A Contagious Enthusiasm...

Tuesday morning, something great happened.  I think it started on Monday or even before.  At the school, it has been a struggle to have the teachers push the students to learn--this is not really their fault as we simply do not have enough staff--but we have been implementing some pretty big changes and offering incentives for the kids to really push themselves.  This week, I have seen a change.  

Each day, the kids set goals for how much they are supposed to accomplish and each day, I check to see if they accomplish their goals.  The kids have started to get used to this routine and come up to me smiling and bright-eyed saying, "Miss Cassie, I finished my goals!!!"  They get so excited!  It's so precious.  Some of them really struggle to complete their goals each day while others complete them very quickly.  I like to encourage them and help the ones who struggle.  They try so hard!

This brings me to Tuesday morning.  I was standing in class listening to the devotional on truthfulness, when the teacher, Brother Amos, seemed to get fired up!  He stopped in the middle of the lesson (which is in English) and looked at me and said, "This is a very important lesson, you understand."  He then proceeded to explain the lesson thoroughly in Creole so the kids would understand each word.  I smiled.  I don't think I had ever seen him so passionate about something!  

After the lesson, he continued to talk--in English now--about goal setting and reaching each goal.  He looked at each student (these are 8-12 year olds) and said something like, "Roselande, I know about you and I know that you can finish your goals today." or "Chama, you are very smart, you just need to stop playing and YOU CAN finish your goals."  He did this for every one of the 18 or 19 students in that classroom.  He became enthusiastic and passionate about their education.  It was such a blessing to see.  I grinned--I couldn't help it!  What a gift to be able to encourage these students to want to learn...

These kids got the message from him and they got the message from me.  I have never seen them work so hard to make sure everything is done well!  They are pushing themselves and some of them need extra time or extra help after school, but it's worth it to see these kids try so hard.  I like to see them so excited.  I pray that they are learning the information and learning truth about the Lord at the same time.  I hope they know that I am encouraging them and helping them because of my love for them and because of my love for the Lord.  May God be praised!

Up from the Grave He Arose!

Happy Easter!  I love Easter--celebrating the resurrection of Jesus after He died for our sins!  I woke up early on Sunday to go to church with some friends in Port-au-Prince.  We left the house at 5:50am to walk to church. We merged with a river of people who were dressed to celebrate at the church.  The church was already packed when we got there--even the balcony was FULL!  That means there were over 3,000 people in attendance!  We were fortunate to find 3 seats at the very back of the church, but the fourth one of us went back home to grab a chair so she could sit somewhere.  There were people everywhere!  The celebration was beginning!  

We were handed a bulletin and I looked at the words--it was in French--but I could kind of follow along.  We sang as a congregation, then sat down as choir after choir sang songs of celebrating Jesus and the life we have in Him!  It was beautiful.  We listened to the readings from Matthew 28 and then 1 Corinthians 15 talking about the TRUTH:  that Jesus did die and was resurrected so we have HOPE because we will also be resurrected!  We had a time of celebration and praise (one humorous side note:  I recognized some of the melodies of the songs, but couldn't sing along...but when they sang original Creole worship songs, I could sing along because I knew some of them...).  People were waving their hands in the air, some were weeping and thanking the Lord for thing things He has done, others were dancing.  It was time for the sermon and we sat down to listen to Pastor Samson passionately give a message that was obviously planted deep in his soul.  After the message he said that if you must go you may, but invited everyone to stay for the Lord's Supper.  We stayed.

While everyone was receiving the bread and the wine, the musicians and singers began playing and singing what I would call traditional Easter hymns.  They sang "Up From the Grave He Arose" and "Christ the Lord is Risen Today" and many others.  I chuckled to myself and thought about how different these songs sound with an organ and in English.  I thought about the words and was so grateful for the cross and the love and forgiveness we find there.  Praise the Lord!  Thank You, Jesus!

The service finished with a benediction and we headed home after greeting some friends.  We arrived back home around 10:00 am that morning--maybe that was when some of you were heading to your service...

I won't forget this Easter service or this day.  May each of you know the hope, love, and grace that we have in the Lord Jesus Christ.  In His death and resurrection...we are free and we have life!

Continue...

