Back on Haitian Soil

Back on Haitian soil. Although the transition between the two countries never gets easier for me, when my feet hit the ground - it is well with my soul. 

Coming back to Haiti this year has an interesting twist. I had a travel partner this time! Laura (also from PA) has moved to Haiti to teach at the school. The timing worked out perfectly that I was in need of a roommate, so she moved in. Our first 36 hours back was spent cleaning, unpacking, and organizing our little apartment. 

I finally made it out to Jubilee last night and one by one my students came running to greet me as word spread that I was back. There is absolutely nothing, nothing, nothing in the world like a tiny child full of love running full speed at you and launching into your arms. Hearing Nikol, my favorite Haitian parent, tell me that her son had a calendar count down all summer for me to come back broke my heart a little.  The love in this place runs deep. 

God blessed me this summer with incredible new friends and precious time with old friends. I lived fully in PA and now I'm preparing my heart to live fully present in Haiti this year.  I'm trusting God in His leading, and I'm ready for the surprises He has in store for me. 

New Beginnings

I've been pretty silent on the blog-waves for many months.  2014-2015 was a hard school year for me in many ways, and it was impossible for me to voice my thoughts on this blog, mostly because at the time, I didn't understand my own thoughts.  I wrestled with God for a good portion of the school year as time with my best friends and roommates began to dwindle away.

In May, I had to say goodbye to not one, but two of my best and closest friends in the world.  My friendship with Keziah began in Port-au-Prince in 2010 and continued on as we eventually became roommates in Gonaives.  She left in May to move back to America and begin a new adventure.  Tia, my bestest friend/coworker/upstairs roommate/kindred spirit, also moved back to America in May and will be getting married this fall!  Seeing them leave our home permanently and say goodbye to all of our Haitian friends was one of the hardest things I have had to do in a long time.  I will miss them more than words can express.

But in their absence, God is still good and a new adventure begins this weekend.  I will be getting brand new roommate and co-worker, Laura!  I met Laura in 2011 while visiting a church in PA.  She approached me with excitement when she heard I was living in Haiti, and she asked if she could come visit me there.  That was where our friendship began - when I let a complete stranger come live with me for almost 2 weeks in Port-au-Prince!  During that time, she expressed to me the desire she had in her heart to live and work in Haiti one day.  She was only 19 years old and still in college.  I had heard many people say those same words before only to never follow through.  So, I didn't have much hope for her to ever come live in Haiti.  Fast forward a few years, and at the same time my roommate Kez was planning to move to America, Laura decided to move to Haiti.

She prayed a lot, completed our application process, began raising support, and tomorrow she will be flying back to Haiti with me to be my new roommate and join us as a teacher at Academie La Saline.    This girl has never once set foot in Gonaives, much less Jubilee - our beloved ghetto.  But her love for Haiti is unshakable, much like her faith, and she is certain of where she is supposed to be.  Please keep this warrior in your prayers as she leaps out in faith and moves to Haiti this weekend.  Pray for her as she learns a new language, culture, city, and lifestyle. (her blog: lhagyinhaiti.blogspot.com)

Help Odilove and Cassandra

In the spring of this year, I grew close to a family that lives behind our lunchroom/preschool building.  On my daily rides to school, I pass the smiling faces of Odilove and Cassandra.  Most days they are stark naked and yelling my name as they jump up and down with excitement.  Some days they would run into my arms in a full sprint asking me when they could come to school, too.

These two children are living in a small mud home along with many other family members.  As the new preschool director, it is my responsibility to select the new incoming preschoolers.  Daily, the Lord put these two children on my heart as I planned for preschool enrollment.  Despite not having the proper documentation that we require, I decided to enroll them anyway.

This summer, Odil passed away.  He was father to Odilove and grandfather to Cassandra.  He was a friend and neighbor to many people in Jubilee and he was also a local voodoo priest.  Many of us prayed for him and his family.  In one conversation I had with him this spring, he told me he was done with voodoo but not ready to surrender to Christ yet.  A few days after he passed away, his daughter also died suddenly and unexpectedly (mother to Cassandra and sister to Odilove).  These two precious little ones are now being cared for by their remaining family.

