Adventures in Wonderland

Saturdays in Haiti are all about change. Not loose change or that kind of change we got about a year and a half ago, it's a transition kind of change. There's either new people coming in or a team going back home. Today was one of those going back home kind of days. But it wasn't just the team from San Diego headed back, it was our co-principal Kamala as well.

We had an ice cream social with the kids today (a belated bday celebration for Caitlin and bon voyage for Kamala), and I've never seen so many boys wanting to help as when Caitlin pulled out the tubs of ice cream. It was chocolate in case you were wondering. Convincing them to wait outside was futile, so we had some extra helpers. Keso set out all the cups and Richard put spoons in them. Several of the kids tried to get an extra serving, but the best was when MarcKendy told me that I would get sick from eating the ice cream. He made a serious effort, but I'm pretty serious about my ice cream. Thanks for the ice cream gene Dad!

The afternoon was quite peculiar, and I did something I never thought I would do in Haiti ... I got a pedicure. There's a lady down the road named Shelly, rhymes with Kelly, and she dropped off some brochures for her salon about a week ago. So our big plan after wishing Kamala and the team safe travels was to check out Papillon (it means butterfly). Brooke got a hair cut, and Alissa and I got pedicures. It wasn't the quickest pedicure I've ever gotten, but my feet have never felt so soft! The polish sparkles in the sun and they are dirt free. I had sort of given up on my signature toes picture given the previous state of my piggies, but there is now hope.

And as my adventures in Wonderland continued (did you catch the Alice reference Bee?), we sat down to an amazing feast for dinner. Jamie and Alissa prepared filet mignon with garlic and grilled onions, corn on the cob, and homemade biscuits. Now we all have happy bellies and have retreated to the living room for movie night. We also have a stowaway from the San Diego team. Arielle has joined our bunch for an extra week and we have welcomed her into our little family.

Trip to Wahoo Bay, a very large bruise, and a very small world

Jamie and I escaped to Wahoo Bay beach today. Okay, the San Diego team had a beach day planned, and we joined them, along with Mr. Bill, Ari, and Elijah. As you can see it's quite picturesque and the tranquil turquoise waters were mesmerizing. Can you tell I love the Caribbean?

Our entrance fee included lunch and some water activities, so we quickly jumped on a boat for a snorkeling adventure. Jumped might not be the best word as I slipped getting into the boat. Not my most graceful moment, but I tried to play it off and pretend it didn't hurt and I didn't need a great big hug. I now have a bruise the size of Texas, and in the words of Diene, "My butt hurts!"

Snorkeling was good. Saw some fish, saw some coral, saw a part of Haiti that isn't crumbling. Such a stark contrast from Port-au-Prince. After lunch Ari and I saw a man on the beach playing worship music, so we swam (waded) over and joined him. As it turns out, his name is Ricky and Ari knows him. People from the beach came over from time to time, Elijah made sand angels (like snow angels but with sand), and we worshiped God in the most amazing location ever.

The ride home was long, we hit traffic, and were caught in a thunderstorm. Jamie and I were in the cab of the truck with Mr. Bill, and we watched as the team huddled together in the cage to create a shelter of sorts with their beach towels. The lightening lit up the sky as day turned to night, and we arrived home in time for a traditional Haitian dinner.

I didn't realize how much I would miss seeing the kids today. I went over for a quick visit after dinner, got the hugs I needed earlier in the day, and heard all about their day at school.

As I was finishing this post, a gentleman named Bob walked into the guest house. Bob is connected with the Hands and Feet Project in Jacmel, Haiti. The same Bob that Pastor Jesse knows, and the same project that VMC supports ... it's such a small world!

One of the best days yet!

Today has been one of the best days yet. It started when I woke up and realized that I had slept for SEVEN hours. That's seven hours in a row, not collectively over the course of several days.

There was no detention for the second consecutive day, and we didn't have any major issues at school. Diene complained that his butt hurt, but he must say that three times an hour. And his voice seriously sounds like Sebastian from The Little Mermaid. It's really quite endearing.

