Problems, Problems and more Problems

Now, I hate to complain but things are not going so smoothly these days. No hydro, no water, no invertor and a crazy dog. So far my new house has only added more stress to my life. Hopefully everything is fixed soon. I've heard that in between presidents there is often not much hydro so maybe in March we will receive some hydro. We had someone come today to hopefully fix our electrical wiring, right now even when we receive hydro things don't work and the invertor doesn't charge. The water pumps aren't working so there's no water on the roof which means so showers or running water. (we have to take it from the resevior) Ysmaille was supposed to make barriers for the dog (to contain him to a certain part of the yard) before Jenny went away for 5 days but things keep interrupting his work and they are still not in place so I will have to find another place to stay for the next 5 days. Fun, fun and more fun.
On top of all this, yesterdayYsmaille's truck broke down in the middle of a busy road. All sorts of helpful people drove by and informed us that we were blocking the road and needed to move. In my nicest voice I thanked them so much for their help:) There were about 20 people standing around doing nothing. No one was able to find us water for the truck and no one was willing to direct traffic. So I stood in the middle of the road directing traffic. I think everyone was saying "who is this crazy blanc?" but I didn't care.
So, no hydro also means no internet so if I haven't written in a while please don't be mad. I'm hoping in the next few weeks things start improving and I'll start responding to e-mail again.

Preval is President

Preval has been declared the new president of Haiti. People are VERY happy and the celebrations went on all night long We woke up at 5:00 to A LOT of noise on the street. Things seem really peaceful right now. Apparently after the elections, two different kidnapping took place but when the kidnappers arrived at Cite Soliel they were told that they must release their captives. The gang members announced that if Preval became President they would put a stop to the kidnappings. Now whether this is true or not... we will see.
Things look hopeful with Preval as president. He did manage to accomplish some positive things when he was in power last time. The tricky part is that the gangs wanted him in and therefore are expecting some kickbacks from helping him get in power.
On a personal note. I spent the week at my friend Heather's house waiting to figure things out with my new best friend "Max". Ysmaille took some measurements today and will start making two barriers on Monday. We will keep Max contained in a section of the backyard and I hopefully won't have to worry about him. However, Jenny is going away next weekend (for Carnival) and I'm not crazy about staying there by myself. I guess I'll just take each day as it comes.
It'll be nice to open school again next week. We basically lost 2 weeks of school. I managed to get a lot of work done with very little distractions, however, it will be difficult for the teachers to finish all the curriculum by the end of the year.
Saturday morning Heather and I went to visit "Sisters of Charity" a orphanage run by Nuns. It was very sad. Rooms full of children crying out for attention. We picked up a few children (with VERY wet diapers) and held them for a bit but when we put them back down they started crying even more. I think I will try my best to visit there on a regular basis and give at least a few of the kids the attention they so badly need.

From Bad to Worse

Things are pretty crazy right now in Port-au-Prince. Rumours are flying and tempers are rising. Here's something I read today in a CNN article today:
"PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) -- Hundreds of smashed ballot boxes and bags apparently used to carry vote count sheets were scattered across a garbage dump Wednesday, more than a week after Haiti's disputed presidential elections.
U.N. officials sent troops to the garbage dump five miles north of the capital to recover the election material, according to U.N. spokesman David Wimhurst, who called the discovery "extraordinary."
The word on the street in Haiti is that the UN were the ones to dump the votes here, and several street kids claim they found them. Basically the whole election has turned into a sham and the rumour is that very soon the presidential house will be stormed and the people will declare Preval president themselves. Surprisingly, things remain calm and all the parades look like they are more part of Carnival than of a manisfestation. I had no problems getting to work today and some stores are even open. Schools have been closed for a week and a half now and we're losing lots of precious teaching time. I've managed to get lots of work done due to no interruptions, but the students are getting very behind.
On a personal note. Jenny has decided that she doesn't want to lose me as a roomate. We are going to ask permission to build two gates that will keep Max enclosed whenever I am home. We will let him out at night so he can still guard the house. Problem solved.

Exaggeration

We just received "current" (aka hydro) and I had a chance to check the international news. I thought I'd better write one more entry so that no one takes the news too seriously. The events of Port-au-Prince are very much exaggerated. The protests have been very peaceful and despite the one incident where 4 people were killed there was no other violence. There was a very LARGE group of people that marched up Delmas today but they only held signs and waved tree branches. Now, tomorrow who knows. The longer they take to announce the results the more upset people will become. I will keep you updated. Today we closed school just to be safe and it will be closed tomorrow as well. I was unable to get to my new house today so I am staying at Coram Deo. I didn't come with a change of clothes but my sweet little brother Cadeau is lending me some:)
To answer Gwen's questions. The oven mitts plan, although seemingly foolproof, did not proof to be successful. As to the type of dog, I think it's a German Shepherd but it may be mixed with something else.

