Candy Cane Walk

Before school let out, It was suggested that Nickson and I take all of the students out into the neighborhood to hand out candy canes for Christmas.  Poor Mr. Nickson searched high and low at every grocery store that he could think of, but he could not find candy canes anywhere!  Thankfully, we found some red and white mints as an alternative.

On the last day of school before Christmas vacation, Nickson and I read the story of the candy cane to all the students.  The pure white hard candy symbolizes the Virgin Birth and sinless nature of Jesus.  The hardness symbolizes the Solid Rock and the firmness of God's promises.  The "J" shape can remind us of the name of Jesus.  The red stripes can remind us of the scourging that Jesus recieved and the blood that was shed for us.

After the story, we gave each of the students two candies.  Then, we lined them up and lead them throughout the neighborhood singing Christmas carols, handing out candies, and wishing everyone that we passed a Merry Christmas.  The kids got very excited each time they were able to hand out some candy.  It was great to see people smiling and laughing as our students sang their way down the road.

I'm so happy that our students are learning that it is better to give than to receive!

 The video below is of the TLC students as we walked around our neighborhood passing out candy and wishing everyone a Merry Christmas.

Need Help!

I am in need of help!  As I mentioned before, my friend Kaitlin is flying back to Haiti with me on Wednesday the 4th.  We are flying out of Newark, NJ and we need someone who can drive us to the airport.  Neither of our families can, and I'm getting a little worried since we leave in less than a week!  Please call or e-mail me if you would be able to helps us!

Uncomfortable with Being Comfortable

My time here in the states is flying by too fast.  A week from now I will be heading back to Haiti, but this time I will not be traveling alone!!  My good friend, Kaitlin, will be coming with me and staying for about a week and a half.  Although I will be sad leaving my friends and family next week, I am really excited to share my "Haitian Life" with Kate, and I can't wait to get back home.

I always like when friends come to visit and can see what my life is like first hand.  Seeing their reactions helps to remind me that Haiti really is vastly different from what most people are used to.  Kate shared that she would like to do a lot of video taping while she is there.  Her goal is to upload videos daily of what Haiti is like and what her reaction is to everything she is sees and experiences there.  I also suggested that she do some "guest posts" on this blog.  I think it will be nice to get different perspectives on Haiti.  Kate and I already have a LOT planned for such a short time.

In the meantime, I have been running errands and checking things off my "Things to Bring Back From the States" list.  I am going to attempt to make my apartment more homey once I get back.  I am hoping that a few pictures on the walls, new curtains, a pretty shower curtain, and some handmade pillows (if I can actually succeed in making them) will do the trick.  I admit this has been a little bit of an internal battle for me.  Hopefully you can follow this....On one hand, I want to make my house look homey and personal.  Maybe its just the girly girl in me, but I think that a little decoration and personal touch will make my house more of a home.  However on the other hand, I feel guilty spending money on curtains and fabric when I know how many people live in tents and poverty all around me.  Am I being too materialistic by wanting to decorate a little?  This truly is something that I've thought about a lot.  I want to make a little home for myself, but at the same time I know that God could very easily call me somewhere else unexpectedly, forcing me to leave it behind.  I know that I am blessed, but often times I feel guilty for how much I have.  My apartment is so nice that it is almost too nice...sometimes I truly find myself wishing that I had a less nice home.  I have so much more than most Haitian families.  And yet, now I find myself getting ready to bring back curtains and decorations.  I know that wanting to decorate a little might not seem like a big deal to most people, but I want all materialism in me to die.  I realize that to "stay sane" in such a crazy and difficult country I need to treat myself once in a while.  I think that brightening up my house will help keep me cheery.  In reality, I know that true joy and happiness only comes from the Lord and being in His presence.  So, where does this realization leave me?  Well, it leaves  me with a suitcase of things to take back to Haiti and an understanding that they are just that: things.  They won't make me happier and they won't really give me true joy.  They are blessings, but they should not take my focus away from the Lord or what I am doing in Haiti.  I don't want to get wrapped up in making a home for myself.  I want to continue to going outside my four walls and putting my efforts into pouring into those around me...not into making myself more comfortable.

Isn't it funny the mental dilema that a few curtains and pillows has caused me?  Yes, I often have a desire to "store up earthly treasures", but the Holy Spirit has made me uncomfortable with being comfortable.  And so, my spirit wrestles with my flesh.  When I am comfortable, my focus drifts off of Him and onto myself.  When I am comfortable, I lose my dependence on Him.  Lord, I may regret this prayer later, but please let me never be comfortable.

Lord, open up the sky fall down like rain.  I don't want blessings, I want You.  Open up the sky, fall down like fire.  I don't want anything but you.  I won't be satisfied with anything ordinary.  I won't be satisfied at all.

