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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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 10th. 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.