Something Fishy???

So as I mentioned earlier the elections were a "success" and everyone was feeling pretty positive. Kidnappings had ceased and the streets seem ed very calm and safe. We had school Thursday and Friday last week but very few students came because all the other schools were still closed and people were still afraid to venture out.
So, we expected the results to be announced Friday night, maybe Saturday and at the very latest Sunday. Today is Monday and there is still no official word but lots of rumours. Today there is choas on the streets. There are many manifestations and most roads are blocked off. People are walking in large groups on the streets protesting the fact that no announcement has been made. Preval's percentage of votes seems to change every minute and everyone is getting pretty suspicious that something fishy is going on. I am being safe and not venturing out (except to the internet cafe I am sitting in right now:)
As far as my living situation... things are not looking good. I spent some major time this week bonding with Max and trying to convince him that I'm not a threat to him. So Sunday afternoon I was actually playing with him by myself (Jenny was inside.) All was going well when all of a sudden he freaked out again and attacked me. So I have fresh bite marks and I will never feel safe being near him again. It appears that I might have to move back to Coram Deo but Jenny is trying very hard to think of another plan... barriers, a longer chain, possibly even another house. She is not excited about living alone again, especially with all the uncertainty these days.
On another note. We had awonderful day on Sunday. We went hiking in the mountains and attended a church on top of a mountain (literally). One of my friends is afraid of heights so she waited on the bottom until the church service was over.
So there's a quick update. Don't worry about me I won't let curiously get me in trouble. When I hear noise on the street I will stay safely inside.

February 7, 2006

February 7th was a big day for the Gringhuis family as well as for the entire country of Haiti.
Olivia Ann (without an "e", although I'm sure she'll change that when she's older) Gringhuis was born just after 5:00am on Tuesday morning, weighing just over 8 pounds. I saw pictures of her this morning and of course she's absolutely beautiful.
February 7th was also election day here in Haiti. And despite what you might read in the newspaper the day was calm and peaceful. I had the opportunity to visit two voting stations and despite really long lines and hour long waits people were in good sprits and came out in droves to participate in the voting process. Some stations had a bit of violence with people shoving and police hitting those in line. One or two people were shot but overall, and in most places the election went very smoothly. It was well organized (for Haiti). The actual voting ballot was HUGE. It had a large picture of each candidate (all 33 of them) for those who cannot read.
We won't know the results (offically) until Friday or Saturday but many already see Preval as the new president. The actual results should be interesting.
Things seem really calm on the streets and we are opening school today. How many students will arrive is yet to be determined.

Good News and Bad News

Let's start with the good news. The move to my new house went very smoothly. I actually have very little stuff here so it didn't take much time to pack and move my stuff. The weekend was action packed and a lot of fun. Saturday night we were invited for dinner to a family's house and had a delicious meal there with lots of wonderful conversation. Sunday we went to church and then invited over several friends for lunch. We enjoyed a lazy day of sitting around, eating and talking. In the afternoon we went for a walk and took pictures of all the campaign posters. At night we went next door to a super bowl party. Of course I was really quite serious about cheering on Seattle. Unfortunately they didn't win.
Now for the bad news. The house I am living in comes with a dog. I am not normally afraid of any dogs and when people make comments about being afraid of this dog I never understand why. Max is a big dog but relatively calm... or so I thought. Well, Sunday afternoon we had him tied up because one of our friends is afraid of him. When we went to go Jenny was going to untie him but I offered. He's always been pretty calm around me. As I walked behind the house he was very calm. I petted him in the head a few times and talked to him and he was perfectly still. When I went to untie him he sunk his teeth into my arm and wouldn't let go. I had to pull my arm free. To say the least I was quite shook up. We cleaned the wounds and they look alright. Unfortunately, I am now terrified of the dog. All I could think of last night was the dog and how I am going to make myself unafraid of him. What drama!!!
Other than that things are pretty calm. The government told all school to close last Friday and all of this week. (for the elections) We are closed Monday through Wednesday this week only. Today the streets were very calm and I came into work. Although there's no students there's always work to be done.