Often times in situations like this, families will send the kids away to the countryside to be taken care of by others.  I believe there is a reason that God put these kids on my heart this year, and I believe that Jubilee is where they need to stay.  My dear friends, Brian and Cody Smith are working to raise $2,500 in order to build this family a better home.  This will help alleviate a huge burden on the family and hopefully encourage them not to send the children away.

I'm humbly asking you to consider helping this family in their loss.  Please join me in praying for this family and specifically that Odilove and Cassandra will be able to stay in Jubilee and start school this September.  To help get them a new home, you can send donations to the address listed below.  Please do not write in the check memo, but on a separate note specify that your donation is for "Haiti Homebuilding/Brian & Cody Smith"

Mail to:

The Storehouse, PO Box 540782, Omaha NE 68154-0782 

If you prefer to donate online, please go to this link: 

http://www.thestorehousemovement.com/contact.php

When choosing to donate online, you must send an email to Kristen Klaassen at

kristin.storehouse@outlook.com to let her know you are designating your donation for "Haiti Homebuilding/Brian and Cody Smith".

Matthew 25:34-40

Then, the King will say to those on his right, "Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.  For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me."

Then the righteous will answer him, "Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?  When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?  When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?"

The King will reply, "Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mind, you did for me."

A Blessed Day

It is true that every day is a gift from God, but there are some days that I know Jesus showers special blessings and gifts upon me.  Yesterday was one of those days. 

Going to the clothing market in Gonaives is similar to going to a flea market or a yard sale.  You find various vendors each with little tables set up where you can dig through their piles of used clothing in search of a good find.  The clothing market is usually hit or miss.  Frequently, I find that the vendors are pushy, rude, and cranky.  If you look but don’t purchase they will sometimes yell, complain, or curse at you.  But, every now and then you catch them on a good day.  Thankfully, that happened yesterday.  Every vendor that my friends and I encountered was absolutely sweet and gentle and there was truly a sense of peace wherever we went.

As we wandered around looking at the various stands and tables full of clothing, I heard a woman behind me say, “That looks like the “blan” (white person) that prayed for us.”  I smiled and turned realizing that they were talking about me.  Two or three years ago on a similar walk through the market, I met the same man and woman.  They had been harassing me and I ended up laying on hands praying for both of them.  Since that day, each time our paths cross they refer to me as “the blan that prayed for us”.  

Yesterday as I smiled at them and said hello, the woman said, “When are you going to pray for me again?”  I laughed, “Do you want me to pray for you again?” I asked.  She responded saying, “Yes of course!  The last time you prayed for me lots of things in my life changed!”  I was stunned.  If I recall, that day I prayed for her husband’s injured knee to be healed, and it wasn’t.  I even remember a slight feeling of disappointment after I left the market.  

“I’ll pray for you now if you want.” I told her.  She explained that she needed prayer because she has been feelings persecuted.  So, right there in the market my two friends and I laid hands on this woman and prayed for her again.

It was a moment of encouragement that I needed.  It was a bolstering of faith, it reminded me that He is moving.  God is so good.  He is good even when I can’t see it, even when He seems silent, and even when I misunderstand Him.  He moves through me - despite me, and I can’t thank Him enough. 

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 

Dear Baby Steve

Born into this earth as the son of a prostitute, you had no home. Mother and son, displaced and alone with only each other. You were born with a disease by no fault of your own. She tried her best to take care of you, I believe. You were so tiny, at three months old just the size of a newborn. It was not easy, that life of yours. Your mama struggled just to feed you while moving from house to house staying with anyone who would open their doors.  I cried the first time I held you because I knew. I knew that your life would never be easy. 

