Haiti Worship

I worshiped with other Christians while in Titanyen, Haiti. The singing and preaching were in the vernacular, French Creole. I didn't understand much but I did recognize a few things and words occasionally.

Then . . .

Two men approached a table to remove the white sheet covering some crackers and juice. The men folded the sheet and placed it to the side to reveal the elements of the Lord's Supper. One of the men who prepared the table began to speak in French Creole.  I noticed the gentleman's Bible in front of me was turned to First Corinthians so I turned my Bible to the eleventh chapter of that book to read Paul's retelling of the Lord's Supper.

I was invited by the gentleman in front of me to partake in the Lord's Supper so I walked to the front of the church to receive the elements. As I waited for two to three hundred people to make their way through the line, I started thinking about worship and the Lord's Supper. I thought about how since the night before Jesus' crucifixion we as Christians have celebrated the Lord's Supper. The setting may be different, the language may be different, but the meaning is the same, Jesus' body was broken and His blood poured out for the reconciliation of sinners.

The man began to speak in French Creole, but I knew what He was saying. He quoted Jesus' words saying something like "This is my body which is for you; do this in remembrance of me." He, then, lifted the the cracker and ate. We all ate in worship and remembrance.

The man began to speak again in French Creole so I could not understand his words, but I understood what was happening. I believe he said something similar to this: "In the same way, Jesus took the cup and said, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.'" The man officiating the service lifted his cup and drank the juice. We all drank in worship and remembrance.

Even though there was a language barrier between me and them, the significance of the moment was not lost. I along with other brothers and sisters in Christ worshiped as one body of Christ to remember Christ's sacrifice.

So . . .

If you get a chance to worship with people from another country and culture, then you should take it. I encourage you to participate in the Lord's Supper with other believers.