Karate and Elections

On Sunday Cadeau had a karate exam for his black belt. It was a full day event starting at 9:30 in the morning and finishing at 3:00. The students being examined can't eat anything that whole time and they can't even drink!!!! ( I personally don't get that...) I went to church first and then went over the watch the exam after that. It was interesting to watch and the examiners really made us feel welcome. They put out an extra bench for Karen and I and even wanted us to be in the final picture with all the teachers and students. I declined but they managed to convince Karen:) Cadeau passed his test and although he had a few injuries thoughout the day he wasn't seriously injured. (They fight on cement with absolutley no padding)
Everyone's talking about the election these days. Some predict utter choas after the election and others say everything will be fine. I overheard someone say that if "Preval" is not elected all "hell" will break lose. Preval is the candidate from the same party as Aristide (the president that fled the country in 2004). Preval is currently the most popular condidate and many say that if he doesn't win the election then it was obviously fixed. On the other hand, many people are afraid to vote so anyway you look at it the election will not show the actual sentiments of the people.
Oh what a mess. The UN is receiving all sorts of slander in the papers these days and no one seems to have anything positive to say about them. Some people think they should never have come and others say they are doing nothing here but partying. I am of the opinion that I would like them to stay at least for a while after the election. It may appear that they're not doing much but who knows what will happen if they leave?
On a personal note. I'm feeling pretty good about being back in Haiti. I'm looking forward to my change of location and I'm starting to feel a lot more comfortable in general. My Creole is improving quite nicely and I'm understanding more and more of the conversations that float around me. The school is running quite smoothly and we've accomplished more than I had originally hoped. My next goal is to work on having some workshops for the teachers that really focuss on more hands-on learning.

Termites Take Over

So Karen has about 1,000 books in her bedroom on about every topic under the sun. Yesterday she pulled out a book to read and discovered that something had eaten through many of the pages. Today she asked Manman Manise to clean off that shelf of books as it looked like some ants had moved in. Today Manman Manise started to clean the shelf and quickly discovered that the "ant" problem was much bigger than ever imagined. Termites were really the culprits and they had eaten through MANY books as well as entire sections of the bookshelf. What a mess!!!! There are books EVERYWHERE in Karen's room and she has just left to buy some new wood to make a new bookshelf.
On another note. All the guys got into a bit of trouble this week. They got their report cards. 'Nuf said. They didn't score quite as high as Karen would have liked. In fact some of them are failing. Of course it is not their fault at all and they all have HORRIBLE teachers!!! Regardless they have spent the last few nights studying quite religiously and didn't even watch American Idol when it came on.
The excitement never ends at Coram Deo.
On a happier note. Things are going really well with the school. We had an excellent staff meeting on Monday morning and the teachers really seem to be warming up to my suggestions. I almost don't have to nag at all (I almost miss it:) as they are taking their responsibilities much more seriously. We are really starting to work like a team and it's a really great feeling. I am going to attempt some workshops again starting in February and hopefully they are more receptive to different teaching strategies/methods.

Dust Bowl and Elections

So, the weather here is almost perfect. It's a very pleasant 20 - 25 degrees everyday and the nights are almost cool. There's a cool breeze almost all the time and the sun shines EVERY day. There's only one small catch. Because it's the dry season the wind blows with it a lot of dust. Now I've never been much for dusting on a regular basis (much to my Dad's alarm and dissapointment) but it has become a necessity in my life. On Saturday afternoon I dusted my entire room, and by Sunday afternoon there was a thick layer of dust on everything!!! It's a never ending battle. My room has several lovely large windows that keep me somewhat cool throughout the year but they also let in a lot of dust. Oh... the trials and tribulations of life in the Carribbean.
Today is election day in Canada which of course makes me think of the upcoming elections here in Haiti. The election looks like it might actually happen next month. The date is now set for February 7th (the forth offical date) and many believe that this will be the real thing. We will close the school on the 7th and possible the 8th too. For the last election no cars were allowed on the streets. Everyone had a polling station within walking distance from their house and the police patrolled the streets to prevent any mischief. We just found out that the airport will also be closed all day. It has the potential to be a very interesting day and despite my love for excitement I pray that it will be a dissapointingly dull day. I'll keep you all posted as the day nears.
Other than that, all is well. Nicole and Freda leave tomorrow to go back home. It will be quiet without them here and I will miss the nice chats. It's been really nice having them here.

