We're Plugging Along!

Jeff and I found out last Friday, that our file is now in the Minitry of the Interior. It is expected to be there for 3-4 months, then the girls will get their passports printed (about 3-4 weeks) and then their US visas will be issued (2 weeks). So all in all we are looking at them arriving somewhere between October and December. Please continue to keep us in your prayers!

Here is our June Update!

It’s been a good month in school for all three of the girls. Neissa is in school with our Elementary teacher Elange and her helper Ruth from 9:00 a.m. Until 12:30 p.m. And is doing very well. She is working on reading, writing, recognizing numbers and starting on simple addition. When we first put Neissa in the class she was having some Behaviour issues and was having to stand at the wall or sent out to her nanny quite often. She has since learned what is acceptable and what is not in class and is being much more respectful and doing a good job following directions. Neissa has also moved up a class in English and is doing very well.

Sonise is continuing to open up in class and has got a good attitude. She seems happy with her surroundings and is enjoying the company of the children as well as her nannies. She is making more progress in school that I have seen in the past and is more comfortable speaking English, even if Chalinda is close by. Sonise is working on her homework on her own until Amanda is back. Sonise misses Amanda and talks about her being excited about having her back in Haiti. Chalinda is improving in her speech, reading and writing. She has been lacking a little in her drive to please and seems to be happy with just getting things done.

We had a lot of fun with last weeks spelling words. I picked out different foods that are common in the U.S. And in Canada. We had words like Macaroni and cheese, pizza, fried chicken, ice cream, and cereal. The kids would joke each day about how hungry the spelling page would make them and how much of it they would eat when they get home. On the day of the test I wanted to do something special for them so I cooked up so Kraft dinner, bought some special lucky charms and ice cream sandwiches for after their test. The macaroni and cheese was surprisingly disliked by everyone but the lucky charms were a huge hit. The kids ate them up and drank down the vanilla milk that went with it. The last treat was the ice cream sandwiches. They were so fun to watch them eat. The faces the kids made as they bit into the ice cream were priceless. Sonise, not liking chocolate decided it was a good idea to put her ice cream sandwich in her bag for later. The next day she explained to me why her homework was covered in chocolate goo.

A few weeks ago we had a quiet Saturday where the volunteers were gone and Molly and I had no obligations or set plans so we dressed up the oldest fifteen kids and popped them into the car. We invited Sonise to join us and she joyfully accepted. We headed up to the Baptist Mission where Chalinda, Sonise and the other children enjoyed chicken, French fries and cola. They were all thrilled with the meal and had no problem finishing up everything in front of them. After lunch we headed down to the zoo were we saw an alligator, a monkey, rabbits, birds, snakes, ducks and goats. Sonise had a great time watching the monkey move and chatter. She bent down next to it and imitated the noise it was making. Chalinda seemed interested in the peacocks and loves to watch them strut around. After the zoo we headed over to the small museum and walked through looking at all the exciting treasures. We wandered around a bit longer then headed home. The girls had a great time and have asked since then when the next trip up would be.

Chalinda and her friends were downstairs in the school room last weekend doing crafts and creating different things. The kids like to hang up their artwork on the school walls when they are done but I had used up all the tape the day before so someone (very good chance it was Chalinda J) came up with the brilliant idea of taking blue glue stick and smearing it all over the walls. Quite pleased with their artwork they cleaned up and never said a word about it to me. A few days later Molly came down while I was teaching and noticed the blue smudges pretty much right away. When I asked Chalinda and her classmates about the blue smudges they shook their heads yes and said in a very matter of fact way that they put glue all over the wall. A few of them even seemed quite proud of themselves for coming up with the idea. This week we will be getting our scrub brushes out and attempt to get rid of all the blue glue off of the walls.

Last week in school Neissa and her classmates were working a little with clay. Clay is always a special thing we do and they don’t get to use it very often so Neissa thought maybe she could make this fun last a little longer. When I explained it was time to clean up I walked around to each child and as they handed me their ball of clay. I got to Neissa and she handed me a piece the size of a bouncy ball. Being a little smarter than a five year old I asked her where the rest of the clay was. She simply smiled at me and as the grin came out I noticed a something poking out of her mouth. I told her to open her mouth and of course knowing that she would be busted she just played dumb and kept her mouth shut. Again in a not so patient voice I told her to open her mouth. Neissa then reluctantly opened her mouth and pulled out a piece of clay about the size of a golf ball.

A few weeks ago we were giving a donation of brand new children’s comforters. We lined up the colourful blankets on a long table and let Chalinda and her roommates in the room to pick out a brand new blanket. Chalinda and her friends made about six or seven rounds around the table touching each blanket before deciding on which one to take. Chalinda contemplated many different choices and even went to the extent of picking a few up and wrapping them around her to see how it felt. Chalinda finally decided on a thick pink white and green comforter.

About five weeks before the Vacation bible school team was scheduled to arrive Chalinda and her friends started the countdown. All three of the girls had a great time at Vacation bible school. They were all very well behaved. They were respectful and did as they were asked. They learned all kinds of fun songs, great bible stories, new verses, and made snacks and had learned some really fun games. All three of the girls agreed that the songs were their favourite parts and that they loved the warm up song the best of all. The girls were so happy with everything they did and best of all they learned some new things about Jesus and grew closer to Him. Please open the following link to find video of the kids at VBS: www.youtube.com/GLAHaiti