With mere human perspective, I could say you were taken far too soon.  You were not honored by man in your lifetime, and you will be remembered by few. But tonight, I reflect and in my moment of sadness I find comfort because I know:

He had a humble beginning, too, much like you. Born in a stable in a hog trough surrounded by animals.  His entry into this world was meticulously planned by His father.  He did that for you, dear Steve. He came humbly as a baby because of His great love for you.  He knew when you would be born, the number of hairs on your head, and the number of days you would have on this earth. He knew, precious one, that for you to have eternity with Him, He must come and die just as He did.  Here, you were the least of these in the dregs of society. In His kingdom, you are crowned with royalty. Tonight you are in a seat of honor worshiping with the angels singing: holy, holy, holy.  You were loved beyond measure, and loved you will be for eternity.   

Holiday Spirit

At Academie La Saline, we've been getting in the holiday spirit with songs, dances, stories, and crafts.  We are all preparing for December 18th which is our Christmas party!  There has been lots of excitement in the air!

Weekend Getaway

This fall, two of our dear friends and members of our community moved from Gonaives to Cap Haitian.  We were all sad to see them leave and miss them daily.  Thankfully, over Thanksgiving weekend, my friends and I had the opportunity to take a bus to go visit them.  It was refreshing to leave the city and reassuring to see that they are living well in their new location.

Over the weekend we met their new friends and had a Thanksgiving meal together.  We got to hike and visit the Citadelle (a national landmark in Haiti).  

Then, we spent a morning helping them round up and catch all of their newly purchased chickens so that they could be vaccinated.

It was a great weekend with great friends!

Pergolatory

The building that I live in is three stories tall.  The first floor apartment is Mami, my dear sweet 73 year old Haitian neighbor.  The second floor is mine and my roommate's apartment, and the third floor is my friends' apartment.  Although we have two separate apartments, the four of us eat most meals together and basically live together.  

One of the perks of the third floor apartment is that it has access to our neighbors roof.  It has a nice view and a great breeze.  Since they moved in upstairs, we've had a dream to make that roof somewhat of a sanctuary.

We made lots of plans and ideas about what to do and how to do it.  We debated on what the structure we wanted was actually called.  Some people said arbor, some of us said pergola, and others said gazebo.  In the end, one of us got confused and called it a pergolatory....and it stuck.  We assumed it would take most of the year to finish it.  When our dear friend Emory came to visit and heard about our idea, he quickly got to work helping us make it happen.

In a matter of days, what we had drawn on paper appeared on the roof just as we imagined it.  However, it was not completely finished.  We still had to treat the wood for termite and rot protection and cover it with grass mats for shade.  Our project was paused momentarily until we had the funds and time to finish it.

The Lord is good and loves to bless us so much.  Last week, I got a phone call saying that someone had donated money specifically so that we could finish this rooftop project.  We were so surprised and overjoyed to hear this news!  It blew me away that God loves us so much that he put it on someone else's heart to help us with this project. 

Now, we have a beautiful breezy sanctuary to retreat to.  We are looking forward to many times of peacefulness, rest, laughter, and worship under our beautiful "pergolatory".

You are mine.

As someone who isn't a parent yet, I would assume that choosing the name for your child would be both exciting and overwhelming.  Last week, I had the opportunity to do just that.  Not for myself, but for a family that is very close to my heart.

I met this family three years ago when I moved from Port-au-Prince to Gonaives.  Two of their  children were in my class that year and just a few weeks after school started, their youngest son became very sick and passed away.  I've been involved in their lives ever since.

Their son, Ifocoeur was in my class for two years.  He is outgoing, goofy, a natural leader, has a smile that lights up a room, and loves the Lord.

I will never forget last year the many times he shared with me how his heart is broken for his parents.  His father is a bokor (Vodou priest) and Ifocoeur longs for him to leave all that and know Jesus.  Many days we've sat together in tears praying for his parents.

The Lord has continued to bring this family to the forefront of my mind, and I know that He is relentlessly pursuing them.  I can't even begin to tell you all of the ways that God has been speaking and revealing His love for this family.

