February Newsletter

Life happens best in community...that's what my home church in the United States claims. I truly believe this with my whole heart...but for the longest time, I never realized how true this was. Of course, my community is so important to me. People I can count on to share my joys and sorrows...People that will drop everything to tend to any "need" I might have. But for the longest time, sub-consiously, this was completely an "American" thing. However, over the past few weeks and months, I have come to find this true of life in Haiti.

First, personally, because I dearly miss my community. In America, I was surrounded by so many people that I love, who love me, who are my support and my backbone through life. They make me laugh, they hug me when I cry, they are there to just hang out and do life with me. People that I could count on to do everything and do nothing...all at the same time.

But I have finally seen this concept is not an "American" thing. It is a "human" thing. People in Haiti are in constant communication with each other. Everyone speaks to each other on the streets. Haitian people ALWAYS ask how you are and how your family is. And it is quite possible that I know as many Haitians that have cell phones as I know Americans that have them. They don't have electricity, but they have cell phones (you should see what a funny sight it is on Sunday mornings at church--EVERY SINGLE electrical outlet is in use, charging someone's phone). Seriously...people living in the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere have cell phones.

It is just more proof that communication and community is more important that other material things that I sometimes consider necessities.

Life happens best in community.



Teaching Preschool
I think the best part about teaching preschool is that I get to teach my kids whatever I want. I do have books and curriculum that I go by, but other than teaching them the alphabet, colors, numbers, etc. I get to teach them anything else I want. This semester, they have learned (or are learning) "awesome" and "peace out." Today I started teaching them to say "cheese" when someone was taking their picture. But the funniest thing I have tried to teach my kids is smiling! Most Haitians don't smile for pictures, so sometimes it can be hard to get my kids to smile when I am snapping shots of them! Most of them understand now, but some still have a little trouble. Check out Clyde's and Alai's smiles:


RETREAT

We had our ladies' retreat at Cap-Haitien this month. It was such a nice time to relax and rejuvenate! It was really fun to get to know some of the other ladies a little better. And yes, my nerdiness came out on the day trip that Ashley, Kala, and Allison and I took to the historic Citadelle and Sans-Souci Palace. I won't bother you with all the details of that, but it was AMAZING!! (if you are a nerd like me and enjoy history, I would love to share more about it!).

For more pictures from our trip, check out mine and Ashley's (because Ashley takes AMAZING pictures) facebook links:
Mine -- http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2100165&l=78378&id=38312267
Ashley's -- http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=11707&l=0fb29&id=500539845


Answered Prayers

Thank you for all the prayers about our church building because we are FINALLY building!!! Just as a quick reminder, the mayor came out at the beginning of the school year and told us we weren't allowed to build anymore...eventually it came out that he wanted to bargain with us to do/buy some things for the city. But we finally got approved by a judge (who apparently is higher than the mayor) and we have been building for a couple weeks! This is such an answer to prayer with all the groups that will be coming in this spring! Hopefully with their help, we will progress and get a little closer to a finished SonCenter!!!

Also, you have heard many stories about Emilien over the past year. He is 14 years old and works with John at the school doing construction and maintenance. He is absolutely one of the sweetest boys I have ever met.

John had the privilege of baptizing Emilien a few weeks ago! He is such an amazing boy who is going to do amazing things in Haiti!

It's Prank Time!!

If you know me at all, I love to joke around. And I have ALWAYS loved a good prank (nothing illegal, that will damage or hurt someone's feelings obviously...just some good old fun). From the Busy Bandits in Forrer Hall to "decorating" our sorority's advisors' homes (on more than one occasion), a lot of my college years were filled with pranks.

So, like I said, if you know me at all, it shouldn't come as a surprise that I am filled with the "pranking spirit" here in Haiti. I have recently kidnapped a puppet from Miss Ashley's First Grade class. His name is Jackie Chan (yes, the kids named him Jackie Chan). I have left a couple ransom notes for the kids and they are in QUITE AN UPROAR about it! Hopefully, Miss Ashley will be able to use this as a "learning experience" for her kids and they can write letters back to me! (and yes, Miss Ashley knows I have him!)



