Everybody counts

Working with Obbasen 

            As a teacher here at myLIFEspeaks, God is constantly blessing me with the love of my students and those around me. Each of my WONDERFULLY MADE students have found a special place in my heart and will remain there for the rest of my LIFE. They say you never forget your first class of students and I completely agree with that statement. I look at the past five months of my LIFE and cannot get over how incredibly blessed I am to have gotten this opportunity. How many people get to be a special education teacher to the beautiful children of Neply, Haiti and love what they do every day? I get the privilege of laughing, loving, and learning with my students on a daily basis. Whenever I am struggling and don’t think I can make it that day, God sweeps in and reminds me that I am here for a purpose and He does that by using my students. Every student of ours bring a special part to this ministry. They are letting their lives speak with their talents and with their hearts. One story in particular comes to mind when I think of my children and letting their lives SPEAK to those around them.

            Last week we held a dinner for the families that live in the village who have children with special needs. Mike and Missy shared their story with all of the families on the joys and struggles of having a child with special needs. They did a great job of relating to the families and to helping them to feel like they are not alone. These families were able to see Mike and Missy love on their son, Lane, in a way that we hope to see each of them growing to love their own children with special needs.

            After Mike and Missy were done talking to the families, I wanted to take a few of the parents into the classroom. This way they could see where their children go to school each day and see what they have been learning. The first family I brought into the classroom was Doudoune’s family.

Doudoune is an 18 year-old sweetheart that has Down syndrome. She comes to class every Monday and Wednesday with a little girl named Kebeke, who also has Downs. In the past month they have been learning how to count to 10.  We have used buttons, cookies, rubber ducks, and also playing hop scotch to help teach them how to count.

Learning to count with buttons

Anyways, back to the other night. Once Doudoune’s mother and older brother arrived into our classroom they were able to see where Doudoune actually comes to school. However, it became more of a reality once they were able to look at the work Doudoune has done in her notebook. As I flipped through the pages of activities Doudoune has done, I saw the faces of her mother and brother light up with excitement and disbelief. They asked me, “Li fe sa??” (She did that?). With a huge grin I proudly responded, “Wi! Li fe sa!” (Yes! She did it!) It was so exciting for me to see her family get excited about her work and praise her. For all I know, that could have been the first time EVER that her mother and brother ever thought she could learn or do anything. But, wait! It gets better….

Matt was with us while all of this was happening and had the great idea of letting Doudoune show her family something she has been doing in class. So, we pulled out the fun, rubber ducky number game. For this activity, there are 10 ducks, each with a number on the bottom of them. Then you place the ducks in a bowl of water. The child then takes a duck out of the water, looks at the number on the bottom and then has to place that duck with its matching number on a mat with numbers 1-10. Once we got the activity set up, Doudoune took a seat, her mother stood behind her, and her brother sat beside her. I first asked her to count to 10 before we began the activity. I gave her the first number to get her started and then she counted, “Youn, de, twa, kat, senk, sis, set, uit, nef, dis!”

Judith working with Doudoune in class 

I wish that I could put into words the excitement on her family’s faces. They could not believe Doudoune just counted to 10. It was amazing!! It brings me to tears just thinking about it. Her family not only saw what she did on paper in the classroom before, but they were able to see with their own eyes, evidence of her learning. What an incredible feeling it must have been for Doudoune, to hear her family cheering and clapping with enthusiasm. And, as Doudoune did the rest of the activity, her family encouraged her the entire time! What a neat experience :) Their lives are changing right in front of our eyes. My LIFE is changing and it has swept me right up from under my feet.

It is the little things like this that remind me that I am where I am suppose to be and doing what I am suppose to be doing at this point in my LIFE. I am thankful that I got to witness the family’s encouragement towards Doudoune. I am thankful for Doudoune and all of my students. They remind me that even though it may take a week, a month and sometimes even a year to see change, I can’t give up because they are a person, just like everyone else, who deserves a chance. That being said, I am thankful for that moment because Doudoune’s family found worth in her they did not believe was possible. And it is not because of me. I cannot take any glory for that moment. It is all because of God. If He had not placed this passion in my heart to be here, then I would not be here right now telling you all about how great my kids are. I don’t deserve to have this joy in my heart, however, I am forever thankful that He has placed it there.

