Colleagues

The word colleague has always been interesting to me.  More than someone who works with you, a colleague is a person who shares similar goals and purposes.  This alone can be the basis for amazing friendships.  In New Hampshire many of my close friends are fellow teachers.  I so appreciate the ways in which we can relate to each other concerning the joys, challenges, and quirks of life as a teacher.  Coming to Haiti this summer to work with the teachers was exciting because it meant forming relationships with like-minded people, and even more so, because all of these teachers view education as more than a profession, but an opportuinty to serve God by caring for people.

On Monday, our first day with the teachers, I was more than a little bit nervous about the way that the teacher institute would go.  The school has been working through so many challenges since the earthquake, and it was uncertain how the teachers would feel about a month-long teacher training presented by Americans who clearly are very removed from the daily realities of education in Haiti.  Thankfully, the first day was an amazing experience, and this has continued to be true with each following day.

Beverly, Barbie, and I divided the teachers into three groups based on the age-level of their students.  We spend three hours in the mornings in these "base groups" discussing various topics from child development to the way to write effective objectives.  For the last hour, we go to the new computer lab to work on our technology skills (the pictures are of the teachers playing an online typing game to improve their keyboarding skills.) We begin every morning with prayer and devotionals, and this piece is constantly an encouragement.  To hear these people who have been impacted by so many great struggles speak passionately about the love and grace of God is moving beyond words. 

On Friday we worked on writing philosophy statements about education.  Since we focused on the development and learning of students this week, the focus of the writing was on the child.  To brainstorm before we began writing, the teachers made a list of things they believed about students.  By the end of this time, we had a list of 100 different truths about students.  The following are just a few of the amazing insights that these teachers came up with...

*Students can make a difference.

*Students are naturally curious.

*Students can have a positive impact on their environment.

*Students are created to love God and to be loved by God.

*Students have the right to an education, protection, health, have all of their needs met (food, shelter, clothing, medicine…).
*Students will bring change to their world.

What an amazing experience to work and collaborate with such an extraordinary group of educators!  Thank you again for your continued support and encouragement on this journey! Love in Christ, Jessie

Poverty

Poverty is a powerful word.  In Haiti, it is more than an abstract concept, but rather, a daily reality for many.  This weekend a group from the school went into one of the poorest places in Port Au Prince.  Known simply as "The Ravine", this long stretching community is a mixture of tin-roofed structures built along the edges of a small, trickling flow of filthy water.  Along with a few nurses that are here with a work team, we made our way through the narrow alley ways to provide basic medical care for the young children and infants that call The Ravine their home.  Below are pictures of the Ravine and one of Tcharly, who came from the school to help translate and care for the children.

To live every day in such poor conditions is poverty as I have never seen before.  As Christians, we believe that physical possessions and material wealth are not of greatest importance, but here in Haiti you can see how even the most basic of resources would revolutionize the quality of life.  After last summer I have struggled with what to do with the abundance we experience as Americans.  We are so often caught by the lie that the more we own, the more fulfilled we will be.  Not only is this a dangerous lie, but it is also a dangerous type of spiritual poverty.  Here we have a desperately poor view of the meaning and purpose of life.  If I am constantly focused on storing up worldly goods, I will miss out on the most fulfilling life which is found in being completely satisfied in Christ.

I am still uncomfortable with the discrepancies between the comforts and excesses of life in New Hampshire as compared to life in Haiti, but a passage I read recently from Dietrich Bonhoeffer has helped me greatly.  In one of his writings, this theologian and Christian thinker from Nazi Germany expressed so beautifully the proper place that possessions should hold in our lives.  Living during the time of the oppressive rule of the Nazis, Bonhoeffer experienced many trials.  One concept that he held to was the importance of community in the body of Christ.  He wrote about those believers in Germany who had retained some of their worldly possessions and were feeling guilt when confronted with their fellow Christians who were struggling with poverty and displacement.  He asked the question, "Should we thank God for our blessing and then question why others lack these same blessings?"  In the end, Bonhoeffer concludes that these material blessings are not to be viewed as blessings for our individual lives, but rather, the blessing is found in the fact that we are entrusted with His gifts and are to use these for the betterment of our brothers and sisters in Christ.  What a powerful message to hold onto during this visit.  Rather than clinging to our physical wealth and keeping others at a distance, we can use these possessions to build up the body of Christ. 

Again, I am so thankful to be able to share these experiences and for the blessings of your ongoing prayers and words of encouragement!  In this way, I experience great wealth as I enjoy the blessings of the community of the body of Christ.  Love in Christ, Jessie

Peace

Since I was little, I have always found comfort and peace in art and creating. I am so thankful that God, the ultimate Creator, has provided us with the ability to capture glimpses of the beauty of His creation. As I was planning what kinds of supplies to bring to share with the children at the orphanage this summer, art supplies were on the top of the list. This weekend I pulled out the watercolor paints and supplies I brought for the students and took a few of the younger kids up to one of the classrooms for an "art lesson." The children were very excited to get the supplies and get to painting, so there wasn't much in the way of intensive instruction. They did seem to pick up some basics during our time together. Below are a few of the beautiful paintings they created and one shot of Palmey painting a rainbow.  For the very first time using a paintbrush and watercolor paints, I thought they did an amazing job!

In Haitian culture it is not unusual to see children being abused. Many of the children at the orphanage have histories of physical and emotional neglect and abuse from a very young age. One little boy who has been greatly impacted by his difficult history is Chandlin. After spending just a few minutes with Chandlin, it is easy to see that he has a hard time with respect and positive decision making. He is frequently kicked out of class and has spent a great deal of time with different adults being disciplined. Working with a child like Chandlin can be frustrating and exhausting, especially when he directs his anger and frustration toward other children in a violent manner. Knowing that he has come from a place of anger, violence, and abuse, helps open your heart to show him the grace and love God shows to each of us. When Chandlin showed interest in joining the group for painting, I was more than a little bit hesitant, but agreed that he could come along with the understanding that he would be kind to the other children and listen to my directions. It is amazing to see how the Lord works, because this was the first time I had observed Chandlin peaceful, respectful, and engaged in his learning. He was so eager to do everything right, and spent much of the time quietly focused on his painting. It was exciting to see him focus all of his energies into something productive, when he has often been very destructive with his words and his actions. At the end of the lesson, Chandlin thanked me with a big grin, and then asked when we would paint together again.

What an amazing God we serve, who uses even small things like a paintbrush and some paint, to help calm our spirits and open our hearts to the peace that comes from knowing Him. As more truth is poured into Chandlin's life, and as he has more moments of peace and quiet reflection, I pray that God will continue to guide him to the ultimate peace we find in knowing and serving God. Thank you all again for your prayers and loving support, the community of Christians is another way that God brings peace into our worlds. I am so thankful for this! Love in Christ, Jessie