Our Sponsorship Program

For the past few weeks, I've been working with the sponsored students at our school, helping them write/draw thank you letters to send to their sponsors. The kids love drawing with crayons- something they don't get to use very often. We have a great sponsorship program that makes it possible for these kids to go to school and a long list of kids who are in need of a sponsor. Interested in giving a child an education?? Got to Hosean's website http://hosean.org for more information.

I was out at our Lapila school this morning working on some stuff for the sponsorship program. I thought these 2 girls were so cute. I couldn't resist taking their picture...

It's hard to believe finals start next week. The school year is winding down quickly...

The battery in my ATV died and won't hold a charge, so I've been doing my fair share of walking this week. I'm hoping to find an ATV battery somewhere in Haiti in the near future... maybe in Cap Haitien or Port?

me & myel

Each morning...

the milk kids come to my door...

here for their daily glass of milk...

always leaving with a mustache....

College de la Grace

Last week we celebrated the schools' 15th anniversary. The week was filled with tons of events, my favorite being the teachers vs. students soccer match. (Watching the "older" teachers run around aggressively was hilarious!) The teachers surprised everyone and played really well. They tied with a score of 2-2!
On Monday, we had a really cool ceremony at the church. All of the students (almost 800), preschool through high school, marched all the way from the school to the church with a marching band. There were several speakers and choirs that performed. At one point, they asked all of the previous graduates of the school to stand. It was really something to see the people who had gone on to be teachers, doctors, nurses, lawyers, pastors, etc, all because of what God has made possible in our town. Fifteen years ago there wasn't even a high school in Pignon!

My friend Joe after his graduation with the adorable Lucien girls.

Love's new ride

When I gave my little friend Kiki this toy truck, I thought he'd haul rocks and sand in it. I wasn't thinking he'd be carting babies around! Love sits in the truck 24/7... She cries when they make her get out.

It's HOT

For the past week, we have had some really hot weather in Pignon. It's been getting up to almost 90 degrees INSIDE my house during the day! I noticed last night at 6:30 it was still 85. Let me tell you, that's not fun sleeping weather...

Fe Ti Poze

Flag Day

Flag Day is tomorrow, May 18th. The kids at school celebrated a little early on Friday by making flags and dancing around. Tomorrow there will be a big soccer game and then all kinds of performances put on by different schools of dancing and singing.

Sala's Garden

I spent yesterday afternoon in my friend, Sala's garden. We drove my 4-wheeler as far as we could and then walked for about 20 more minutes. The garden was out in the country side and so beautiful. It seems like most people who live 'in town' and have no space for a garden in their yard, have gardens (for small fields) out in the country.
We picked pineapples, mangos, cashews, and citron (for juice). I've become somewhat of a mango addict so I'm way excited to have a whole basket full!

Jeanese trying out the mangos.

Posing with our stash....

Sala carrying her basket home.

I'm back in Pignon

On Monday my flight was late getting into Port (anyone who's a frequent flyer to Haiti knows this is no big suprise). So I called Caleb to say that I made it to Port, but that it was too late for me to fly out to Pignon. And he said thats ok because he had a free voucher for me to stay at the Hotel Montana. Turns out his families' flight was also very late in getting to Haiti and he scored free vouchers at one of the nicest hotels in Haiti! I was so happy he shared his blessing with me. After a super-crazy busy week in the States, my 'mini' vacation at the hotel was wonderful. I actually needed that one-day vacation from my vacation!

Aerial view of Pignon... as you can see, our town sits at the base of the mountain. You can also see the grass runway strip on the left.

Our (impressive) school, College de la Grace. If you can kinda see how the buildings make a sqaure, I live about in the top center of the square.

Cool Shades

around Pignon

I made it back home to Indiana ok... When I think about what all I've done in the last few days since I've been here, all that comes to mind is the great food I've been eating! I'm definitely taking advantage of all the good American food I can get. And of course when I'm not eating, I'm hanging out with friends and family. As always, my mom and I have been pretty much inseparable since I got off the plane :)