“The Wedding.”

Weddings and funerals are two big events in Haiti. For funerals, “everyone who can possibly come,” will come. Yesterday, Franceau, one of our first “8 children in our orphanage,” got married to beautiful miss Florantine. They have known each other for years. Because of all the gangs on the street, Franceau’s relatives couldn’t get to the wedding (the streets were blocked with shipping containers). The wedding was supposed to start at 9:00 am but, the bride and her mother were “on the other side of the gangs.” Everyone was dressed and waiting for the bride, but it took hours for the bride, her mother, and bridesmaid to get here, safely. In fact, they made it to the closest town, Ganthier, and our boys picked them up from there. Nevertheless, it was a beautiful wedding! Note: Since the wedding was late, everyone skipped the “wedding rehearsal,” and we winged it, but it turned out beautiful!

“Four Chairs.”

The church was decorated so beautifully!! Our younger Love A Child girls performed a Christian Praise Dance. Since Franceau has been in Bible college for several years, his pastor and Bible teacher performed the ceremony! The Pastor usually gives a long lecture Biblically, about “staying with your spouse,” and “getting counseling from your in-laws.” There are usually four chairs upfront, the Bride and Groom, and the “Marenn and Pareen.” The Marenn and Parenn give advice to the bride or groom!

Franceau and Florentine opted out of the reception because we couldn’t get the wedding cake here and all the stuff we needed due to the gangs, but, everything turned out beautifully. They will have a small honeymoon at “LaKabaan” not far from us. As in the Bible, weddings are a time of great joy!

Note: It is a rare thing in Haiti for an orphanage to have children who actually want to “get married.” So far, five our of Haitian children have married. “George will be next!” God bless you, friends and partners!

Bobby and Sherry