Merry Christmas

Joyeux Noël!  I pray that you all have a blessed Christmas with your loved ones!

Luke 2:11 -- For unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a savior which is Christ the Lord.  

Tis the season to be...BUSY!

A few months ago, the thought of being in Haiti for the Christmas season made me a little sad.  To me, Christmas is about being with family.  But, at the time I guess I just didn't really think about the fact that I have family here in Haiti now.  I have actually really loved being here in Haiti for the Christmas season.  It is definitely different than the cold PA winters, but it has been awesome and it is just as exciting here.  There is something to be said for wearing shorts and a T-shirt two days before Christmas.  I've gotten to go to all kids of Christmas gatherings and Christmas parties.  I would not trade the time I've had here for anything.  In fact, I think I really like the idea of flying home on the 23rd.  That way, I get to be here for all the Haiti Christmas activities and I still get to be with my family, too.

The past week  month has been crazy to say the least.  Christmas preparations for the school were very overwhelming.  When school ended on Monday after our two days of Christmas parties, I thought that I would be bored during the three and a half days off before I fly to the states.  Ha, think again!

On Tuesday of this week, Mr. Nickson and I had to drive to Fond Parisien to pick up rice.  Each month, our school gets donated rice from "Feed My Starving Children" to distribute and cook for our students.  Since there was no school on Tuesday, I was able to go along with Nickson.

Before we left Port-au-Prince, Nickson showed me where I could but "the best patay in all of Haiti".  Patay is a very popular and very delicious Haitian food that can be bought on the streets.  The place that we got our patay was just a sweet little woman cooking on a street corner over a charcoal fire.  Patay is made by putting various ingredients inside of dough and then frying it.  The patay that we got had tomato, chicken, and pikliz (a popular Haitian side dish that is similar to coleslaw but usually very spicy).

After getting our patay, it was a long drive to Fond Parisien.  Without traffic you could probably get there in an hour.  However with all the Haitian traffic, it took us from 7:30 AM until 12:30 PM to get there, pick up the rice, and get back.

After we were all finished with the rice, Dorothy asked me to use her truck to drive her to the grocery store in Petionville.  We planned to have a pizza night with the older kids at her house.  After we finished shopping, I went to her house.  Dorothy, the kids, and I spent the evening making personal pan pizzas, salad, and brownies.  It was a special treat for the kids and they LOVED it!

On Wednesday, I spent a few hours in the morning volunteering in the office at my church just doing some organizing.  Then in the afternoon, I was invited to spend the afternoon baking for Christmas with some friends and sleepover at their house.

Thursday morning I came back to my house to spend a little time tidying up to get ready to go to the states.  I ran a few errands in the neighborhood and visited a friend at a girls' orphanage.  Around lunchtime, I went to Dorothy's house to help get ready for her Christmas party.  The party was SO much fun and deserves it's own separate blog post.

This morning, Nickson stopped by my house very early.  He is FLYING TO THE US TODAY!  It is his first trip to the United States and he will be traveling to several different states during the next two weeks.  He will be visiting the TLC board members and speaking at several different churches.  He was absolutely beaming this morning.  I don't think I've seen a grown man so excited before!  Please keep him in your prayers right now (and for the next two weeks) as he is flying alone right now and it is his first time on a plane!

I will be spending today getting my things packed.  I am headed to the airport this afternoon and my flight leaves at 4:30 PM.  Say an extra prayer for my dad.  He will be picking me up in New York City at about 9 PM....two days before Christmas....Technically, I won't actually get home until Christmas Eve!  I'm sure this is going to be really fun, ha!  I will be home for almost two weeks, and contrary to what most people think, I do not have a lot of plans made.  So, please call me if you want to hang out while I am home!

Since I have been so busy, I have not had the time to sit down and write blog posts about the last day of school and Dorothy's Christmas party.  But, I promise they will come soon!

I pray that you all have a safe, joyful, and blessed Christmas!  Love you all!

Hold Fast to Hope

Overall, my days are joy filled, but every once and a while there are days that make me just want to scream and give up on this country.  Today was kind of one of those days.  I love Haitians...a lot.  I would not be in this country if I didn't love them.  However, many of them are prideful and do not take criticism well.  It can be very frustrating as an employer (to put it mildly).  This became a little bit of an issue today.  I don't want this post to turn into an angry rant, so all I will say is that it was incredibly frustrating for both Nickson and I when we had to reprimand and teacher today.

