Monday, June 7, 2010

It's hot!

Well my friends, there are the hot dog days of Boston I am very familiar with. Then there is hot.
A full week of 90 degrees with 80% humidity is a killer.

We do the Saturday evening service at the navy base (with AC) and when we come out our glasses fog up from the humidity. Sunday morning starts with the 8:30 liturgy and when its done I can literally wring out my shirt. I actually have to change clothes before we leave here at 10 to go to Cargill Creek for the 11AM liturgy, after which, once again, I am soaked.

Once we get back from that one we have about an hour to clean up and get ready to head North for our last liturgy. Ginni takes a shower and changes her clothes while I am loading up the car with all we need (since we have no Church up north and this liturgy is in the Primary School).

The service up North is interesting in that we have uncovered a Haitian community and some local Bahamians have begun hearing about our 4PM liturgy in the school and have joined us. The Haitians live in very poor conditions and some are extremely limited in their English, but come anyway because they know it is 'Catholique Church'. I really need to find a resource for Creole if I am ever going to break into that community. Anybody know where I can get a creole sacramentary?

The bottom line is the Haitians do speak some English, they need it for the market, trips to the clinic, and the children must learn it for school. The kids are actually a great source of translation when I can involve them in conversations. Often the adults simply smile and say, 'OK, OK, OK', which sometimes makes sense if they're answering a Yes, No question, but often doesn't when its not a Yes, No question.

"Do you want us to pick you up for Church next week?" OK, OK, OK
"What crop will you be brining in after the onions are harvested?" OK, OK, OK

But with all that said, we do communicate enough to get by. We've begun to realize what songs they recognize, and try to focus on them during liturgy. For example, everyone knows Amazing Grace.

How these folks live in this heat is beyond me - never mind how do they work the fields and do the heavy physical work they do in this heat.

Well enough for now, stay cool where ever you are.
Love ya

Frank and Ginni