This afternoon I enjoyed some quiet time on the roof, skyped with the BFFs, and reflected on pretty much everything. I thought back to when I first applied to come here, and I'm amazed at how this experience has affected me. I've blogged about perspective, but I've stayed away from the emotions. I glanced through the pictures of the kids on the Child Hope website prior to coming, and I heard people talk about this kid or that kid, but I didn't get it.

Tears fell from my eyes the day I first met the kids. They were no longer faces on a website. They were God's children, and He was entrusting me with them for the summer. I felt so honored, and I knew in that instant I was supposed to be here. They looked up at me with their big, brown eyes and I melted. It was day one and I knew I was going to fall in love. So I jumped in, head first, and I haven't looked back. Yes their individual stories are heartbreaking, and the adversity they have overcome is the stuff we as Americans can only imagine. Their personalities tell a different story. They are stories of hope. They are stories of young girls and boys who love Jesus. They are stories that will change this country.

There's so much more to Haiti than what the media has shown us. Piles of rubble from the earthquake stand still. Tent cities are reminders of the ongoing struggle to survive. Strangers ask for food, water, and money at least once a day. It's only a couple hundred miles from the US, but it feels like another world.

After an introspective afternoon, we enjoyed some time with the girls. Caitlin brought over art supplies, Daphne and Youdelka took pictures with every camera they could find (I'm talking paparazzi), we took turns loving on Estaline, and we watched as Pastor Josh from San Diego got his hair done in corn rows. You had to be there. We returned to the house in time for dinner, and enjoyed a beautiful sunset on the roof.

Tomorrow is the end of another week. We will have some tearful goodbyes as the first of our teacher team departs for home, but we will celebrate knowing that we are united in God's love no matter where we are.

Getting flowers and feeling the love

Today I got flowers from MarcKendy and Oline. No, they weren't flowers picked from the neighbor's garden, and they weren't from 1800flowers.com either. They were hand-made, colorful, tissue paper flowers. The blossoms were vibrant pink, turquoise, and green with a cleverly affixed pipe cleaner stem. They won't wilt in the Haitian sun, unlike me, and I could possibly have them forever.

So, here's how it happened. I came back from the guest house and they were waiting in my office, which is really the kitchen ... and part of Caitlin's classroom. Anyway, Kamala said that the flowers were from MarcKendy. I wandered down to Miss Jessica's classroom and thanked the sweet boy. I learned that they actually had been made by Oline, and MarcKendy traded his morning snack for them. He gave up cookies to give me flowers! Later in the day Oline gave me another bunch of flowers. I felt so loved!

On another note, my Community Circle class is the best. This forty-minute period allows us to study and share our thoughts on carefully selected scriptures. Last week we focused on discipline and this week we are all about love. I work with Anderson, Jonas, Elysee, Walgens, Ti-John, Marc, Evans, Schneider, and Davis. These young men are currently studying for their 6th grade government exams, so CC is a nice break in the day. I'm guessing their test is kind of like the STAR, yet there's no API score, similar school ranking, or funding attached. Nevertheless, it's a big deal. They even had to have official photographs taken and they have to dress up.

Back to CC. The boys have been pouring out their hearts in their writing and discussions. We talk, we pray, and we pass the fish (you have to have the fish in order to talk, and it's a really cool multi-colored fish). I got a special note from Anderson today thanking me for everything I've done and telling me that I am a blessing to him. And here I feel like he's a blessing to me!

Rambling

It's late, I'm exhausted (it's Tuesday ... see yesterday's post for clarification), and I know that I'm not going to be able to fall asleep anytime soon. There are so many things I want to write about (and even more on my mind), but I don't know how to articulate what I'm feeling. That's right, the English teacher is at a loss for words.

I could write about the highs and lows of the day. I started to write about self-control, but I couldn't control my thoughts enough to focus them on the page. I wanted to write about expectations and how I need to adjust my expectations for people and situations (myself included), but I wasn't sure where to start and I knew that I wouldn't be able to get the message quite right. How's that for an expectation. I feel like my emotions are sort of (read ALL) over the place today.