However, in the midst of that, a tiny simple act of gratitude reminded me to hold onto hope for this country.  Just minutes after having a confrontation/discussion with a teacher, we called one of the staff members into the office to receive her monthly pay and Christmas bonus.  When Nickson and I pointed out to her that she received extra money as a Christmas gift, her face immediately lit up and the first words out of her mouth were "Mesi Jezi! Mesi Jezi!"  Thank you, Jesus.  Her bonus equated to less than $20 US, but from her reaction, you would have thought that it was $1,000 US.  I could see that it was genuine thankfulness and joy on her face.  It was like God planned that moment just to say, "Katie, I know that Haiti can be frustrating for you.  I know that you face situations that make Haiti look hopeless.  I know that it seems like people's hearts will never change.  But, there is hope.  Look at this woman's heart.  Look at her joy.  Look at her thankfulness.  It is not hopeless.  This place is not hopeless."

The Secret Life of a Teacher in Haiti

Have you ever wondered what I do for fun whenever I am not busy teaching?  The following is an example of  what results from a boring Sunday afternoon with my friend, Ruth.  I can't believe that I am actually about to publish this on the internet for all to see because it is completely unnecessary for anyone else to witness and it is very embarrassing.  In other words, why not put it on my blog?

I promise, we do actually act normal most of the time...ok, well some of the time.

Lunch Date

Today after church, two Haitian girls from our youth group asked if they could come over for lunch after church.  Their names are Djaminta (15 years old) and Tabita (17 years old), and they are sisters.  I was thrilled because I had just been thinking about how I wanted to get to know the girls in the youth group better.  However since I am leaving the country Friday, I don't have much food at my house right now.  I suggested that I treat them to Epid'or instead.

Epid'or is kind of the Haitian equivalent of a fast food-ish restaurant.  They serve pizza, sandwiches, Haitian food, ice cream and other desserts.  So, the girls and I caught a tap-tap and headed to Epid'or.  We were there for almost two hours just eating, hanging out, and talking.  It was nice to spend some time with them outside of the youth group setting.  They are pretty shy and both speak basic English, so our conversations were a mixture of English and Creole.  It was fun getting to know them better and talking about Jesus.  They shared some of their desires for worship and outreach within the youth group.  It was very encouraging to hear that what they are learning from church and youth group is carrying over into their everyday life.

My time with them was nothing exciting or out of the ordinary, but I was really blessed.  I thank God for the opportunity to spend time with the girls, and I am excited to continue to get to know them better.

Fete Noel

Friday was the big day that both the students and teachers have been looking forward to and preparing for......THE CHRISTMAS PARTY!

The students were unaware that Friday would be the big Christmas party at the school.  That is, until they arrived and saw over 200 gifts under the Christmas tree!  Their excitement was contagious and brought back memories of all my childhood Christmases.  As you can imagine, it was very difficult for the kids to contain their excitement enough to sit down and eat breakfast.

After breakfast, the kids all gathered for flag, prayer, worship, and Christmas carols.



While the kids were still singing, I sliped away to put on the SANTA SUIT, complete with a pillow for a belly and an itchy white beard.  When the kids were finished singing, the teachers walked them back to the other side of the school where they found me, Tonton Noel, sitting beside the Christmas tree.  (Notice the fan beside me...Santa suits are NOT meant to be worn in the Caribbean!)

The kids called me Papa Noel, Pen Noel, and Tonton Noel, all Haitian names for Santa.



Starting with pre-k and working our way to 8th grade, each student came to the Christmas tree to open his or her gifts and pose for a picture.

After the students received their gifts, they returned to their classrooms to try on their new clothes and play with their toys.  Needless to say it was a little crazy here!

pre-k

kindergarten

Kindergarten and Pre-K students 

After lunch, the students all came together again for the talent show performance.  Each class has been practicing their songs and dances for the past month.  Mr. Nickson and I were the judges.  The winning class (TBA) will receive a prize on Monday.



After the performances, all the students lined up for a "fashion show" so that they could show off their new clothes!  The show was started off by Mr. Nickson and then each of the teachers followed.  The kids chanted my name until I "strutted my stuff" for them.  Thankfully it did not get photographed or filmed!

None of our students were shy while walking down the runway.  Even the pre-k showed off their moves. I have not laughed that hard in a long time.  Unfortunately, both my camera and video camera batteries died before the fashion show so I was only able to get a few seconds on film.



Despite being completely exhuasted by the end of the day, Mr. Nickson and I had a great time with the students.

Give me your eyes

Earlier this week, I was reading in Acts chapter three. One day, Peter and John were going to the temple to pray at the 3 o'clock prayer service. On their way in, they saw a crippled man. This man was carried to the temple gate called Beautiful each day so that he could beg from the people that were going inside. In verse three it says that when the man saw Peter and John about to go inside, he asked them for some money.

Now, let me just pause the story there. As I read this, I immediately thought about how similar it sounds to my life here in Haiti. How many times have I been stopped in the street by people asking for money? How many times have I seen the same women laying or sitting on the sidewalk with their hand outstretched as I pass by? How many times have street children begged for money at the car window as I am sitting in traffic? Too many times to count. It is a daily occurrence.

