Haitian for a Day

Today, on the one month anniversary of arriving in Port-de-Paix, I got a taste of what it feels like to be a true Haitian. Everyday, after school is out at 2:00 p.m. our electricity goes off until around 5:00 p.m. Also, we only have a small stream of water in the sinks during this time because something in the electricity has something to do with our running water (I don't understand it, I just know that when the electricity is off, we barely have enough water to wash our hands). All of this was hard to get used to at first. I got a lot of reading done during those first two weeks I was here before school started! Now it just kind of comes naturally to me. Tonight, the electricity came on around 5:15 and went back off at about 5:25 (which isn't unusual--it sometimes goes off at night at random times until John and Roger can get back to the generator to fix the problem). Around 6:00 tonight, while we were waiting on the electricity to come on, I commented to Ashley about how hard this must be for people here who NEVER have electricity. I can't imagine having to live day in and day out without lights or even a toilet you can flush...and how upset do we get that we can't even watch an episode of "The Gilmore Girls" tonight. It kind of started putting a lot of things in perspective. And then, as if perfectly on cue, Mr. Scott knocked on our door to let us know that we may be without electricity for the next two days. Something crazy had happened to the generator and John and Roger may not be able to fix it quickly. We decided to fill some buckets with water (so we could flush our toilets) out of the reservoir that is out behind our house...and of course we had all gone on a hike this afternoon so we were sweaty and smelly...so we decided we would have to bathe outside, like our Haitian neighbors (don't worry, we kept our clothes on!!!). Jen and I went out together, with our washcloths, shower gel, and buckets and decided it was time to suck it up in the dark and get clean. Our reservoir has a spicket on the side, so we washed our bodies under our clothes as best we could using that water. We ate dinner by candlelight and flashlight (luckily, we have a gas stove). We opened all the windows in the house and there was actually a REALLY nice breeze. Our house didn't get too unbearably hot. Around 8:30 or 9:00, the electricity came on 2 or 3 times, but only for a few minutes at a time. Then at around 9:15, it came on and now (1 1/2 hours later) it is still on!

I know that was a really long story, but it was a really long night for us!!! But, somehow, there really wasn't a time when I was miserable. If I had been in America, I probably would have been pretty irritated by this inconvenience. I think being here in Haiti makes inconveniences much more easier to bare because you constantly see people with circumstances that are ALWAYS worse than yours. All my minor problems don't even come close to the issues my students are dealing with (and they are only 4 years old!)...yet, the people I have met during my short month here in Haiti are more generous and willing to give away the little they do have than anyone in America. That's what makes these people so special to me. In spite of having nothing, they are willing to give up EVERYTHING. I know that I am being taught much more about what it means to "do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility, consider others better than yourself." (Philippians 2:3)


The Hands and Feet of The Preschool
I am so thankful for the hands and feet that make my class so great! My three WONDERFUL aides this year are Mr. Thony (like Tony), Mme. Emmanuel, and Mme. Aules (like O-less). They have been working in the preschool with Norma for years and have truly been so helpful in making my transition into teaching in Haiti such a smooth one! I am greeted every morning by BIG kisses from Mme. Emmanuel and Mme. Aules. Mr. Thony is so great with the kids and isn't "embarrassed" to be silly with them. Along with being my aide, he also teaches French to my kids. He LOVES to sing songs and be crazy with the kids (including wearing a woman's big flowered hat just to teach them about something I couldn't understand!!!).

These three aides are absolutely WONDERFUL and I couldn't do 1/2 of what I do in preschool without them. They show no favoritism toward any kid (which is really hard!) and love every child the same. They are always the hands and feet of Jesus to my class and I am so lucky to have them!

The Preschool Class-
After a little switching around with Mme. Thom's (a.k.a. Cara) Kindergarten Class, I am now settled in with 28 beautiful faces! They are precious and wonderful and so lovable. I love to rub their precious little faces every morning. They were all very timid at first, but now they are all beginning to warm up to the "crazy white lady" at their school!!! I even got a few of them to smile for some pictures this week!!!

Here are their names, so you can pray for them too:

Boys-Adlai (pronounced Ad-lie), Guy (pronounced Gee), Love, Alai, Clyde, Elie (pronounced Elly), Michel, Luvensky, Mike, Weggy (pronounced Wedgie), Shmuck (pronounced Shmick), Webster, Saul (pronounced Sa-ool), Christopher, Widloveson, Thegi (pronounced Te-zhie)

Girls-Berlinda, Blandine, Cephora, Christiana, Katiana, Beyonce, Magdala, Lyse, Rose Asline, Michka, Ruthzar (pronounced Wootza), Schekina

I also teach a few of Ashley's First Grade Class in the afternoon. Right now, I am taking 10 of her kids who need a little bit of extra help. This may change and during the next nine weeks, I may take some of the kids who are at the "top" of the class. We just had our first math test, and I am glad to say that EVERY child in my class got an A (it's a test from a book, i didn't make it, so don't tell me it was too easy!!! haha)!!! They are quite a chatty group right now, so pray that I don't lose my patience with them. They are all so sweet and, for the most part, are still at the age where they love coming to school.

These are the First Graders I have right now:

Boys--Gabe, Febens, Yodh

Girls--Gabina, Sophiana, Flore, Dayanka, Vasthie, Audra, Shelldens

newsletter

After two weeks of getting our house in order and decorating/arranging our classrooms, we started school on wednesday, august 29! The preschoolers are SO CUTE!!! I've only spent 2 weeks with them and i feel like i could write a book about each of them! they are all so sweet and excited about coming to school! We began with 34 on our roster, but have dwindled down to 29. Some of the kids were just too little, so they are going to try again next year. We are moving one little girl up to Kindergarten next week because she is so far ahead of all the other kids and we may be moving some kids back from Kindergarten that need more help. My aides (Mr. Thony, Mme. Emmanuel, and Mme. Aules) have been working in this class for years so they are AMAZING! They know exactly what to do and when to do it! They help keep order and translate everything Norma and I say into Creole so the kids will understand (at least until they catch on to a few English phrases).

Weggy (yes, like wedgie), the little boy that I sponsor through Sonlight, is in my class. He was retained in preschool at the end of last year to help improve his English so that he will excel in elementary school. He is so precious and LOVES to grab my hand every time I walk past him!

Preschool ends everyday at 10:45. After preschool, I go to pick up a few of the First Graders (Miss Ashley has 36 in her class, so I take some of the students who need a little extra help).

Sunday School has started also. I'm teaching the 1st and 2nd grade sunday school with Miss Kala. Most of the kids I know, either from being in Miss Ashley's first grade class this year or last year. I love to see the kids coming to church. They are always dressed like every sunday is Easter Sunday. All the little girls wear big, poofy dresses and are SO pretty!

I am still looking for a few more people to partner financially with me and Sonlight Ministries. My goal is to raise $1,300 a month, so if you are interested, please let me know. You can also find out more information about donating to Sonlight or sponsoring a child at http://www.sonlightministries.org

To see pictures of my house, my classroom, or my kids go to
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2081003&l=3aeea&id=38312267

Things to pray for:

1. That I will continue to pick up on Creole phrases so I will be able to better communicate with my neighbors, students, etc.

2. Financial support will continue to come in.

3. Health -- a lot of the teachers have been suffering from sinus issues, so please pray that I will stay healthy

4. Unity among the Sonlight staff