I absolutely love it when I see someone else take pride in our students and realize that they can learn. I could not be more proud of my students. Each of them are lovable and smart in their own way. And very soon, you can be a part of our students’ lives. We are in the process of creating sponsorship opportunities for students here in our ti, tiny school for children that have special needs. Would you like to be about something BIGGER than yourselves and reach out to a child who is seen as unworthy of love? If that is something you would like to be a part of, I encourage you to pray about it. However, if sponsorship is not something you can do right now, that is perfectly fine. You can give through your prayers and sharing with others about what God is doing here at myLIFEspeaks. 

Surprised by my beautiful students in their NEW UNIFORMS!!

We live in a broken world full of hatred, sin and more problems than I can even imagine. There is so much to be done but we can't tackle all these things on our own. Find one person you can pour the love of Christ into. Love on them and support them. Witnessing one person being adopted into our Heavenly Father's family is better than any gift or amount of money we could give them. So I would like to ask you to pick one of my students and please pray for them. 

      

Darwinsly

Kebeke

Doudoune

Malachi

Cammie

Obasen

Frensky

Clivens

First Day of School

Do you remember when you had your very first day of school? I was four years old going into Kindergarten at Sacred Heart Cathedral School. The most I know about that day is that I made my teacher scratch off the name Isabella from my gingerbread man and write Izzy over it. Like most children in the states, in Haiti and around the world, they begin school at a young age.

            For the children here, attending our sweet little myLIFEspeaks school, they have started at ages 3, 5, 8, 12, 13, and even 18. Can you imagine having your very first day of school be when you were, for most of my students, that late in age? They have never gotten the opportunity to go to school, ever. The schools here in Haiti don’t allow children with special needs to attend their school. To them, our children are worthless, dumb, unimportant, and ugly. My heart breaks for these children, however, I am now rejoicing because they are given the opportunity to go to school just like everyone else. My LIFE speaks is making that happen for these children because they are worth more than words can explain, they are smart, important and they are beautiful inside and out.

I would like to introduce you to some of my students. I will not go into detail on their disabilities. I don’t find that as important as their abilities. Yes, it is a part of them, however, it is not what defines them…

First, I would like you to meet Came Suze, or Cammie. This precious girl will steal your heart. She not only has the most beautiful smile and sweet spirit but she is incredibly smart. When it comes to spending time in class she picks up the material so fast. Cammie does not let the fact that she has Cerbal Palsy get in her way of learning. She is constantly amazing Judith and myself. And every now and then, she will try to be really funny by asking for water (by placing an open hand over her mouth) or leaning way over on her right side. She finds this hilarious and will bust out laughing. Judith and I can’t help but laugh with her. Just the other day, DouDou Chat (Cat), Matt, Jason, and I took our kids out for a walk in the village. As we were walking back to the my LIFE speaks campus, a man stopped me and asked me, “So, what’s with this one?” I told him that her name was Cammie and that she was very smart. He then told me, “I do not believe that. I do not see that she can do anything.” Everything inside me wanted to blow up on him because of the rudness he was showing towards Cammie, however, I kept the frustration inside and wore a smile. I sternly old him, “That is not true, she is very smart. She understands Creole and English, she can point to the parts of her face, knows her colors and she is learning to count.” He still continued to say, “I still do not believe it, all she can do is sit there and giggle.” So I simply told him, “One day, I will show you,” and I left with Cammie to return home. I wish everyone could see what I see when I look at Cammie’s smile and especially her heart. She is unbelievable and will change your heart if you take the time to spend it with her.

