Pa Gen Mal (It Is Well)

i just got back from one of the best trips of my life.

i am in Gospel Choir at school and we went on tour to Orlando, Florida. why Orlando? Universal Studios of course!! no really, we went to sing at some Haitian churches down there. The plan was to do a concert Saturday night, sing at some churches Sunday morning, and some different churches on Sunday night.

can i just say - OH. MY. GOODNESS.

honestly, i wasn't too excited about the Haitian churches. i thought it would just be some really boring church services in a language i couldn't understand.

i have never been so wrong.

early Sunday morning we split our 80 person choir into two different groups and set out to our assigned churches.

at our first church, we had only planned on singing a few songs because they were having their regular service in addition to our songs. before things got started we got up on the stage to practice. we went through our first few songs without so much as a clap or sway from the crowd (which was totally ok, because we were only practicing). but then, we started to sing "It Is Well". we have learned that and "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" in Creole French for this very trip. we were so excited to be able to sing a song in their native language.

as the first verse began, the look on their faces were priceless. slowly, one by one, they began to notice what we were saying. they began to smile and pay much more attention than before.

as we all joined in on the chorus, they too joined in.

there we were, a group of kids from a school in nashville, tn singing praises to our King in unison with the Haitian community. they were so happy!!!

they were smiling, and swaying and singing along.

and the tears, the tears that flowed. from their eyes and ours.

it was incredible. i was so touched. and from the reaction of the rest of our group, i wasn't the only one.

after that, we went and sat down and waited for our turn to perform. we got to sing along their congregational hymns while we waited.

standing there in that sanctuary was something i will never forget.

we were singing "How Great Thou Art"...but it wasn't like what i am, or most of the people in that choir are used to.

they were singing in French and we were singing in English. but the sound of all of us worshiping together rose in such a way....i can't even describe it.

it was INCREDIBLE.

a few hours later, we were loading the bus and all i could think was, "no. don't make me leave. i'm not ready to go yet!!"

it was so great.

so i wasn't expecting much out of our trip. i was expecting to go sing what i had to sing just to get through and then get to spend a free day at the beach.

but i got so much more. i was touched and blessed in a way i could never have imagined. i share an amazing God with some pretty awesome Haitians down in Orlando.

you should go see them some time.

they'd be happy to sing with you.

<3