All In a Day's Work

Because the clinic is open today, I will split my time between helping in the dossier room and teaching in the high school. When I first arrive in Gramothe I'll head straight to the dossier room and either help pull the dossiers for the patients waiting to see the doctors or file the dossiers from yesterday. At 11:20 I will walk over to the high school and begin teaching for the day.

Today is my busiest teaching day. I have Rheto, which is the equivalent of 12th grade. I would like to work on reading English texts with them, but I don't have enough of the book I'd like to use. I'll figure something out. Then I have 8th grade and 9th grade. The 8th grade will work on past tense verbs. The 9th grade will probably work on adjectives, but I need to check their notebooks first.

Here are some of the sentences 8th grade will work with. Check your English skills by trying to change these sentences to past tense.

1. Peter walks home after school.
2. Jessica finds $10 in her pocket.
3. I see a dog in the yard.
4. Mary eats at 3 o'clock.
5. He goes to the market.

All In a Day's Work

Because the clinic is open today, I will split my time between helping in the dossier room and teaching in the high school. When I first arrive in Gramothe I'll head straight to the dossier room and either help pull the dossiers for the patients waiting to see the doctors or file the dossiers from yesterday. At 11:20 I will walk over to the high school and begin teaching for the day.

Today is my busiest teaching day. I have Rheto, which is the equivalent of 12th grade. I would like to work on reading English texts with them, but I don't have enough of the book I'd like to use. I'll figure something out. Then I have 8th grade and 9th grade. The 8th grade will work on past tense verbs. The 9th grade will probably work on adjectives, but I need to check their notebooks first.

Here are some of the sentences 8th grade will work with. Check your English skills by trying to change these sentences to past tense.

1. Peter walks home after school.
2. Jessica finds $10 in her pocket.
3. I see a dog in the yard.
4. Mary eats at 3 o'clock.
5. He goes to the market.

Familiar Faces

This weekend a medical team arrived at the guest house. They were delayed a couple of days due to the snow in the Midwest, but they finally arrived on Saturday afternoon. I am excited to welcome some familiar faces back to the guest house. It's especially sweet to have Beth Martin and Dr. Marcia on this team because they were both a part of the April 2010 team when I fell in love with Haiti and decided I should move here. I've already enjoyed the little time I've spent with them.

If that wasn't enough, my parents fly in on Thursday morning. They'll only be here a couple of days, but I am SUPER excited to show them my life in Haiti. And, of course, they'll get to meet Arold (ah-wol) while they're here.

Familiar Faces

This weekend a medical team arrived at the guest house. They were delayed a couple of days due to the snow in the Midwest, but they finally arrived on Saturday afternoon. I am excited to welcome some familiar faces back to the guest house. It's especially sweet to have Beth Martin and Dr. Marcia on this team because they were both a part of the April 2010 team when I fell in love with Haiti and decided I should move here. I've already enjoyed the little time I've spent with them.

If that wasn't enough, my parents fly in on Thursday morning. They'll only be here a couple of days, but I am SUPER excited to show them my life in Haiti. And, of course, they'll get to meet Arold (ah-wol) while they're here.

Correspondence

The organization I work for, Mountain Top Ministries, utilizes individual student sponsorships to provide a nearly* free education to the students at its two schools. People in the United States and Canada commit to sponsoring a child at one of the MTM schools for $25 each month. This money provides the student with quality teachers and administrators, some of the necessary school supplies, access to health care through the MTM clinic, and a hot lunch each day.  Sponsors initially receive a profile card of their student, including a photo and some information about the child's life. After that initial profile card, MTM sends an update on the child twice a year. We have the students write letters to their sponsors (the little kids draw pictures), and also include a recent photo with one of the updates.

Recently I helped with the process of writing correspondence. I had my high school students write their letters in English. We have all the students write letters to sponsors, but not all of them have sponsors. In fact only a little over half of the students attending school actually have sponsors.

*Students are required to purchase their uniforms, books, and pay 75 goudes (less than $2 US) each month for lunch. It's my understanding that the parents decided they would start paying for the uniforms and books a couple of years ago. Requiring the families to pay a small fee for lunch and for their books and uniforms gives them a sense of ownership in their children's education instead making them feel like it's a handout. Instead of being ashamed that they must rely on others to educate their children, they feel a sense of pride that they can provide something for their kids.

Canadian Friends

For the past week there has been a five person Canadian team staying at the guest house. The team is comprised of three high school seniors named Audra, Ashley, and Hessey plus Audra's dad and grandpa. I have been able to spend a lot of time with the girls. The first day they were here, they sat in on part of my after school computer class. The next day we all went to Dumay together (that will have to be a separate post), and for the past two days they've walked to Gramothe with me and helped in my classes. I've really enjoyed having them around and am sad to see them leave today.

My new friends have more energy than I will ever hope to have. They are constantly running around with the little kids, conversing with the high school students, and helping in general. They practically run up the mountain, and they even convinced me to take the shortcut (goat trail) going down to the riverbed! (It wasn't bad at all, and I'm planning to take it today when I walk up by myself.)

These girls were able to experience more of Haiti than most team members. Part of that is because there were only three of them (the dad and grandpa worked on some maintenance work for us). Another factor is that they were not working in the clinc. Medical teams really only see what happens in the clinic, but these girls were free to go to Dumay for a day and to visit Laboule Children's Home another day. Plus, they were willing to do anything. I loved their humility and servant's hearts.

 For whatever reason, the girls decided they should help with the laundry at Laboule. I think the kids REALLY appreciate the help.

 Ashley volunteered her time a little differently, but the girls also appreciated her willingness to "help" them by sitting still.

I couldn't resist posting this picture. One of the kids from Laboule snapped it, and I think it's perfect! I know it looks like there's a little romance going on here, but I'm certain there wasn't anything romantic happening.

I'm sad to see my new Canadian friends return to Canada today. What a blessing they were to the villages of Gramothe and Dumay!!

Canadian Friends

For the past week there has been a five person Canadian team staying at the guest house. The team is comprised of three high school seniors named Audra, Ashley, and Hessey plus Audra's dad and grandpa. I have been able to spend a lot of time with the girls. The first day they were here, they sat in on part of my after school computer class. The next day we all went to Dumay together (that will have to be a separate post), and for the past two days they've walked to Gramothe with me and helped in my classes. I've really enjoyed having them around and am sad to see them leave today.

My new friends have more energy than I will ever hope to have. They are constantly running around with the little kids, conversing with the high school students, and helping in general. They practically run up the mountain, and they even convinced me to take the shortcut (goat trail) going down to the riverbed! (It wasn't bad at all, and I'm planning to take it today when I walk up by myself.)

These girls were able to experience more of Haiti than most team members. Part of that is because there were only three of them (the dad and grandpa worked on some maintenance work for us). Another factor is that they were not working in the clinc. Medical teams really only see what happens in the clinic, but these girls were free to go to Dumay for a day and to visit Laboule Children's Home another day. Plus, they were willing to do anything. I loved their humility and servant's hearts.

 For whatever reason, the girls decided they should help with the laundry at Laboule. I think the kids REALLY appreciate the help.

 Ashley volunteered her time a little differently, but the girls also appreciated her willingness to "help" them by sitting still.

I couldn't resist posting this picture. One of the kids from Laboule snapped it, and I think it's perfect! I know it looks like there's a little romance going on here, but I'm certain there wasn't anything romantic happening.

I'm sad to see my new Canadian friends return to Canada today. What a blessing they were to the villages of Gramothe and Dumay!!