Malachi and Cammie holding hands :)

Pictured above with Cammie is her younger brother, Malachi. Like Cammie, Malachi has Cerbal Palsy as well. This happy little guy loves to DANCE!!  He has the sweetest dance moves you have ever seen and brings a whole new meaning to the sprinkler and the funky chicken. As Judith and I teach him colors, letters, and how to draw, he giggles every minute through class. It is absolutely impossible not to smile when working with Malachi. I have learned while working with him that he does best when taught through music. So, even though I am not the best singer, I will sing a song or two to him so he can learn to his best abilities. And, probably one of the cutest things he does in class is pretends he is taking a bath when we ask him, “W’ap benyen?” which is, “You going to take a bath?” After we ask him this he will pretend to wash his body, and as he does this, we tell him to wash his head, shoulders, hands, face, and so on. We will even give him a washcloth to make it more real for him. I love working with this child. If you are ever feeling down and need a smile, he is the perfect person. His little smile and dance moves warm my heart and remind me why I love to teach.

Clivens playing the xylophone. 

Next, I would like you to meet another child that lives here at my LIFE speaks. His name is Clivens and he is a cutie! Due to being born with catarax he cannot see anything but light, however, that does not stop him from knowing when those around him love him. One of the sweetest things he does is wrap his arms around your neck, as you hold him and gives you a big squeeze. He is only three years old but I am trying to get his schooling started early.  Judith and I are working on sensory skills with Clivens and his other little classmate, Frensky (who I will tell you about in a little bit).  During their time in class, they reach their tiny hands into cups filled with different types of textures while they listen to music. Clivens does not always like this activity because he cannot see what he is putting his hands in. But, Judith takes him in her arms and eases him into each new texture to make him feel more comfortable. All who meet him adore this little boy and I cannot wait to see what his LIFE will speak to those, as he gets older.

Clivens with Judith during th sensory activity.

And to those of you who have been reading our occupational therapist, and my good friend, Elizabeth Ingram’s blog should already know about Frensky. But, for those who haven’t I would like to share with you a little bit about his story.  A woman that lives across the road from our campus gave birth to a little boy with clubfeet named Frensky. Not exactly sure when but within the last three years, his mother tried to give him up to an orphanage because he was born different and was ugly in her eyes. A little later, the orphanage gave him back to his mother and since then he has been lying on small mattress pad on her front porch. Every time I go to get him for class he is lying there by himself. Why does his mother leave him here by himself, and why does she not take him to lie beside her as she sells cokes in front of our campus? It is because she is ashamed of this beautiful and innocent little boy. It is thought of in this culture, if you have a child with special needs, then there is something wrong with the mother or that she was cursed while pregnant. While working here, we as a staff and as a family are trying to change that concept in our village. Elizabeth is doing a great job of starting with this little boy and I wish to work along side her to help Frensky’s mother find value and beauty in her son. While in class with Frensky, I try and show him love and understanding. I hope and I pray he feels loved by me but I know for a fact he feels loved by Elizabeth. She cares for him so well, like a mother should care for her children.

DouDoune showing off her craft!

Another one of my students I would like you to meet is DouDoune who is an 18-year-old young woman. Like most people with Down Syndrome, this girl will brighten your worst day and make your heart smile. I met DouDoune at the soccer camp that my LIFE speaks and a wonderful team held this past summer. She met me for one second and already had her arms wrapped around me. That is pure love. She had her very first day of school two weeks ago! She had her FIRST day of school when she was eighteen! I cannot imagine having my first day of school just five years ago. Luckily, DouDoune’s family cares for her better than most families who have children with special needs. She showed up to class wearing a pretty purple-flowered dress, with her hair fixed and had a backpack on. That was the sign to me that her family cares for her. While in class, DouDoune listens well and works very hard. She works with another student from the village who shares that same disability, Kebeke. Right now we are teaching them colors and doing fun tactile color activities. After class, she always reminds me to get her some cookies and then she goes outside and plays basketball with Matt out in the courtyard. If you ever need a day to feel loved, just spend some time with DouDoune. It only takes a second.

