2 Suitcases...too many memories

1 week left.

As I look around my room...which is a complete disaster zone as I try to pack, I wonder how I can pack 3 years of my life into 2 suitcases (well...3 because I get one of Cady's too).

I can pack up my pictures, clothes, books, and even school stuff, but I can't pack up all my memories. I am so glad that God gave me the opportunity to be here. I catch myself getting emotional alot during the day...and I just can repeatedly give thanks that he has let me be here. I have grown so much...and I can't even really begin to explain the ways I have changed.

I am going to miss being here...but one thing I do know is that my love of missions won't ever change. And my love of Haiti will never go away.

Which could mean...I may be back...

Burdens to bear...

For those of you that received Cady's email about things that are happening...
I wanted to let you know the updates:

Yesterday, there was an accident right in front of our school. Sonlight receives diesel every few days, and yesterday was part of the routine. While filling up the tanks, something happened (either the hose came loose or a line was cut) and the diesel came out. Right in front of the school, there are always ladies making rice, marinad, banan, selling candy, cookies, etc... The diesel got onto the ladies, reacted with the hot oil that the ladies use...and created an explosion. One of the sweet ladies that works out there, Mme Marange and another woman were seriously burned. I was in the workroom when they brought Mme Marange in, and she was burned at probably 60% of her body. Carmen and Norma rushed them out to the hospital, to get them the help they needed. Before they left the hospital, the doctors said they would be okay.
This morning, we found out that Mme Marange had died in the middle of the night. We haven't heard anymore details.
Please pray for the families of Mme Marange and the other lady (I will find out her name soon). This was a huge accident, and everyone around Sonlight...teachers, students, aides...are all hurting and very sad.
One of my students this morning said to me..."Miss Ashley, I was going to buy some candy, but the lady died." Even my 1st graders are hurting. Its hard when tragedies occur, because we don't understand what God is going to do from the situation.
All we ask is that God is glorified through this...

Please pray for the family as well...they are not believers in God...and are heavily into VooDoo. Pray that this will be away for them to see God's love...through us, our students, and the community.

All the little ducks follow...all in a row

Last night, Cady, Josh, Kala, Lorraine, and I had a little adventure!
The Sonlight basketball team was playing downtown at a school called Lesly Docteur, so we loaded up on taxis to go and watch.
Once we got there...we were definitely the only 'blans' there, except for Kyle...who is one of the coaches.
The students showed us where we needed to sit...so we followed them and took our places to watch the game. We were sitting with our students and Mr. and Mme Edrice...who have 7 kids at our school! The Maurasses are one of the most kind, thoughtful, and loving families that I have ever been around. They intrigue me because of their amazing traits, and the fact that Momma and Papa Maurasse aren't even Christians! But God is using them in so many ways...to work with, love on, and help provide for street kids.
Anyway...back to my story...
We all cheered on Sonlight through the first half. At halftime, some of the fans from the other team, CNDL, came over to our side and sat above us. They started bothering our girls...and I think there was even some spitting going on! But Mme Edrice and Mr. Edrice set out to take care of it. They tried to get the boys to move, but when that didn't happen...I am pretty sure we staged a protest! All of the Sonlight fans got up and moved!! We waited, and finally we were ushered back to our seats. As we were walking...Momma Maurasse looked at all of us and said...
"Everything will be okay".
We watched the second half of the game (we lost) and then proceeded to start leaving. We were all planning on just taking taxis home (this would be a definite adventure, in the dark) but the Maurasses wouldn't hear of it. Mme Edrice grabbed my hand and wouldn't let go...she definitely wanted to take us home! So we all crammed in their SUV and Papa Maurasse drove us back.
Yea for our Mama Duck...who takes care of us!!

Group Time...

Having a group here always means being busy! I am 'in charge' (and I say that loosely haha) of being the tour guide around Port-de-Paix. I have employed Allison as my help...and Cady as well!
Its always an amazing experience, seeing the different reactions from the groups. There are people who immediately get right in the middle, love on the kids, do anything they can. There are those who step back and take time to take it all in, and then there are those who just feel a burden and want to help out. The amazing thing is, is that I think you can be all of these 'people'. When I came to visit, I loved playing and talking to the kids. I also had to take some time, and I was very quiet and retrospective (which everyone knows isn't really me!!), and then I felt that I needed to help. I wanted to help. So here I am!
Anyway...groups are fun. They always bring a different dynamic, a different feeling with them...and I enjoy getting to meet new people!

Friends

I love these girls!!!

Thaina

This is Thaina. She is one of the sweetest little girls I have ever had the privilege of teaching. Thaina joined our 1st grade class in January. She actually started out this year with Cady in preschool. After a week, they decided she was too bright for it, so they moved her on to kindergarten. Thaina was already writing sentences when most of the kindergarteners were just starting to learn sight words!
So in January, Thaina moved to 1st grade. She is such a bright spot in my classroom. She's always smiling...which I love...because I am trying to always smile too. With her in my classroom, its easy to do! Thaina catches onto little jokes that I make, she can figure out logic problems, and she is one of the hardest workers in my class.

Watch out Haiti...in 15 years, you are going to have one bright and driven girl on your hands...and I can't wait to see what God has in store for her!!

Its Gettin' Hot In Here...

Today is the first official HOT day. Now granted you may say...Ashley, you live in Haiti. Right, but today it was hot, all day long. Not humid for the morning with some rain to cool us off. Or a nice breeze that breaks up the heat. Today was a hot, humid, heavy day. And this meant...hot, sweaty, sticky kids!
In the mornings, our kids have abour 25 minutes to run around, play, talk, etc...before pledge starts. This morning as we were lining up, I had a line full of boys with sweat just dripping off their faces. Then at recess...they just ran and ran and ran...and were soaked by the end! Walking into the classroom, Febens gave me one of his famous hugs, which meant the whole front of my shirt was covered in sweat!!
Good to know my kids love me...even when they are sweaty!

Cool Whip

Now I know that if you read both Cady's and my blog, you are thinking...what is the obsession with Cool Whip??
But seriously...if it has been months since you have gotten any 'new' food...and you get a treat like Cool Whip, you would be talking about it too!! I love Cool Whip. You can ask my parents. I used to get caught with a spoon and the Cool Whip container often. So...there you go!!Anyway...we are thanking the customs people and Oreste for getting the freezers off the boat so quickly, so we can have a little bit of fun!!!

New Additions...

So there have been a few new additions around Port-de-Paix recently.
One would be the amazing new stereo system that our neighbors in the alley have. Its so fun to hear the LOUD music (sarcasm included) every day. I have heard an eclectic collection of music...such as Celine Dion, Wyclef, Elton John, some Haitian rap, and even heard some soccer games. We have decided that it may be in our best interest to make them a CD of some new 'songs' for them to play...songs we wouldn't care to hear!!
Also, Claudia and Warren had their baby!! On Saturday night, Arwen Elizabeth was born. We have heard she has a full head of hair and is a happy and alert baby. Yea!!!