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 -

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 -

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~*~

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!