Sunday, November 23, 2008
Happy Thanksgiving!
We are almost at Thanksgiving and my pledge to blog more often seems to have fallen by the wayside! Where time goes is really a question and I'm sure it's one you've posed often as well. As we look we can see that it wasn't wasted but moved away nonetheless. The great equalizer is time isn't it? We are all given the same amount. I would like to think that I'm using mine wisely but in retrospect perhaps there was some wasted! All I know is that when we end a day at El Shaddai, I'm exhausted. We had some company the other day just as we finished school. They had dropped in to use the internet and all I could do was point them to it and went to the porch and laid down on a half bed we have there with water in hand. No one seemed to mind, but I thought, this isn't being much of a hostess. The energy just wasn't there.
Right now I'm teaching first grade for a half hour, kindergarten for a half hour and split the rest of my time with other classrooms. We finally counted accurately....we have 50 students! We couldn't figure out why there weren't enough sandwiches each day for the kids....duh! We had more kids than we thought. You may be asking how that could happen. It's like this: Gary is juggling the school office, the hurricane relief, Bible school and the Touch office (keeping accurate records of where the money goes that you send us). He also drives the kids home everyday (school bus driver), has to continously run to town to get our water supply, has had multiple mechanical problems such as the generator and batteries (not much city power these days) and we are now going to Russeau every Tuesday, and a children's group in town every Monday. Hummm
Right now I'm teaching first grade for a half hour, kindergarten for a half hour and split the rest of my time with other classrooms. We finally counted accurately....we have 50 students! We couldn't figure out why there weren't enough sandwiches each day for the kids....duh! We had more kids than we thought. You may be asking how that could happen. It's like this: Gary is juggling the school office, the hurricane relief, Bible school and the Touch office (keeping accurate records of where the money goes that you send us). He also drives the kids home everyday (school bus driver), has to continously run to town to get our water supply, has had multiple mechanical problems such as the generator and batteries (not much city power these days) and we are now going to Russeau every Tuesday, and a children's group in town every Monday. Hummm
Friday, November 14, 2008
CATCHING UP
It continues to happen, I spend a long time getting things on the blog and the internet goes out before it gets posted! Bummer.
We had some drama last Sunday morning. At 7:30AM a knock at the gate. It was Eliant with her youngest (9 month old boy) crying that her husband had bitten her finger and YES he truly had. Her middle finger was laid open. Seems they were fighting over the other boy (age 2) being hungry and no food to feed him. He hit her with a broom, she grabbed his nose and her finger ended up in his mouth. Same story from the two of them, and Ronid the 12 year old daughter who is a student at El Shaddai. Eliant ended up leaving Antonio with one child, returned a day later to get all of her things and the 2 year old, leaving 12 year old Ronid with Antonio. To make a long story short and spare you all the heated discussions, we have Ronid living with us until the marital situation gets worked out. Antonio is not Ronid's father, he's got a drinking problem and wisdom was to remove her from the home. He says he's going after Eliant and making her come back to take care of her responsibilities in the home.....that all remains to be seen. Ronid is enjoying a clean bed, shower daily and clothes that I've had here, actually some of my granddaughter's things that were yet to be given away, now I know why I was saving them. Ronid said, "I like living here." She's a sweet girl, smart, speaking English but just to give you an idea of how impoverished her life has been she asked me, pointing to the clock, "is that a watch?" She was also fascinated by the computer screen when. Oh, one more thing, she didn't know how to use an American toilet. She asked Jessica where she was supposed to go to have a bowel movement. Jessica directed her to the toilet. She asked, "How do you use it?" Jessica explained but the next question was, "Where do you put the poop?" Believe me when I say she is at the bottom of the poverty level. What will we do with her? When the family gets straightened out she'll go home. If the family doesn't get back together, we'll find a way to care for her. You can pray for Ronid. We took her into El Shaddai about three years ago simply because she wasn't getting enough to eat. She looks so happy now.
This experience drives home the point that a child with a little attention and nurturing can change overnight.
The same thing good is happening with the three boys Bev is nurturing daily in McDonal. They are changed creatures from street urchins to smiling, happy boys. Do you know how many of these children are on the street in McDonald? It's too painful to count them because we don't have the ability to help them.
On the other side of the coin is a boy named Kennson who was sent to Haiti because his mother remarried and the new dad didn't want him. Although well fed, well dressed, with a caring Auntie, he's angry, withdrawn and refuses to allow anyone in. Please pray for this boy because at 13 he's headed for a very uncertain future.
