"To show God's power!" This was the answer one of my students gave when a question was asked that I didn't have an answer for. Our students are amazing!!!
Flowers every morning...I recieve 3-5 flowers every morning from my sweet students. They make me smile!
Hugs...I recieve hugs each morning from students I love!
"These are for you!"...marinad (haitian fried dumpling type food) from a student. She knows they are my favorite haitian food and she brings them to me every Wednesday. Yum!
"Thank you for my mom. She's so cute"...words from my son during his prayer! He copied the words from his father's prayer. They make my heart happy!
"Bonjou, bel madam"...words I hear from my neighbor every morning and afternoon during my break. It means hello beautiful woman. :)
I am so blessed! I know that God has put each and everyone of these people in my life to encourage me and make me smile!
Friday, October 4, 2013
Thursday, September 5, 2013
Missing Albertha
It has been a very tough week for our family! On Tuesday morning we learned that our long time friend died. She had been sick for over a week but we had no idea it would lead to this!
Albertha is an amazing lady! For those of you who have come and visited us you probably met her and she greeted you with a huge smile! She is the only one who has ever worked for us in our home. She helped us tremendously by keeping our house beautifully clean but she did so much more than that! Our boys loved her and she loved them! She was truly on of my best friends here in Haiti! I had the opportunity to learn from her...she didn't know english and she always helped me to speak creole correctly. OR she would just understand my choppy communication! I loved her! She was a part of our family, not just someone who worked for us!
She has two young daughters. Blandine is in my fourth grade class this year but I have known her and her sister, Dayanka (my student last year) since they were tiny! Scott and I met Dayanka just a few weeks after she was born when we were living here in 2001. Albertha worked for us during our first "tour of duty" too. She also has three older sons. Albertha was an amazing mother and friend! She will truly be missed-EVERYDAY!
I can't imagine having anyone else in my home! She was so sweet and honest and hardworking. I trusted her with all I have...even my children. She loved Cameron and Ethan as if they were her own and they loved her in return. It is so hard to believe this is really happening and that she will never walk through my door again! Never greet me with a huge smile, a kiss and a "bonjou se m" (good morning my sister).
I am so thankful that we will get to see her again! She loved God and she is with him now making everyone up there smile...for that I am thankful! Please keep her family and ours in your prayers...we have lost an amazing lady! I am sure God is glad to have her there with him but we will MISS her more than words can say!
Albertha is an amazing lady! For those of you who have come and visited us you probably met her and she greeted you with a huge smile! She is the only one who has ever worked for us in our home. She helped us tremendously by keeping our house beautifully clean but she did so much more than that! Our boys loved her and she loved them! She was truly on of my best friends here in Haiti! I had the opportunity to learn from her...she didn't know english and she always helped me to speak creole correctly. OR she would just understand my choppy communication! I loved her! She was a part of our family, not just someone who worked for us!
She has two young daughters. Blandine is in my fourth grade class this year but I have known her and her sister, Dayanka (my student last year) since they were tiny! Scott and I met Dayanka just a few weeks after she was born when we were living here in 2001. Albertha worked for us during our first "tour of duty" too. She also has three older sons. Albertha was an amazing mother and friend! She will truly be missed-EVERYDAY!
I can't imagine having anyone else in my home! She was so sweet and honest and hardworking. I trusted her with all I have...even my children. She loved Cameron and Ethan as if they were her own and they loved her in return. It is so hard to believe this is really happening and that she will never walk through my door again! Never greet me with a huge smile, a kiss and a "bonjou se m" (good morning my sister).
I am so thankful that we will get to see her again! She loved God and she is with him now making everyone up there smile...for that I am thankful! Please keep her family and ours in your prayers...we have lost an amazing lady! I am sure God is glad to have her there with him but we will MISS her more than words can say!
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
I'm sitting...
in my classroom. I am looking around at this room I have spent hours preparing and decorating for my new 4th grade class to enjoy. I will have 18 new students come into my door for the first time tomorrow. I am sitting here thinking of these 18 children. I am thinking of what their homelife is like, how loved they feel and if they KNOW that our God loves them! I am sitting here praying that God will use me this year to LOVE these kids! Please pray with me...
God, help me to show them you in all I do and say. Help me to show them you in the way I love them. Protect them this year. Help them to trust you! Help them to KNOW you! Help them to BELIEVE!
God, thank you for entrusting me with these precious smiles, faces, hands and feet. Thank you for allowing me to love them and teach them.
God, allow this classroom to be a safe place. Help these children to feel secure and free to be who you created them to be here in this place.
God, give me wisdom as I plan and create. Give me wisdom in what and how I teach these sweet kids. And, when they aren't so sweet, help me to LOVE them even more! Help my students to understand what they are hearing. Help them to work hard and to do their best in every subject. Help me to have YOUR eyes and see things that are hidden (their fears, challenges and struggles). Help me to see THEM through YOUR eyes.
Bless all 18 of these students, my assistant and myself this year!
God, help me to show them you in all I do and say. Help me to show them you in the way I love them. Protect them this year. Help them to trust you! Help them to KNOW you! Help them to BELIEVE!
God, thank you for entrusting me with these precious smiles, faces, hands and feet. Thank you for allowing me to love them and teach them.
God, allow this classroom to be a safe place. Help these children to feel secure and free to be who you created them to be here in this place.
God, give me wisdom as I plan and create. Give me wisdom in what and how I teach these sweet kids. And, when they aren't so sweet, help me to LOVE them even more! Help my students to understand what they are hearing. Help them to work hard and to do their best in every subject. Help me to have YOUR eyes and see things that are hidden (their fears, challenges and struggles). Help me to see THEM through YOUR eyes.
