Big & Beautiful (Wedding 9/14/14)

Eph 5:31

FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND SHALL BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH.

Sept 14th was the big day they had all been waiting for. When we found out that Pastor Pamela Sparks was coming back to Haiti we asked her if she would marry the couples who had been desiring to honor God in their family.

Many of these couples had been together for years such as Jeda (pictured left) and her husband Emmanuel who are going on their 30th anniversary and Pierre & Marlen (pictured kissing!) our ministry manager who have been together 19 years.

Getting married in Haiti is a BIG deal which keeps a lot of people from actually going through with the BIG day. It requires a lot of money, you can't just do a simple & beautiful ceremony. Dancing girls, an arch way made up of your friends holding flowers, the dresses are big, the flowers are big and the reception is big! :-) But its culture and is the BIG day you marry your best friend.




 Community Church, Chesapeake VA. sent EHM a team in September loaded with dresses, veils, rings, flowers, sandals, and covered all the expenses to get these couples legally married. Paper work, blood work, tests, and more paper work was required months in advance and we are so grateful to have a supporting church who wanted to see God honored in FAMILY just as much as we did. (Make sure you read the other blogs from the Thrive team's trip!)


The church had to take down a wall because the guest list was so large, the community surrounding the church was packed outside looking in, amazed that there were 6 couples getting married that day together.



The wedding began at 3:30 with the dancing flower girls, friends formed the arch way, each couple walked in with their god parents (best man & maid of honor), took their assigned seats and then Pastor Molues shared how God took the rib from Adam. He did not take the finger so he could press her down and not the foot so he could step all over her... but the rib so they could be side by side. Something I have never seen before is the excitement from the crowd like that day. People were standing up, getting in the middle of the bridal party to take pictures and videos. Many people were cat calling and hooting for couples as the Pastor called their names. It was amazing.


They exchanged vows and then as they exchanged rings Pastor Pamela prayed a specific beautiful prayer over each couple and their marriage.
 The ladies looked like princess and the men were glowing with pride as each person said "I DO" and made a covenant before God.

Pierre sneaking a kiss EARLY from his bride

The receptions were held after the wedding at each person's house so that friends and family were able to spend time praising God for what He is doing in the community of Montrouis and the lives of His children. 

So a special thank you for everyone who donated money, veils, dresses, rings, made flowers and prayed for these families. The ceremony was BIG & beautiful and the examples these families are to the rest of the community and to their children is too. :-)