Meander

One highlight of each day in Bohoc was the walk from the children's home to the school.  I love to meander through wild places, and I have so needed to stretch my legs after the first few weeks of summer spent in the confines of the city.

These are the views of God's beautiful creation in Haiti.  It makes my heart sad how often the only views of this island paradise that the outside world views are scenes of devastation and brokenness.  I hope you'll savor these images and glimpse the majesty and wonder of our Creator God on display in this special little corner of the world.

The heavens declare the glory of God,

and the sky above proclaims his handiwork...

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Does

The teachers at Espwa Etenel Ecol are really amazing people.  We spend the last two weeks together seeking to encourage and refine each other as teachers.  Even though my Creole wasn't up to the task of leading our sessions in their heart language, these teachers welcomed this outsider with grace and hospitality.

Why do we teach?  Group brainstorm activity...

One of the activities we did when thinking about what we believe about this calling of "teacher" was to list verbs.  What does a teacher do?  There was a board full of ideas about all that we teachers get up to on any given day.  When I looked through the list later, I found many verbs I would expect any teacher to have come up with: teachers write and speak.  Teachers ask questions and walk around the room.  Teachers correct student work and write plans.

 

But one verb, the one which was written more than any other, describes this little school so well.. Teachers pray.  How meaningful to this community, to these students and their families, to know that their teachers are praying for them!  How would my own school change, my own classroom be transformed, if my first action taken was not to organize or instruct or correct, but if my first move for my school was to pray?  

Teachers do...

See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, 

but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.

Rejoice always, 

pray without ceasing, 

give thanks in all circumstances; 

for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 

1 Thessalonians 5

Sounds

I've just returned from Bohoc, a rural community in the Central Plateau.  I have so much to share about this adventure.  Honestly it was a completely different sensory experience compared to the past seven summers spent in the middle of the city.  I think one of the first things that struck me about being in the Haitian countryside were the sounds.  We arrived later in the evening two weeks ago and bedtime came shortly after arriving.  As there's usually no electricity, the sunset is synonymous with bedtime.  I lay under the mosquito net on that first night (not so much to keep away mosquitoes, but more to ease my mind about other creepy-crawlies that might be tempted to visit me in the night...).  

Honestly, I was a bundle of nerves with all of the unknowns of the time spent in Bohoc on top of all of the unexpected ups and downs of this summer.  And there in the dark, I heard sounds.  In my sleepy state, I imagined these sounds meat I was at home... It really did sound like home.  I hear wind in the trees and the chirps and familiar sing-song melody of the countryside at nighttime.   Since I've been here, this is the list of sounds that have settled my sometimes fearful or anxious hear...

donkeys braying

cicada hum

hens clucking

bossy roosters crowing

chirps and whistles of lizards

goats bleeting

birds singing

In these small and simple sounds, it is just like Jesus speaking into the storms of my heart, "Peace, be still."  I'm thankful for sounds that are comforting and reminders of God's careful design of creation where all things sing His praises!  I'm praying that you too would hear the sounds that speak His comfort to your heart in moments of fear and anxiety and that your voice may in turn be lifted to praise Him!  Love in Christ, Jessie

Partner

After two weeks of adventures in the Haitian countryside, I'm back in Port for a quick visit before heading back to New Hampshire.  For lots of different reasons, this summer's visit has been shortened, but before we close the book on summer 2018 in Haiti, I have quite a lot that I've been journaling during my time in Bohoc that I am eager to share!  It may take some time to get these delayed blog posts up, so thank you for your patience and following along on this summer in Haiti!

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Matthew 28 Campus

My time in Bohoc was spent partnering with Matthew 28 Ministries.  Started by Hein Vingerling and a dear Haitian friend, Paulise, nearly 30 years ago.  The ministry started with feeding stations in rural communities all around the Central Plateau of Haiti.  Their mission is: "To spread the gospel of Jesus Christ by feeding hungry children and caring for orphans." The ministry has grown to include 19 feeding centers that each serve about 50 children with meals 5 times a week as well as regular access to medical care. Additionally, the ministry supports the Matthew 28 Children's Home with about 32 children who call this beautiful place home.  

Hein and Judelove

While I stayed on the Matthew 28 campus, which has a guest house, church building, and dorms for the boys and girls, my primary reason for partnering with Matthew 28 Ministries was to provide professional development for the teachers at the Ekol Espaw Etenel - School of Eternal Hope.  The school currently provides free education to the children of Bohoc ages 3-10.

My past two weeks was spent leading teacher training during the mornings.  In the evenings I played with the kids from the home and did some informal English classes with the teenagers there.  It was a sincere pleasure to be able to partner with this ministry.  One reason why I am so thankful for Matthew 28 Ministries is their consistently gospel-focused approach to all that they do.  This is seen in the ways the Haitis are viewed as partners and friends.  There is a great emphasis placed on respecting our Haitian brothers and sisters - by refusing to "Americanize" the ministry.  This means that Haitians are leaders in all aspects of the ministry and are doing the work of being Jesus' hands and feet for their neighbors.  

Teachers at Ekol Espwa Etenel

Partnering with Matthew 28 this summer has reminded me of the call to be faithful to reach my own people in my own spheres of influence back home.  The work of Matthew 28 was so encouraging to me.  If you're interested in learning more about Matthew 28 Ministries, you can visit the following links:

Matthew 28 Ministries Website

Matthew 28 Ministries Facebook

Many thanks to my friends and family for following along on this summer in Haiti - I'm so thankful for your support and encouragement through this summer of new opportunities!  Love in Christ, Jessie