The work has begun...

The seminars have begun!  Each morning we will start with singing, prayer and a short devotion.


Randy and Cornelius are doing a devotion
on 1 Thessalonians 5:16 - 22



1 Thessalonians 5: 16 - 22

Randy welcomed the teachers from both countries to the seminars.  He explained that we are here to learn from each other.  We are all professionals and we have gifts in many different areas.  God has given us two different cultures but He has given a common background which is Him and His Word!  Together this week we can go forward and work together for Him.



Each teacher introduced another teacher.  It was
fun to get to know the different teachers.

The teachers designed a title page for the Haitian teachers.  They used Deuteronomy 32:2 as the main text of the week...

'Que mes instructions se répandent comme la pluie, que ma parole tombe comme la rosée, comme des ondées sur la verdure, comme des gouttes d'eau sur l'herbe.'

'Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew, like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants.' 

Bible:
The Bible is not just a book of stories or rules.  It is the living message from our God about how He saves us.  It tells what He had done, what He is doing and what He is going to be doing!  Even if people forget Him, He does not forget His people.  God remembers His people and blesses them. 

Keith is doing the seminar on Bible.  During this week the
teachers will have the opportunity to share Bible stories
and find themes in different books.

Keith used the national flower of Haiti, hibiscus,
to show that God's Word is alive and flourishing.

Donated books for the teachers at Adoration to use for their Bible lessons.

Classroom management:
What is an effective teacher:
Love your God, love your students, learn to listen to the students, be prepared, be punctual, have a well decorated classroom, and know that a teacher can make mistakes as well are some of the answers that were given.

Rebekah is sharing ideas on classroom management.
The teachers will be acting out scenerios on how to
discipline and control the teaching in the classroom.

Math and Science:
Mathematics is a strong subject with the Haitians.  This week Barbara is sharing new ideas about how to understand the Math concepts in the classroom.  She is also introducing different types of Math games for the teachers to give to their students in class.  Math problems is a topic she will be spending some time on as well.  Later on this week she will be doing Science experiments with the teachers.  This looks to be very promising and exciting.

A sudoku for the teachers to work on.

The teachers participating in an activity

Checking out the city...



Barb and Chloe on the drive to downtown

The remains of a beautiful Catholic cathedral.

 

The eternal flame that has never been lit, built by President Aristide





What is left of the National Palace.



Looking through the paintings.

 

A statue Aristide had built of himself, with the people reaching up to him,
and he is holding out the dove of peace.



Chloe and Keith hanging out by a famous statue of "the free slave."  His manacles are broken,
he is holding a machete, and blowing the conch shell for freedom.

The top of the museum downtown.

Checking out some of the vendors

Randy hanging out in the museum at Fermathe.

The menu at the Baptist Mission (mmmmm)

Planning next week...

We sat down as teachers and administrators and started planning the weeks activities for next week.  We went over some the topics that they are planning on teaching, set up the schedule when the teachers will present, and went over some cultural things that were happening.

Our meeting around the conference table this morning, Keith has not changed since I last saw him, he still loves to talk.

Preparing our schedule for the upcoming week.

We taught the teachers how to use the washrooms.  We do not have toilets that flush so what have to flush the toilets with a bucket of water.  Rebekah was the first to try this out.

We went shopping for school supplies at Megamart.  The teachers looked at prices of different kinds of food and were a bit shocked at some of the prices we pay for foods.

We then went for a walk to some of students houses.  Franklin showed us around and was a great tour guide.

The teachers are here! Yeah!

The teachers' team arrive yesterday afternoon.  We welcome Rebekah Fluit, Barb Bultena and Keith Sikkema to Haiti.  We are excited for them to be here in Haiti and work with the teachers at Adoration.  We hope that you learn a lot and you enjoy your stay. 

Coming down the long tunnel with their baggage.

Loading the truck.

Rebekah, Keith and Barb.

In God's time...not our time!

A lesson learned by the building committee this week.  On Monday we had our weekly meeting concerning the different houses that are being built in Phase 4.  We have had our share of problems already with this phase but on Monday it was kinda like the straw that broke the camel's back.  One of the houses was not being built due to a miscommunication with the family who was selling land in a certain area.  One of the brothers went ahead and sold more property then he should of, not getting consent from the rest of the family.  The foreman had started digging the foundations of the house and was told to stop.  We had a meeting with the home owner that afternoon and it seemed like it would take weeks to solve this situation.  At that same meeting we found out that bags of cement had gone missing in an enclosed yard of another home thus not allowing the building crew to continue working.  The home owners had no idea how it had gone missing and were not claiming responsibility for the missing material.  This was the end of a longer list of problems that had happened with this phase so far.  Like at most meetings we lifted our concerns up to the LORD wanting answers right away so we could continue with the work that was given to us.

But this did not happen, once again it was a lesson to be learned by all of us...in MY time, not your time!! On Wednesday we had another meeting, this time the home owners of the missing cement also came.  It was during this time that the LORD answered our prayers.  We came to a compromise with the home owners.  We also heard from the home owners with the land dispute issues that the family selling the land gave them a different piece of property.  This also was an answer to pray.  We wanted things done when we wanted them done.  But God's will is the way we need to live our lives and once again each one of the building committee realized that God is in control, this is His project and we are working for Him, (Psalm 127:1). 

Chloe's new bed

Just recently we purchased a new washing machine for our house.  Chloe was right there making sure that we were opening the box the proper way.  She had big plans for this box...

"This will be a new spot where I can play with my ponies and horses."
"Mommy, maybe we can play house in here."
"Can I use this for a bed to sleep in at night time?"

Right after the washing machine was removed she had the box and got hold of it and started playing with it.  It was hard to get her to stop playing even when we told her we were going swimming.  And if you know Chloe then you know how much she likes swimming.

And so she has been sleeping in it the last two nights!





Art in Chloe's room

Chloe made these decorations for her wall herself, minus the butterflies.  They look lovely on the wall.  A really good job Chloe!