Baby Birds

This week, I read my students a book about birds.  Afterward, we had a brief discussion about why we shouldn't kill birds.  I will never understand it, but in Haiti (specifically in Jubilee) they seem to kill nearly every living thing they see: lizards, geckos, birds, frogs, snakes, etc.  I believe that is one of the reasons that the only real wildlife in Haiti is farm animals and rats.

During our discussion, most of my 2nd graders admitted to killing birds when they see them.  They told me they usually make slingshots to hit them with rocks.  I encouraged them to start appreciating the beauty of birds instead of killing them.

The next day, my students arrived to class very excited.  They were all crowded around on girl, Valentine.  She proudly smiled at me and announced that she had a bird for me in her backpack.  I was shocked but didn't believe her until she opened her backpack and pulled out a cardboard sidewalk chalk box that she had dug out of the trash the previous day.

Valentine explained that Santia, another girl in my class, saw her mom throwing a birds nest outside after finding it in their house.

The girls remembered what I had taught them the day before so they ran out and saved the nest and the two baby birds that were inside it.  They put them in the box and ran to school with them.

I noticed the girls had put some spaghetti inside the box in an attempt to feed the babies.

I sat my class down and explained to them how mother birds feed their young.  Then, I explained that because these babies did not have their mother, they probably would not live very long.  We kept the box of birds in the class all day.  We were serenaded by their chirping and I prayed all day that they wouldn't die during class.

One of the pitfalls of having our school located directly adjacent to the city dump is the fact that my classroom literally has hundreds upon hundreds of flies everywhere.  However, my students decided to go on a fly killing spree that day to get "food" for the baby birds.  Seeing them so excited about taking care of living creatures made my heart so happy.

At the end of the day, Valentine took the box of birds home with her.  Before leaving she informed me that she knew where the mama bird was, and she was going to go catch the mama so she could reunite them.

The following morning, my kids arrived with smiling faces.  When they got inside the classroom, they couldn't wait to tell me what they had done.  They said that after school they went together in search of the mama bird.  They found her (I'd love to know how they were so sure it was the mama, haha).  So, they got a basket and used a stick to prop it up.  They tied a string to the stick and put some bait of some sort under the basket.  When the bird landed under the basket, they trapped the bird and then "reunited" her with her babies.

I love my students soooo much.  I am so thankful that they are so ingenious and were able to have the feeling of saving the baby birds (even if it wasn't really their mama).

Happy Mother's Day!

Just a couple weeks ago, I was talking with one of the Haitian teachers at our school.  He said, "I have a question for you, but I don't know how to ask.  What makes you the way you are?"  I laughed and asked what he meant.  He responded, "You're different than other people...you're even different from other Americans.  You treat everyone like equals.  You're patient and gentle.  You are always thinking about others.  What made you be like that?"

I thought about it for a second and responded, "My parents."  (Dad you're included in this, too!  But, its mother's day) 

Ever since I was a child, my parents always taught me about God, faith, and how to live a life for others.  As far back as I can possibly remember, my mom taught me to put others first and to show God's love.  The beautiful thing about my mom is that she doesn't just say the words, she lives it.

Giving, serving, loving...its a lifestyle for my mom.  It is in her very being, and her desire to do all that stems from the deep wells in her heart that are filled with the Father's love.  I remember a long time ago when there was an immigrant family in town.  They had many kids and lived in an old house without electricity.  My parents would take our family to visit them and give them food and clothes.  As a child, it didn't faze me that two Saturday's a month, my mom was volunteering her time at the local recycling center.  It was by no means glamorous.  She got no glory from it.  But, she did it faithfully and joyfully.  For years, my mom organized and lead youth mission trips around the U.S. every summer.  It was a lot of work and stress, but my mom chose to do that because of her love of the teens in our church.  Whenever there were people that would normally be overlooked because of their unkempt and shabby appearance, my mom saw them.  For years, she would spend time with a woman that most other's didn't even give a second glance.  She would visit her, drive her places if needed, and just love on her.

As a pre-teen, my mom and I would often butt heads.  Every time I locked myself in my bedroom, upset.  My mom always came to find me, hug me, and in tears, we would apologize to each other.

As an adult, my mom is just as supportive as ever.  Unlike many other parents, she has never pressured me to get married or tried to convince me to leave Haiti.  In fact, the times I've been frustrated and wanted to leave Haiti, she has helped remind me why I'm here.  Despite the fact that I have been a volunteer for the past four years and make absolutely no money, she is proud of me.  I don't have a fancy house, nice clothes, or anything to show for myself, but she's proud of me.  Because of her trust in God and her unshakable faith, she doesn't overreact or put her worries on me.  I know that I can call her up and tell her about the good and the bad that happens here.  Even when I tell her stories of scary, dangerous things that I've had to face, she is unwavering.  Deep down, I know my mom wants grandkids.  I know she wants to have her daughters close to her.  But as always, she puts her own wants aside for the sake of what is best for others.  She knows that I'm in Haiti to serve, and so she chooses to put my students above herself.

I think about the amazing example that my mom is and was for me in my life.  If I ever get married or have children, I will be fortunate enough have incredible blueprints for how to be a good wife and mother.  To me, my mom's life is marked with humility, laugher, joy, faith, kindness, patience, and gentleness.  I can only hope to live up to the incredible example that she has set for me.

I love you, mama.  Happy Mother's Day!

Day Full of Beautiful

Before school opened started, he came to us.  Face swollen and bruised.  Even on dark skin, visible bruises.  Scratches across his nose and on his eye.  Face so swollen that he could barely open his eye.  Beaten up the night before by another boy.  He had no words of anger.  He wasn't tattling.  He wasn't seeking for us to do anything other than listen to what had happened.  

Later that morning he sat, head down, writing in his notebook.  "May I read what you're writing?" I asked him.  He acted bashful but slid his notebook across the table to me.

"While I was playing tag, a boy came.  I told him no, I didn't want to play the game that he wanted.  He came back later and fought me.  I didn't agree with what he was doing.  I sat down and I didn't fight him back.  I prayed for God to bless people that hurt others.  I prayed for blessing on bad children.  I prayed for everyone that does bad things to people to be blessed."

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As I walked into the school bathroom I saw a little face look up at me. "Katie, is this your money?" she asked.  Chedline opened her hand to reveal 50 goud (the equivalent of about $1.15 US).  I told her that it wasn't mine, but that we could take it to the office in case someone else was missing it.  She had found it on the bathroom floor.  Despite the fact that 50 goud might be more than her mama makes in a day, she chose to be honest and bring the money to me.  Turns out, the money had fallen out of Lala, our administrator's pocket.  Lala was so excited and amazed by Chedline's honesty, that she took Chedline's picture and framed it with the 50 goud and hung it on the wall of the office for all to see.

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At after school "Bible Club" with Tia, Fresnel, and Pastor Sama, they spoke to the 3rd graders about the power that we have in Christ.  The Lord was moving in the meeting and Tia did a call to salvation.  Five third graders boldly and fearlessly came stood in the middle of the classroom in front of all their peers.  They knelt, hands raise to the Lord, tears running down their faces, and they gave their lives to the Lord.