I am going to be honest, I've gotten used to it. It is so common that it no longer tugs at my heart strings each time I hear someone ask me for money or food. In fact, I find myself annoyed more often than I find myself feeling compassionate. Some days, I just want to be able to run my errands and get things done without being stopped for money. I hate feeling guilty when I tell someone, “No, I'm not going to give you money.” You see, after being here long enough to get some understanding of the country, I've realized that not everyone that asks for food and money actually needs it. I've realized that giving hand outs to everyone that asks, does not always help. Part of the problem in this country is that people have become too dependent on foreigner's handouts. However, realizing this also poses a problem. In the Bible is says to give to those who ask, and don't turn away from those who want to borrow. So, does that mean that I should give to every person that asks? Or, do I only give to those that truly need? And, if I only give to those that truly need, how to I judge their need? You see how this gets complicated?

I realized that I have been taking the easy way out lately. Instead of trying to figure out the answers to these questions, I have just been ignoring them and avoiding the people that cause me to think about these things. I've ignored the kids that knock on the car windows and I've passed by beggars while trying not to make eye contact. It is easier than trying to figure out how to help each person that I come in contact with. But, I so quickly forget that I did not come to Haiti so that I could have an easy life.

As I thought and reflected on all of this, I realized something. When it says to “give to those who ask...” it does not say to “give people whatever they ask for”. We are simply to give. That is exactly what Peter and John did in Acts chapter three. If you remember, it said that they were on their way into the 3 o'clock prayer service. Now unless they were there extra early, I'm sure that they did not have a lot of time to waste talking to beggars outside the temple. The service was probably about to start in a few minutes but, despite the fact that it might make them late for their meeting, they stopped for the crippled man.

When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for some money. Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, “Look at us!” The lame man looked at them eagerly, expecting some money. But Peter said, “I don't have any silver or gold for you. But I'll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene get up and walk!” Then, Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did, the man's feet and ankles were instantly healed and strengthened. He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the temple with them.

The crippled man asked for money. Unlike me, Peter and John did not shrug him off to go into their meeting. They stopped for him, and they gave him something much better than money. They gave him healing simply by taking the time to pray for him.

How many opportunities have I missed because I did not take the time to stop? How many people are begging for money when really, deep down they are begging for an encounter with God? Because I am in too much of a hurry, because I don't want to be inconvenienced, or because people might laugh at the “blanc” praying for someone in the street, I don't stop.

It only takes a minute to pray for someone and it costs nothing, but it requires boldness, faith, and obedience.  Lord, give me boldness. Give me your eyes to see people the way that you see them. Let me love them like you do. Change this hardened heart.  I am praying the lyrics of this song by Brandon Heath.

All those people going somewhere

Why have I never cared?

Give me your eyes for just one second

Give me your eyes so I can see

Everything that I keep missing

Give me your love for humanity

Give me your arms for the brokenhearted

The ones that are far beyond my reach

Give me your heart for the ones forgotten

Give me your eyes so I can see

I been here a million times

A couple of million eyes just moving past me by

I swear I never thought that I was wrong

Well, I want a second glance

So give me a second chance

To see the way you see the people all alone

Give me your eyes for just one second

Give me your eyes so I can see

Everything that I keep missing

Give me your love for humanity

Dust City

I've decided that during dry season, Port-au-Prince should be temporarily named "Dust City".  The funny thing is that PAP is always very dusty.  But, it only gets worse during dry season.  I've especially noticed it because of the location of my classroom.

As I've mentioned before, my classroom is kind of "outdoors".  Basically, it is on a porch.  On the opposite side of the wall is a dirt road.  My lungs have been taking a beating.  Yesterday it was breezy and each time a car would drive by, a visible cloud of dust would blow into my classroom.  My students and I were coughing all day long.  Keeping things clean in my classroom is virtually impossible.  I've realized that the dust is an unstoppable force....I just hope my lungs survive!

Oh, Christmas Tree

After a little "street shopping" I bought a big palm plant.  It's not quite the same as a Christmas tree, but its better than nothing!

Kindergarten Update

Things have been wonderful in my classroom.  After coming back from the states in October, I started back to school with a new outlook.  I lowered my expectations a little bit and my students rose to meet those expectation.  I am less concerned about everything flowing "perfectly" and everything being 100% organized at all times.  Now don't get me wrong, I still expect the students to learn, obey my rules, participate, and do their best.  However, I realized that making sure the kids are having fun and loving school each day is just as important as making sure they get all their work done.

Since the students and I both made changes, we have been a much happier classroom.  I don't put as much stress on myself for everything to be perfect.  I give the kids a little more wiggle room with their behavior.  I've been tweaking my behavior management plan, and it has been more effective for a lot of the kids.  In general, there has just been more joy in everything that we do in the classroom.  This year has been as much of a learning experience for me as it has been for my students.