Bless all 18 of these students, my assistant and myself this year!
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Home
We are home! I can't sleep so I decided to fill you in on the last few days/weeks. We had a GREAT summer! We were able to spend a lot of time with my family...such a blessing! For those of you who have been praying for my mom and dad, thank you! God has provided them with a new home. It is in the first phases and should be ready around the new year. They have been blessed and continue to praise God in all things...even in this storm!
We enjoyed our summer but we were ready to come home! We arrived in Port de Paix on Sunday after sitting in a little, hot airport for 8 hours. The flight from Port au Prince to Port de Paix was WILD! We flew in the rain...which I have never done in that little 18 passenger plane. It was a serious roller coaster ride. Ethan and Norma (Scott's mom) both got sick. Needless to say we were so thankful to land! Willy (our sweet friend) picked us and ALL our luggage up to take us home. I say ALL because it is not normal for everything to come with you on the plane. We have waited days for our luggage in the past.
Normally driving down the streets here in Haiti is routine and never changing but this time it was different. We saw some fun changes...a big church downtown completely changed the front of their building. It is beautiful. There were more roads that were paved too! Now, somethings were exactly the same...riding on the luggage in the back of the truck, dust in your eyes, little children yelling "blan" and waving..."Welcome Home" is what all that was saying to me!
We have been home for a few days now and we are already in the swing of things. I am working in my classroom getting it ready for my 18 new students. Last year I had 26. I am thrilled and excited to have a smaller class...please pray that God will use me in each of my students lives! Scott is busy getting things ready for SBC to start and the boys are holding up the dirt...playing non stop since we got home! I asked Cameron what he was most excited about now that we were home in Haiti. His response, "Just that we are here!" He was ready to be home!
We have a busy next couple weeks. All the staff arrives tomorrow. Then next week we start orientation. School starts on the 28th. I am ready to see all my students again...I miss them!
Please keep us in your prayers! Pray for us as we try share God's love with the Haitian people. Pray for our health and strength. Pray for our staff that we will work as a team. Pray for Sonlight Church. Pray for our students both young and old that they will believe and trust in God. Pray that we will follow the direction that God leads.
It's good to be home!
We enjoyed our summer but we were ready to come home! We arrived in Port de Paix on Sunday after sitting in a little, hot airport for 8 hours. The flight from Port au Prince to Port de Paix was WILD! We flew in the rain...which I have never done in that little 18 passenger plane. It was a serious roller coaster ride. Ethan and Norma (Scott's mom) both got sick. Needless to say we were so thankful to land! Willy (our sweet friend) picked us and ALL our luggage up to take us home. I say ALL because it is not normal for everything to come with you on the plane. We have waited days for our luggage in the past.
Normally driving down the streets here in Haiti is routine and never changing but this time it was different. We saw some fun changes...a big church downtown completely changed the front of their building. It is beautiful. There were more roads that were paved too! Now, somethings were exactly the same...riding on the luggage in the back of the truck, dust in your eyes, little children yelling "blan" and waving..."Welcome Home" is what all that was saying to me!
We have been home for a few days now and we are already in the swing of things. I am working in my classroom getting it ready for my 18 new students. Last year I had 26. I am thrilled and excited to have a smaller class...please pray that God will use me in each of my students lives! Scott is busy getting things ready for SBC to start and the boys are holding up the dirt...playing non stop since we got home! I asked Cameron what he was most excited about now that we were home in Haiti. His response, "Just that we are here!" He was ready to be home!
We have a busy next couple weeks. All the staff arrives tomorrow. Then next week we start orientation. School starts on the 28th. I am ready to see all my students again...I miss them!
Please keep us in your prayers! Pray for us as we try share God's love with the Haitian people. Pray for our health and strength. Pray for our staff that we will work as a team. Pray for Sonlight Church. Pray for our students both young and old that they will believe and trust in God. Pray that we will follow the direction that God leads.
It's good to be home!
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Summer Fun
We are having a great summer in the states! Seeing family and friends, visiting cool places, and just having fun! Enjoy the pictures! PS... We head back to Haiti on August 10th. We are excited to go home but are thankful we still have a couple more weeks here to enjoy our family and friends!
My Sister, Abby, and I at a baseball game.
The boys with their cousins.
Scott's birthday dinner at Maggiano's!!!
Our land...without our home! My family is doing great! They have been blessed abundantly through a lot of you...Thank You!
At my dad's house...they boys were in heaven!
My brother-in-law, Titus...him and Scott are hillarious together!
My dad's bird, Rebel...Cameron thought that was pretty cool!
Family get together in Branson!
The boys and MORE cousins!
Ethan LOVED the horses...he wants his own!
Fun at the lake!
Riley and Cameron having a blast on the tube!
Baseball night with my home church.
Monday, June 3, 2013
What to say?
No words...I have started this blog about 4 times in the last couple weeks. I can't think of how to put things into words on a page for you to read. It has been such a great year! Here are some of the highlights...
As most of you know, my family lost their home during the tornado that passed through Moore, OK. Right now I have no words to describle how thankful I am that my family is safe! Thank you all for your prayers and support for them...they are overwhelmed with blessings! I have no words...
- Cameron in my class
- students trusting God
- 14 students baptized
- Completion of SonCenter (our buidling used for Sonlight Bible College, Sonlight Church, High School classes)
- Started a girls Bible study
- Cameron and Ethan developing great friendships
- SBC (college) is advancing
- My boys have a heart for helping people
- Helpiing at the Creche (an orphanage)
As most of you know, my family lost their home during the tornado that passed through Moore, OK. Right now I have no words to describle how thankful I am that my family is safe! Thank you all for your prayers and support for them...they are overwhelmed with blessings! I have no words...
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