched lately with the way the Lord is giving us abounding joy as we spend more time with our Haitian brothers and sisters. Relationship building, that once felt like "ministry" or work or exhausting has begun to be truly and personally enjoyable, nourishing and a blessing to us both. Many times now it seems He is replacing what used to be effort with laughter, and we are so blessed by precious moments sharing His love with our family here....maybe next year we'll join them at sunrise!

This is one of those "new things" that He is doing in our hearts, and we are so thankful!

Matt also played bass guitar with the "worship team" at church this past Sunday, a first for him, and had a really great time being a part of the service without being the preacher. Generally the singer just begins singing, and it is the job of the musicians to figure out the song, find the right key (which is, at times, frequently changing), and join in. I had thought this would be stressful, but he had a really good time, and in his new Haitian "four pocket" shirt, he (almost) blended right in!

T-minus ONE WEEK until the big inauguration of the Seminary! I'm having a terrible time getting the internet to work with the Seminary website, so here are some photos from the last few days!