I still get frustrated sometimes, and I still end all of my days completely exhausted of all energy, but I'm thankful that my students and I have fun together.

School Nurse

Most days I am a teacher.  Some days I act as "assistant principle", and on days like today, I am the school nurse.  I don't know why, but today was just one of those days in which lots of kids had small medical problems.

First thing in the morning, I noticed that Colo (a pre-k student) came to school with his head freshly shaved, revealing several pus sores on this head.  So, I took care of him and at the end of the day I sent him home with a small tube of Neosporin.  No big deal, just something to keep an eye on.  Throughout the course of the day, I had three students come to me with upset stomach, one with fever, and two needing cough medicine.  If they had all been from the same class, I would wonder if they were faking, but they were all from different grades.

At the end of the day, a teacher brought a crying 2nd grade boy to my classroom.  "Can you take care of him, Miss Katie?  His finger is hurt."  Apparently while playing soccer on the church grounds, he fell and got his finger stepped on.  His knuckle was pretty swollen and he was unable to bend his finger.  He began crying at the slightest touch.  So, Mr. Nickson drove him home and his parents agreed that he should go to the clinic and get checked.  At 3 o'clock, I thought my nursing duties were finally over for the day, but I was wrong.  Two boys came to me when school let out and asked me to look at their toes.  Both boys had toes with the skin ripped off and one also had athlete's foot.  Because the boys had been wearing sneakers to school every day, the toes were not healing.  I had them soak their feet and then I cleaned them up and sent them home with flip flops that they are supposed to wear until their toes scab over.

None of the problems (aside from the finger) were severe, just basic first aid.  I do often wish that was a nurse, or that I had some type of medical training.  Thankfully, I have a close friend who IS a nurse so I can text message her throughout the day when medical questions arise.  I don't mind doing what needs done.  It makes life more interesting.  That is one thing that I love about Haiti: basically, if you are there when something needs done, that makes you qualified to do it.  

I'm thankful that I have Miss Kattiana as an assistant in my class so that she can cover for me when I have to go off and play "nurse" for a few minutes.

Milk Mustaches

I love when Madame Jacqueline serves milk and cookies to the students for snack because they always get the cutest milk mustaches!

Youloveto somehow managed to get not only a milk mustache but also a milk soul patch!

Cholera

I find it humorous listening to my kids at lunch time.  They say things that I would NEVER hear kindergarteners in the U.S. say.  For example, "Miss Katie, get that fly off your rice!  It will give you cholera!"  or "Youloveto, don't put your cookie on the bare table because you might get cholera!" and my favorite line was from Makarios.  He smelled his orange juice at lunch and said, "Oh!  My juice smells like cholera!"  I assure you, it smelled like regular orange juice.  Madame Jaqueline, the school cook, was a little offended when she heard him say that, ha!

I'm sure very few kindergarteners in the states have even heard of cholera before.  Yes, my students are great at making sure to avoid spreading cholera.  However, that doesn't keep them from picking their noses, forgetting to cover their mouthes when they cough, or sticking their fingers in their mouthes.  I guess I need to teach them more about germs!

Christmas time is here!

I know that most of you in the states are probably gearing up for Christmas.  Although it is strange for me to be somewhere so warm during Christmas time, we are also getting into the Christmas spirit here in Haiti.  It is hard for me to grasp the fact that it is December since the weather is still in the high 80's and low 90's.  Where I come from at this time of year it is usually ice cold!  I was here in Haiti last December, too.  However, I flew back to the states the second week of December.  This year, I will not be flying home for Christmas until December 23rd.

My church here has the advent wreath up and a few poinsettias.  Some of the larger stores here in Port even put up Christmas lights and Christmas trees.  For me nothing beats Christmas in PA, but it is kind of fun experiencing the "Christmas season" here in Haiti.  I admit, I like being away from the "shop, shop, shop, buy, buy, buy" frenzy in the states.

Speaking of shopping, Mr. Nickson has been working hard for the past two weeks doing lots of Christmas shopping for our students.  The students' sponsors donate money towards Christmas gifts.  So, Mr. Nickson has the big job of finding and purchasing gifts for all 87 students.  That would be an overwhelming undertaking even in the states, but it is even more difficult here in Haiti!  Each of the students get one or two small toys, flip flops, some toiletries, and a nice outfit (dress/skirt for the girls and dress pants and button down shirt for the boys).

From what I am told, in previous years the gifts were put into a gift bag for each student.  However, this year the price of gift bags has gone up.  Nickson decided that it would be most cost efficient for us to gift wrap ALL the gifts!  I think it will be more exciting for the students to unwrap multiple gifts, but that means LOTS of gift wrapping for me!

