Getting on the internet...(A video blog!)

The fact that we can get on the internet at all where we are located is in and of itself a marvel and something for which to be very grateful.  But the saga of using the internet on the Plateau definitely merits its own blog post. This may be our first video blog ever!

Can I just say that it seemed impossible to convey the force and chill factor of that WIND?!

If you don't believe me, here is how Ani showed up for a visit a little while later.

I rest my case.

On a Friday morning...

The school kids started off their day by watering the trees in the school yard. Unfortunately, the drought is once again having debilitating effects.

These boys rushed past me joyously rolling a water drum, racing against their friends (not pictured).

Boys will be boys....they can turn almost anything into a race car.  Most frustratingly, after I snapped one picture, the camera batteries died!  By the time I was able to change them, the kids were already done.

When Manis first started planting trees in this community, people told him he was crazy--that he was wasting his time and energy.  Now, watching the school kids participate in the reforestation of their community reminded me of a reality of which we often speak in Lemuel: The first, and even the second generation are resistant and slow to change, apart from a few stand-out individuals.  It is the younger generation who really carry the hope for a better future.  The things these kids are growing up learning and doing today--the things that are shaping them--are what will really transform this community.

After changing the batteries in the camera, I visited the men hard at work on the school latrine. 

Perhaps you remember this picture from a blog post in 2012.  It was then that our school latrine began to sink into the ground due to waters from hurricane Sandy.  Since then, the kids have been using a provisional structure.  

Thanks to a special donations from Missionary Aviation Fellowship-Canada and the Summit Church in Ontario, we have been able to begin construction of a new latrine!

A little bit later--right before lunch time--there was a soccer match between fifth and sixth grade.  As part of an initiative to plan more activities to enrich student life, the school is holding a soccer game every Friday for a few weeks.

(Obviously, they did not play on a full field or with a full team....or a full-sized goal, for that matter.)

The game attracted a variety of on-lookers, as foutbòl often will.

(In addition to those standing in the background to the left of the photo, the motorcycle to the far right was also stopped, so its riders could watch for a few minutes.)

Almaïs served as announcer and animator, surrounded by attentive fans.

Catch a little bit of the action in this video clip.

Sixth grade held out 1-0 for quite a while.  But in the second half, fifth grade came back with a goal, and the game ended 1-1.

Well Drilling UPDATE

Many of you have been following the updates on the well that have been posted on our Facebook page.  But just in case you missed them, you can catch up here on the blog.

After determining that it was no use continuing to drill on the Lemuel campus, the drill rig moved down the road to the Lemuel garden land.  There, at 55 feet, they hit rock...again.  After some debate about what to do, they decided to take a break until after the 1st of January, so that the men running the rig could spend some time with their families over the holidays.

On January 10th, the men returned, and on January 11th, they broke through the rock and hit water!

The well is 105 feet deep.  They will put a hand pump on it for now, but hope to install a solar pump, so that it can run continuously into a cistern

At this point, we do not know how much water there is.

We do know the reality we face: in our location, there is a high likelihood that the water could go dry very quickly.  The first taste was sweet; but that doesn't mean it won't turn brackish.  It has happened before.

But we also know our God:  He can bring water out of a rock.  He can turn the bitter waters sweet. We can trust His care for us no matter what the circumstances.  We can even rejoice in Him "though the fig tree should not blossom..."

So, we thank the Lord for this unlooked-for opportunity and for the water that He has provided for us.  And thank you for your many prayers for abundant, sweet water...keep them rising! 

Christmas on the Plateau

Happy New Year 2015!

We trust you had a wonderful and meaningful Christmas.  Below you will find a few photos from the Christmas celebrations on the Plateau.

The School's Community Christmas Party

 Thony came from seminary to spend his Christmas vacation with us.

(Photo-bombing, classic Thony-style.)

The kids were all decked out.

Richardson (the boy pictured at right) was the winner of the Plateau's first ever spelling bee (the final was held Dec 21)!!!  As spelling champion, he received a scholarship for next school year.

