Twenty-two children from Haiti, ranging in age from 5-16, will share their talent and inspiring story with audiences in Clarkesville this coming week.
The “Love Him Love Them” Choir will perform at Clarkesville First United Methodist Church and Bethlehem Baptist Church on Sunday, August 14th and again during a student assembly at North Habersham Middle School on Tuesday, August 16th.
The choir arrived in Atlanta June 28th and settled into their summer quarters at Barnes Academy in Hartwell, Georgia. From there they’ve been touring the region, sharing their music, glad hearts and heart-rending story. All but five of them lost their parents – many, their complete families – in the earthquake of 2010.
Habersham Countians were instrumental in helping to bring the choir to the States from their home at Lifesaver Orphanage in Pernier 7, Haiti. NHMS science teacher Doug Vermilya was among a group of five local teachers, a retired librarian and other volunteers who traveled to the Caribbean island nation to set up a library and accompany the choir stateside.
Vermilya recounts the choir’s first church singing at Mt. Olivet Baptist in Hartwell. “It was amazing!” he says. “The church fed them afterwards with the traditional ‘dinner on the grounds’ Baptist meal. It was the first time they had experienced a buffet. You should have seen their faces and their plates!”
These young performers have enjoyed many new experiences since arriving in the US. They’ve toured throughout the southeast including Georgia, the Carolinas, Alabama and Mississippi. They even performed in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, singing the National Anthem during pre-game ceremonies on August 11th.
In addition to their many travels, the choir also just released a new CD.
The Love Him Love Them Choir wraps up its US tour in September but still has quite a few performances scheduled before returning to Haiti on October 3rd.
Upcoming performances
The choir will perform on August 14th during the 11 a.m. service at Clarkesville First United Methodist Church and at 5 p.m. at Bethlehem Baptist Church. Both events are free and open to the public. The choir will sing some of your favorite songs in English, Creole, and Spanish. The concert is packed with worshipful music, dancing, and interaction with the audience. There will be something for every member of the family.
The choir also will perform during a school assembly at North Habersham Middle School on Tuesday, August 16th at 1:30 p.m. Students’ parents and families are invited to attend that event.
For those unable to attend this week’s performances in Habersham, others are scheduled across NEGA including in Hart, Franklin and Stephens counties, through the end of next month. For a complete list of upcoming performance dates, times and locations visit https://lovehimlovethem.com/events.html.
Sales from the CD and other fundraising events during the tour will go to support children in Haiti, Ukraine and the US.
The “Love Him Love Them Orphan Choir from Haiti” is sponsored by Love Him Love Them, a non-profit Christian ministry. For more on this ministry visit www.lovehimlovethem.com or Lovehimlovethem.
