It's Sunday evening and our Internet is being less than cooperative with my laptop, so I'm trying to blog on my phone. I have little patience for thumb typing, so I'll keep the commentary short!
In all the activity of preparing to teach, I didn't forget that this was a new school year for the kids as well. Caleb is now a sophomore, Hannah a freshman, Samuel an 8th grader and Sarah is in 4th!
These folks have been crazy busy since arriving in Haiti last month and we are so very happy to have Jeff supervising math, Chris teaching science classes and Camden as a new 7th grader.
Our classes are upstairs from where I usually teach adult English classes. (This Tuesday will begin our new year for THAT!)
Ruysdael is helping us out at the temporary site. It's good to have him close.
Our other new teacher is John Adams. He is off to a great start with the social study classes.
Ruysdael is continuing his role this year as Creole teacher for the missionary kids. I didn't realize until the first day of school that I actually have free time while he teaches Caleb and Hannah, so I'm joining the class!
Lunch time. No cafeteria!
The start of school always makes AFTER school times that much sweeter. Here Caleb and Brianna practice some guitar.
These two ladies are like family now, but their time in Haiti is drawing to a close this coming Tuesday. So we're trying to jam in as many experiences as possible for Jan and Judy. We asked Johnny to grab a couple of coconuts to share with them. What a guy!
Friday morning was an OMS prayer time, so we didn't have classes. Melissa and I took Jan and Judy in the afternoon to tour the Meds and Food for Kids facility on the other side of Cap Haitien. They have an impressive operation producing nutritional peanut butter based snacks for malnourished children.
We were there to buy some of those snacks for the Potter's House orphans courtesy of Maelyn Kiser, an enterprising young lady from our home church who raised money last year as a high school senior to help the orphans.
The kids enjoyed their extra day off at home: Friday afternoon in the yard on the rope swing.
Yesterday we took Jan and Judy to the beach - a well deserved reward for so much work they've done for Cowman over the last two weeks.
As a bonus for us, our friends from Emmaus Seminary were also there. Sarah enjoyed some time with Lily and Sofie and baby Nora.
And we inaugurated our new inflatable kayak - a little family toy I snuck onto the container early in August.
I loved watching Jan play in the sand with Samuel and Camden!
A fantastic lunch all together at Cormier Beach. I almost forgot to mention that Valerie Colie was also with us - she's another one who has worked tirelessly to get Cowman off to a good start this year!
This morning I took Jan and Judy out to see Daniel and his kids. It's always eye-opening and humbling to see the neighborhood kids who come to eat and to watch Daniel at the helm, week after week serving his neighborhood in Jesus' name.
Afterward, I spent most of the afternoon ... and the evening with my head under the kitchen sink. I was determined to finally get rid of what Melissa has been calling the "camping sink" and install the nice deep sink and new faucet that my brother Spencer gave us (over a year ago!).
I'm not the most skilled handy man on the planet, but I persevered.
And ALMOST succeeded.
It's not clipped down or caulked and there's a small drip underneath, but good enough to start washing some dishes. Samuel got the honor of being the first to use the new sink.
I have to say it again: We are BLESSED! Good friends, fulfilling work and running water. We can't ask for much more. Thanks for your support and prayers. We are looking forward to seeing what week number two holds!
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