Presents and Moves

It's been a busy week. We have our parent/teacher meeting this Sunday so I've been busy with report cards and other preparations for the day. This week went really well overall. The teachers were on time almost everyday and the kids were really well behaved. Of course the first week back after a holiday is always a good one but it's still a nice feeling that things went so smoothly.
It's also been really nice having Freda and Nicole here. They have done several crafts with all the classes and the kids LOVED it. They are both board members so we've also had some good meetings about the future of Coram Deo.
Earlier this week, I was able to give out the presents that my family bought for everyone at Coram Deo. They were thrilled and have really enjoyed the gifts. I've put a few pictures in my photo album of them opening the gifts. I've decided to label all my albums from now on with the date that I post them so you know what's recent and what's old. Should have thought of that a long time ago, I know...
On another note, I've mentioned in several blog entries that I've been finding life in Haiti much harder than I ever imagined. I think the hardest part for me has been the lack of freedom and how difficult it is to spend all my time in such a small compound. I can't go out unless I find someone who is willing to go with me which is often not an easy task. I also can't go out after dark so that makes it even more difficult to leave. It sounds like such a silly think but it has really been hard on me. I have done a lot of thinking and praying about the situation and have decided I need a change in my situation in order to really enjoy my stay here and to produce my best work. I have therefore decided to move in with my friend Jenny who lives close to my church and closer to Petionville. She is currently living alone and house sitting for a missionary family. She is very excited about having a roomate and will feel much more secure with another person around. I will be moving in with her in February and think it will be a very positive move for me. Of course I will continue to work at Coram Deo every day. My friend Ysmaille will drive me back and forth everyday. He already has a route he drives everyday for several students and one teacher, he will simply add me to his route. I will continue to take many precautions and will never venture out alone. I'm very excited to be part of a larger missionary community that is quite active with Bible studies and women's meetings that I was not able to attend earlier. I mentioned this move to many people when I was home and received a lot of encouragement for this decision.
The security situation is a bit confusing. It feels and sounds very calm but there have been two UN soldiers killed in Cite Soleil this week. Around here it continues to feel safe... Keep praying nonetheless.

Safe Arrival in Haiti

Hello All,
I arrived safely in Haiti on Jan. 13th. My travels were very uneventful. My flight out of Miami was delayed by an hour but I was able to use this time brushing up on my Creole with the other passangers that were waiting. Unfortunately I was supposed to meet up with two other people (Nicole and Freda) in Miami and travel together with them to Port-au-Prince. However, their first flight was delayed and they missed the flight out of Miami. I was really looking forward to travelling with them so I was dissapointed but they should be arriving any minute now in Haiti so I will see them soon.
I was warmly welcomed by my Coram Deo family. They told me they missed me a lot. Not too much has changed around here. Apparently we have had VERY little hydro while I was gone and we are almost out of water. We may have to buy a tank of water for showering, washing clothes etc. Other than that they had a quiet and restful few weeks.
Overall it is good to be back but I find the first few days back are always the days I am the most homesick. When I start my routine again and I'm super busy I won't have time to be homesick.

A time of refreshment

The last 2 weeks have flown by and I've had an amazing time with family and friends. I've done more shopping in 2 weeks than I have in the 5 months I spent in Haiti. My family managed to buy a ton of gifts for every member of the Coram Deo household. (there are GREAT deals after Christmas:) When we had all the gifts assembled in one room it was very overwhelming. We managed to fill 3 suitcases, all of which are over the limit, leaving 1 suitcase for all the school supplies and my personal items.
The time I have spent at home has been a time of great refreshment. I have been blessed in so many ways throughout my visit home. I was able to visit my old school and do a presentation for the whole school about what I am doing in Haiti. I was able to visit my church in Toronto and I saw a ton of friends in a short period of time.
I continue to marvel at how much the Lord has blessed me with family and friends who understand why I am compelled to work and live in Haiti. I've been encouraged by so many individuals and prayed over by many others. I have shared stories and seen others moved by what is happening in Haiti and more specifically at Coram Deo. God has blessed me with an amazing amount of prayer support. I am continually amazed by how many people are praying for the work that happens in Haiti. As the political situation worsens these prayers are needed more and more.
Oftentimes since arriving in Haiti I have been overwhelmed by the task that I have taken on. More than once I was overcome by selfdoubt and fear that maybe I had taken on more than I could handle. This trip has been a gift of refreshment in so many ways because I was able to gain a new perspective on my work and the encouragement I received from so many enables me to go back with a renewed energy and passion.
I leave tomorrow morning VERY early and I think I'm ready to go. I'm ready to get back into a routine and I'm eager to get back to work at the school. So many ideas, so little time. If I was unable to see you when I was home I apologize. I hope you understand. Thanks for all your love and prayers.

