Haitian School Board and Teacher Team in Haiti

January 19 - 21, 2015

Today was a busy, but wonderful day.  We got up early and brought all our bags and teaching supplies to be packed into the van for the drive to Haiti.  We took over 150 children’s pictures at Ebenezer School in record time, with everyone doing their part. Since we didn’t have the opportunity to see Ebenezer classes last week, we were thrilled to have the opportunity to observe the opening ceremony then be able to quickly visit the preschool and elementary classes.  Ruth and the kitchen staff served us a filling Dominican breakfast for the long journey and we left around 9:30 a.m.

Crossing the border into Haiti was an unforgettable experience! To compound the activity, Monday is market day and so many retailers were there with bulk goods to sell.  There didn’t seem to be any order to this process and so many vehicles were trying to squeeze into such a small area at the same time. Pastor Herve and the Haitian School Board calmly led us through the chaotic experience and we continued into Haiti.

We arrived about 2:00 p.m. at the Mission Center and quickly dropped off our luggage, gathered teaching materials and headed to the Teachers’ Academy to begin the first day of lessons.  Ellionaire introduced us and the teachers sang a song to welcome us. The room was beautifully decorated with ribbons, balloons and flowers.  Instead of keeping the group together this year, we divided into two smaller groups of about 30 each. Bev taught a lesson on how to incorporate music and movement into their classrooms while Sharon taught a lesson on mathematics using the place value manipulatives and rulers that will be left at the schools.   Nicole and Sherry reviewed Piaget’s concepts on learning and demonstrated parachute activities.  The students at the teacher school loved trying out all these activities.  The parachutes and balls will also be left at the schools and Judy gave a lesson about the basics of public speaking.

Waking up today, it felt somewhat bittersweet knowing it was our last full day here on this island that, for the past week, has truly felt like home. However, the last day of teaching surely didn’t disappoint. We visited the school Dupin today. This school has an amazing hike through small villages, across a stream, and up a mountain. Once we arrived we got straight to teaching. I personally taught an English lesson today to fifth and sixth graders (about 42 students). Since their English knowledge is little to none, I started with a lesson on teaching them their numbers and played a counting game, and ended with a lesson on family and created family trees. The students seemed to especially enjoy hearing me try to pronounce some of their family members’ names. It was an amazing experience to interact with the children and be a part of their education. After that we finished up our day at MPCA teaching language and math classes. Reflecting back on this week I have seen God’s hand at work in so many ways. It won’t ever matter how many times He brings me back to the same island, I continue to stand in awe of His majesty.

Last night as I was preparing for my lesson, my devotional reading said this:

“Our Lord Jesus differs from all other teachers. They reach the ear, but He instructs the heart. They deal with the outward letter, but He imparts an inward taste for the truth, by which we perceive its savor and spirit. The most unlearned of individuals become ripe scholars in the school of grace.”

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!

Haiti Pastors Seminar - December 2, 2014

Today is the first day of the pastors seminar. See here the hundreds of pastors singing and praising God.  We are excited to see God move this week.

 

 

Day 2 of the pastors seminar.  Pastors Danny and Franklin have been doing a great job leading the seminar.

 

 

Today was the last day and the closing ceremonies for the pastors seminar.  All the pastors prayed over us and thanked us for coming.  It was truly a humbling experience.

Haiti Picture Team - November 29, 2014

On Monday we hiked up to Dupin for our first set of photos.  The school looked great and the kids were very friendly.  Later in the afternoon we took photos of high school students at Chardene Secondary.  Overall it was a very productive day. 

Today went for another hike only this time up to Degeance.  Photos went well there too.  It was fun watching the kids play and seeing their village. After lunch we drove down to MPCA to photograph their high school students.  Before we started, Joe and Tom enjoyed a quick game of soccer with the Haitian.  They both agreed the Haitians were very good for their age (Tom would like to recruit them for back in Ohio).  Teresa, Sandy, Jean, and Darren cheered them on. 