Prior to the baby being born, I have been visiting the family often and praying for them.  I truly believe the Lord has a huge plan for this family.  When the baby was born, I went in the morning to see the beautiful baby girl.  During the visit, they asked me if I would name her for them.

I was (and still am) shocked and humbled to have been giving such a huge honor and responsibility….to name a baby, to name someone else's daughter, to choose what she will be called for the rest of her life.  The human side of me was stressed and slightly overwhelmed at the pressure of coming up with a name for this precious little girl.  But, I realized that it was the Lord's favor that gave me this opportunity.

After racking my brain for names that would have meaning and significance (and still be able to be pronounced with a Haitian Creole accent) I had come up with zilch, zero, zip, nadda, nothing!  I started praying hoping that He would magically give me a name but all God told me was "She's mine."  And to that I said, "God, "mine" isn't' very pretty sounding and neither is "pa'm" (creole)".  So, I opened my bible and found Isaiah 43:

Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.  When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze….You are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life…

I sat staring at the words in this chapter thinking how perfect this scripture is for this baby and for her family.  I know that although she is in the middle of a family that is currently devoted to "bagay mistik" (mystic things/practices), the Lord has already called her by name.  He has already said, "She's mine."  He has a plan for her life and she is in His hands.

So, with excitement and joy in my heart (and nervousness) I went to their house to tell the family  that the Lord says to her, "You are mine" and so her name is Aremine (pronounced 'ah-meen).  Words cannot describe how thankful, blessed, and humbled I am to have this opportunity to be a part of the lives of this family and to have been given the authority to say that this child is the Lord's.

Bunnies, bunnies!

This past week was very exciting for our students.  When a lady walked past the school selling rabbits, we couldn't resist buying two for our kids to take care of.  The 3rd graders (the kids I taught last year) have one and my 1st grade class has one.

Thankfully we had enough scrap wood at the school to build two rabbit cages condos.  One cage has four stories and the other has three.

After voting both classes chose names for their rabbits.  Third grade "Princess Love Cinderella" and my class named our rabbit "Prince Peanut".  Other names that they suggested include: Super Rabbit, The Lorax, Peter Rabbit, Window, Mouse, Skinny Rabbit, Gruffalo, Cotton Tail, Special Rabbit, and many more.  It has been really fun watching the kids excitement.  For all of our students and even most of our teachers, this is their first experience seeing a rabbit in person.

In Haiti, animals are typically not treated well.  I've been enjoying teaching the kids how to treat Price Peanut gently and what his needs are.  They have been really receptive to everything.  During reading centers, they read stories to him.

The kids are excited to help take care of the bunnies.  One of our boys used his snack money (5 goudes which is about 12 cents) to buy two small carrots to give the rabbit.  Other kids have went in search of grass to bring to school.

 All in all, week one of classroom bunnies has been a very positive experience for everyone!  I think we might be the only school in all of Haiti that has classroom pets!

Cemetery Adventure

I arrived at my apartment after school and found that three of my students from last year had beaten me there and were eagerly waiting for me (as if I had not just seen them 20 minutes prior).  My motorcycle had a flat tire and I figured asking them to help me push it to my tire repairman down the street would be a good way to channel their neverending energy. I had no idea it would turn into a little adventure!

I live on the same street as the city cemetery.  Most Haitians that I've met are afraid of the cemetery, zombies, etc so they don't like to go in or near it.  I don't know what got into the boys today, but they began begging me to take them inside.  Knowing this would be highly entertaining (and not wanting to disappoint), I agreed.

So in we went.  I noticed as we walked through the cemetery gates that I suddenly had three small boys clinging to my arms and sides but all the while saying, "We're not scared!  We believe in Jesus!" That became their mantra as we wandered around the empty cemetery.

Ifocoeur said that he wanted to look around to find his little brother's grave (among hundreds of unmarked graves) so we wandered around as the boys asked me question after question.  David became thoroughly freaked out when he saw a grave with the name "David" on it.  He claimed he was going to change his name, and ironically he sudden began complaining that he had to pee.

