Excitement, joy and laughter filled the air as 500 children participated in an unforgettable Christmas party held in a M.E.B.S.H church in Port Salut. Thanks to the help of our supporters we were able to hold a party for any child that wanted to come. Hundreds of toys were brought to Haiti with a team of 3 men from Cold Stream Church in Vernon, B.C.
There was singing, a bible story (How Christmas began), games, prizes, food, and excitement. It was precious to see little boys walk into the church in their three-piece suits; this was a big event for the town and surrounding areas. Imagine, that many kids, and we still found order. Children sat and waited in their seats for the party to begin. Many came a great distance, on foot, some living in the surrounding mountains.
Thanks to the help of an amazing group of youth that attend this church the party was able to be a success. They were there to serve in anyway needed, and worked together.
From early in the morning, 6am, woman gathered at the church to begin cooking the 400 pounds of rice, 100 pounds of beans and 500 pieces of chicken. All day they cooked.
Again, just as last year, there was a part in the party that didn’t run as smoothly as we wanted it to. When the food was being distributed we lost control of the crowed and a mini riot broke out. We were handing out toys to go with the plate of food and after twenty minutes we closed the toys because people were not listening and many were trying to take more than once. I was amazed to see the people who were handing out food and pop; no matter what went on around them they never gave up. They kept handing out what they had until everything was gone, so the innocent kids wouldn’t miss out. This was a huge lesson for me.
At the end of the night all the 600 plates and 550 drinks were gone.
Mandy Leon
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