The world is full of children who have been left to fend for themselves. A very hard picture to look at close up or far away. Jesus said, "Let them come to Me and forbid them not." Pray for us as we minister to the children that they may all come to HIM!
Have a blessed day!
Carolyn
We had some drama last Sunday morning. At 7:30AM a knock at the gate. It was Eliant with her youngest (9 month old boy) crying that her husband had bitten her finger and YES he truly had. Her middle finger was laid open. Seems they were fighting over the other boy (age 2) being hungry and no food to feed him. He hit her with a broom, she grabbed his nose and her finger ended up in his mouth. Same story from the two of them, and Ronid the 12 year old daughter who is a student at El Shaddai. Eliant ended up leaving Antonio with one child, returned a day later to get all of her things and the 2 year old, leaving 12 year old Ronid with Antonio. To make a long story short and spare you all the heated discussions, we have Ronid living with us until the marital situation gets worked out. Antonio is not Ronid's father, he's got a drinking problem and wisdom was to remove her from the home. He says he's going after Eliant and making her come back to take care of her responsibilities in the home.....that all remains to be seen. Ronid is enjoying a clean bed, shower daily and clothes that I've had here, actually some of my granddaughter's things that were yet to be given away, now I know why I was saving them. Ronid said, "I like living here." She's a sweet girl, smart, speaking English but just to give you an idea of how impoverished her life has been she asked me, pointing to the clock, "is that a watch?" She was also fascinated by the computer screen when. Oh, one more thing, she didn't know how to use an American toilet. She asked Jessica where she was supposed to go to have a bowel movement. Jessica directed her to the toilet. She asked, "How do you use it?" Jessica explained but the next question was, "Where do you put the poop?" Believe me when I say she is at the bottom of the poverty level. What will we do with her? When the family gets straightened out she'll go home. If the family doesn't get back together, we'll find a way to care for her. You can pray for Ronid. We took her into El Shaddai about three years ago simply because she wasn't getting enough to eat. She looks so happy now.
This experience drives home the point that a child with a little attention and nurturing can change overnight.
The same thing good is happening with the three boys Bev is nurturing daily in McDonal. They are changed creatures from street urchins to smiling, happy boys. Do you know how many of these children are on the street in McDonald? It's too painful to count them because we don't have the ability to help them.
On the other side of the coin is a boy named Kennson who was sent to Haiti because his mother remarried and the new dad didn't want him. Although well fed, well dressed, with a caring Auntie, he's angry, withdrawn and refuses to allow anyone in. Please pray for this boy because at 13 he's headed for a very uncertain future.
The world is full of children who have been left to fend for themselves. A very hard picture to look at close up or far away. Jesus said, "Let them come to Me and forbid them not." Pray for us as we minister to the children that they may all come to HIM!
Have a blessed day!
Carolyn
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
PICTURES..............
Bible School has 80 students now.
Certificates for completing one year!
Certainly a joy to hand them out.
I was asked why I had an ankle bracelet on. Had just removed it, but asked the class if I was any more holy now that it was removed. Seeing Jessica with the camera, I looked her way.
Gary getting ready to give his encouragement to the students.
Barbara teaches the incoming class.
Gary has the third year class.
Carolyn has the second year class (and the group that got their certificates for attending last year).
We had so many rotten eggs, Gary and Dan decided to test them to see if they would sink (good) or float (rotten).
Jessica teaching on character, Monday nights, at Yvesner's church. (Yvesner is interpreting).
Peanut butter anyone? Kevin (left) and Daniel delivering our peanut butter made by Kevin's mother-in-law.
Gladimir just blew out his candles and watching to see if Kesmy can blow out all his.
Gary and I with a church that just received supplies after the hurricane.
I was asked why I had an ankle bracelet on. Had just removed it, but asked the class if I was any more holy now that it was removed. Seeing Jessica with the camera, I looked her way.
Gary getting ready to give his encouragement to the students.
Barbara teaches the incoming class.
Gary has the third year class.
Carolyn has the second year class (and the group that got their certificates for attending last year).
We had so many rotten eggs, Gary and Dan decided to test them to see if they would sink (good) or float (rotten).
Jessica teaching on character, Monday nights, at Yvesner's church. (Yvesner is interpreting).
Peanut butter anyone? Kevin (left) and Daniel delivering our peanut butter made by Kevin's mother-in-law.
Gladimir just blew out his candles and watching to see if Kesmy can blow out all his.
Gary and I with a church that just received supplies after the hurricane.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
FINDING TIME..............
