So, I've lost over 30 pounds since I've been here. How you may ask? Mostly because it's so dang hot here I sweat and sweat and sweat. But fear not, it isn't water weight that I've lost. Maybe at first it was. But I'm up to 4 quarts of drinking water a day, some days more. So I know it's actual fat loss. I'mt having a hard time keeping XL shorts up. I have to cinch my belts so tight I look like Jethro (I'd say Ellie May, but I have a ways to go before I'm that cute!) Also, I hardly ever get to finish a full meal when I eat with the kids. Which is okay by me. The cook dishes out humongous portions of red beans and rice with vegetables. And the bowls of spaghetti? Faggedaboudit! I usually get a few bites in and the boys have finished their food and are looking for me to share!
My Year in Haiti
It's All About the Children
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Like Ripples In a Pond
One of the hardest parts about parenting is making decisions about what to expose your children to. I've known parents that have gone to extreme measures to inhibit the introduction of "worldly" influences on their children. As most of us know, this is never a good plan. These are the kids that head off to college and next thing you know it's like that reality show "Rumspringa". Next thing you know they are featured on the latest "Co-eds Gone Wild".
On the opposite end of the spectrum, you have those parents who don't believe in inhibiting their childrens' creativity. They have a "free-love" style of parenting and let their children determine their own limits. As well you can imagine, this is not the best tack either, for equal and opposite reasons.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, you have those parents who don't believe in inhibiting their childrens' creativity. They have a "free-love" style of parenting and let their children determine their own limits. As well you can imagine, this is not the best tack either, for equal and opposite reasons.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
New Items For The Wish List
Please check out the items in the wish list. The kids LOVE their new shirts provided by Majik Graphics and the Think & Link networking group. Now we would like to do shorts to go with them. If anyone happens upon elastic waisted tan or khaki shorts in sizes 2T thru 10 boys husky, please feel free to pick up as many as you can and make arrangements to get them to the organization. (you can email me for details at micheleisinhaiti@gmail.com)
Thanks for coming, enjoy the show.
Thanks for coming, enjoy the show.
Friday, October 14, 2011
A Lesson On Love
Last night I was having a conversation with some of the older young ladies and young men that live here at the mission. The topic was Godly love, or Agape love. I was explaining that loving kindness is the best defense against people that we don't favor. One of the girls said that if she said good morning to someone and they never said it back, then she would stop talking to them. I told her then that would mean that person had control over who she is. I explained that if we let someone else's actions or inactions affect the way we behave, think, or feel, we have given that person control over us.
I then went on to explain that how we see people is a reflection of what is going on inside of us, not the other person. When we see someone who is unkind or rude, we should remember that 1) that person is fighting demons we don't know about; and b) how we perceive them is a reflection of what we are experiencing inside of us.
Interestingly enough, as the discussion continued, I was able to work the "Pen is a Pen or Pen is a Chew Toy" demonstration into the conversation. As per usual, the response is generally, "but in Haiti..." to which I always reply that God doesn't care where you come from, only where you are going.
The point was clarified even further when, at devotions, the missionary had the group read from 1 Chorinthians, Chapter 13, and 1 John Chapter 4 about agape love. All of the older kids gave me looks of surprise to see that they were getting the same message directly from the Bible that I had just been teaching them earlier in the evening.
I love when everything aligns in this way! It really reaffirms that I am doing exactly what I was meant to do.
"The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don't have any." Alice Walker
I then went on to explain that how we see people is a reflection of what is going on inside of us, not the other person. When we see someone who is unkind or rude, we should remember that 1) that person is fighting demons we don't know about; and b) how we perceive them is a reflection of what we are experiencing inside of us.
Interestingly enough, as the discussion continued, I was able to work the "Pen is a Pen or Pen is a Chew Toy" demonstration into the conversation. As per usual, the response is generally, "but in Haiti..." to which I always reply that God doesn't care where you come from, only where you are going.
The point was clarified even further when, at devotions, the missionary had the group read from 1 Chorinthians, Chapter 13, and 1 John Chapter 4 about agape love. All of the older kids gave me looks of surprise to see that they were getting the same message directly from the Bible that I had just been teaching them earlier in the evening.
I love when everything aligns in this way! It really reaffirms that I am doing exactly what I was meant to do.
"The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don't have any." Alice Walker
Monday, October 10, 2011
Character Building - the Old School Way
Today I had the distinct pleasure of being surprised that one of the children whom I least expected to listen to me had learned a very important lesson. Little Slandie, pronounced Sah-lahn-dzee, came to me to tattle that some of the children had crushed a butterfly with some rocks.
