Thursday, December 6, 2007

Returning to Haiti -

Since coming home in August, I have had plans to return to Haiti in December... My original plan was after the holidays because I was looking forward to passing the time with my family. However as my transition back into American life came about I started working with Children with Special Needs at a local Elementary School in Salem, MA. I love the children I work with, and have found inspiration and knowledge in an amazing mentor. Because the dates of Christmas Vacation are slightly different for the Elementary schools than the colleges, I had to reschedule my trip dates. Thanks to my wonderful mother and father, and the grace of God, I was able to make the switch and find the extra money to change the plane tickets. I now leave Boston on December 17th and return home January 5th!! Although I will miss my family dearly during the holidays, it is wonderful to think of how amazing the holiday will be down with the children. I am very thankful to God for my supportive family, who embraces my desires to live overseas and prays and supports every step of the way. Without them none of this would be possible.
It will be a very exciting trip because all the children will be there, but Kez and Bryn will also be there, and I am looking forward to seeing Bryn and seeing how she is adjusting, and helping here in anyway possible. I have also been offered a long term position in PAP at Institute of Grace where I would be serving as an English Teacher, and HIV Awareness director of their new clinic, as well as aiding mission teams! I have really been praying for this opportunity and am looking forward to the chance to visit the site and meet with the directors of IOG. This trip will really be a great opportunity for God to show me if this is where He needs me.
In the mean time I am seeking support and sponsorship for a 2 to 3 year stay in Haiti - as well as continuing to seek after God's will. I appreciate all your prayers and look forward to reconnecting with so many of you as I plan the final few days before my next trip down.
Bondye Beni nou tout!
nikki :)

Thursday, July 19, 2007

ONLY PICTURES!!!

as promised! Pictures!! they have short explanations but i have kept my ramblings to a minimum i hope you enjoy!!!

our Beautiful Library... we have floor to ceiling shelving on three walls, and just enough space to display our creative work! These posters have song Lyrics from the band Grits, My Life be Like, (ooh ahh) and Good Charlotte, The River. The kids worked together in small groups to translate the lyrics from English to Creole, and decorate the posters. Its awesome to have a place for them and be able to display all their hard work!
The kids hard at work in English class! The Library makes for a perfect fun time classroom complete with blackboard, white board, and sun filled windows, and HUGE tables for fun group work projects!!
Duck, Alex and Jacques (well Jacques' arm!) hard at work on their page for our A walk in Narnia book! thats right folks! they are reading The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe all in ENGLISH! having classroom discussions about the Biblical principles of the story, mostly in English! and writing, and drawing pictures for our classroom book to show the link between the story and the Gospel, also ALL in English!

Computer Class!!! All the kids of hfc are learning how to type, learning basic computer skills, and playing some fun games! We were very generously given 6 new laptops which have made lessons for all the children possible!!!The Jussaume family (Al, Joe and Pat)! with Jude and Ernso! The Jussaumes were almost half of the construction team who brought us the library and the new toilets downstairs. missing in this picture, but still always remembered and loved. My mom (Michealle) Shannon, Jean, Don and Hal.fun water balloon games with team #2!
this was one of the funnest games i have ever played!!! the kids were in teams of 6 and given a beach towel and a water balloon, the teams needed to bounce the balloon up and down on their towel without letting it fall! the first team to drop their balloon lost, and the winners received some fun prizes!
John enjoying the new Playstation 2! FIFA is the favorite game!!!



so there are our last three weeks in a nut shell!
thanks for checking in - -
love and blessings -
nikki

Back at Home!