When I realize the number of days that pass before getting back to the blog, I'm amazed! There are so many pictures we want to put up for you to see, so many words to type and here it is time to go to school again. Ahh, but we have a day off tomorrow (Friday) for Dessalines Day. Kevin and I joke about this because it's not his birthday but his death day that is celebrated. Interesting to say the least. What did Dessalines do? I'll let you look that up, I don't have time but will enjoy the day off.
Our kids are doing great, Bible school is great as well. We have a lot for which to thank God daily. Dan, Jessica, Al and Bev are fine as well. Al comes to El Shaddai to help us a couple of days a week. It took him three taxi's to get here Monday. The first guy's motor scooter broke down, Al caught another; the second guy had an accident. He had no brakes and ran smack dab into the back of a truck, smashing his nose and bending the rim of the bike. Al simply got off and hailed another to get to school. Now you understand why I don't ride them!! He's young and brave. I won't say what I am.
We are rejoicing Omar went another direction and we are still working to come out from under the hurricane's effect. Nothing moves very fast here. Riding two miles is like riding ten slowing every effort to get to people.
My first graders are really smart and going very quickly in the reading program. Exciting since last year was so difficult. Our school is teaming with kids especially little ones! Jessica is leraning all about pre-schoolers. They are really comical and the neat part is she understands their Kreyol. They have a lot to say that I miss due to hearing problems. Yesterday, one of my first graders said in English as the band was practicing: That's a nice band you have there. It was so cute and bold for her to come up to me and say that. I couldn't laugh although I wanted to, so I leaned over and kissed her cheek. (By the way due to space, when the band plays we all have to listen).
I'll try to get the pictures up real soon but now school is calling. Have a blessed day and remember that the Lord's mercies are new today!
Carolyn
Our kids are doing great, Bible school is great as well. We have a lot for which to thank God daily. Dan, Jessica, Al and Bev are fine as well. Al comes to El Shaddai to help us a couple of days a week. It took him three taxi's to get here Monday. The first guy's motor scooter broke down, Al caught another; the second guy had an accident. He had no brakes and ran smack dab into the back of a truck, smashing his nose and bending the rim of the bike. Al simply got off and hailed another to get to school. Now you understand why I don't ride them!! He's young and brave. I won't say what I am.
We are rejoicing Omar went another direction and we are still working to come out from under the hurricane's effect. Nothing moves very fast here. Riding two miles is like riding ten slowing every effort to get to people.
My first graders are really smart and going very quickly in the reading program. Exciting since last year was so difficult. Our school is teaming with kids especially little ones! Jessica is leraning all about pre-schoolers. They are really comical and the neat part is she understands their Kreyol. They have a lot to say that I miss due to hearing problems. Yesterday, one of my first graders said in English as the band was practicing: That's a nice band you have there. It was so cute and bold for her to come up to me and say that. I couldn't laugh although I wanted to, so I leaned over and kissed her cheek. (By the way due to space, when the band plays we all have to listen).
I'll try to get the pictures up real soon but now school is calling. Have a blessed day and remember that the Lord's mercies are new today!
Carolyn
Monday, October 6, 2008
IT HAS BEEN A BUSY WEEK WITH LOTS OF RAIN
We had rain on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday night. When we left for the Bible school on Saturday, we were amazed at what the rain did to an already bad condition. There had been a flash flood near the entrance of St Marc and beyond. The bridge where we pick up Barb, Al and Bev was showing stress of having had too much water. We drove past the police barricade through lots of mud. There were two trucks that had gotten caught in the flood and they were a mess. Hunks of asphalt was everywhere as the water lifted it up and placed it elsewhere. Young banana plants were on their side and not a few trees were uprooted. We hope we get no more rain of that magnitude.
The new bridge in Montrouis works quite well although, it will stand no big storms and the one that hit St Marc, did not hit there. They'd had rain but not a hard one.
School is going well, I think, or can I think at this point. We keep getting new kids, 46 total to date, several older ones who speak no English and that's impacting schedules and staff. We finally have a class for them to learn English. We had to pull Petit Homme from music to use him there but Praise the Lord, we hired another "maestro" to work with us this year and he seems able to handle the children just fine without Petit Homme.
Gary and I volunteered to drive one of our employees, Pastor Samuel, to the mountain to give out hurricane supplies for which he'd received funding. It was a pleasure to give our time, and fuel to go. We don't often get to other parts of the area and this was a chance to see somewhere we'd never been. Quite a steep ride and then the church was above the road. There were 27 families living in the church because their homes were gone. It was like Christmas for them with food supplies, clothing and the children got New Year's Eve noise makers (and they made noise, believe me!) We walked through the village and saw that the roof was all that was left on many homes. Gary had to back up for quite a ways before we found a spot to turn the truck around. It was interesting that all of Pastor Samuel's people chose to walk that distance rather than get in the back of the truck. I saw an interesting picture and to get it I had to stretch my arms over across Gary. Needless to say, his yell stopped me promptly because I was interfering with his ability to see to back up. Somehow the idea of picture taking moved me to be a bit impulsive. Need I tell you that I didn't get the picture??