Home at last!!!!

I arrived on Canadian soil at 10:45 p.m. Thursday night. I missed my connecting flight in Ft. Lauderdale and had to spend 5 hours killing time before the next flight to Toronto but it could have been so much worse.
It's been a whirlwind of activity since I got home. I've been to a wedding, two family dinner parties and now I'm off for a fun filled day of shopping with my mom. (I'm in withdrawal from shopping:)
Just wanted to let everyone know that I'm home safe and sound. I'll let you know when I'm back in Haiti and you can start worrying again!!!

A"'truly" Haitian Experience???

Christmas has come and gone and I can't say that it was all that interesting or exciting to spend it in Haiti. There were two reasons why I didn't find Christmas in Haiti all that interesting. First of all Christmas is not really a major holiday in Haiti. New Years Eve and Carnaval are much bigger holidays as far as Haitians are concerned. The other thing is that even if Haitians had a huge celebration I would not be able to go because it would be at night and unsafe for me to go. When I tell Haitians that I won't be in Haiti for New Year's Eve they seem so dissapointed and tell me that I will be missing out. In reality I wouldn't be able to go to any of the celebrations so I'm not too dissapointed.
The Christmas Eve candle light service was very nice. After church we ate some street food (my stomach did not thank me later) and watched some Christmas singing program on TV. After the kids went to bed and all the guys left to go to various parties, I helped Karen wrap some presents and then went to bed. The highlight was that my family called and I was able to talk to all of them. Christmas day was also pretty tame. The kids opened their presents in the morning and spent the rest of the day playing with them. I relaxed and watched a movie at a friends house. At night I was determined that everyone would sit together for our turkey meal. No one was as excited about it as I was but they all sat down. We ate our turkey with rice (of course) and it was delicious. Overall a quiet but nice Christmas.
Tomorrow morning I will be flying out of Haiti and the time just can't come fast enough for me. I am so excited about being home and seeing my family and friends. E-mail is an amazing and wonderful thing but nothing replaces talking face to face.

Christmas Eve

Our school Christmas party was a huge hit. The kids sang and read very well during the program and they loved the games and music. We gave them a small gift when they left and they were thrilled. Unfortunately we included a noise maker in the gift bag and I've had to listen to it constantly since yesterday afternoon:)
Well, we had a vote two nights ago on what we wanted for our Christmas dinner; turkey or fish. Thankfully turkey won hands down!!! I doubt we'll be having it with mashed potatoes and stuffing, but turkey is turkey and will be much appreciated!!!
We went shopping this week for presents for the kids. They are still very strong believers in "Papa Noel" AKA Santa Claus. They have no clue that we are buying them gifts and aren't snooping around at all. Karen managed to buy two bikes for the youngest two boys - Manu and Jacob. They will be THRILLED, they want one soooo badly. The bikes are currently hiding at Cadeau's house so they kids won't see them:)
Tonight we are going to the Christmas Eve service which I'm really excited about it. Tomorrow morning the kids will open their presents and then we'll go to church again. I always enjoy church but for some reason it's even more special at Christmas time.
I've like to thank everyone who sent me a Christmas card. As I've mentioned before snail mail is always appreciated but it is even more appreciated when you are far away from family and friends. Something that I appreciate even more than letters is prayer and I'd also like to thank all those who pray for me and more importantly for the work that happens here at Coram Deo. Haiti is a difficult country to work in because of the security problems and we appreciate your prayers so much. I am continually finding out about more people who have added us to their prayer list and I am so touched when I am told that they pray for me and Coram Deo every day.
Well, to all my faithful readers. Have a Wonderful Christmas with family and friends. Picture me sitting in my shorts eating turkey with my new family and friends in Haiti.

December in Haiti

Sunday morning I woke up at Jenny's house and went for a swim. I thought to myself, it's worth all the risks to wake up on a December morning the week before Christmas and go for a swim:) Seriously, the kidnappings just keep increasing and everyone's getting a little nervous. Up until now I'd refused to think about it and had convinced myself that it wouldn't happen to me. Lately I've been thinking maybe I should have a plan just in case. The good news for me is that I am not an easy person to kidnap because I leave the house very rarely and when I do it's never at a regular time and it's not usually to the same place. The people that have been kidnapped are followed for a few weeks first to find out their pattern. Since I don't have a pattern this works in my favour. However I am being very careful. Everyone tells me not to walk places but I have yet to hear about a kidnapping that happened to someone walking. Also, when I'm in a car I always lock the doors and we always stick to main roads and avoid roads that are desserted. As well, we never return the same way we went. So all you worry worts out there, I want you to know that I am taking precautions.
Well, the party we had for the kids on Sunday was a hit. We bought some junk food, let them listen to music, watch T.V. and drink coke. Overall it was a big hit:)
Ten days until I'm home. I can't wait!!!!!!

