Our congregation is collecting 450 new books for Fisher Elementary School right here in our neighborhood. Our goal is to have a grade appropriate book for every student at Fisher. March is reading month, so now is the time. Help us get a new book to 450 kids in our neighborhood! Bring books to church any time – and let Kelly Williams know if you have any questions.
Haiti Trip 2012: Slideshow
Pastor Jeff and Paul and the rest of their team have returned safely from Haiti! They had a great trip. There will be lots of opportunities to hear their stories but here is a slide show to see some pictures….
Haiti Trip 2012: Update 2-16-12
The Girls
Wednesday has been quite a day. We arrived at the school with a few things on our to do list, the second day of Bible School, some construction and getting two girls enrolled in school. The picture of one girl was left by the group from last week and the other was a girl I fell in love over the past couple of days.
We showed pictures of the girls to the matriarch of the church and she went into motion. She knew who they were and where to find them. (God was moving!) Within minutes, the girls and their guardians were standing in the church. Everyone was happy to hear of the girl’s opportunity to go to school.
Rosaline (I think) was the group identified last week. She lives with her grandmother, who said that her mother has dementia of some kind (I suspect some kind of mental illness), and the kids were being abused. Rosaline is the youngest and was taken in by her grandmother, who could not afford to pay for school and the uniform and supplies. The other girl, Mialove, is a girl who lives with her aunt, who is older, and her grandparents. Cost was also keeping her out of school.
We met with the principal, gave the girls a pep talk about working hard and doing their school work, paid the families for the uniforms and committed to paying for these girls for years to come. Everyone exchanged hugs and kisses with big smiles. The girls will start school next week.
To finish off this part of the day, after many people heard about the girl’s good news, there are several other families who have children that they would like to have in school. One young boy’s father was killed in the earthquake, one family has 7 children, there are many who want to go to school. I wish I could arrange to send them all.
It was a busy day. Bible School went well today, the younger children heard the story of the lost sheep and the lost coin, and then played games and made sock puppets. Our team visited the beach across from the church and most got their feet wet in the ocean, ( Dale actually went swimming). There was an impromptu drum circle with some dancing, construction continued on the wall and the church, relationships were built, there is some sunburn, and we are feeling God’s presence as we settle in for the evening.
Beth
Haiti Trip 2012: Update on 2-15-12
Bible School
Good morning. Wednesday Feb. 15. The power is out this morning. We have finished breakfast and are waiting for our ride to Gommier for our second day of Bible School.
We feel your prayers and support every day as we deal with the days sights and sounds and experience the love and compassion the Haitians have for life.
Yesterday was Bible School for the 3rd-6th graders. Try to imagine the church filled with 90 children helping us rejoice over finding something that was lost. The children sang “This Is the Day”, “Alleluia – Praise The Lord”, “Father Abraham” all in Creole with some English mixed in. The Rain ‘song’ required no language and it was beautiful.
We kept our interpreters busy all day whether we were teaching the entire group or having a conversation with the many children and adults who gather around us to touch our hair, be held, play or attempt to teach us Creole.
After retuning to the Guest House we walked to the town square in search of brooms and school supplies. Wilbins knew where we needed to ‘shop’ and we had fun looking around and taking in the ways of Jeremie.
There are no apparent rules of the road or traffic laws so staying alert is critical. The walk to town is all downhill and on the way you pass women with large baskets and 5 gallon buckets on their heads, burros, and many children coming to and from school.
Pastor Jeff asks us every evening where we have seen the face of Jesus through-out the day. We see Jesus in the eyes of the children, in the dedication of the District Supt. :Pastor Crisnell, our team members who share and sing and tell the Story, and the Haitians who work hard just to survive. Blessed are the poor.
You can find this entry and more on a blog that was started by another group of metro Detroit United Methodists that were there right before our group, and the current group has been adding to it.
Haiti Trip 2012: Update on 2-14-12
Monday night in Haiti. We are exhausted. We are in awe. So much need.
Anyway…Sunday morning we went to the United Methodist Church in Jeremie. We were privileged to attend a youth service, which happens the second Sunday of each month. The church was full with about 500 people – half of which were children. The children ran most of the 2 hour service except for the 45 minute sermon and the prayers. The choirs sang – children’s choir, women’s choir, mixed choir and a smaller women’s choir. The congregational singing was so heart felt and loud that our ears nearly hurt. Most of the singing was without instruments, however there was a guitar and drums. They sang a song to the tune of “Oh Danny Boy” and sang it to a reggae beat. It was wonderful. Pastor John introduced us to the congregation and thanked them for welcoming us to their community. One of the amazing things was the fact that all those children sat through the entire 2 hour service – mostly well behaved, and dressed in their Easter Sunday best. They were beautiful.
During the afternoon we got the opportunity to go to the beach. Our time for vacation on this amazing trip. The Caribbean Sea was beautiful blue and we actually found a sandy beach – instead of rocks which surrounds most of Haiti. Since we went to the beach in a 4 door pickup truck and there were 9 of us, half of us had to ride in the back of the pickup! What a sight!
Monday morning we awoke to rain – again – it rains often in Jeremie. Lapli – means rain. This morning our group was divided. Half of us went to the Methodist medical clinic. We were able to see the workings of the clinic and assist with examination of patients. The physician was very welcoming and explained what each person’s complaint and treatment was. We were impressed with the efficiency. The clinic was happy to receive the blood pressure cuffs and stethoscopes that were donated. There was also a dental clinic and an eye clinic, which actually does surgery. We went to the pharmacy and delivered the medications that were donated – and well appreciated by the pharmacist ( who has worked there for 44 years! ) We also had the opportunity to visit the orphanage which currently has 35 children from the age of 8 to 19. There are 2 adults who live and work at the orphanage. It was very clean and organized. The children were happy to see us.
The other half of us went to the Gommier school/church area. Three of them painted – the outside of the church and the windows and the baseboards of the inside of the sanctuary. Carmen spent her day speaking with the principal of the school – deciding how we are going to run our bible school – and learning all about the school – their strengths and their weaknesses – their many weaknesses. Since we have two retired educators with us this trip, you can imagine how their brains are hurting. I think these ladies will be back here soon with more assistance for the school.
We are having an amazing time. We are blessed each day by the beauty that surrounds us – in the people and in the country. God is Good.
You can find this entry and more on a blog that was started by another group of metro Detroit United Methodists that were there right before our group, and the current group has been adding to it.