If I had to wrap 100 gifts by myself, I would be doing that everyday from now until Christmas.  So, I invited a bunch of my American friends over after church for a "gift wrapping party".  Nine of my friends came over and we ate brownies, listened to Christmas music, and wrapped gifts.  With so many people helping, we wrapped over 100 gifts in about one hour!  Nickson is not finished shopping yet, so there is still a lot more to go.  But, I couldn't be more thankful to my friends for helping out!

Mr. Dieusel put the Christmas tree up today, the gifts are wrapped, and the students are singing Christmas songs...I'd say its beginning to look a lot like Christmas here in Haiti!

Accomplishment!

I am excited at the progress of my kindergarteners' English.  They now understand my English for the routine things that we do in the classroom.  Whenever I explain a worksheet, I always explain in English first and then clarify the instructions again in Creole to make sure they know what they are supposed to do.

Today, I gave instructions for a worksheet in English.  However, this time after I finished talking, I did not get the usual list of questions from the kids: "Ki koule Crayon?  Kisa nou bezwen fe, Miss Katie?" (What color Crayon?  What do we need to do, Miss Katie?)  They simply listened to my instructions in English and then immediately went to work...doing the correct thing!  I was so excited!

This Christmas...

...consider doing something different.  A friend of mine posted this video on her facebook wall recently, and I couldn't help but share it on my blog.  I encourage you to take the two and a half minutes to watch it.  It helps to put things into perspective.



There are nine students at TLC Barefoot School that do not have sponsors yet.  I would be willing to bet that the amount of money most families spend on Christmas gifts this year will be more than enough to sponsor a child's school tuition for the year.

Two of the nine students in need of sponsors are in my Kindergarten class.

Clavens Alcine is 6 years old.  He has been through a lot of hardship in his short life, but he is an extremely happy and playful child.  Recently, his father passed away.  He takes a lot of pride in doing a good job in my class, and he is very eager to learn!

Danielson Jean is an incredibly intelligent little boy.  He is very bright and learns new things quickly.  He is always smiling and excited to do things by himself.  When I ask questions, his hand is always one of the first to go up.

To sponsor one of these children in full is $525 for the entire school year.  It can be paid in one sum, two payments, or monthly payments.  If you cannot afford a full sponsorship, you might want to consider a co-sponsorship for $263.  A sponsorship provides a child with two uniforms, one pair of shoes, underwear, socks, hygiene items, two meals a day, and a quality education.

If you are interested in sponsoring Clavens, Danielson, or any of the other students in need, please check the school website for more information!

Loving vs. Doing

The more time that I spend in Haiti, the more I realize what it is all about.  For me, being here is not about accomplishing some big "goal" or "mission".  It is not about feeding every starving person or clothing every naked child.  Yes, the Bible tells us in Matthew 25 that we are supposed to do all of those things, BUT I think that they should come as a byproduct.  Those things happen after relationships are built and friendships are established.  We clothe the naked, feed the hungry, heal the sick, and free the oppressed out of pure and genuine love for the person.  You see, I've realized that if we do those things for any other reason other than love, then we don't actually accomplish anything.

When I am in the classroom teaching, I get so much joy out of seeing the children learning and growing.  It warms my heart to see them excited about the things that I am teaching them.  But, what brings me the most joy is being able to get to know them and establish relationships with them.  When I get to hug one of my students that I know needs comfort or love, I feel like I am doing what God has called me here to do.  Teaching the students is great, but it has never been just about the teaching.  It is about the loving.  I want to learn to love well.  There are certainly more than a few times that I've had to take a step back and remind myself of why I am here.  You see, I lose patience, I lose my temper, I get frustrated, I get cranky and tired, and sometimes I forget that I'm not only here to teach but to love.  I get wrapped up in my goals for the classroom and the physical things that I hope to accomplish.  While those things are all necessary and great for my students, they should not take precedence over love and relationship.

When Widline masters a new letter sound, that's great and I'm very happy.  But, when she comes to me and wraps her little arms around my waist, I know that what she needs more than an education is love. She told me one day during recess that she lives with her aunt because her mother just packed up and left her there one day.  She said that she never sees her mama anymore.  So, while I am happy that Widline is learning her letters and numbers, I am even more happy that I can be here for her when she needs a hug filled with as much love as I can offer.  When Clavens acts goofy and playful and doesn't listen to my instructions, my instinct is to get a little frustrated at his behavior in the classroom.  But then I smile to myself because I realize that he is comfortable enough to act that way without fear of being beaten by me. He knows that I love and care for him and I will never hurt him the way that his father did.

Life for many of my students is complicated, messy, and difficult.  I want to be someone consistent in their lives, someone that they can count on for love and support.  While it is easy for me to think about all of this in my mind and write about it here on my blog, it is not always easy to live out on a daily basis.  I'm human, and I make mistakes.  I ask that God will expand my capacity to love each day.

Thanksgiving Festivities!

