As we approach another holiday season enjoying time together
with family and friends, feasting on delicious and plentiful meals, opening
beautifully wrapped gifts, and worshipping in a beautifully decorated church
while listening to beautiful music sung by our very own choir, let’s keep in
mind those of us in the Body of Christ who have so very little and yet
celebrate fully the coming of Christ in their own special way. There is just as much excitement around
Christmas with the poorest of the poor who live in the poorest of country
villages in Haiti, who save their pennies for weeks so that they might have a
toy for their child on Christmas morning.
They plan and save so that they might have a special Christmas meal for
their family. They hope to have new
shoes and clothes to wear to church on Christmas. They hope that they can afford new shoes for
their children.
The children at Kay Timoun (Children’s Home) will celebrate
Christmas very much as we do in the U.S.
Last year we had a big Christmas Eve dinner with turkey and traditional
rice and beans. We invited children in
the village to join us. We sang
Christmas songs and the children played games.
Keeping with our forming tradition, there will be a small Christmas tree
in the living room, which will be visited by “Pere Noel” while the children are
at late night mass. The children will
hurriedly unwrap their “cado” (gift) and play with it throughout most of the
night, falling asleep with their toy on their pillow. A simple toy, like a plastic doll for the
girls or a plastic truck for the boys, means so much, because the kids in
Bondeau, Kay Timoun kids included, rarely receive toys.
We must remember to thank God for all the blessings that He
gives freely to us. First of all,
thanking Him that we have opportunity to live a decent life. Most of us have no idea how people in
developing countries live. Thank God by
sharing with those who have next to nothing.
You may do that by contributing for the Christmas Eve dinner at Kay
Timoun. The more money we receive, the
more kids we can feed. A special dinner
means so much! (Write check to South
Florida Haiti Project—Kay Timoun.) You
may also contribute for Christmas gifts.
Last year one friend provided Creole bibles for all the children. Other items on wish list are flash lights or
lanterns with batteries, “church” clothes, small “match box” cars, and dolls.
I’ll be in Bondeau and Kay Timoun for Christmas and New
Year, which is Independence Day in Haiti. Wishing you all a Blessed Christmas!
