Sick

Singing songs

Today was a very laid back day at school. It was chapel today so while Angie worked on a few things I hooked up the lap top, projector, and speakers, prayed we had enough electricity and pushed play. It was a DVD of children's ministry songs with motions (Arica I'm sure you know all the songs). The kids enjoyed being able to be active, and the teachers were hoping that it would get some of their energy out. After that I taught Math to the Kindergarten class, so Angie could get some more stuff done. After Math I looked up some testing results for Angie, that she needed to look over (it is a long process.) We then worked on the Kindergarten class' memory books. We helped them fill out papers that said "I love God because...Jesus is my...My favorite Bible story is...in Kindergarten I learned..." After lunch her and I did some work in the library, typing letters, sending email, etc. She then had to go to a meeting so I went and graded for Mrs. Z, then we practiced our song for the program (boy do I have my hands full with that group.)

I have been feeling sick all day, so I'm glad it was a relaxing day. I have been nauseous and just feel crummy. The bite on my hand is getting better (I think it is a mosquito bite that just got really puffy.) As the former Haiti team members know, mosquitoes LOVE me and I the bites get really big and red.

A man from Salem came yesterday, Mark Haney. He will be helping Brett in the office. It was cool to find out he knows Pastor Rich and some of my family members. I'm glad he is here because since I'm not feeling well, I didn't stay after dinner to play games with the kids, like I usually do, so he took my place. A team from Olney is coming tomorrow and we are all going to the same beach we went to in January (I will not be having the fish.) I am praying that I am feeling better by tomorrow.

I am really missing Matt, my family, and friends but I am more than thankful to be here. I can't imagine how Angie would be feeling if she didn't have any help.

I want to give a shout out to Erika and Maria who are reading my blog from Chicago, love you ladies!

I got bit

Today, was a stressful day for Angie and me. We had another flat tire, which meant another late day to school. Then we were trying to get the results of the testing the students had this year and the website was NOT user friendly. It took about two hours for us to finally get them. Then this afternoon we tried to apply for an online program for the older students and it would not work either! I did a lot of stuff in between those two things like shelving library books, making copies, etc. I can't believe my second week is almost coming to a close! Either last night or today I got bit by something, and I don't think it was a mosquito. My left pinky knuckle is swollen, itchy, and hurting, and it does not look like my other mosquito bites. There was a huge spider in my house last night, so I'm hoping it is not a spider bite. Depending on how it looks tomorrow I may go see Dr. Rodney. Please pray that when I wake up tomorrow it is make to normal or looks like a normal mosquito bite. 

I know this a short one and my thoughts are all over the place, but I'm writing fast because I am going to lose power soon.
Goodnight

Today I am thankful for Patrick & Skype

Today for myself and the Bundy's started off a little shaky. I woke up 15 minutes later than I have been. Did my morning things like making breakfast, packing my lunch, getting ready, etc, but I was moving a little slower than usual. I was in my bathroom packing my medicine (I thought I was getting Haitian Happiness) but it was a false alarm, when I heard a tiny voice. "Hello, Miss. Sierra?" It was Alanna, I looked at the clock and it was 7:30 , on the dot (we leave at 7:30.) I asked if they were waiting on me, and she said "well...sorta, we have a flat tire." I walked across the yard and saw Brett surrounded by four kids (two of his own, and two of Dr. Rodney's) trying to air up the tire. It didn't work out too well, so he took it to the shop on the compound to have it aired up. When we finally got to school (late) there were several Kindergarteners waiting on the porch. 

Once we got to school, I went to the library to finish my excel project I started yesterday when Angie's computer died (Brett fixed it.) It took me several hours to enter in all the data I needed to, but it was something she really needed done, and I was thankful I was the person who could do it for her. After I got that done, I went to Mrs. Z's class for only about 30 minutes to grade and learn the songs 1st and 2nd grade are singing for the awards ceremony (Mrs. Z will be in the states that day, so I'm in charge of her class.) After lunch I started printing the invitations for graduation and the awards ceremony, until I had printer problems. When Angie went to fix the printer, I took over Kindergarten. We read a story together, had rest time, then did language. I taught them the OY and OI sounds like in the words boy and soil. We did a worksheet on it, then reviewed what they learned a few days before, the AW, ALL, and ALK sounds. By then it was time to go home.