Lastly, I would like to tell you about another student of mine. His name is Darwinsly, and as far as I know he is mostly deaf and can only hear really loud sounds. To everyone who saw this boy, you would think he was what we call a child who is typical-functioning. The reason is because he is typical functioning. He just has not gotten the opportunity to go to school because he does not know how to communicate no verbally. There is no one at the schools around him that will teach him how to communicate. The only school he could go to would be a school for children who are deaf that is located in Port Au Prince, however, his family cannot afford it. So…I now feel so blessed to be a part of his first ever experience in school and to be his teacher. He is eager to learn and so proud of his work. He mostly communicate with pointing and body language but that is all about to change. Judith and I are going to work with him on sign language. Yes, I am going to have to learn sign language to teach this sweet boy so he can learn how to communicate with others. So, that will mean we will need to teach his family and those in the community. It is a challenge and it will take a lot of learning but I am up for the challenge. I have always wanted to learn sign language, so here is my chance I guess. We are ready to help Darwinsly feel like a part of his peers and a part of the family that has been created here in Neply. One of the coolest things about being his teacher is seeing him in the village. When he sees me, he points to himself, then at me, and then towards my LIFE speaks, telling the others that I am his teacher. He is so proud, which couldn’t make me more proud and honored to be his very first teacher.

I have more students but I will tell you more about them another time. I know the suspense is killing you haha J

All of my students are so kind, loving, and will find a place in your heart whether you like it or not. Now I know what you are thinking, “Don’t you say this about every child?” and I would like to say “Yes, shouldn’t every child with a heart so big that has so much love to give make you feel this way?” I think so. If I did not feel this way, then I should have picked a different profession.

Here on the my LIFE speaks campus we have had a lot of firsts lately. First day of school, first Haitian birthday parties, and last Sunday we had our first child die. Not all firsts are as happy as the ones most of my students recently experienced. Losing Jay had to be one of the toughest things I have ever had to experience. There is not a day that goes by that I don’t think about our sweet Jay and how his LIFE spoke volumes to those around him. I am so incredibly blessed to have had him as a part of my life. He will forever have a place in my heart. I will never forget the way he looked at me and how much he made me laugh. His father calls him “The Teacher.” And he is right. Jay taught me more than I could have ever hoped to teach him. As tough as it is to wake up everyday and know that I will not see him and that he will no longer be in my class, I know that he is happily living in Heaven with Jesus. With no scars, no limitations, and no sadness.

So I ask you to please pray for Jay, his family, his extended family here at my LIFE speaks, and anyone who has been effected by his LIFE. His funeral will be held on Wednesday, October 10^th.  I would also like to ask you to continue to pray for my students and the other children who are living in Neply that I am unaware of that have special needs. So, that when I do meet them, I will greet them with loving arms and welcome them into my classroom.

Thank you for taking the time to read this blog. I love y’all and I am thankful to have you in my life.

Love to Serve

September 17th, 2012

Well, I live in a house full of bloggers so I figure I might as well attempt to write a blog. If you like it, then that is great, and if you don’t, well that is okay too :) Here I go…

            

Today, a very good friend of mine asked me a question. She asked me, “Why do you love to serve? And you do it with such a positive attitude. How do you keep that positive attitude even when times are not going the way you want them to?” I feel like that is a very important question every missionary should ask himself or herself.

Why do I love to serve? At first I was at a loss for words. I honestly feel like I am just doing what God has commanded of me. In this moment, God wants me here, in Haiti, serving the people of Neply, especially children with special needs. To show Neply that we should love on our kids, even the kids that have special needs. If you are unaware of how people with special needs are viewed here in Haiti (for the most part), I can assure you that it is a very different view from the United States. I am not saying that the United States, however, has it all right and that every single person views someone with special needs as someone with worth. But the United States has come a long way and for the most part do their best to make sure every child and adult has an opportunity to use their gifts in positive ways. Anyway, back to Haiti’s views…Most people in this country see someone with special needs and do not see them as having a purpose. Children laugh at the kids that have special needs and call them crazy. Some people look at me and think I am kind of crazy myself for trying to teach the children who are “different” from other children. It breaks my heart to see this disbelief some people have. But I also see it as a challenge.

