The hustle and bustle of Christmas isn’t exclusively an American thing. In Haiti, December is a month of celebrations. It’s a time to celebrate with family and friends, have weddings, eat special meals, attend church gatherings. Haiti is breathing a sigh of relief and celebration right now.

It’s unrealistic to assume the unrest is truly resolved, but these past couple weeks have been peaceful. And we are grateful for that here.

This past week, we had an incredible group of people come to serve on a Healing Haiti missions trip. Their focus was serving the elders, and together we hosted two Christmas celebrations, one for our elders in Titanyen and another for our elders in Cite Soleil.

Last night, our EKS group gathered for a Christmas celebration, complete with singing, dancing, and delicious food from Fleri!

Three parties in four days. I’m exhausted but in a good way. I’ve witnessed so much joy this week, I don’t even know how to describe it.

People who have suffered greatly in their lives, throwing their hands up in worship. Elders who need assistance to walk insisting on joining the conga line anyway. Church members who live a daily food crisis and know the threat of gang violence quite personally, not only eating with gratitude, but slipping leftovers off their plates into their napkins to take home and share. Those members also inviting in children who are peeking through the open restaurant door to finish their sodas and saving some of the chicken on their own plates for them.

If you want to spread some Christmas love in Haiti this season and share a hot meal or a plate of cookies, Fleri can do that on your behalf!

If you are interested in donating the money to make that happen, contact Jake Stebbing directly or via “Fleri Resto” facebook messenger. There are many people in our neighborhood who would be blessed by a special Christmas meal or cookies this time of year. You can choose to bless Grace Village staff, kids, mommies, one of our local churches, school kids, Fleri staff, Fleri farm staff, or many other neighborhood groups.

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Isaiah 9:6