"We want to see some bones," they said.  If you've ever been in the Gonaives cemetery you know you need not look far to find broken caskets and skeletons laying around. Sure enough just a few minutes later we saw a pile of bones up ahead.  The looks on the boys faces were priceless.  "Well, do you want a closer look?" I asked them.  They responded, "You go first, Katie! You first!!" as they shoved me in front of them.  I could tell they were loving that "haunted house" feeling of being completely terrified but also enjoying it at the same time.  Somehow in my attempt to explain to them that there is no reason to be afraid of bones, I got roped into proving it to them by touching one.  I guess that's what I get (add that to my list of things I've never imagined myself doing)!

Eventually, Ifocoeur realized that it was impossible to find his brother's grave so he gave up and announced, "This one looks like it might be his.  Let's stop here and talk to him."  I asked him, "Do you want a few minutes alone with your brother to talk to him?"  He looked up at me like I had three heads and said, "WHAT!!!! NO DON'T LEAVE ME HERE ALONE!"  So the four of us said a few words to his brother before deciding to leave and head back to the tire repairman.

I know that the boys were mostly afraid of someone (aka a zombie) coming up out of a grave and chasing them.  That is something that I tried to teach them many times in class last year: You don't need to be afraid of zombies or evil spirits.  If you have Jesus, you have  the power of the Holy Spirit...that means you have authority over all of those things that scare you.  As much as their mantra of "We're not scared because we believe in Jesus" made me laugh, it also made me proud to know that they listened to things that I taught them last year.  I'm not sure whether our impromptu field trip to the cemetery helped the boys conquer their fear of the cemetery, but I do think that is an adventure they will remember and laugh about for a very, very long time. 

Wrecked

I've always struggled to put into words how this place, Haiti, makes me feel. The range of emotions seems impossible to describe, impossible to convey to people who are not living it and breathing it. 

In this moment, the word "wrecked" seems to say so much. The poverty and sickness that I see daily wrecks me and breaks my heart.  The pain, suffering, and injustice that is all around has left me weeping before The Lord. The physical conditions of this country frequently wreck my health. 

And at the same time...

The Father wrecks me daily with His love in ways that I never experienced before. The children wreck me with their hope, their smiles, and their innocence. I'm wrecked when I see a friend and mother of four who already struggles to feed her own children choose to take in three homeless children.  

Sometimes I wonder, "when will this get easier? When will I have a moment to breathe?" Then I remember that it's in our weakness He is made strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9) Blessed are the poor in spirit and blessed are those who mourn. (Mathew 5)

I think being wrecked is exactly how He wants me to be. 

New School Year!

I landed back in Haiti just 12 short days before the start of the new school year.  It is always a pure joy, and at the same time a shock to be back on Haitian soil.  The three hour ride from the airport to Gonaives (in the back of the truck) is always a good time to wrap my head around the fact that I seemed to have jumped from one world to another in a matter of hours.

When my friend, Tia, and I arrived at our apartment, our neighbor boys and several students appeared at our doorstep within minutes to greet us.  Its a beautiful thing to have loved ones excited to see us.

The past two weeks are a blur of unpacking, cleaning, setting up my classroom, and adjusting back to the Haitian pace of life.

The heat during this time of year makes it difficult to get things done, but we couldn't let that stop us at school because we simply had way too much to do!  Two weeks ago when I walked into my classroom, this was how it looked…

Many moto trips to and from the school taking supplies to our classrooms…

After lots of hours of hard work this was the result!

The first day of school was a blast!

This year, I only have six students.  I know...crazy.  I almost don't know what to do with myself in class because it is so much calmer and easier than what I am used to.  So, with my extra time I have been helping other teachers and helping in the preschool room.

I am very excited about what this school year will hold for the students and for me.  Praying for God's presence to be in all that we do at school this year.