Although temporarily interrupted, Sunday afternoon prayers and catechetical/inquirers sessions at La Plaine have been resumed. Today we had a lively session, with more than a dozen adults (and several children). Since many of the people at La Plaine speak only French (not Créole) much time must be spent in translation when I am there. Nevertheless, we had an excellent exchange, initiated with prayers appropriate to the day, the reading of the parable of the Prodigal Son (the Gospel for the day) in Créole, and a brief summary of the life of St. Nicholas given by Ambroise, who together with Jean is most responsible for generating the interest there. The discussion led to the discovery that there is an Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas at Cap-Haïtien (of unknown connection), founded long in the past in commemoration of Columbus’ landing at Cap-St.-Nicholas on 6 December 1492, at which (at least in the middle of the last century) annual festal services were a feature of life there.
The gathering represented an unusually broad cross-section of Haitian people, from the well educated and well travelled Jacques who came forth with this intelligence, to the barely literate and purely Créole-speaking people who dominate the area. At the conclusion of the gathering eight little girls (really!), the oldest appearing to be about ten, joined their mother and nursing baby brother… and the mother told us she wanted herself to be baptized, together with all the little ones, as soon as possible. One of the little girls said she wanted to go home with me to baptized there… not too practical! It seems likely they will be baptized at Pascha.
The only more practical issue (no discussions of “social works”) to be raised was the chronic one of transport: the cost for the people of the area (especially those with children) to get to and from the parish church for services is simply unthinkable for many of them. Not only is the cost formidable, but the trip itself is very difficult: three different tap-tap stages are required, each of them requiring a long wait for enough space. The trip often takes two hours each way, even though the distance is not enormous… and, returning from Vigil in the evening, there is always the possibility that there simply won’t be any transport for one or both of the last two stages (up to two hours’ walk). We discussed at some length the possibility of entering into a contract with a camionetteur (Datsun or Toyota pickup with a roof of sorts over the bed, in most cases) for transport from a gathering point in La Plaine to the church on Sunday morning, then back after services — and, possibly, in time for Saturday Vigils as well. Again, money! The cost (we have located a willing driver): $15US each round trip — $60/month for Liturgy, the same for Vigils. The camionette would probably be able to carry all those who wish to come… packed as usual like a tin of sardines. You are invited to review elsewhere in these articles the questions concerning tithing… and the appropriate checkbox on the pledge form!
We concluded the gathering with prayers, and
anointing of all present with myrrh from the relics of St. Nicholas,
parting in much joy and with hope for the future.