100th Day of School!

Since the first day of school, each  my 1st graders have been practicing place value by counting the number of school days we've had.  I promised my students that when it was the 100th day of school, we would have a special day.  I told them I might even invite a 100 year old to come celebrate with us.  Needless to say, they met the 100th day with much anticipation.

The morning of the 100th day I requested help from my friend so I could transform myself from 27 to 100 years old.  Its amazing what a little make up and baby powder can do!

Dressing up as an old person anywhere is comical, in Haiti it makes you an absolute comedian.  Both the teachers and kids were beside themselves as they watched "Grandma Katie" in all her glory shuffling around with a walking stick.  Some teachers helped me walk.  I became quite a spectacle.

Some of the kids were slightly freaked out by my wrinkly appearance while others thought it was hilarious. Some of the kids knew instantly it was actually just me in costume. Other kids weren't

quite sure what to believe. 

The more I stayed in character, the more some kids started treating me as if I really was 100: opening doors for me, carrying things for me, and speaking extra loudly for me to hear them. 

Throughout the day we made 100th day hats, did a candy hunt to find the 100 pieces of candy that were hidden in my room, wrote 100th day poems, did special math activies, and drew portraits of ourselves at 100 years old. 

We shared the 100th day fun with the other classes by delivering 100 pieces of candy to the students and teachers in the other classes. 

It was a fun filled day for my class and me!!  All the kids wanted to know when Grandma Katie would come visit again. I told them their would have to wait until next years' 100th day. 

There's just something about that name.

Freedom.  Today, I celebrate freedom in Jesus name.

Her jaw locked as she stared straight ahead, her eyes focused on a terror unseen to us.  We slowly questioned her hoping to figure out what was going on.  She only nodded not making eye contact.  "What is keeping you from speaking?" we asked gently.  Without words, her eyes darted to the floor and she lifted one small finger to point downward at something not visible in the natural.  "Do you remember where your strength comes from?  Do you remember who protects you?" we asked her.  Silently, never moving her head, she looked up towards the Heavens.

"Yes, that's right." we told her with tears in our eyes. "You don't have to be scared.  You're never alone.  Jesus fights for you."  We began praying - casting away the evil, calling on angels, and calling on His power to chase away the darkness that was oppressing her.

"Your strength is in His name," I told her.  "I know its hard.  I know you're scared, but say His name.  Just pray it in your heart until you have the freedom to say it out loud." I urged her squeezing her hand tightly. "Jezi - Jezi - Jezi" I repeated.  I watched her back straighten, tears rolled down her cheeks.  Still no sound coming from her mouth.  "Jezi - Jezi - Jezi" I said again.  She stared beyond me - focused on whatever was terrorizing her.  "Say His name.  You can do it.  He will give you the strength"  Her lips pursed and eyes narrowed, fighting the demon that was binding her.  She tried to speak.  "Do you remember how to pray without speaking?  In your heart?" I asked.  She nodded her head.  "Do that.  Say HIs name in your heart."  The muscles in her back tensed until in one loud burst we heard it escape from her mouth, "JEZI"  

She prayed, a child, thanking her Father for giving her strength.  She prayed thanking Him for protection.  She prayed thanking Him for chasing away the evil that was oppressing her.

Spoken in a quiet whisper or shouted from a mountain top - in songs of praise or in guttural cries of sorrow: Jesus.  There is no other name in Heaven or in earth that has the power to save.  Call His name and Jesus chases away darkness and banishes all evil.  Jesus calms the seas and stills our fears.  Jesus brings peace like a river.  Jesus shoulders our burdens.  Jesus levels the mountains and the valleys.  Jesus makes impossible things possible.  Jesus breaks the chains of sin and death.  Jesus fights for us and gives freedom.  He is our help in time of trouble, and we need only trust and call upon Him.  There is no power in Heaven or on earth that can separate us, His beloved from Him.

Philippians 2:10-11 At the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Smelly Feet

Last year, I had a student named David in my class. He was and continues to be the class clown, often disrupting lessons with his antics.  For example, one day when he noticed a preschooler getting attention because he had peed his pants, David announced to all his friends: look I'm going to pee myself too...and he did! There is no limit to what this boy will do to get a laugh. 

His sense of humor is especially unique here in Haiti. He notices things that others don't and finds the humor in them - a true comedian. As his teacher, last year I didn't always appreciate him disrupting the class but as time passed I learned to appreciate the laughter he brought and tried to leave some space for it every now and then. 

Recently, David popped his head into my classroom while I was working at my desk and nochalontly handed me a folded piece of paper. "Samuel asked me to give this to you" he said and quickly turned to walk away. The kids often give me notes so I didn't think much of it until I started to read. 

"Dear Katie,

My feet smell terrible!! They smell all day long! My feet smell really really bad. If you sniffed them, you would see how bad they stink. 

I wrote a song about it: wow! my feel stink - my feet stink!

Love,

Samul" ( yes, spelled incorrectly) 

I began to chuckle as I realized David had schemed up this note to play a joke on both Samuel and I. Sure enough when I looked up from my desk I saw David peeking around the door giggling. 

So, I grabbed a paper and began to write a note back. 

"Dear Samuel,

Don't worry. It's ok that your feet stink. Don't be embarrassed because David's feet smell WAY worse than yours. I can smell his feet all the way in my classroom! He has the stinkiest feet I have ever smelled! 

Love, 

Katie "

I folded the note up and wrote on the outside "For Samuel - do not let David read this!" 

I took the note and handed it to David with a smile. "Give this to Samuel, please" I said. I watched from a distance as he promptly read what I wrote on the outside of the note. He began laughing and without missing a beat tore open the note to see what I had written back to Samuel.  He absolutely loved my response and practically rolled on the floor laughing as he read. 

All the while poor timid Samuel was unaware!  But, when he found out he also enjoyed the joke! 

Samuel on left and David on right