 

Today we traveled up to Chardene to take pictures of the primary students.  Also, Teresa and Jean were able to see their sponsor children.  After the photos we were able to play and sing songs with the students.

 

Today we took on MPCA Primary, our largest school with nearly 450 students.  Things went smooth though and we will be going back to MPCA tomorrow to get a few absent student pictures.

We finished up our pictures in the morning then traveled up to Lahatte, our poorest school.  It's eye opening seeing the school and village.  We all leave humbled and changed.

 

Haiti Medical Team - November 15, 2014

Hike. Hike. Hike.  Today, Wednesday November 19, 2014, we went to Deageance, which takes a little drive and then a strenuous, steamy and beautiful hike uphill to get to the school.  God blessed us with another great clinic day, seeing over 135 patients.  The school and the area are very remote and poor and the people are VERY sweet and kind. The school has dirt floors, but the kiddos that attend there are lively and fun!  They made us realize that children are the same everywhere.

 

Tuesday – November 16, 2014

Today the medical team went to LaHatte and again saw over 120 patients.  The dentists returned to Dupin to see people who still needed dental attention.  The Lord specifically answered our prayers for strength for the day.  We loved all the time with children today!! We enjoyed walking through LaHatte and seeing the beautiful Haitian people and the beautiful mountainside. Of course, we enjoyed another Haitian meal for dinner, had a great time sharing at our devotion time.

Monday – November 17, 2014

We did a medical clinic at Dupin.  We drove as far as we could and then HIKED up the mountain through rivers and steep inclines.  We saw over 120 patients and the dentists pulled over 50 TEETH!! We were also able to share the beautiful good news of Jesus with the patients as they were waiting to see the doctors.

Today is Sunday, November 16, 2014.  Our day started with a humbling, praise filled church service with the local Haitians. Wow, what a way to start our first official clinic day!  After the service we were visited by 120 locals in our medical clinic.  We provided medical care, dental care, and a place to fill prescriptions for men, women, and children.  

DR Team #2 - June 19, 2014

Both weeks have been awesome!  Volleyball, soccer, and basketball camp was great!  The Sunday night church service was really cool.  We clapped and Daniel and I danced by kicking our legs out.  It was so much fun!  I wish every church service was like that.  I was so happy!  We went to the sports complex again today.  The Dominicans were a little better at soccer.  They didn’t use their hands as much and I scored a goal.  We also had track races which was fun.  I got 2^nd place.  Tonight at dinner, we celebrated Sam and Jeremy’s birthdays, so we got cake.  I love it here and I feel amazing!!!!
 

~Ian Rath
 

 

         The first thing that I noticed as soon as we arrived in the Dominican was that the airport had become much more organized in the last two years. The second thing that I noticed was that the bus ride from Santo Domingo to Barahona was longer than I remembered.  The week as a whole has not been nearly as hot as I remember it being here four years ago, but we were also digging holes for five hours a day in the sun.

        The first day that we had sports camp I was teaching in the bible study.  I was impressed with how my Spanish speaking has progressed over the last two years. That day was the only day that we had an American versus Dominican basketball game, which is disappointing because we lost. Saturday was more of the same minus the basketball game of course. Sunday was pretty amazing actually. It is really amazing how the Dominican people go all out in their worship and are not afraid to look stupid or pull out all of the stops. The second service in particular was more like a party than a church service, if you were out of context you would have thought you were at a party.

        Monday we had more sports camps, and for the first time we had a soccer station so Griffin and I lead that. Tuesday Griffin was sick so I was on my own at the soccer station, but other than that it was pretty much the same. Tuesday going into Wednesday was when I was not feeling so well, so on Wednesday during the competitions I sat out most of the day.  Today I feel better and it was the day I had been looking forward to all trip playing a legitimate soccer game against the Dominicans. It was nothing like playing a high school soccer game in the U.S.  For one, they have like twenty people playing on their team and we only had eleven. We ended up tying  2-2 so nobody was too upset. Overall, the experience has been different in some ways and better in some ways.
 