I'm in the second half of my trip, meaning I have been here more days than I have left before I go home. I'm not ready to shift into countdown mode, and I know that sometime in the next 16 days I need to think about what happens next. That's another post.

We celebrated Caitlin's birthday today. We sang Happy Birthday to her during announcements, and in my best co-principal voice, I asked students to be extra nice to her today. And they were. I took paper around to all the classes and asked them to make cards, and the students were so thoughtful. The 1st and 2nd graders mostly drew pictures, and one of them drew a picture of Jesus holding the 10 Commandments. It must be noted that he was copying a picture from a coloring book. There were also pictures of an elephant's trunk, me, Caitlin, and an apple tree. Caitlin loved her cards!

And while there is more I want to share about today, I just realized it's after midnight, and my eyes are getting heavy. Yay sleep!

Thank you God for a beautiful day!

Monday love

I like Mondays. It’s the start of a new week, I am energized from a weekend of rest, and it usually takes me until Tuesday to feel tired from having two days off work. So if I’m tired tomorrow, you’ll know why. Mondays in Haiti are similar to those back home in that it’s the start of a new week. In Haiti, my energy level can be affected by the heat (hot or really hot); at home, it’s affected by the marine layer (gotta love Ventura). And because today is Monday, I get to open a card from Priscilla.

Priscilla is my best friend Evonne’s older sister. Say that three times fast. Seriously though, she is like a big sister. Priscilla is the queen of hospitality, partially because she has the largest house in the Ramirez clan, and she always makes me feel like part of the family. I don’t have a personalized coffee mug or Christmas stocking, but I have been introduced as a cousin on occasion. Don’t you see the family resemblance?

Today’s card was exactly what I needed to read. I noticed that it was a Valentine’s Day card, and I thought it was cute, in a funny, did you know this was a Valentine’s Day card kind of way. When I read her message it said, “Treat today like Valentine’s Day. Give someone extra love.” Awwww. I thought about the love I shared today, and unknowingly, I did just what she said.

I gave hugs. I listened. I smiled. I laughed. I received a heartfelt gift from a child. I fellowshipped (it’s a verb, right?). I played dominoes and lost graciously. I got pinched and tried not to complain too much. I stayed after school for three boys who wanted to take a test. I made new friends. I talked to mom. I shared my love.

“Knowing God leads to self-control. Self-control to patient endurance, and patient endurance leads to godliness. Godliness leads to love for other Christians, and … for everyone.” 2 Peter 1:6-7.

It’s all about love. Thank you Priscilla!

Choosing to see the glass as half-full

Every day I am faced with choices, and I am constantly reminding my students that they have choices as well. Usually the choices placed before them have to do with modifying behavior or completing an assignment. And I suppose this is no different. I can choose to see the glass as half-full and rejoice in what the Lord is doing in my life, or I can allow Satan to take charge of my thinking and thereby my actions. I don't know about you, but I don't have time for half-empty glasses!

I am here to help, to teach, to love, and to minister to these beautiful children. I am here to make a difference, one step at a time, and praise God every step of the way. I am here for a reason, and by golly, nothing will get in my way. The bugs, the heat, and the constant influx of people in my personal space may dampen my spirit, but God will give me strength. "Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." Nehemiah 8:10.

So, I'm going to celebrate some the encounters that have warmed my heart this weekend. Such as ...

• receiving five rubber band bracelets and an origami boat from Keso;
• holding Ti-Bo as he slept on my lap during Saturday night worship at the boys' house (by the way, great message Marlval)
• getting beat at dominoes by Lukenson (even if he was trying to cheat);
• catching Cendy as she used my body as a gymnastics mat for her flips and tricks; and
• listening to Caitlin's version of Rod Stewart and Celine Dion every hour on the hour (thank you pumpkin).

Tomorrow is a new day, and remember, you have a choice.