So many fun and wonderful things have happened over the past four days that I don't know how I can write about it all in one blog post!  To my family: I love you all more than words can say and I treasure our time together.  So, please do not take offense to the following statement.  This year was the best Thanksgiving that I have ever had!

I just returned home to Port-au-Prince today.  I spent the long holiday weekend in Gonaives, Haiti with my dear friends.  On Thursday morning (Thanksgiving Day) my friend, Keziah, and I took a bus north to Gonaives.  This sounds simple enough, but as I've said before: In Haiti nothing is simple or easy!  Thursday morning the first part of our "journey" began. I left my apartment at 6 AM and walked about a mile uphill (literally) to meet Kez at main Delmas.  From there, we waited and walked until we could find a tap-tap with room for both of us.  Unfortunately, we could not find one that was going as far as we needed to go.  So, we took one tap-tap as far as we could, hopped off, and then caught another the rest of the way down Delmas.  After getting off of that tap-tap, we then walked a couple of blocks to the "bus station".  Just to get the few miles from my house to the station took us over an hour.

Now, I don't know exactly what you might be envisioning when I say "bus" and "bus station" but I will explain.  The bus station is basically just a designated area along the side of a road where all the buses load and unload.  If you didn't know about it, you might not even realize that it is a "station".  Oh, and the buses?  They are not nice air conditioned roomy charter buses or greyhound buses, ha, think again!!  SCHOOL BUSES.  Yes, school buses.

For 225 gourdes (about $5.50 USD) you can get a ride on one of the school buses from PAP to Gonaives.  In my opinion, a good deal.  That is, if you don't mind the uncomfortable riding conditions.  When you arrive at the bus station, you find a bus that is loading, pay the 225 gourdes, and get on. If you are lucky, the bus will be mostly full.  If it is not full, then you have to sit on the bus and wait until it is filled beyond maximum capacity before it will leave the station.  You see, school bus seats are made to fit two or maybe three small children comfortably.  NOT three large adults, but this is Haiti.  While we were waiting for the bus to load, street vendors tapped at the windows selling food, medicine, drinks, sunglasses, flashlights, etc.  Several men and women came onto the bus trying to peddle their snacks to the passengers.

After an hour of waiting in what seem to be the smallest school bus seats ever created, our bus was finally full.  I did a quick calculation in my head and realized that there were over 100 adults on the school bus.  That poor bus.  Not surprisingly, Kez and I were the only two white people on the entire bus.  Keziah was sitting smashed against the window (somehow sleeping), I was sitting in the middle with my torso turned in an uncomfortable angle and my hips being smashed on either side, and a rather large (and slightly cranky) Haitian woman was sitting to my right in the aisle seat.  In order to accommodate this cranky woman, Kez and I had to stand up and slide the seat cushion away from the wall so that the woman had more of her body on the seat.  That meant that Kez was now sitting in a crack rather than on a seat cushion.  I basically could not move anything but my hands for the duration of the drive.  Every few minutes the woman to my right would attempt to shove her hip and shoulders farther onto the seat.  She did not seem to understand that there was literally no place for our bodies to go.  Sounds pleasant right?  Yes, I will admit it was pretty uncomfortable, but it was only for several hours and it makes for a good story, ha!

Normally, the drive takes between two and half to three hours one way.  However, that was not the case for Kez and I.  It took us almost 45 minutes to go roughly two or three miles because we made several unexplained stops along the side of the road.  Then, we were stopped by not one, not two, but THREE police checkpoints (all of which were on the same small stretch of road).  Finally, we hit the main road and were able to drive at a decent speed.  All the while, a man was standing at the front of the bus trying to sell random things like azithromycin, lotion, toothpaste, bars of soap, a cologne called "sex appeal", and bottles of homemade cure-all that looked like rum mixed with pieces of tree bark.  Surprisingly, he was selling a lot of stuff!

We were cruising along nicely when all of the sudden "BAM!"  Can you guess?  A FLAT TIRE!  Despite being hot, dust covered, tired, and unable to move my body, I could not help but laugh to myself.  Of course we would get a flat tire...just our luck!  Thankfully, the driver was pretty quick at changing the tire and we were back on the road.

Finally, we arrived in Gonaives.  The station in Gonaives is not within walking distance of the Brooks house.  So, From there, Kez and I each hopped on the back of a moto (motorcycle taxi) for the final leg of our journey.  Over six hours after leaving my house that morning (only having traveled about 93 miles) we arrived at the Brooks house!

In Gonaives, Kez and I have friends with a ministry called "Much Ministries".  They are working on establishing relationships and rebuilding a community called Jubilee Blanc which happens to be the ghetto slums and poorest of the poor in the city.  When they are not working in Jubilee, all the missionaries are very close knit like a giant family.  They rent two large houses that are across the street from each other.  Most of the girls live in one house, while the Brooks' family, some of the guys, and other random guests stay in the big house.  It is pretty chaotic and there are people constantly in and out doing all sorts of different things all the time.  But, it is chaotic in a good way just like any large family.  I don't know if I've ever experienced so much love under one roof!

