First Week of school

Well It has been a busy week with school starting and getting into the groove of that. Also on the first day of school marked my one month anniversary of being in Haiti. Back to talking about school… Well Sunday I was nervous about starting school, as it was my first time going back as not a student. After being so worried, I realized there was absolutely nothing to be afraid of! The first day we kept all the little kids together which was preschool all the way to grade one. That day we sung songs, read stories, starting off with the creation story and then my favourite Robert Munch book Purple Green and Yellow. It was cool seeing them to react to the things I love. The first Day flew by before I knew it, it was over. The next day I got into teaching, I love my grade ones, though we had to over come language challenges we breezed through our first week. Between French, English and Creole, we some how understood each other. The school program we use is actually a homeschool program, called ACE (Accelerated Christian Education) and to start off grade one we do a 12 week lesson on all the sounds of each letter of the alphabet, with the first week being the A sounds with the three sounds that go it, then the do certain work sheets everyday, to understand how to tell the difference and how they work into other words. Then at the end of the week they take a test on it all. And to my surprise all my students did very well even the ones I didn’t think we comprehending it. Carolyn was very impressed since I don’t have an interpreter. It brings a sense of joy when you see it get it, when you don’t think they understand you. Oh and there is also an annoying song that goes with every lesson. Even though everything is laid out for me with this program I am able to get creative with how to drill it into their heads, for example after they learned all three A sounds I had them all sit in a circle and I had a ball I would throw to one of them, followed my me saying a word that had one of the three sounds in it (or no a sound to see if they are one the ball) and have them say which one they hear and throw the ball back. It made them really listen and think for which sound they needed to listen for, and it helped them on their test. Oh and a couple highlights from my week other than them doing really well on their tests was Friday afternoons are a slightly free/fun day since we have chapel and it’s a short day, so we put together a giant world map puzzle then I gave them paper and paint to paint their own version of the world but what I got was even better, they all painted the same four flags, Haiti, Brazil, USA and Canada just for me, so now those are going to be hung around the class room because I love the paintings. And the second highlight was when one of the boys in my class pulled out a couple toy cars to play with, and one of them made me laugh wishing I brought my camera like I planned to that day, it was a VANCOUVER CANUCKS toy bus, all the way here in Haiti. I tried to explain that I am a fan of that team and showed them on the map where it was. It was just a great moment to end a great first week of teaching. Which I absolutely love to do.

A poem

Living Sacrifice

Walking in to the room

sun shines through

the stained glass.

He’s reminding me

He’s everywhere.

The old pews

are well worn

and perfectly lined.

He’s reminding me

He’s here.

Kneeling down

before the cross

it’s quiet.

He’s reminding me

He’s in the silence.

Lifting my heart to him

with my hands held high

I sing softly.

I remind him

I’m his to use. 

Wrote this awhile ago, thought I would post just because

Pray for a miracle

This past week I have learned about how far faith can take a person. I am talking about the ability to pray to heal, headaches, sicknesses, diseases, to be able to grow limbs. When I was told Dr. Norm Dobbs, a psychologist from the states, was coming to pray to heal the people in this country, I was told he wanted to pray from limbs to grow. The first image that came into my head was as the man was praying for people an arm or leg would suddenly grow out of the person. I know this is a silly concept but this is God we are talking about, anything is possible if we have faith in Him. He calls us to pray for healing. I have yet to witness a limb grow, and neither has Norm, but in small doses things are happening. Not only is he praying to heal he is also praying to save, and saving people is he. One of my first experiences in Haiti was going into the mountain community of Jeanton to talk with people up there that she has connected to and wants to bring God into their lives. While there we hiked up a hill (really a mountain) to see a Boko, (witch doctor). He is a blind old man, who serves the people as the local Boko. At first he was very hostile towards us, even though he knew Barb. Well Norm and Barb hiked up there, and prayed for a few hours with him, amongst the spirits and the other nonsense that comes with voodoo, and a light shone through, demons where gone, and light and God came to him, that afternoon, he was no longer the local Boko. I have heard of other small miracles Norm has done through prayer, such as down in the children’s ward at the hospital he prayed for a couple lifeless children, and on his way back they were acting as happy normal children despite the pain. Tonight I witnessed Norm’s praying first hand while at Dr. Kerry’s. He has a little three year old Haitian boy in his care who has cerebral palsy. He was in the worst shape and has survived the earthquake, this afternoon Norm sat there praying for him, to gain strength. It wasn’t instant results, but he will be healed, and he will continue to be prayed for. It doesn’t take anyone special to go and pray for healing, to go and do God’s work, you just need to believe, you just need to put your self out there. Just have faith and put your hands, the ones God gave you to do his work, and pray. Pray for heath, pray for happiness, pray for life, pray for limbs, you never know you might just see one grow out of thin air.

