SUNDAY!!

We went to pastor Robbie's church only a few streets away from the mission base. We were brought up to the front of the church to be introduced to the congregation. Christie and I (Haylee) tried out our Creole in front of the whole church, and got a few laughs. They were very welcoming and excited that we were there. Pastor Robbie was especially welcoming to us, he gives the BEST hugs ever!!!!! The service was very energetic and interesting to be part of even though we could not understand what was being said, we could feel that God was moving and encountering many in the church. While we were sitting there was a mama chicken and her two little chicks ambling through the aisles looking for bits of food. Later we found out that the mama chicken was given as a tithe offering and then it was multiplied with two little chicks. We ate our PB&J sandwiches and then made our way out into the community. Originally we were going to go to Grace Village which was a tent city that has been around since the earthquake, but the occupants have left mostly so that the hospital can be rebuilt. (The land that the people set up tent city on was originally where the hospital had been.) Instead of going there we went towards the houses close to the coast line. We first talked with a group sitting under an almond tree and invited them to come to the clinic that we would be having the following morning. They asked if we could take their blood pressure then, so we started taking blood pressures. It is a common belief here that almond leaves are very useful in treating hypertension. They put them in their shoes or sit under the trees to lower their blood pressure. It was very curious to find out that none of them while sitting under the almond tree had high blood pressure. It seemed like people would never stop coming to see what their blood pressure was, it was like watching musical chairs. We continued on towards the coast, we saw several families giving their children their afternoon baths. There was one house where when you first said hi to one child and then more and more kept pouring out, so many little kids! :) At the coast, which was beautiful, we began taking blood pressures. At first people were a bit standoffish, but then when they found why we were there they all began gathering. The little kids were so excited to see is and to get our attention. There was a man with a wound that we encouraged to come to the clinic tomorrow to get it changed. After a while we made our way back to the base to clean the medical closet and bag up medications for our clinic tomorrow. We were all worn out by the end of the day, today was the hottest it has been yet!

Blessings to all!!