She led me to the poor, unfortunate moth, who had been rendered incapable of flight, yet still had the ability to flap its wings and hop around. We performed alittle victim relocation service, using a stick to rescue him and place him in a nearby bush, out of reach of prying children. Then i rounded up the children anddid a little group interrogation. What i surmised is that Jonathan, our burliest 8yea old,was the leader of the pack. Iexplained how this made God sad when we harmed any of His creatures, and how this made Miss Michele very sad. We said a prayer of forgiveness, promised to be kind to one another, and went on our way.
Not ten minutes later I hear Djouna wailing like Sophie! Turns out wile the kids where waiting for us in the classroom, Jonathan decided to hit Djouna with a rock! Oy vey! Really? So I decided Jonathan needed to get more intimately acquainted with his weaon of choice of weaponry. We have a 40 ft shipping container coming in a week or so and we need to clear a space to pour a concrete pad to set it on. There are a boat load of rocks scattered in the yard where it will go. So, I set Jonathan upon the task of collecting the fist sized rocks and putting them in a pile.
He moved about 50 of them before begging to go back to class.
Character building - check
Lessons learned - check
Chores done - check
tune in next time for the continued misadventures of Miss Michele
She led me to the poor, unfortunate moth, who had been rendered incapable of flight, yet still had the ability to flap its wings and hop around. We performed alittle victim relocation service, using a stick to rescue him and place him in a nearby bush, out of reach of prying children. Then i rounded up the children anddid a little group interrogation. What i surmised is that Jonathan, our burliest 8yea old,was the leader of the pack. Iexplained how this made God sad when we harmed any of His creatures, and how this made Miss Michele very sad. We said a prayer of forgiveness, promised to be kind to one another, and went on our way.
Not ten minutes later I hear Djouna wailing like Sophie! Turns out wile the kids where waiting for us in the classroom, Jonathan decided to hit Djouna with a rock! Oy vey! Really? So I decided Jonathan needed to get more intimately acquainted with his weaon of choice of weaponry. We have a 40 ft shipping container coming in a week or so and we need to clear a space to pour a concrete pad to set it on. There are a boat load of rocks scattered in the yard where it will go. So, I set Jonathan upon the task of collecting the fist sized rocks and putting them in a pile.
He moved about 50 of them before begging to go back to class.
Character building - check
Lessons learned - check
Chores done - check
tune in next time for the continued misadventures of Miss Michele
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Welcome Home!
So, I arrived back home with little issue. My boy child dropped me at the airport in the wee early hours. I bawled my eyes out. I can't believe what a fine young man he's turning into. None of my worst fears have been realized. A quick coffee and muffin for breakfast started my trip. I ate in a lovely little wine shoppe/bistro in Miami airport. it felt truly decadent to be drinking a cab/sauv at 10:30 in the morning, but what the heck, life is too dang short!
I had to share theairport with Martelly, the current president of Haiti. It's no lie when they teas my Hatin son and call him "ti Martelly". He literally looks loke a 9 year old version
of the man himself.
So, bad news first: not four hours after arriving back at my second home, some little bastard reached thru the half-opened window of our van and snatched my blackberry from my hands. I don't even want to discuss it. I should not have let my guard down. I was way too chill feeling all secure with my comforts here in this third-world country. Lesson learned the hard way usually stays longer.
On a more positive note, finally drove! At first I offered to park the van so the fellow I was with could head in to the store. Otherwise we may have been waiting all day to park. But when he came out he insited i keep going. I didn't do any great lengthy traversing, but i did get o demonstrate my confidence and abilities. It may sound silly, but confidence is a big part o driving down here.
Anyhow, wanted to get this up before I fall unconscious. I'm so tired I can't see straigh!t
I had to share theairport with Martelly, the current president of Haiti. It's no lie when they teas my Hatin son and call him "ti Martelly". He literally looks loke a 9 year old version
of the man himself.
So, bad news first: not four hours after arriving back at my second home, some little bastard reached thru the half-opened window of our van and snatched my blackberry from my hands. I don't even want to discuss it. I should not have let my guard down. I was way too chill feeling all secure with my comforts here in this third-world country. Lesson learned the hard way usually stays longer.
On a more positive note, finally drove! At first I offered to park the van so the fellow I was with could head in to the store. Otherwise we may have been waiting all day to park. But when he came out he insited i keep going. I didn't do any great lengthy traversing, but i did get o demonstrate my confidence and abilities. It may sound silly, but confidence is a big part o driving down here.
Anyhow, wanted to get this up before I fall unconscious. I'm so tired I can't see straigh!t
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)