Twas the Night Before Christmas...

Merry Christmas!  Jess and I had fun listening to Christmas music last night and got in the holiday spirit while decorating our door with lights.  We wondered about decorating the palm trees or plants with lights, but didn't have an extension chord.  It was strange preparing for Christmas wearing shorts and flip-flops, sipping lemonade, and hearing the crickets chirp under the star-lit sky.  Two teenage boys came to our door and thought the lights were beautiful!  They even started singing Christmas songs while strumming their Bible as if it was a guitar.  What fun!  It is so beautiful knowing that the children at Grace Village are so excited to celebrate the birth of our King, Jesus!  I am so thankful that their hearts rejoice in our Savior's Birth!

Twas the Night Before Christmas

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the land,

Silence was heard by roosters and the church band.

The stars were twinkling in the open sky,

In hopes that a tap-tap soon would zip by.

The children were nestled all snug in their bunk beds,

While visions of mangos and papitas danced in their heads.

And Jess in her sweatpants, and I in my jams,

Were trying to fall asleep by counting lambs.

When off in the distance I heard a few beeps,

It must be a truck full of Healing Haiti peeps!

Away to the porch I ran with all my might,

Unlocked the door and turned on the light.

With a kind little man, so knowledgeable and wise,

I knew in a moment it must be a guesthouse surprise!

More rapid than Maxim’s driving visitors came,

And Jean whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

“Now Junior! Now Maxim! Now Wilson! Now Nikinson!

On Brunet! On, Febrese! On, Jonas! On, Bruchon!

To the top of the hill!  To the top by the gate!

Now up the road!  Don’t be late!

They stopped at the guard shack to get the OK,

Flashed their badge and proceeded on their way.

Then they drove up the hill for a short stay.

They brought some donations and needed supplies,

I knew in a moment that God did provide.

They brought with them games for the children to play,

It was soon time to go but we wanted them to stay.

They climbed into the tap-tap and closed up the rear,

And waved good-bye as we shouted with great cheer!

We waved ‘til they drove down the hill out of sight,

Excited for them to come back another night!

I had fun changing the words to this popular poem.  If you've been to Haiti on a Healing Haiti team, you will be able to recognize the names of the people who drive the tap-tap or translate on our outings.  Maybe you even chuckled at some of the truth hidden in this poem.  Merry Christmas!