Graduation 2012!

If you're sorry you missed it, spend three hours looking at these pictures sitting in your oven set at 350 :)

What a blessed and beautiful day!

It started around 9:30 by the gate with a marching band, followed by the graduates, followed by the board, staff and faculty.

...some of whom were still talking to friends and family as they marched :)

We were hoping and praying for NO rain but LOTS of clouds...and that is EXACTLY what we got!

just PERFECT for an outdoor graduation in Haiti!  It was beautiful...and the grass and flowers were so brilliant!

Having a marching band at major events is a pretty traditionally Haitian thing, and Lily thought they were the best part of the day!

Having lots of music is also very important, so we had three major singing groups...one from Pillatre, one from Vaudreil, and one from Port-au-Prince!

Look at those clouds!  It was like God's umbrella!  (I'm not saying it wasn't hot :)  It just wasn't too sunny!

Sam quite impressively turned the lawn mower trailer into a stage, where everyone who was invovled in the ceremony sat.

Dr. Harold Brown, chairman of the EBS board

But of course, the moment the sun started to come out, everyone grabbed their benches and ran for cover (people generally hate to be in the sun here).  By the time the service ended, there were several hundred people crammed under the laundry room overhang and this mango tree :)

The director of the Port-au-Prince choir played the accordion, and it was also later announced that he is running to be the next president of Haiti...so, if that happens, we met him!

Dr. Bill Vermillion, the Vice President of Theological Education with OMS, was the main speaker, and gave a great message on servant leadership.

 Vilmer, Lucner, Raymond and Matt

 Then, Dr. Bryan Easley announced that he had resigned as President of EBS yesterday to the Emmaus board.  We have been SO thankful for Bryan's leadership and friendship these past two years and couldn't help but feel sad to see Bryan move on!

 After lots of prayers, interviews and conversations yesterday, the Board then named Matt the new President of Emmaus Biblical Seminary.  This is a huge honor, and a huge work ahead!  We're so thankful that the work has never been ours, and still continues to be His!

(I must admit that I'm very proud of Matt!  I hated missing his graduation from Wesley, but being able to see this today touched my heart with His faithfulness.  As overwhelming as it is to take on such a large responsibility, Matt continues to receive such joy, strength and provision for God's calling and passion for his life.  I love the new president :)

 By the end, there were almost NO people sitting in the yard because of the sun, but still hundreds huddling under trees.

 Then we got to hang it with lots of good friends...like Junior...

 ....Pehpay....Janiel....

 ...Luna (Lucner's wife) and Victoria...

...Donnson, Jasmin and Jude.


So thankful for all that He has been and done this past school year--in the lives of our graduates, students and staff--and for His continued pursuit of His people in Haiti through Emmaus!