Williamson, part 2 (PICTURES!)

Williamson Training, July 2015

Large and small group instruction

Topics: Child Development, Goals and Objectives, Review of how to use the National Curriculum 

Donations from Normandale French Immersion in Edina, MN! The teachers loved the maps and science materials in French and are starting a school library for the books! 

Pastor Training via Skype with Pastor Dave from Iowa.  

These pastors from Williamson meet on the second Thursday of every month to discuss a variety of ministry opportunities and to share god's word. 

Williamson, 2015

It has been great to be back in Haiti, a country that has really become like a second home.  I am continually blessed to see old friends and meet new ones.  I am continually impressed by the progress I see in their country.  And, I am continually humbled to be received and welcomed which such grace, humility and genuine spirit.  I knew in my heart that working in Haiti was a long-term call for me and one that would take patience and a willingness to let our program work itself out from the ground up.  I feel good knowing that we are continuing to create a sustainable and empowering professional development program as true partners based on the specific needs and desires from each community I work with. 

It is gratifying and reassuring to talk with people here and to have them tell me that working with me is different, because their opinions matter and are valued.  No decision, even financial ones, is made without discussion with our Haitian partners. 

During my 2 weeks here I have had the pleasure of hosting two teacher seminars, one in Williamson and one in Thoitte.  These communities are both committed to doing anything and everything in their power to strive for a bright future.  There are great Haitian leaders in each of these areas that are starting to come together as a cohesive team to brainstorm, hope, dream and act on real, attainable goals that will hopefully improve and sustain their local education system, economies and the overall health of their citizens. 

Williamson’s training was held July 9^th and 10^th and we had 42 teachers from 8 different schools.  This year, by some amazing feat, we came in under budget at about $900.00!  Even with a significant inflation in the exchange rate that started a few months ago.  This year’s focus was on the psycho and social development of children and how it affects how they learn.  We discussed psychologists like Bloom and Freud and I wish we had more time to explore more.  Understanding development and how students learn is such an important, often overlooked part of being an effective teacher, even in the U.S.  We also had a review of how to effectively use a curriculum and the importance of having clear and detailed goals and objectives to ensure that you are checking for understanding and scaffolding the content for your students throughout the year. 

This year the trainers gave a short exam to access the teacher’s retention of the concepts we have been learning over the past 3 years.  Unfortunately, many of the teachers were not able to successfully complete this exam.  This brought a new area of support to the forefront of this program.  A constant request from every teacher and school director here is to have more days, more trainings and more support.  So, our planning team met after the seminars and, god willing, we are going to try to have 3 training sessions for the 2015-2016 school year in Williamson.  The goal is to try to support teachers throughout the school year as they implement the strategies and concepts they learned this July.  We will try to have a one-day seminar at the end of the 1^st and 2^nd trimesters and then a 2-3 day training the following summer including some sessions presented by American teachers like myself.  I hope and pray that the funding will be available to make this a reality and that I can form a small team to travel with me next summer to help with the training. 

Unfortunately, I forgot the cord to upload pictures from my camera (should have just used my iPhone!) so I will post pictures from Williamson when I get back to MN!    

Thanks for reading and for all your support!

Field trip to Leogane!

Manno is a good friend of mine in Haiti who I originally met through WWV as he sometimes works as an interpreter and is very good at finding cars and canters (bigger vehicles) to transport large groups around Haiti.  We have continued to stay in touch through the wonders of Facebook and have now worked together on a teacher training program in his home town of Thoitte. 

He is one of those guys who just knows everyone and everything and to top it off, he has a huge servant heart and is truly doing his part to help his community and his country.  This man is a smart, kind and ambitious man of god. 

During my short week here he invited me to come to see a new project he just started working on.  Hands of Friendship (a ministry out of New Prague, MN), has taken over a huge ministry that includes a children’s home (with almost 100 kids), a school, guesthouse, gardens and meeting center.  I wasn’t quite sure what to expect but I was blown away when we arrived. 

Guesthouse

dining room 

roof top!

First of all, their land is huge!  The complex is beautifully kept and everything is in good repair.  There is a playground and a soccer field and spaces to hang out outside and then separate houses for the boys and girls and a nice dining hall.  The guesthouse is a short walk away and has a gorgeous roof top and space to sleep 30.  Their dining space is like a café and their food was delicious!

