SCHOOL SPIRIT

A few weeks ago the staff of Cowman International School had the chance to evaluate where we currently stand as an institution and to plan for the future.  We all agreed that Cowman is a great school ... with room to continue growing in greatness.  I believe it was our principal, Angie, who mentioned that Cowman alumni, years down the road, often rave about the school and appreciate the solid Christian education they received and the godly atmosphere.  And yet many current students often seem to have an attitude more like this: "meh". 

We decided that one thing we could work on as a staff (with very little budget impact requirements) would be "school spirit" - building some opportunities into our schedule to build morale with some fun and competition - and the chance to model good sportsmanship as a bonus.

And the cheapest and easiest way to kickstart some school fun?  A staff vs. student soccer match. 

My 6th and 7th grade students eat and breath soccer.  Almost literally.  In fact, most days the majority consume their entire lunch at our 9:15 break time so they can devote their whole lunch break to the soccer field.  As soon as the posters went up a week ago, interest was HIGH. 

It was great timing, actually, at least for some of us.  Thanksgiving Day and "Black Friday" were otherwise regular school days and the soccer match helped take our minds off of what we were missing "back home".  Even the students' internet science curriculum seemed to be mocking us!

The students were excited to have a day off from uniforms and they were out on the field practicing before the first bell!

Coach David went all out and created boundary lines for our field, doing his best to exclude the mango tree roots.

And as game time approached, the kids were more than happy to help move picnic tables to use as bleachers.

We even had a cheerleader...

And a trophy that the students were so anxious to get their hands on ...

(Coach David found it in town for about a buck fifty!)

Ready for kick-off!

Our kids were laughing later that evening about the fact that in the first ten seconds of the game, one teacher and our principal both landed on their bottoms in the dirt!

But not Mrs. Z.  She was tough.  The students were caught off guard by their 70-something teacher intimidating them on the field.

Samuel managed to get the ball past her, but just barely.

I promise we are keeping Samuel well-fed.  He's not quite as skinny as this angle makes him look!

 
At halftime we had the younger kids on the field trying to kick a ball past their teacher.  Melissa's students got such a thrill out of scoring on her.

When all was said and done though, the staff walked away with the coveted trophy. 

And the students asked for a REMATCH.

Praise the Lord, it turned out to be a whole lot of fun - and we never had to use the first-aid kit. 

MORE THAN ENOUGH

School was out yesterday (Monday) for Vertieres Day - a Haitian holiday commemorating the last decisive battle in the slave revolution that led to the nation's independence from France. And since this coming November 28th will be just another work day here, we and our fellow missionaries took the opportunity to celebrate Thanksgiving a bit early (or late, for those Canadians among us). 

I didn't know what to expect, so I was pleasantly surprised to find that the day really felt like a HOLIDAY ... with a few significant differences.

SAME: Day off equals opportunity to run. 
DIFFERENT: Sweating profusely in November as I ran with Ruysdael and Mikenn on the main road into Cap Haitien, dodging goats, crazy people and cow pies in the middle of the sidewalk.






SAME: The rest of the morning was spent in the kitchen, prepping food for a big lunchtime pitch-in. Melissa's contributions included homemade noodles ...



Some of which got fried in butter, like my mom used to do.  It was our kids' first time to try noodles this way.  They couldn't get enough!



DIFFERENT: Out with the pumpkin pie and in with the banana cream!



SAME: Working hard to keep ahead of the dishes!



SAME: Extra tables to seat a big crowd.  Table set with great care.  Matt and Stacey Ayars hosted at their home on the campus of Emmaus Biblical Seminary just 15 minutes down the road from where we live.






SAME: Kids come running when lunch is announced.



SAME: An incredible spread of food.  Turkey, ham, green bean casserole, yams, and pies.
DIFFERENT: This was the first time in three months that we had enjoyed most of these foods.  Much of it was special ordered or sent in care packages - right down to the fried onions on top of those green beans! This results in normal holiday overeating times two.



SAME: Little kids' table - with adorable, eager faces.



SAME: "Big" kids' table - with hungry, growing tweens and teens.



DIFFERENT: Our hostess, Stacey, had taken the time to decorate our placemats with quotes from famous people and verses from Scripture concerning Gratitude.  Before the meal, we each read aloud the words at our spot.



DIFFERENT: We weren't with family. Many of these people we didn't even know three months ago.
SAME: Sure felt like family!

DIFFERENT: Our host, Matt, led us in singing "Great is Thy Faithfulness" before the prayer.  Beautiful and meaningful and perfect.
SAME: Heartfelt prayer for all God has provided for us.

SAME: Kids go first!
SAME: I couldn't eat another bite...
SAME: When is dessert?

SAME: Looking for a place to take a nap.
DIFFERENT: It's 80 degrees outside - go out and play.  Frisbee, volleyball, badminton.









SAME: Somebody saved the turkey neck, heart, and liver for me! You can't grasp how much I love turkey necks.  It's something I picked up from my father. It felt like a private little wink and nod from God just to me. 



SAME: Group picture!  I love how perfectly imperfect this photo is. (If you're looking for our kids in this herd, check out H, first upside down N, K and second G.)

 

DIFFERENT: Waking up early the next day to go back to work rather than to go shopping.  Tougher than I thought it would be!

SAME:

 

We thank God for all of you - on "special" days and "average" days - who lift us up in prayer, who encourage us with words and gifts, and who give sacrificially to allow us to minister in this special place.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

DAY AT DHALOO

We get a long weekend from school - Monday is a Haitian holiday.  AND we passed the three month mark this past week.  Is that enough excuse to spend a Saturday at the beach?  YES.

We got the opportunity yesterday to explore an unfamiliar beach - Dhaloo.  It's a bit past Cormier Plage, where we have typically gone.  And it's just a smidgen past Labadie, where Royal Caribbean has its Haitian playground.

Part of the fun is that the final leg of the journey requires a water taxi.

The landing point at Dhaloo:

Boat repair on the beach:

The Bundy kids were excited to show our kids around.

A short walk from the restaurant and beach chairs area, there is a quiet, secluded beach with wonderful sand for digging in.

And relaxing with friends.

And the walk between the two beaches is just far enough up a flight of stone steps to give some fantastic views of the surrounding area.

Lunch was served around 12:30.  Our family sat down with the Bundys and several visiting short term missions folks.

Great Haitian food ... and lots of it.  I had the fish.

And the fish was FRESH.

Samuel slowed down for just a few minutes after lunch ...

... but for the most part the kids were going, going, going the whole day.

And into the late afternoon.

And by the end of the day, the adults were relaxed and the kids were exhausted.  But EVERYBODY was happy.

For the beauty of the earth,
for the glory of the skies,
for the love which from our birth
over and around us lies;
Lord of all, to thee we raise
this our hymn of grateful praise.