~Jake Bixler
 

 

Hello to all back home!

The past 7 days have been absolutely amazing.  June 12, the first day we arrived, was a very long but exciting day full of travel. All the flights went very smoothly. It was not until 7:45 pm that we finally arrived to the school. It was great to be greeted by those who were staying for another week, and old friends that I made last summer. After the first day, the rest have flown by. We have been quite busy having the sports camp for the younger kids until 12, and then lunch and one hour to spare before we start camp with the older kids. It was awesome to see so many old friends at camp the first day, and pick up with conversations as if a year had not even gone by! Sunday of course has been one of my favorite days of the trip, because of the amazing church services we attended. They are definitely full of lots and lots of singing and dancing. From outside the church, it might sound similar to a party. One song at the end of the service lasted for 17 minutes! In the US, that would never happen. We don't have “enough time for that”. Our nightly devotionals that have been held with only our group, have truly pressured us to think and pray for what God wants us to do when we return back to the states. I know that all of you will help and encourage each and everyone of us, which will help tremendously.
 

Today was our last day with the campers, and it was a great time. We took them to the Olympic Villia, and played soccer with them. To get to the Villia we had a 20 minute walk. It was great to see more of Barahona, and see some of the houses of the campers. Of course the game of soccer we played was Americanos vs Dominicans. They played with many different rules than what we do, played with 19 people on the field, had four goalies, and called everything a handball. We were losing 2-1, with only a few minutes to go when we scored to tie up the game. It was great to be able to play a game of soccer while I was here, even if it was similar to running in sand with a few patches of grass. To conclude the day we had a homemade meal that Ruth and Carlota cooked for us, with birthday cake to celebrate Sam and Jeremy’s birthdays. Tonight we will also have to say goodbye to all of our older friends!

-Kayla Trevino
 

DR Team #1 - June 6, 2014

            Today I helped out with VBS. In VBS, we taught the kids about the first two days of creation. I am so happy that I know more Spanish now. It is amazing how I can communicate with the kids. Even though my Spanish isn’t that good, the kids always help and correct my Spanish. It made my heart swell when the kids said the Bible verse, John 8:12. I can only speak a little bit of Spanish, but you don’t need the same language to communicate with the kids. It feels like God is communicating through me to the Dominicans.
 

When the kids came into the classroom, we have to introduce ourselves and say our age. Apparently I’m tall for my age… The kids couldn't believe that I was 15 years old. I was about a head taller than most of the boys, and they were about 17 years old. I love it! I am towering most of the kids. It feels amazing to finally be one of the tallest. This trip has been so fun and life changing. When you are here, it always reminds me that I am so blessed. I couldn’t ask for better people to be on the trip with.

- Gabby Lyon

 

Today I helped out with teaching the kids how to play volleyball. We had 4 volleyball stations, and I helped with teaching the kids how to set the volleyball. Luckily, we had Griffin in our group to help instruct the kids. I really don’t know any Spanish at all, so it was a blessing to have someone to help instruct the kids and tell the kids what to do. It was also a blessing to have Moise’s sons, Daniel and Jonathan, to help us get the other kids doing what they needed to do. Daniel and Jonathan both know so much English that they would understand what we needed the other kids to do and explain to them what we needed them to do.
 

My favorite part of the trip so far has been communicating with the Dominicans and playing sports with them. It was so amazing to see how much they understood us when we were playing sports. We played basketball for an hour today and by the end of the game I could understand “Traveling” or “Double-Dribble” in Spanish. It seems like sports are a universal way to communicate with everyone around the world. Whether you know Spanish and can speak it fluently, or have never taken a Spanish class, you can always communicate through a smile, and a helping hand.

- Joshua Seitz