I spent quite a bit of time just hanging out at the school with a few kids and it was amazing how much Creole I actually know!  We were able to talk and sing and teach each other new things.  They loved looking at my pictures of things in the US – my family and friends, snow and snowshoeing on the lakes some videos of the students at my school. 

school (grades Pre-k thru 6)

daily schedule

silly boys having fun!

classroom 

Although school was not in session, it was really great to see each class had posted a schedule of their daily activities and when I asked the kids, they knew what each one was and what they do during that time.  I am hoping to return to this school and help out with training this summer.  Just like our other communities, the teachers are always hungry for more knowledge about their profession.    

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HANDS OF FRIENDSHIP PLEASE GO TO THEIR WEBSITE OR CONNECT WITH THEM ON FACEBOOK!

http://www.hofmissions.com

https://www.facebook.com/handsoffriendshipmissions

the little things

Sitting on the rooftop in Haiti.  The wind is blowing the palm trees ever so slightly, the sun is warm, but not too warm and I feel like I’ve never left.  This place…so familiar yet so not my everyday….it’s amazing how seamlessly I just fold back in.    It’s incredible how much this place has a hold on my heart.  It’s even more incredible how much I love the people I have come to know over the past 5 years. 

Today I really took advantage of seeing blessings amongst the minutia.  Little gifts from god that, in my own life, often go unnoticed, unrecognized, and unappreciated.  This post might seem  little scattered, but bear with me!

It started this morning at 4:30am when I realized the Carbiou Coffee IS open at the airport that early. J Then, on my way back to my gate, I ran into a good friend, heading to another spring break destination, whose gate ended up right next to mine!  Perfect way to start a much needed vacation for both of us!

I had the pleasure of sitting behind two young boys that had never flown before.  If you ever take flying for granted or get annoyed on a flight I urge to channel the excitement of these boys….they literally thought everything was amazing.  I could write an entire book on their comments, but I’ll spare you.  These are my favorites:

“Mom!  Do we start chewing our watermelon gum now?” 

“Mom!  Are we going up now?!”      

“Mom!  That was the bestest airplane turn EVER!”

“Mom!  I am getting this all on video!” (and he was!)

On our flight to Miami, I was spoiled with the coolest sunrise I’ve ever seen – the picture doesn’t do it justice….ALL of the colors of the rainbow were there in real life. 

While walking through the airport in Miami I saw real CSI (Crime Scene Investigation) guys and a security dog at one of the gates.  I know that should maybe make me nervous…..but I thought that stuff only happened on TV!

The stewardess on our flight into Port-au-Prince encouraged us all to turn to our neighbors and introduce ourselves in her pre-flight speech.  Funny thing is, as you walked up the aisles, most people were already talking to each other.  There wasn’t this personal space/mind your own business bubble that happens far to often in my day-to-day life. 

The remodeled airport is gorgeous!  I realize now, how much damage the earthquake really did.  Thinking back on my first trip here, we had to ride a bus to customs and to pick up our luggage and the building was literally falling apart.  Now, the hallways are clean and air-conditioned!!  You are lead right to immigration while listening to a local band and there are beautiful murals covering the walls.  I was in such a good mood that the new $10.00 tourism fee to enter the country didn’t even phase me!  

My good friend, Manno, picked me up at the airport.  Seriously – it is amazing to come to a foreign country and be welcomed and feel comfortable right from the very start.  It is these moments that I give thanks for technology because we are able to stay in touch when I am not here and its almost like no time has passed. 

When I arrived at the guest house, 2 of my favorite cooks were already getting dinner ready in the kitchen.  We gave big hugs, exchanged limited creole pleasantries and I sat down and got to work coring pineapple.  These women are beautiful.  Seriously, full of grace and joy and hospitality.   

I could go on and on, but I will end with this.  While writing tonight, a hummingbird came so close that it almost landed on my toe.  To be honest, I didn’t know Haiti had hummingbirds!  But humingbirds always remind me of my grandparents and in that little flit of a wing I was reminded of all of the people back home that are supporting me.  You have listened to my stories, you have prayed and donated, you have encouraged and consoled. 

These are all very little things, pieces of joy that I picked up along my day, but right now, 

my heart is full.