After our short little hiatus in Thomassion at Dr. Bernards home we are back at the Orphanage now. Back to English classes, typing classes, Soccer practice and dance practice. It wasn’t until I was gone for a few days that I realized how much of my life, is now tied into these children and this life, and how much like home Bolosse really is. My first meal back with the kids, our first dance party, the first night back in my room, our first walk up to the soccer field it was like coming home. And despite the many amenities in Thomassion I missed greatly the home feeling we have in Bolosse.
I am trying super super hard not to think about the fact that I will be returning to the states in just 5 short weeks. I can not even imagine what life will be like when I am back home and without all these kids… I imagine at first it will be much like my first few days here when I was wondering what I was going to do without my parents, my friends, and my awesome sisters.
BUT! I have a plane ticket to come back, (thanks momma and noah!! I love you soooo much, and I appreciate how much you are understanding all of this!)… so to see the glass half full instead of half empty… I guess I could start counting 20 weeks until I come back, rather than 5 until I leave!!!

Blessings –
n

Visitors #3!!!

What an exciting summer it has been getting to meet so many people! But our last visitors were not strangers I haven’t met before, rather “family” I just hadn’t been able to see in a long time! Long time family friends of ours, who I have always referred to as Uncle Armand and Aunt Kathy, made their first trip to Haiti with all 4 of their biologically born teenage sons, to visit their 3 Haitian sons!!! Kathy and Armand are hosting John, Alex and Rennick, and were able to spend 4 fun filled days in Haiti getting to know their new sons! The boys, their family and myself stayed at Dr. Bernards home with some of the girls for almost a week! They spent the first day just hugging, smiling and getting to know each other. The next day they came to the orphanage to see where the kids live, meet the nannies, the other children and bless our shelves with some supplies! After all these teams our stock room is looking wonderful! The remainder of the time was spent talking about the boys, helping the family to get to know them, playing volleyball and soccer, and teaching Alex, Rennick, and John to play wiffle ball. All the Bergeron boys are big baseball players!! And Alex, Rennick and John were happy to learn and share that time with their brothers.
I was amazed to see how quickly God can tie together a family. It was a matter of hours before all the boys were playing practical jokes, and communicating in a sibling language only they could understand, despite the nerves, language barrier, and years of not knowing eachother – it seemed as though this family has always been! And something about the faces of the 3 boys here and the 4 boys in the states is very similar looking, I know that must sound a little funny. But I think its proof of how God has choosen these boys, for that family – and his plan is perfect.

During this stay we also met up with a woman named Amy who has adopted a 4 year old boy Kandsy, from Children of The Promise, COTP in Cap Haitien. Amy worked through New Life Link for her adoption and after 2 long and straining years, again God provided, and Kandsy and his family are now united in Colorado. We met Amy the night before her Visa appointment with Kandsy and they stayed two nights with us at Dr. Bernards house before leaving for the states. I was instantly attracted to Kandsy’s wonderful smile, bright eyes and Amazing LAUGH! Even though he had spent the whole day traveling and had been up since very early in the morning, as soon as I said hello and introduced myself in Creole he came running over and gave me a hug. Complete with new sneakers and a little blue back pack we were instantly buds. Kandsy speaks wonderful English!! And Amy did quite well with her Creole also! Last I heard they were on their way safely to the states. I need to email her for a new update and to say hello to Kandsy!! But please keep the progression and transition of their family, and Kandsy’s transition into life in the states, and leaving his ‘family’ in Haiti in your prayers. Meeting them reinstated in me how great the need is in Haiti – and how small of an island it is, but with so many to serve, Kandsy’s smile and laugh was really a trigger from God that has ignited a new fire within me.