Christmas Carols

We have just started a new tradition here at Coram Deo. We now have devotions every night with all the people in the house and any visitors that wish to participate. We read the Bible, read a Devotional and pray together. The second time we meet together Cadeau asked if we could sing some songs. I was surprised but pleased that he wanted to do so. Yesterday Karen bought some song books (the ones they use in Haitian churches) and we sang some Christmas Carols last night. It was a great time. They have a lot of the same Christmas carols, but of course they sing in French not in English. Sometimes the tunes a bit different but if you have the words it's not too difficult to follow along. I always find that no matter where I am in the world, when you sing together or worship the Lord together you don't feel like your miles away from home.
Things with the school are winding down. Next week is the last week of school. The students are writting exams and the last day of school we're going to have a fun day with a bit of a Christmas program. Should be interesting. I have to think up some games for 100+ kids with almost no space to play them:) Good thing I was a camp counsellor. Who know it would come in handy so many times in my life?? I truly think that one summer at SMC can help prepare you for almost any job:)
Last Sunday Ysmaille had a B-day party at his house. The kids wanted to go so badly but he said no. Later he felt bad so now we are planning a party just for the kids for this Sunday. They are so excited they can barely contain themselves. The have asked me about 30 times (each) when we are going to his house. Should be fun... I'll take some pictures and let you know how it goes:)

Commercialism

It's funny that when you live in Haiti you almost forget about Christmas and all the comercialism that surrounds it. I don't go shopping much and even when I do you can't really tell that a major commercial holiday is just around the corner. Of course there's a few Christmas decorations up and a few more for sale, but other than that you hardly notice a change. The weather also really throws you off. When you are experiencing balmy temperatures and you're still wearing tank tops and sandals, Christmas and major shopping sprees don't even enter the mind.
This year my family decided to bypass present giving and instead buy presents for everyone at Coram Deo. I was thrilled by this idea and have already written their 'wish lists' for them. (with a little help from Cadeau) It's kind of funny that everyone who knows that I'm going to Canada for 2 weeks is expecting a present when I return. I don't know where they get the idea that I have enough money to buy EVERYONE a present but they are quite confident that I will be returning with a gift for them. Even people I barely know ask me what I am planning to bring back for them when I return:)
We already had a small taste of present giving around here. When John came he came with an entire box full of brand new running shoes. I think shoes are a big deal to teenage guys around the world but they were especially appreciated here. Everyone who needed a pair received a brand new pair of Addidas running shoes. Needless to say there were a lot of smiles that night.
I have a great pictures of everyone posing with their shoes. Speaking of pictures, I have tried several times to upload new pictures onto my yahoo photo album but it's experiencing problems at the moment so I apologize for the lack of new pictures.
Fifteen days until I'm home and I'm really excited. Of course it will be a whirlwind of a visit but that's okay. Who needs to relax anyway???

Update

We just said goodbye to a visitor that I previously forgot to mention. John, from our Canadian board, just came for a visit to see how we are doing. It was great to show him how the school is running and talk about some future plans. I told the teachers that if he asked if I was a good director to say that I'm the best. Fortunately for me none of the teachers speak English and John doesn't speak Creole so he'll never really know the truth:)
Someone just wrote me and asked how the language is coming along. Anyone who knows me well knows that if I'm not complaining about something it's probably going well:) To be honest, the language is really coming along. I can make myself understand most of the time, however I still have difficulties understanding when someone talks too fast or uses a lot of words I'm not familiar with. This is not really a problem because I enjoy talking more than I enjoy listening anyway:) It really is a lot more fun now that I can speak more and understand more. Ysmaille had a birthday party on Sunday at his house and I had a good time getting to know his friends (girls finally!!!) and they were thrilled that I knew Creole.
As for security. Things are not improving but rather getting worse. There have been several kidnapping and one Canadian man was shot during the kidnappping. He has since been released but he had to have his arm amputated. We continue to take precautions and definately avoid any bad areas of town. I don't go out too much so that increases my chance of safety. Don't worry about us too much. Just keep praying!!!