I feel as though God is challenging me BIG time right now. I am fresh out of college with an elementary education and learning & behavior disorder degree. I have never run a class on my own before. I have never helped start a special education program. I have never been in a situation where I don’t know the language of the children I am teaching. But the cool thing is… I get to start my teaching career in Neply, Haiti where I teach children with moderate to severe disabilities that are some of the smartest and most creative children I have ever met. And, I am running my own classroom and helping design the future for special education here at myLIFEspeaks. I am teaching with love and patience to my children because I cannot always speak their language.  AND God has presented us with an awesome teacher, Judith, who works along side of me as my Creole half and will then take over the classes when my time is up here in December.

Judith and Malachi

Sometimes I go into my day a little frazzled and I feel as if I am running around like a chicken with its head cut off as I go up and down, up and down the stairs to get the kids to school. But, when Judith and I begin teaching, God’s presence is noticeable and He begins to ease my worries for that day. I see God working through Judith and me as we teach our remarkable students. If all I can give our children that day is a kiss on the forehead and to tell them, “Mwen renmen ou,” which is “I love you” in Creole, I know that I am serving my purpose that day.

I not only want to teach our children colors, letters and numbers, but I want to teach them that they have worth and that they are loved not only by me but by their Heavenly Father. I am so thankful that I get that opportunity every day. Our children here are smart, adorable and worthy of our love and I want to SPEAK UP for them whenever they are not feeling that way. That is my job and my purpose to serve them at this moment in time.

As for me being positive, that is just kind of the way I was wired. I am not a confrontational kind of person and I can be very quiet when it comes to disagreements (which isn’t always a good thing). When something goes wrong throughout my day I just try to take it one minute at a time and be as patient as I possibly can be. Some things just are not worth the fuss. However, I do have my moments when it feels like the whole day has gone wrong and nothing is going, as it should. I guess I just don’t show it as well when I am frustrated. I mean what good does that do me? It does not help my children for me to teach them all frustrated and grumpy. When I get thoughts in my head of being stressed, run down, and needing a break, that is Satan telling me that I feel that way. He wants me to feel as if I can’t make it. But, I then need to remind myself that I am not alone and I am doing what God has asked of me. As long as I am doing His will, then nothing can tear me down. God is on my side, what is there to be upset or scared about?

So, if I am picking up a child to love on them, smiling at a neighbor to say bonjou, or teaching a child with disabilities the color green I am serving in the best way I know possible. Through LOVE. One should always serve through love. If you are serving for any other purpose other than God, then you have lost what it truly means to be a servant. I pray that I never lose sight of this and serve without expecting anything in return, or to receive any kind of praise, and that instead of others seeing me, that they may see God. I am just an ordinary person, living in Haiti, doing what I was told by my Heavenly Father in the best way I know how.

I ask that you please pray for me as well. Pray that I don’t lose sight of what is important and what my purpose is here. That I always serve the people here with love and understanding. And I ask that you pray for my students. That their hearts and minds continue to grow. I am beginning to teach our children from the village this week! Wish me luck!

Well, that was my first blog ever. Who knows when I will write another one? Please excuse this blog of any grammatical errors or funky writing. English has never been my greatest subject. Thanks a bunch and love you lots :)

Oh and, I would like to leave you with this prayer that comes to mind after writing this blog:

Lord make me an instrument of your peace:

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is doubt, faith;

Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light;

Where there is sadness, joy.

Lord, may I not so much seek to be consoled as to console;

To be understood as to understand;

To be loved as to love.

Because it is in giving that we receive,

In pardoning that we are pardoned,

And in dying that we are born to eternal life.