August has just flown by and been a great, full month for
us!
We continue to work in the garden, train Nicolas, and are
working at passing more leadership off to him. We are seeing lots of plant
growth and some ongoing harvests. We took our first cuttings of mint up to the
kitchens a last week and were met with excitement… more tea in the works! A new
electricity solution has been found and we hope to implement that next month.
Please pray for wisdom as we decide what responsibilities to give to Nicolas,
perceptiveness in teaching him, and that we can get the new power in place
soon.
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| The mint plant and harvest! |
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| A few of the girls who live at the Children's Village checking out the basil plants and gambousia (little mosquito eating fish) |
The nursing school has been a happening place, too. At the
beginning of the month, we had a special ceremony to award caps and crosses to
the sophomore nursing students as a symbol of all they have learned and
accomplished and to distinguish them as being able to perform more skills in
the hospital. It was a very touching ceremony that made it clear just how many
dreams are becoming a reality because of the nursing school. All of the
students have been in clinicals at the hospital this month. It is a great time
for them to not only get experience with skills, but to learn how to relate to
and really care for their patients. The goal of this nursing school is to
produce Haitian nurses that are skilled, knowledgeable, and provide great
patient care, including compassion, advocacy, critical thinking, and teaching. We
have a long ways to go, but I (Allison) love how eager these students are to
learn and provide good care. Please pray for me and the many others who are working
to plan how best to teach and then carry out that plan to help these students
become godly, caring, wise nurses.
Ready to enter the ceremony, new uniforms and all.
The sophomore students sung a beautiful special with Velande, the secretary, performing the solo.
Sophomore students received coats, lamps, caps for women, and cross pins for men.
At the beginning of the month, we were busy with a youth
team that came to work with the older kids at the Children’s Village. They
stayed with us and were a breath of fresh air. Their love for the kids,
excitement to give both generously and wisely, and joy in the day to day
experiences of Haitian life were contagious.
The team also spent an afternoon
helping local students practice their English.
After class they sang a song and were treated like celebrities :)
And... they brought this! I am so lucky!
There are always odds and ends that seem to fill our days
and make time fly- Helping with a tech issue, massage training with the girls
from the Children’s Village, trips to the mainland, visits to neighbors, checks
on the elderly at the House of Hope. We love this work and are so grateful in
your partnership with us here. Sometimes it is easy to be the hands and feet of
Christ, to show his love, selflessly serve, and have grace for those around us,
but some days we are just tired and these things are not so easy. We know that
it is only in the strength of the Lord and with the backing of your prayers and
encouragement that we flourish here. Thank you for all the ways you continue to
support us!
We were able to do a slideshow of old pictures other missionaries have taken at the Children's Village. The kids loved seeing themselves and laughing at the fun memories!
Our new song book for church- a mix of Creole and French. We don't understand it all, but it sure helps and worship here is sweet. 
Having fun with the neighbors
Sometimes technology is a novelty and Youssantha took
advantage with some selfies while she waited for Cartine-Flore to finish her massage :)