3 weeks in...

Well I'm just shy of being here for one month and love being here more everyday. Not much has been happening besides getting ready for school to start in a week, other than we are moving to a bigger house only 2 days after school starts YIKES! As well our principal is stuck in the states due to health problems even he isn't sure what they are, he went to the hospital the day before he was suppose to fly back to haiti. Last week I got to meet Bev and Al who run the orphanage, they are an amazing couple. As well we have Carolyn and Gary's friend Norm here for a couple weeks, on a mission to pray for people's health he is very eager and wanting to see result. Yesterday We decided as adults to leave the kids at the orphanage and go for lunch and for a swim at one of the local resorts, Xaragua. It was a perfect afternoon of food, the beach and pool, sun tanning, friends and of course Haitian coke, which is to dye for! Today after church we were invited by the pastor and his wife to a beautiful meal that she had prepared for us. I'm starting to like haitian food even more every time I have it. Well that is all for now, a busy week ahead of more visitors coming in and getting the school ready, and my self prepared for my first class, which I have to say I am a little nervous about. Well here's some pictures for to keep you all satisfied for now.

Heading out on one of the employee's new motorbike

Haiti 2010

Busy Haitian Beach

Attempt of the self portrait Xaragua Resort, Haiti 2010

Xaragua Resort 

Nothing beats a nice cold Haitian Coke

A little this, a little that...

Sunset at restaurant we went to the first night

Chris and Leslie's Church in the mountains

Olivia drinking from a coconut (it's harder than it looks)

St. Marc: Three boys playing soccer

an electrician's worst nightmare

Since the start of my first it has been a little on the dull side, with finally moving into my "home" and finally unpacking, to dealing with the school being broken in to. Which leads me to a paraphrase of my last email I sent to anyone, if you know of anyone that has trumpets, clarinets, trombones laying around and would like to donate them, we could really use them here, as our band instruments were the main, thing that was stolen. School starts in 2 weeks and I just got my lesson planning and curriculum books today, 2 HUGE binders that will take me through the whole year. I cant wait!

Things I have learned so far...

Things I have learned in Haiti so far:

•       Do not breathe while walking through the meat market, or the sections of the outdoor market that sells meat, gagging will ensue
• -       When people tell you don’t go down a certain path, it’s usually for a good reason, because, well, it’s usually a path people use for a toilet. And gagging may or may not occur.
• -       Keep things in a bag, even if it is one single item, people assume it is for them.
• -       People, manly men, will do anything for the young white girl, if it gets them to Canada.
• -       Flushing a toilet is in fact an art form.
• -       Also having a bucket bath, while trying to wash a mop of hair.
• -       If you have curly or semi-curly hair, forget about trying to keep it straight.
• -       A pony tail is your friend.
• -       You will hear Justin Beiber being played on the radio with people young and old trying to learn the English.
• -       Neighbor kids will sing songs from Eminem with out having the slightest bit idea of what they are singing.
• -       Just give up logic all together, it doesn’t exist here.
• -       Pray for rain
• -       Pray for Power.
• -       Hopefully you get them together. 