Somehow, I have gotten used to life here so that nothing seems overly exciting to me anymore, so I apologize for my lack of blogging. I am used to the lizard that likes to live on my dresser, the dogs having a barking competition in the night, the singing and praying coming from the girls next door, wearing a uniform for school, and sleeping under a mosquito net. These things don't surprise me anymore and seem very normal.

I am sitting here on the couch listening to the daily routine begin to happen. The babies are waking up, the girls are singing to calm them down, the bell just rang to alert the kids that breakfast will be on the table soon, and the someone just walked by with a wheelbarrow.

I've noticed that staying in one place for a longer period of time is much different than a short term mission trip because you get to really know the people you work with and live with. You get to see the kids on their best and worst behavior. People start recognizing that you aren't going anywhere for a while and start opening up to you. You can't push yourself to exhaustion every day because you will get sick—just like at home—and you will need time to recover.

I love living here in Haiti. The trial period with Canaan is about half way over and I am seeking the Lord and His will in where He wants me to be as I continue serving Him here. Right now, I don't know if He wants me to stay here at Canaan or go in another direction with another ministry. I want to be in the place where my life and service would bring Him the most glory.

I ask you to pray, dear friends! Pray that God would walk before me and guide my steps and that I would recognize His leading. As ministry continues, here at Canaan, pray that I would continue to see how I can best be used to bring glory to God and help people recognize His greatness! I want to see those divine appointments and take advantage of every opportunity to serve Him.   

The Last Night

Last night marked the end of the 10 day "fair" celebrating the 20th Anniversary of Canaan.  The preparation and time put into this fair, the events that took place, and the people who showed up made these last 10 days very busy for many here at Canaan.  So many people came this weekend to celebrate with Sister Gladys and Pastor Henri.  Crowds of people from here in town, Port-au-Prince, and even further away came to be involved.  Last night there was choir after choir performing and giving praise to the Lord for all He has done.  The whole week has been like that with singing, dancing, preaching of the Word, and celebration.  I don't think I even made it through one whole evening of celebrating...I like my sleep too much!

Since the fair is finished, everyone at Canaan is exhausted.  The kids are ready to have structure back in their day with school, the adults are ready to have the kids back in school so they can find time to rest, and everyone is ready for an earlier bedtime for all!  Sister Gladys and Pastor Henri, along with so many others, have been going nonstop since at least a week before the fair began working on final preparations and making sure things would go as smoothly as possible.  Be praying for all the staff at Canaan who so desperately need a break and a time to rest!

As for me, I've been here for just about 2 months and am still loving each day I get to spend in Haiti.  Some are definitely better than others and some are very challenging, but I am so grateful that God has placed me here.  Every day I am greeted with smiles and hugs from some of the kids, friendly "Bon Jour"'s from the adults around, and am reminded by the beauty of these people and this place that God has brought me here for a purpose.  I'm looking forward to my Creole lessons getting back on track, my days to be put back in order, and my time with the girls to start being a time with true fellowship and growth.

Be praying for that last one!  It's been tough getting something going with these girls, but I have been praying about what truth I can speak into the lives of these girls in my remaining two months here at Canaan.  My heart aches for them...

Worlds Colliding and Other Thoughts

It has been far too long since I have written. Life here has gotten a little hectic with my parents coming and going, my visiting another ministry, and a fair going on here at Canaan. Busy busy busy. It's 5 am and I am getting my day started. I am hearing the dogs barking and mosquitoes humming in my ear. I am thinking of you, friends and family, and am praying that you are remembering me and praying for me even though it's been a while since you have heard from me.

Last week, my parents came to Haiti to see where I am serving and try to figure out why I love this place so much. The best answer to the second part is that God put Haiti in my heart. And He did. I love my parents a lot and miss my church, family, and friends, but—after almost two months here—my calling remains sure. I believe that God has called me here and will keep directing me as I glorify His name.

A couple things that come to mind as I think of my worlds colliding:

• I never want to take for granted the beauty that surrounds me.
• Worship can and does transfer languages and cultures.
• There are things like a good washing machine that I used to take for granted, but do not really miss all that much.
• Electricity is not a necessity. It is a luxury.
  
  
  Today is my birthday and I have been wished "Happy Birthday" so many times and know that today is going to be a very good day!  God has blessed me with so much this year and I can't wait to see what He will do with the next one!  Will update you all more later on events and happenings and what God is doing soon!  Keep praying dear friends!  God is so good!