Haitian School Board and Teacher Team in the DR

January 14-19, 2015

Everyone arrived last night - American Teachers and Haitian School Board.  We had a wonderful meal prepared by people from Ebenezer Church and we are currently in our first meetings of the trip.  (See photos below).  We started the morning off with a tour of the school and we are now meeting with school administrators so that our Haitian leaders can learn from them and the excellent structure of our school here in Barahona.

We are in meetings this morning, will have time to spend with children this afternoon, visiting other schools outside the area tomorrow and maybe take school pictures on Monday.

24 hours in Barahona and it feels like we are home.  Our day (all 17 of us~ the Haitian school board and our ladies) was full of exactly what God planned. We were able to meet with the leadership of our Ebenezer School, followed by a meeting with the teachers of the school and wrapped up with a meeting of the parents’ association.  We were all able to share thoughts, ideas and visions for the schools both here and in Haiti. What a gift to have three countries’ school systems represented and to learn from each.  After lunch, the American crew was able to spend a few hours with a small group of students from the school playing games and even slid in a small English lesson. 

Mission Possible is in the process of building a Creole church here and it was overwhelming to pull up tonight and see a physical sanctuary where I personally had walked on a small patch of dirt several years ago.  The small tears were ones of overwhelming joy at the persistence of the followers of Christ here in the Dominican.  

Dominican, Haitian, and American Educators all together

The Creole church - almost ready to be used

We spent the last two days in the capitol city of Santo Domingo.  On the way there we stopped at two public schools to tour and let the Haitian school board men get a look at what the schools were like.  At the second school, we were able to be a part of a teacher inservice and collaborate together (Americans, Dominicans, and Haitians). It was definitely a divine appointment. We stayed the night in a hotel and then had an exciting day shopping in the market, seeing the historical sights, and riding the subway. This was a special treat for the Haitian men as most of them have never been to a big city or ridden on a subway. 

What a wonderful Lord’s Day we have had! Praise God for the Sabbath! After breakfast, we joined the Ebenezer congregation in their morning service, where we experienced worship in many different forms and languages. The praise songs were sung in Spanish, French, Creole, and yes, even some in English. We were moved by the graceful and prayerful dancing of ten Dominican young ladies. Pastor Rosemond, one of the Haitian school board members, shared the message from Galatians 3:21-29. He encouraged and reminded the congregation that nothing is too difficult for our God. The service was spirit-filled and the joy of the Lord could be felt throughout.

We spent the afternoon on preparations for our departure to Haiti tomorrow morning and the lessons we will teach tomorrow afternoon at the teachers’ school in Lanzac.  We then rested in the sunshine, visiting and looking at our view of the mountains and the blue, blue waters of the Caribbean (from the top of the mission center).

Our original plan to travel to Haiti this afternoon was changed.  Once again, God provided a better option.  This allowed us to rejoin the Ebenezer congregation for their evening worship.  What a lively celebration!  We witnessed such joy and love for God in their singing, dancing, beautiful smiles and warm hugs!  There didn’t seem to be a language barrier, even though there were four different languages being spoken and sung.  That is the work of the Holy Spirit!