OK... so it has been awhile... a long while since we have posted here. Julie and I are experimenting with different ways to stay connectd with people. Facebook, blog, email blast, all of it... except Twitter, as of now we don't tweet. The IPO might be an interesting ownership prospect, but the service is not on our radar right now. Feel free to let us know if you think that would be a useful addition. But I digress. As of this week, we are going to try to add our email updates to our blog post each week. I am guessing the people who see our blog already get the emails, but who knows who else is our on blogspot searching for blogs of crazy blans living in Haiti?? so... here is this weeks installment.

                                                                                                                   October 6, 2013

Greetings from Haiti,

The girls have had a smooth start to school, but each afternoon we were greeted with “Gerritt, mwen fatige… mwen te leve trop bonheur” i.e. “Gerritt, I’m tired, I got up too early” Such is the life of school aged kids getting up at 5 or 5:30 am to have a devotional time as a group, get ready for school, eat a hot breakfast, and finish last minute homework review before leaving for school. Last week Julie mentioned that Sunday there was a bible quiz for the children at Pastor Maxeau’s church out in the villages, but Tuesday was the final installment of a bible quizzing competition that had been going on for several weeks at our own girl’s home. The girls had been divided into three teams and each team answered questions as a group to win points. At the end of the competition the winning team got a radio/CD player as a prize! The other teams received music books, and a CD as rewards for their hard work too. Pastor Saul (photo below) did a great job coming up with the idea and following through with it. The girls amazed us with some of their quick answers to fairly obscure questions. Sweet treats like cookies and small cakes completed the special event.

Things are pretty quiet at the guesthouse – we have two returning visitors here for two weeks helping out at the nearby English speaking school. They do a great job with the kids tutoring those who are behind or just need some individual attention, as well as organizing and helping in any way needed. The TLC School is really fortunate to have such committed regular volunteers. A real side benefit to our position here at the guesthouse is we find out about all kinds of cool ministry going on not only in our neighborhood, but throughout PAP.

For the upcoming week, Julie and I continue to adjust back to the school year schedule where we are down at the girls home each afternoon helping with homework etc. For those of you who remember, there was a big speech last year after second trimester grades came in below expectations so we are implementing a few changes to kick off the new year. One, no TV Monday through Friday afternoon, and two, each girl had to sign a piece of paper listing all their schoolbooks and supplies as a sign that they received it all, and as a promise that the books will all get returned in reasonable condition at the end of the school year. It seems caring enough to take care of school books was never a lesson the girls learned. Hope everyone is well and enjoying fall in the states – we sure miss the change of season right about now, and we miss all of you too!

Blessings from Haiti, Julie and Gerritt