They decided to celebrate Thanksgiving on Friday because it worked out better for everyone.  So, on Friday I spent most of my day helping to prepare the feast and intermittently relaxing with everyone.  Julie (one of the permanent residents in G-town), Keziah, and I made cookies, brownies, salad, fruit salad, and green bean casserole while Mama Rustin made the turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, apple strudel, and pumpkin pie.  Half-way through cooking, we realized that we needed fruits and veggies from the market.  So, Becca (the Brooks' 12 year old daughter) and I took a tap-tap to the local market.  I love market shopping so we had a blast weaving in and out through the tiny paths between vendors.  I love listening to the Haitian women talking to each other trying to figure out if we can speak Creole or not.  I heard one woman say to another "well, the white lady asked me how much the peppers cost and when I told her 50 gourdes, she handed me 50 gourdes so she must speak Creole!"  After two different trips to the market, Becca and I successfully purchased fresh bananas, avocados, oranges, bell peppers, lettuce, carrots, coconuts, and sugar.

In the afternoon, our work was done and we just had to wait for dinner time.  What better way to relax and enjoy Thanksgiving than to go swimming?!  Scott, Isaac, Amos, Brayton, and I hopped on the motos and went to a nearby hotel to swim.  For 100 gourdes (roughly $2.50) we were allowed to swim for as long as we wanted.  It was the first time I've ever gone swimming on Thanksgiving Day!

At dinner time, TWENTY SEVEN people held hands and each shared what we were thankful for.  I felt so much love and joy in the room that I was overwhelmed with happiness.  Then, we pigged out on the best food I've eaten since I moved to Haiti.

post dinner "food coma"

That night, seven of us decided to sleep out under the stars on the roof of the girls' house.  So, we spread out a blanket on the roof.  The breeze was heavenly...the concrete that we slept on, not so much.  But, it was great none the less.  I swear the sky is bigger and more beautiful in Haiti.

Our rooftop bed

By 10 AM Saturday, we had successfully devoured all of the leftover Thanksgiving food.  We spent the day relaxing, talking, and playing card games.  Seven of us decided to take motos out for a joy ride along the river.  Mama Kathy led the way on her bright yellow moto.  We stopped off for a while to get in the river and enjoy the beautiful view.  Yes, most of Haiti is gross, but there is so much beauty, too.

After our joyride, we spent time in Jubilee hanging out with all the local children.

That evening, we were invited to a "God Party" thrown by the children of Jubilee.  It started at 4PM in the community gazebo.  A bunch of the boys lead worship by drumming and sining in Creole.  Most of the kids in the community came out and gathered for the party and quite a few adults came, too.  We all laughed and danced together until the sun went down!  It was amazing!

That night, Julie and I decided to "baby-nap" Frances and Francesca for a sleepover.  If you remember, Julie was the one that brought the twins to Dorothy last November when they were three weeks old and only four pounds.  Their mother had died after giving birth and the twins were not doing well.  I lived with them helped to care for them until they were bigger and could return to their family.  So, both Julie and I call them "our girls" and we feel like we have a special connection with them.  Their grandmother was a little bit too eager to let us take them, but we were happy just the same.

The girls are pretty healthy looking considering how extremely poor their family is.  However, they are 13 months old and much thinner than when they were living with me at Dorothy's house.  Neither are walking yet, and Frances was wearing a size 0-3 month old outfit the night we watched them.  I know they could be much worse off, but it pains me to see how much lack of stimulation they have and how much weight they have lost since August.  Julie and I had a blast loving on them all night Saturday and all morning Sunday. Francesca spend the night with me in my bed and Frances spent the night with Julie in her bed.  The next morning we reluctantly took them back to their grandmother.  I never imagined that I would ride on the back of a motorcycle, in Haiti, while holding a sleeping baby.  There are a lot of things that I've had to do in this country that I never imagined!

I experienced so much sense of family, community, and love this weekend that I was reluctant to come home today.  But, my students here at TLC need me!  Keziah is staying another day in Gonaives so I had to take the bus home alone this time.  I had to sit sandwiched in between two grown men.  However, it was much more comfortable than the ride to Gonaives and it took significantly less time.  The man to my right listened to his iPod the entire way while the man to my left held a live pigeon in his hand.  When I asked him, he said he was going to give it to his friend in Port to eat.  Oh, Haiti!

Thank you God for blessing me with so many amazing and loving people in my life.  I am thankful that I have a "family" here in Haiti.  I'm thankful for crazy adventures, bus rides, Thanksgiving dinner, rooftop sleepovers and friendships.  God is so good.