Jackie enjoys chillin' on our front porch:



Jackie checking his e-mail with his friend Roger:

beautiful faces

There are no words to describe these beautiful faces. I love my babies!

Singin' in the Rain

Our fall semester here was EXTREMELY rainy, so when I was at home for Christmas, I decided to purchase some rain boots. And I have only gotten to wear them one other time, on a weekend...but today, the glorious day was finally here. I didn't even know it was raining until my roommates said something to me about it. So I put my rain boots on and got ready for school. Only to discover that our street was the only wet street. Once I turned the corner at the end of our street, everything was as dry as a bone. Such a disappointment.

Teaching Haitians to Teach Haitians

A few weeks ago, Miss Jen brought the seniors over to the preschool to help my kids with puzzles. My kids had SUCH a GREAT time! They absolutely LOVED it! And it was fun for me to be able to interact with students who speak better English! The older students were very helpful with my kids and seemed to really enjoy hanging out with them...which is our main goal at Sonlight. We are here to teach Haitians so that they will in turn reach out to other Haitians. I know I have only been here for a short time, but I am already excited and can't wait for the day when one of our graduates takes over my classroom and teaches preschool for the next 20 years!!!

Elie and Jean:


Adlai and Scott:

It's Limbo time!

Today Emilien and Josue came over for lunch. I know I have said it before, but I LOVE THESE BOYS! They are my absolute favorite Haitians! We ate and talked and had a good time with these sweet boys. After lunch we played some music so that Josue would start dancing for us. We played the Limbo and Ashley went to get a broomstick. After I showed them how to Limbo, they both tried it. It was so funny! Josue kept running under and hitting his head on the broom and Emilien leaned his head back so far he couldn't see where he was going!

the streets are flowing with milk and honey...and um....yeah.

as most of you know, there is no sewer system in haiti...and a lot of people don't have toilets in their houses (luckily this is not us...we are fully equipped with toilets, so mom, please don't worry!). but if you've "gotta go" you have a couple options. you can a.) go in the street, b.) go in a kivet, bucket, or pan and later throw it in the street...either way, it ends up in the street. luckily we have a ditch in front of our house where all the sewage ends up...it's not just randomly placed in the streets. at least it is all in "one place" to avoid.
and luckily we have nice man who works next door who always keeps our "ditch" flowing fairly steadily so as not to keep the sewage stagnant in front of our house. Sometimes I love living in Haiti and sometimes I don't. But, compared to some of the kids at our school, if the worst thing I face in day is jumping over a pile of poop on my way to school, I'm pretty lucky.

my replacement

I think they have found my replacement for when I leave Haiti.

pictures

remember that one time i said i was going to post a picture and write something on here everyday? then when i moved here, we didn't have internet for a while and then we only had it in the work room at school. i kind of gave up on that idea. but i would like to try to put more pictures on here. so now that i've said it, you have to hold me to it!!!

so here is me trying to do that again. these are 4 of my favorite boys in haiti (witchy, walkem, wood kimley, and widloveson). they came over to our house today for cookies, play-doh, and a video. they are such sweet boys. i want to bring all of them home with me!

Let Miss Cleo tell your fortune...

so i have this kid who walks to school every morning with a woman (don't know if it is his mom or not...she looks really, really young, but that doesn't really factor in here). this woman always has on a "head wrap" of some kind...usually, it's just a scarf wrapped around her head.

well, today, here they come trotting down the street to school and this lady looks like she is wearing a turban. seriously. she has on a HUGE black turban with a rhinestone clasp on the side. i seriously wanted to ask miss cleo to read my fortune.

i wish i could have taken her picture. it was crazy!

what to teach...

I recently taught my kids to say "Awesome!"

I am taking suggestions for what YOU think I should teach them next. Leave a comment and let me know what you think 4-year-old Haitians should learn to say in English!

boredom has struck...

First of all, let me preface this with "Yes, I know I am a dork...and Yes, I know this is probably the reason why I am still single at 27 years old."