Today Patrick got internet at my house! I'm so thankful for it! Yes, I had the internet at the Bundy's but it is nice being about to get on it right before bed, and I was able to Skype with Matt!!!!! It was so great to see his face (and it saves me money on minutes for the phone.) 

Being here is amazing, I love being here. I love the people, the culture, how laid back everything is. In America everyone is so worried about the little things. Here, no one cares if their kids get dirty at school, they are just thankful for the education their child is receiving. Here, they take advantage of the produce the Lord has provided, they don't run to the store for anything. They run to the garden, call the guy who milks his cows, run to the lady on the street who sells pineapples her family has most likely picked. Everything is made from scratch, no cookie mixes, or canned spaghetti sauce, it's all homemade. You walk down the street and see kids eating a mango they just knocked out of a tree. You smell the cocoa that is being cooked that Jake and his friends just picked. Everything is fresh! 

Thank you Lord for this day, I will rejoice and be glad in it!

  

So. Itchy

Today was a busy day at school. I taught the Bible lesson, went over the calender, and sang songs with the Kindergartners this morning. After that Angie and I unloaded and organized the textbooks  for next year. I had to take some pictures of the school for Angie to email to someone about getting solar panels at the school. Then I started to work on a spreadsheet of entering the new students who have enrolled for next year, well, that is until Angie's computer messed up. Luckily I was able to get all of her school information on the external hard drive before it died. It did not crash but the port where you plug it in to charge is not working, so it will not charge. After lunch I graded for Mrs. Z then took the second graders and read with them about communicable diseases (a concept they do not understand in Haiti, they think only the rain causes colds.) This evening I played some games with the kids and started a book Angie let me borrow. 

Last night at about 2:00 AM a dog decided to bark outside my window for about 30 minutes. It was the longest 30 minutes ever! I am hoping he leaves me alone tonight!

My cold is getting better, but my mosquito bites are getting worse!!

Happy Monday

I forgot how exhausting school is. This morning I taught the Kindergarten and pre-school class a song I learned at church camp one year. I then set Angie up a Skype account because she had a meeting today. Then, I helped the Kindergarteners make a beaded key chain for their mom's for Mother's Day (Haitian Mother's Day was yesterday.) After lunch for about 30 minutes I helped grade papers for Mrs. Z. Angie had her meeting at one, so I took over Kindergarten. During rest time I read two books, then we did a reading paper, then had free time, then it was time to go. The next few days I'll be doing a lot of projects for Angie, transfer DVDs, sorting next year's books, entering info into Excel, printing invitations for the end of the year program, and much more. I'm so thankful I was able to come for these three weeks, Angie is totally swamped!

The Lord's Day

Well, as we all know today is Sunday, so we went to church. The church we went to was "off road" as they say. We drove for about 50 minutes then got out and hiked for about ten minutes. The views that we saw were amazing! The church service was great even though I couldn't understand it, but Angie translated for me, again. I love hearing the songs they sing in Haiti, even though I don't know what they are saying and I can't sing along. They sing with such joy and adoration! There were two little girl that were probably no older than 5 and they were singing every word and clapping, they were so adorable! Pastor Max's sermon was on God's grace! I am so thankful for that grace.

After church Angie, the kids, and I walked around in the community a bit while Brett talked with people inside. We ran across some little kids and one of them was listening to a Resounding Hope radio. For those of you who do not know what it is, let me explain. They are solar powered radios that OMS hands out to people, while sharing the gospel. They only play Radio 4VEH, which is a Christian radio station owned by OMS. 

Now we are all just relaxing. I am thankful for my opportunity to be here!

Our hike back to the car

Saturday

I had a great Saturday with the kids. We played a ton of games, pick flowers, watched a movie, and went out to eat. I am pooped!