Blessings –
n

Mission Team #2 for Summer 2007

Mission team two for the summer was a group of women, most of whom are adopting some of our wonderful children or are families of the children. It was great to see them all together. The children whose mother’s were here were able to sleep up at Dr. Bernard’s home with their mothers or family members which I know provided some wonderful, and much needed bonding time. I don’t think I was really aware though – until watching them all leave and say the tear-full good byes how hard it must be to have children who live literally a world away. I think I was unaware until this group came down at how much a parent can mourn for a child who is so far from them, and how much a family can miss when they are separated for long periods of time. We are all LUCKY though! Because God is good! And he provided these families with a chance to reunite, catch up, build even stronger bonds. And I am hopeful that with continued prayer God will provide a way for these children to get to their homes.
On a happier note - - -
While the team was here we had a blast. The spent their fist few hours in Haiti re-uniting with their kids and attending the kindergarten graduation! It was wonderful to have them here to rejoice in the celebration of our children with us. The spent some part of the next day working with the babies of NLL and praying over the nannies, they also gave the nannies much needed “grab bags” as gifts. The bags had pretty basic necessities inside, but luxuries the nannies often miss out on. Most of them received a new pair of shoes, or article of clothing, some great girly smelly body washes, hair ties and most importantly prayer! That same day a super surprise was revealed to the children when the team brought out a new TV, about 40 DVD’s, and a Playstation 2 with games! The Playstation is currently living in the boys house where it is loved very much and received huge amounts of attention. If you couldnt guess…. FIFA is the favorite game! The TV and DVD collection are staying at the girls house, and has been great on group movie night, and to watch the soccer games in a nice clear sharp picture. We spent a portion of the next day playing with Mary Kay samples the team brought down. The girls LOVE makeup and are quite good at the art of makeup also. I am not by any stretch of the imagination a makeup or hair artist but the girls do a wonderful job with me! I also got a hair cut!!! I had made a deal with a few of the boys who like to keep their fingernails exceptionally long! That if they cut their nails and let them remain short for 2 weeks I would cut my hair. So Angela, (mother to hfc kids, Jacques, Stephanie and Jude) gave me a hair cut! The boys were super excited to watch and happy that I held up my end of the deal, and they have all held up their end of the deal and kept their nails short! Many of the kids still hold onto a curly lock of my hair in a little black elastic as proof of what happened! But I have pictures to prove it…
For the rest of the day we played water balloon games before saying our good byes.
The afternoon was filled with hugs, tears, “I love you” and “see you soon” I don’t think one good bye was actually uttered because we are all hopeful that the day will be sooner rather than later when these kids can go home! It was a great trip! And an amazing experience to get to know all the wonderful women, and I am so pleased to know so many of our children have such wonderful families to call their own!

Blessings –
n

Sunday, July 1, 2007

Mission Team #1 for Summer of 2007!!

Again a lot has happened since the last time I wrote. Will finished his visit, said his goodbyes and boarded a plane back to Chicago last Wednesday. The kids were sad to see him go especially many of the boys, the boys really appreciated him being here. The children have many great role models in the mission teams that come down, and in the people like Kim and Kez who are able to stay long term… but there is something lacking for the boys. All our long term missionaries have been women, and live in the girls house, and although we all love the boys very much, and build great relationships with them. It was great to see someone who was here for the boys. Great to see them interact with a man – because there are some things, some “guy” things that the women just cant provide for the boys, but that the boys still need. Will is a teacher in the states, and still not sure as to what God has called him to in Haiti – but he loved his time here and all the children very much.

On Sunday an amazing team of people came to join us down in the orphanage! The team was made up of some of the most hardworking, compassionate, real people I have ever met in my life! They are the same team that comes down a regular yearly basis to do construction projects on the HFC buildings! In the past 10 years they have built the complete second and third floors of the girl’s house. Two of the team members came down a few months ago to assess the needs of the orphanage, they saw need for more space and some updating on the boys house, need for flushing toilets for the school and the need for a library. The construction projects for the boys house would have needed more resources then they had for this summer and the need for toilets was more urgent. So in a week 8 people turned a second floor bedroom into a beautiful library, complete with built in shelving, two enormous work tables and 8 new computers! They also put in nine flushing toilets, and a cement wall to separate the stalls on the first floor!! The amount of work this team has to do prior to leaving, while they were here, and will still continue to do after they return home helps me to remember how real God is in our daily lives! I can not even begin to imagine the sleepless nights, the tiresome fundraising, the planning, and packing that went into this trip- but i do know, because I know all this people on a more personal level now, that every step was done in love and done through God. Despite some difficult travel, some difficult Haitian salesman at the hardware store, the heat, the hard and dirty work this team did amazing things for all our current children and for every child that will walk through the door of the Marion G. Austin school. “I think things are just as good as they are bad” (the ever popular statement, which many of you have read in letters I am sure!) was made real to us all, when we think to the numerous days the children will be blessed by these gifts, and listened to the heartfelt “thank you” and “we love you” from the children.
And no team!! I DON’T think “it’s easy!”

