Haiti (MNN)–For Haiti With Love is getting things ready for their 18th annual Christmas party in Haiti.
This year’s celebration is especially poignant. The man behind the party, ministry founder Don DeHart passed away in April this year, so this will be the first party without him there.
But DeHart’s fingerprints are all over this event. His widow, Eva reminisces about the first party held in 1988. She says their initial plans ran into bad weather, so they held the event inside.
Success that it was, she says they decided to plan better for the next year. “Things fell into place for a fundraiser and gift collecting party in August so we could invite more than the sponsored families.”
That led to the “Christmas in August” party in the States. Donors bring funds and gifts for the December party in Haiti.
The mechanism is well in place, but the meaning is what keeps it growing. Eva explains, “It’s a special celebration of Messiah’s birth for and with the poor of Cap Haitien.” These kinds of parties are typically for the wealthy, and exclude the poor. Since this party is targeted specifically to the poorest in northern Haiti, it has come to be regarded as the ‘social event’ of the year.
Attendees are fed a meal with a special treat at the end. Throughout the party, the meaning of Christmas and the full Gospel is shared repeatedly in songs and stories.
The last shipment of supplies will get sent to Cap Haitien on December 15th. Click here if you want to help.