As many of you already know, there isn't much to do in Haiti. Sure, we watch movies and some TV shows on DVD, but you can only do that for so long...You have to find something else to do to stop the boredom. We occasionally go on hikes or play games, but I have recently found a new hobby...and it's all because my computer broke last semester. Long story short, I had to get a new computer a couple days before I left America to come back here and will not have my old computer (with all my music and files) until sometime soon. My music selection is limited on my new computer (don't worry, I have plenty of Matt Wertz but not nearly enough Justin Timberlake), so I have been using my iPod to play music in my bedroom instead of my computer.

So, I have been listening to all this fun music and if you know me at all, you know if there is music on, I can't sit still...so I have been dancing around my bedroom for the past 3 or 4 days. And I don't just mean bobbing my head...I mean, I could be in a full music video (Brandy - think Shape of My Heart, Sophomore Year). Seriously, it is getting pretty ridiculous...but it is so addictive. It's like a drug and I just can't stop!

Honestly, any music will do...showtunes, hip-hop, 80's, 90's, anything with a beat...but I realized I had a problem when I started dancing to "Come 'on Ride the Train." After about 15 seconds, my first thought was, "How in the world did this song get on my iPod?" quickly followed by "Am I such a junkie that I will reduce myself to dancing to one of my most-hated songs (only slightly hated less than the Cha-Cha Slide...honestly, if you need the song to tell you how to dance, do you really enjoy dancing enough to actually BE dancing? another post for another day...haha!).

I have tried to introduce my roommates to this new phenomenon, but it just hasn't stuck. Ashley tried it last night, and I think she might be a social dancer...she's not quite a dance-a-holic like I am. If you know Ashley at all, it's shocking, I know...You would think she would have been hooked immediately.

Any suggestions for some fun new dancing songs???

Gratitude -- Nichole Nordeman

Send some rain, would You send some rain?
'Cause the earth is dry and needs to drink again
And the sun is high and we are sinking in the shade
Would You send a cloud, thunder long and loud?
Let the sky grow black and send some mercy down
Surely You can see that we are thirsty and afraid
But maybe not, not today
Maybe You'll provide in other ways
And if that's the case . . .

We'll give thanks to You
With gratitude
For lessons learned in how to thirst for You
How to bless the very sun that warms our face
If You never send us rain

Daily bread, give us daily bread
Bless our bodies, keep our children fed
Fill our cups, then fill them up again tonight
Wrap us up and warm us through
Tucked away beneath our sturdy roofs
Let us slumber safe from danger's view this time
Or maybe not, not today
Maybe You'll provide in other ways
And if that's the case . . .

We'll give thanks to You
With gratitude
A lesson learned to hunger after You
That a starry sky offers a better view
If no roof is overhead
And if we never taste that bread

Oh, the differences that often are between
Everything we want and what we really need

So grant us peace, Jesus, grant us peace
Move our hearts to hear a single beat
Between alibis and enemies tonight
Or maybe not, not today
Peace might be another world away
And if that's the case . . .

We'll give thanks to You
With gratitude
For lessons learned in how to trust in You
That we are blessed beyond what we could ever dream
In abundance or in need
And if You never grant us peace

But Jesus, would You please . . .

I think I'm turning Haitian.

SPOILER ALERT!! Don't read if you plan on watching Season 4 of 24!

When Haitians watch movies, they like to laugh a lot...and very loud! And they like to scream during exciting parts or funny parts. Well, yesterday, our house started a 24 (Season 4) marathon (we are trying to watch as many episodes of 24 as possible before our little Caribbean vacation on Wednesday). It has started getting to an intense part of the season and Jack and Audrey were trying to escape from some terrorists. Jack and Audrey both ran out of ammunition and were "trapped" when out of no where Tony Almeida (my favorite character) shot down all the "bad guys." When this happened, Ashley, Jen, and I all raised our hands in the air and cheered VERY loudly (I think Ashley even kicked her legs!). We were OUT OF CONTROL with excitement. It was actually a little bit embarrassing! hahaha!

I think I'm turning into a Haitian.