Rachelle--one of Lemuel's youth from when it was working in Port-au-Prince--came to the Plateau for Christmas and helped to emcee the school celebration.

There was dancing...

...and performing...

...and gifts!

NOVA (the church youth) Christmas Program

This year, NOVA did a special Christmas celebration for area youth.  For one unique activity, they chose three pairs of sisters to each prepare a table laden with a variety of foods that they had prepared.

The Rouzard Sisters 

The Dumesle Sisters

 The Simon Sisters

Each table was judged on taste, presentation, and a few other factors.

The judges confer.

Chela and Nousta were the winners!

Everyone enjoyed a meal together in addition to sampling fare from all the sisters' tables. 

Merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas, one and all, from the Plateau!!!

May the peace, joy, light, and hope brought by our Savior fill your hearts this Christmas season.

Well Drilling UPDATE

After hitting rock and having to change spots twice, the men from Forapompe were able to drill past 100 ft on their third attempt.  Unfortunately, they did not hit any water, and the signs they read from the earth layers indicated to them that it was no use continuing.

They have now changed locations altogether, and are drilling on the Lemuel garden land.  It will be their final attempt.

We thank the Lord that the men running the drill rig have been very gracious and desirous of striking water for us.

Please continue to pray that they will find water on this last try.

Teacher Team Building

It is a joy for us to provide opportunities for our staff to learn and develop personally. In the school, for example, we are not only interested in the education of the children, but in the continued development of their teachers. Due to the Plateau’s isolated location, the teacher’s do not have access to classes and seminars for their own interests like they would in the cities.

In addition to running a great English camp for the school children, the team from Pine Grove Community Church also invested in our teachers. As you may already have seen, they did a fun class on how to bake a cake. However, they also planned some important sessions on team building:

Session 1

They started out with the famous (or infamous, depending on your experience) trust fall:

Way too easy right?

So, Jeff upped the ante a bit….

Despite some failure to remain “straight as a board,” the teachers had a great time and were able to pull some insights out of their experience.

As a second activity, the teachers were required to disentangle themselves out of a human knot…

...without letting go of the scarves.

Hopefully, they were able to internalize the value of communication, patience, helping one another, and—as teacher Obed repeatedly pointed out—common sense.

Session 2 

On this day, the teachers’ teamwork was put to the test through an activity in which only their leader—in this case, Mèt Osselet—knew the rules of the game. I’ll let you in on the secret: the four stipulations were 1. Everyone enters the gazebo, 2. The GROUP AS A WHOLE must touch all the paper plates (numbered 1-30) IN ORDER, 3. Each person must touch at least one number, and 4. Everyone must exit the gazebo.

As you may be able to tell from Wiltha's puzzled stance, they weren't immediately successful.

It took a few tries to get it right. Then, their challenge became to do it in a diminishing time frame—first reaching goals set by themselves, then aiming for a time goal set by Jeff. Their toughest goal was 40 seconds. 

This picture of "Almaïs, the flying blur" being frantically directed by Obed gave us a good laugh. (Almaïs is not a teacher, as you know, but he participated in the activities along with them).

 Here is their moment of victory (they made it in 33 seconds, shattering their last record by 8 seconds):

As they worked together to achieve their objective, it was fascinating to observe the unique qualities of different individuals come out. Some were strong leaders; others were obedient followers. Some had great ideas. Some cheered their group on, raising everyone's spirits and refusing to be discouraged.

There were also, of course, negative attributes that emerged as well. Some were very defensive when they made a mistake. Some had a negative attitude. Some complained; some blamed.

Once the activity was completed, everyone sat down and discussed the things they had observed—the important components of successful teamwork; the qualities they saw emerge in one another; even the question of who may have been the weakest link, based on overall attitude and contribution to the team!

These quality times with our staff are invaluable. Not only do they offer opportunities for our employees to grow and improve personally, but they demonstrate that we care about them and who they are.

Thank you Pine Grove, for investing in our staff!