The past week

The last few days have been a whirlwind of an adventure, between going to church in the mountains, and adventures in St. Marc. Church was amazing it is this tiny little church of about 30 people in the out door, sectioned off area in the tiny community. To get there we first had to drive off the main road about 10 minutes up the steep trail that was all rocks and holes, which I was told has improved according to Chris. Once there we walked a few minutes through the mountains to this tiny village that always welcomes Chris and Leslie with open arms, and takes care of Olivia from keeping her entertained to braiding her hair. After a very long service of which I was welcomed and didn’t understand they sent some one up a coconut to get some for us, which I drank from for the first time, unlike Olivia who is a complete pro at it compared to me. Once back it was a day of relaxing watching Olivia’s silliness and also Noah and Abe’s craziness in the place called Haiti. First thing Monday morning it was off to St. Marc to Barb’s house. Honestly her community is overwhelming at first because they all know you are here to see Miss. Bawbawa, and instantly they want to know all about you hoping you speak the smallest amount of creole, some even know a little bit of French which helps me get by, with out Barb translating I would be lost. Right after Leslie left it was instantly getting to business, which for Barb is checking on various people and children around the neighborhood, for fevers and other medical things she can help with which for me meant meeting everyone in her area. Then once that was done we hopped on a couple motorbikes, and headed to a village off the beaten path, to check on various people there, and enjoy the kids as the walk with us to all the neighbors. Also up there I was handed a baby to hold, and she was the most precious thing in the world, the weirdest thing was that the mother just handed her to me to hold, Barb said it was to make sure that I loved kids which is important to them, also this was the first moment I have cried up until this point. I made me realize how lucky we are to have everything handed to us back home. It was interesting as we met a witch doctor which is a common thing around her I am learning, I’ve seen a few voodoo acts in various ways of healing, which everyone denies that they are related to voodoo in anyway. It was neat to see what an impression Barb has made on everyone that she meets along the way. Finally on the way home I got to meet the children at the orphanage that Gary and Carolyn help operate along with Bev and Al. They children there are so sweet, and they all come from this community. Though this is not a orphanage by what normally defines one, its more like a foster care system in which the kids stay and learn and grow in until they are adults, which means that they are not adopted at all. Here there are 6-8 boys (not totally sure on the number) ranging in age, and as well as twin girls who are three years old and are the cutest things around. Whom I already love to go over and cuddle. Tuesday was a St. Marc day to do various errands around town, one of which included going to visit some one at the hospital. I honestly can’t describe it, other than the people there are desperate. It broke my heart to see all the people sick, hurt, or barely hanging on to their lives waiting to see a doctor, a nurse or anyone that would help them in the hot sun. We went into the Emergency Room, which if you complain again about the lack of attention back home, has nothing on what it is like here. It consisted of 8 beds crammed into one tiny room, where a couple doctors and nurses are trying to do there thing, but also the family is trying to keep them comfortable and cool by fanning them, since there is no AC and the family has to take care of the patient’s hygiene and food during their stay at the hospital. In one corner there was a child being held down while screaming covered in what looks like vomits and diarrhea, right there I wanted to cry. After we were lead through the doors to another room, to see the man we had come to see. In there, there was many beds squeezed together, with the patients, nurses doing their best, and family trying to take care of their loved ones. It was heart breaking being there. The man we had came to see, was some one from the village we went to the day previous, we were told that he was working in St. Marc and had fell out of a tree breaking his ribs, and becoming paralyzed. Once there and talking to him we found out it was true, and the worst part is in a country like this if you can’t help your self you are just a burden on your family, especially living in a mountain village like he does, plus his wife is 8 months pregnant. I had to hold my self together as a child was screaming in pain behind me, as two white nurses worked on her, and Barb prayed for this man. I have never really liked hospitals, but I have never been more happier to get out of all the suffering, which I could do nothing to help. Coming back we relaxed in the afternoon, enjoying the semi-cool breeze, and the gift of electricity (EDHEDH shut off, but after going out a second time and coming back to still a nice cool night and once again the gift of EDH. Making it perfect for sleeping after once again attempting to bathe in a bucket, having the challenge of trying to wash all my hair. Once again we have gone to the hospital and up to the mountains, to see the people that are there, each time is a different experience, though I am able to now go into the hospital with out the thought of throwing up, and only a couple dozen people a day ask me to marry them, so I can bring them to Canada. Survived my first week, so lets hope the rest is a breeze