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".