Hurricane Relief projects of Touch Ministries: The man from Gonaives with the little boy who has a broken hip has returned to Gonaives with rent money and food. He found his wife so the family is now back together. The family with the tree over their house, now have the tree removed and we are in the process of rebuilding that part of the house. The family that was on the street are in a one room apartment, rent paid for a year, two children are in school and we are putting her into business by buying the things she needs to sell. So, in many ways all three families are better off than they were before the storm. A sad note: the man from Gonaives has AIDS. Because he was sick we had him get a physical and the blood test showed him positive. We are wondering about the mother and the boy. As soon as the boy gets his cast off he will be tested. Haiti reality always sets in right when you least expect it!
I think I have remembered everything. If not, more will come when I start putting the pictures on. Blessings to all! Love you, Carolyn
The new bridge in Montrouis works quite well although, it will stand no big storms and the one that hit St Marc, did not hit there. They'd had rain but not a hard one.
School is going well, I think, or can I think at this point. We keep getting new kids, 46 total to date, several older ones who speak no English and that's impacting schedules and staff. We finally have a class for them to learn English. We had to pull Petit Homme from music to use him there but Praise the Lord, we hired another "maestro" to work with us this year and he seems able to handle the children just fine without Petit Homme.
Gary and I volunteered to drive one of our employees, Pastor Samuel, to the mountain to give out hurricane supplies for which he'd received funding. It was a pleasure to give our time, and fuel to go. We don't often get to other parts of the area and this was a chance to see somewhere we'd never been. Quite a steep ride and then the church was above the road. There were 27 families living in the church because their homes were gone. It was like Christmas for them with food supplies, clothing and the children got New Year's Eve noise makers (and they made noise, believe me!) We walked through the village and saw that the roof was all that was left on many homes. Gary had to back up for quite a ways before we found a spot to turn the truck around. It was interesting that all of Pastor Samuel's people chose to walk that distance rather than get in the back of the truck. I saw an interesting picture and to get it I had to stretch my arms over across Gary. Needless to say, his yell stopped me promptly because I was interfering with his ability to see to back up. Somehow the idea of picture taking moved me to be a bit impulsive. Need I tell you that I didn't get the picture??
Hurricane Relief projects of Touch Ministries: The man from Gonaives with the little boy who has a broken hip has returned to Gonaives with rent money and food. He found his wife so the family is now back together. The family with the tree over their house, now have the tree removed and we are in the process of rebuilding that part of the house. The family that was on the street are in a one room apartment, rent paid for a year, two children are in school and we are putting her into business by buying the things she needs to sell. So, in many ways all three families are better off than they were before the storm. A sad note: the man from Gonaives has AIDS. Because he was sick we had him get a physical and the blood test showed him positive. We are wondering about the mother and the boy. As soon as the boy gets his cast off he will be tested. Haiti reality always sets in right when you least expect it!
I think I have remembered everything. If not, more will come when I start putting the pictures on. Blessings to all! Love you, Carolyn
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Continuing On
We welcome our new staff members, Jessica Maudlin and Dan Joshu. We welcome back Al and Bev Carpenter.Jessica is a theology graduate of Hanover College and Dan is an Audiologist. Bev has an Associates degree in Early Childhood Education. Pretty impressive group wouldn't you say? We sure are thankful that the Lord brought them to us. More than that, think of the seeds they are sowing into children's lives.
Jessica is learning the challenge of pre-schoolers, eight of them! They are having a good time and so is Jessica. (I think). The other day during our opening exercises, little Garvens was with the older kids. He kept smiling at me every time I walked past him. Because I was busy I smiled back without thinking. It dawned on me when I saw his teacher coming into the room, he was not where he was supposed to be. Our first two weeks has been training them where they are supposed to be.
Dan continues to prod the high schoolers into work, work, work. He's so encouraged them that they work on school work during breaks! He also gives his time in the evening to Kesmy when there are difficult concepts to learn. Dan's the man!
Al and Bev are standing outside the front gate of the orphanage. Do you want to know how to get the gate open? You pick it up!! It's hilarious. Of course we will change that real soon. They are fitting into the Haitian neigborhood very well and the boys are loving them as parents. They are letting their light so shine before men that their good works are seen and God is glorified!
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