Due to many issues I don't even pretend to understand, we now have no internet access whatsoever. SO, here I am finally figuring out how to stream through my phone at the speed of a Haitian slug enough to EMAIL updates to my sister, who then posted this for us from Philly... and despite all the great pictures I have to go with this sharing of yesterday's academic convocation... they will have to wait.
For now, at least here's the story!...
Friday was fun.
For now, at least here's the story!...
Friday was fun.
I’m not sure the neighbor’s 11 and 13 year-olds agree that a
3 hour service in French in the heat was fun.
But. It grows on you J
The academic convocation service this morning (and into the
afternoon) was fun, one, because culturally major events are SO different than
our first culture that Matt and I are usually in stitches, and two, because it
was good time with good family, and that family—when a major event is about—is
very happy.
The point of this annual service is to set a tone and vision
for the Seminary and for the year before all the staff and students, and to
officially bring in the first year.
Commit to serve and love and teach them what we know and have them
commit to serve and love and teach us what they know. To live in godly community together.
As he expounded upon the Gospel that is needed, repentance,
humility, purity and holiness, service and unity, I was downright excited all
over again (as were our 2nd, 3rd, 4th year and
staff) to be a PART of that here in Haiti.
To be BRINGING that Gospel and living that repentance and constantly
being humbled and seeking after that purity and pouring out in service and
living in community.
That was fantastic.
By the time he finished, it felt like the room was ready to charge out
and DO it. But alas. That was only 2 hours in.
Culturally, Matt and I are never able to make eye contact in
these events for fear of laughter. Don’t
get me wrong, if our dear friends were able to attend a wedding, funeral,
graduation, or major event in the States, they would laugh, too. Sometimes each other’s cultures can be so
bizarre!
Of course, there were prom dresses. And as expected, more than a few people
showed up in sunglasses…wearing sunglasses indoors is a sign of being super
cool in ANY culture, right? Because the
service was official, the official language of Haiti, French, was
abundant. However, most people only have
French in their repertoire because of schooling, not because of practice.
You took Spanish in high school, right? Now imagine how long and painful it would be
to have to give your speech in it! Times
10 people speaking (reading)= a really really long service! I always commend Matt, because despite being
president and despite the importance of the occasion, he refuses to plow and
labor through French with muddled comprehension when he can preach in Kreyol
and be completely understood by all—educated and non. I know our staff sometimes wish, for
importance sake, he would preach in French, but…I’m always glad!
About halfway through it was announced that Leme would be
doing a special musical performance, and he’s very talented on keyboard, so I
assumed that’s what he would be playing.
When he and Jonas stood with matching recorders and started to play a
recorder duet, I couldn’t help but grin!
When was the last time you had a recorder duet at a university
convocation J
Accompanied by guitar, bass, keyboard and drums, it was
actually REALLY good! Like, not your
first-graders recorder. Still, we
couldn’t help but smile…
The most hilarious cultural element, however, that we will
still just NEVER get used to, came upon Phida’s introduction. Phida is this cute little timid female
student in first year that everyone calls “Ti-Phi-Phi”, or “Little Fi-Fi.” She’s young and sweet, and started here in
January of last year. She’s got a GREAT
voice, so was being introduced with her singing group.
However, before she came up, Fanfan, who was the master of
ceremonies, said, “The next person singing is a wonderful woman we all love
with the voice of an angel. For the
seminary, we all call her “Ti-Phi-Phi”, but, as you will see when she comes up
here, we really can’t call her “Little Fi-Fi” any more, because she is now so
fat.”
“So, from now on, we shall call her Fat Fi-Fi, and look,
now, as she is coming, how nice and fat she now is. Please applaud for Fat Fi-Fi!”
Yes, of course. I am
horrified.
But Phida? She was
glowing as she stood and came up on stage.
All of 10 pounds overweight.
And everyone else?
Just smiling away like Fanfan hadn’t said anything unusual at all. Because he hadn’t. Being BIG continues to mean being BEAUTIFUL
in a culture where hunger and poverty is so prevalent.
But all I could picture was a similar introduction happening
in the States, and oh my…someone may well have died today!
At the very end of the service we all prayed for the first
year students, and they seriously took their vows to be an active part of this
community with holiness and service and joy.
I couldn’t help but think—as I stood next to 2nd,
3rd and 4th year, in front of the staff and behind the
first year students—how truly miraculous it is how He has called and brought
and woven and commissioned the EBS community for His glory in Haiti.
May it be so!
(dad arrived safely…whoo-hoo!)
This makes me wish that I could hop a plane and come to your corner of the world. I've only ever taken short-term mission trips, but when I experience those, I never had culture shock. I loved and absorbed it all, and wanted to know more. :) Praying the Lord's sovereign shepherding in this new year. Your blog posts are so encouraging, and provoking, especially in light of God's work in his global church.
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