Plus my momma was here for a week!!!!

The same day (Saturday) that the construction team left, a team of adopting families came down! I am sure this will also be a great week for the children and the moms as they get an opportunity to connect, and catch up on lost time with their children.

Please lift praise to God for the gifts of Will, the construction team, all the sponsors, and all the parents and board members that make HFC possible. Please ask God for continued support and guidance, and that our resources will continue to be used wisely and provide a wonderful life for all our children. Please pray for the current team that they have a refreshing and loving time with their children and all the children here. Please pray also over the busy summer that we have here at the orphanage and that with all our wonderful visitors we will still find some valuable lesson time, and some structured programs that will help benefit the children.

Blessings -

Thursday, June 21, 2007

Will is here!!!

We have a visitor this week - his name is Will he is a recent graduate of Illinois State University. He is staying with us for one week working primarily with the boys! It's really exciting because he can work with the boys in a way that I can't, and it gives me more time with the girls! It's been exciting showing him around, and seeing how well the kids interact with him so quickly! Please pray over the rest of his week here in Haiti - as he speaks no Creole or French, much like myself when I first got to Haiti! Will has a working camera!! so I took the first opportunity I had to post so pictures! Tonight I will set up a YouTube account and post some short videos too! My mom will be here on Saturday and I will have new batteries!! So I can be more consistent with the photos!!




Here are a few to hold you over though!
the kids decorated Will's room before he came! complete with paper chains, welcome signs, and we love you signs!



Will and Peterson posing for a picture!
recess with ALL the kids!!

Soccer Practice with coach Van Domme, and our little All Stars, Monsonto, Ernso, James, and Jude! Van Domme is one of eight boys who coaches sports with the little boys. He usually coaches Basketball, but today he stood in as a Soccer coach because 3 of our 4 regualar Soccer coaches we busy studying for Exams!

The ninth graders finish exams today! All the children finish school tomorrow! We have two super exciting weeks coming up! Will is here until Wednesday morning, the Construction team arrives on Saturday the 23rd, and as they leave on the 30th a second team arrives!

blessings -

Monday, June 18, 2007

6th grade national exams!

the children in the 6th grade took their national exams the 12th and 13th. Each day they all jumped in our "tap tap" after the tests with smiles! They were happy to share stories of easy exams, being the first one to finish, knowing every answer, and refusing to let others view their answers and cheat! They were happy to get home, tired, and ready for summer break!!
It warmed my heart to see the kids all supporting eachother so much. I love to walk into the boys house, and see two boys sitting together and studying. I love to hear the stories about how one was able to help another with a subject they were struggling with. or walking into the girls room and see the older girls braiding the hair of the 6th grade girls as the studied their French, Kreyol, Social Sciences, Math and Experimental Sciences. I am very proud of all of them, and I know they did well... they are also confident in their work.
Please continue to pray for the 9th grade students who will be taking exams starting on the 19th. And for continued hope as we await the results of the testing.
many thanks -

weekend of the 9th and 10th

Sunday the tenth was National Childrens Day in Haiti - its a celebration across the whole country to honor children, and the future of Haiti. Our children were asked to dance at a function on behalf of hfc. There were 5 girls who performed a traditional Haitian dance, complete with flower printed floor length skirts and tops, and beautiful hair ties. And then 10 girls and 5 boys who performed a hip hop dance that was partially choreographed by themselves. Kattia and Stephanie also sang a song in Kreyol about hope and the future. They were all beautiful, and they all did a spectacular job - I wish I had video and pictures, but my camera isnt working right now... as soon as I can I will add pictures I know it helps immensly to actually see your children.
Another perk to being one of the choosen dancers for the weekend was staying at Dr.B's house. The kids enjoyed sleeping in, staying up late, star gazing from the room, the Gold Cup games, music, more food than I can even explain (I dont know where they put it all!) and special time with eachother. I love to see them interact in smaller numbers, because you can see how deep the friendships and the connections are between all the children, even though some of them project it in such different ways.
We attended church in Thomasion on Sunday and ate a wonderful chicken dinner before returning to Bolosse.
All in all it was a great weekend.
I know the kids felt great about the performances, they all looked great! and did a beautiful job! I wish you all could have been there to see - when you visit we will have to show you the dances and have some of the kids sing!
blessings -

Monday, June 4, 2007

over the weekend at HFC!

So I started this blog so that I could keep people updated… then I bail on everyone for three days! I am really sorry! Days here seem to escape me, and anytype of scheduling is really irrelevant because at any given time, for any given reason things change!! The kids like to type their own letters home and to friends, and they like to play this game, Crystal Maze on my computer, and honestly its so hard to say no!! The electricity and internet connection are also not super consistent so sometimes there is time, but no way to connect!!
Anyway Saturdays around here are really free days! The boys go early in the morning to play volleyball with the coach – I am going now so that I can learn to play too! Then they come back and eat breakfast. Around 10am a few of the older boys are coaching the youngest boys, Ernso, Jude, Monsonto, and James in basketball. It’s a program that Keziah started and has proven to be great so I am keeping it going! Its great because the older boys, who are really not boys but young men, are given some responsibility. They are in charge of the time, they give the boys orders, and are responsible for making sure they are safe, and learning. And its great for the young boys too, because they are getting the opportunity to play organized sports, learn some drills and skills, and interact with the older boys! It’s a great time for all! And for me its an hour to sit outside in the beautiful Haitian sun!! (before it gets too hot!) and just watch – every once in a while there is a scraped knee or a bruised elbow that needs a little TLC and I give out hugs freely!!
Saturday the girls and I also had our first dance class!! It was wonderful! The girls love to dance, and they all have a great time! And I am getting the opportunity to do two really great things – 1. I am able to dance myself and teach dance, which has always been a passion of mine! 2. I am able to expose the girls to hip hop music, which is something they love, that they have maybe never heard. I am trying to show them Christian hip hop music, that has the same great tempo, beat and feeling of hip hop and reggaeton music but has clean, tasteful and God centered lyrics! Most of the songs are in English so they don’t understand much of what is said anyway. But I love the fact that you can merge two seemingly unrelated yet hugely important aspects of teenage life. God and hip hop! It also opens up the floor (haha pun not intended!) for me to show them some pop and lock, and step moves, rather than some of the more provocative alternatives that can be seen in so many of the hip hop music videos, and are so often associated with hip hop music. It’s been great, we are having a blast! It’s a great learning opportunity for us all, and a great bonding time.
The most difficult part has been counting in Creole rather than in English – all of a sudden the second nature of 5, 6, 7, 8 is something I have to think about!! Sometimes I slip into English on accident, they understand and with a giggle and a hug correct me!! The best part for me so far – has been the heartfelt thank you’s and hugs that follow each lesson!
Sunday we all went to Sunday school and church then had a delicious lunch. This week we had a special treat, fresh tomatoes and fresh lettuce!!! I was thrilled!! The girls think it’s funny that I get excited about vegetables, but they are not so readily available in Haiti as in the States, and it is something I have grown to miss! So when I see them on the table I jump around and say “woo hoo” and they laugh!
Today the kids went off to school like any regular Monday – many of them were surprised to get out earlier than usual because practice tests for the National Exam were administered to about half the kids today! Many of them are ready – many still need preparation. We are going to be work on it for the next few weeks, and praying for all the children often. If you would like to join us in praying for productive study times, rest and relaxation before the test, and then successful, anxiety free test taking with passing results, I know it would be greatly appreciated by all!
English group two started teaching me the calendar, and telling time today during our reverse lessons. And group one received their “The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe” books today. We are hoping to read the whole thing by the end of summer, the whole book is in English, and although it’s a familiar story, it will be a challenge for all. I know they can do it! They just need to see that they can do it! We are all excited about the challenge!
I will check in again in a few days!
Thanks for reading!
Blessings-
~*~nikki~*~

Friday, June 1, 2007

a regular friday!

ok so our blog week is starting at the end of most peoples normal week! but its ok!!!
so on friday I usually get up about 6am - and I shower and get ready for the day... I try to do all this before the girls get out of their bathroom, so that I can make it back to my room, and close the door for my personal quiet time before they notice!! see if I went in first thing in the morning to say good morning, my whole hour of "quiet time" would become hug, kisses and early morning dance party time!!
from 7 to 8 I have quiet time, and its a great peaceful time for me to plan my day, pray, and just meet with God about all the crazy, and amazing things he has thrown my way this summer - without this time everymorning i would be going crazy!! Quiet time, and consistent time to read The Bible is something I have taken for granted in the states, and something I do not do nearly enough when I am home.
at about 8 am "bonjour's" hugs and kisses all begin, and by 8:30 all the kids are in school!
pretty much the rest of the day is mine - around 10 i stop downstairs to partake in recess - its a good time to check in with the kids, see how their days are going, and give out more hugs. This is also usually the first time I see the boys in the day. My mornings are used to lesson plan, send emails home and prep fpr the afternoon. At three my first class starts, when I have a small group girls who have tpying class, at four the level two english class starts, and at 5 level one starts. level two and one are the two advanced english groups -
because my creole is still a work in progress - we have been doing reverse teaching, where I have been the student - and the stuents have been my teacher. I dont think they realize exactly how much it is helping their english. They think its fun to give me homework, and quizzes, and tease me about my pronunciation of the creole language. They never let me go without saying the word correctly though - no matter how many times it took me to remember that figee - is not figi (like the water, or the island) but figey (like the pussing in that old Christmas song!) Figee is the creole word for face, my first quiz was wednesday and we covered the body (head, face, hair, eyes, nose, mouth, teeth, tongue, neck, shoulders, arms, hands, fingers, legs, and feet)!
well - - thats all for tonight - usually we would be going to show a movie - but Dr. Bernard is here visiting tonight, and the girls are enjoying the time with him. Tomorrow morning,bright and early at 6am I will be up to go to the mission with the coach, and the boys to play volleyball - its my first formal lesson - apparently you just cant be haitian unless you play volleyball!!
blessings

Finally life settles down enough to start!

sorry to all those expecting this blog to start about 3 weeks ago!! it took me much longer than I expected to settle into any type of schedule here in Haiti. It took a long time just to get to know all the children, it did not however take very long to love them ALL! it is taking a long time to learn creole, and for now my messy mix of english and creole is sufficing, but it wont forever - i feel like a child must feel when they want so desperately to tell you what they want but they just dont know all the words to say it! I understand why toddlers cry like they do!
All in all Haiti has been a wonderful experience, there have been ups and downs to settling in - but with Gods strength, and the love of the kids I have been more than provided for.
All the kids are wonderful, and loveable, yet a few have stood out in my first few weeks and have proven to be great protectors, master translators, and professional snugglers!
So hopefully now that this is started I will be able to write on a somewhat regular basis, and keep some of the people back home in the states up on Haitian Happenings!
A few things the kids and I are excited for, and praying for - -
~the teams that are coming in less than a month!
~the childrens national exams this month!
~my continued understanding of creole - and the successful start up of real english classes again!