Job 32: 6-10

So since I last posted, the group of people here as DOUBLED in size.  A group of around 70 high schoolers and college students came in from all over the US for what they're calling the "Restore Retreat."  It's pretty exciting because they're the first group to be using our brand new chapel built on the roof.

I have been assigned to one of the many groups at the retreat called TCTC (Tennessee Christian Something Convention...?) and they've been great.  Yesterday, walked around St. Louis a little bit doing hut-to-huts, which is basically going from house to house getting to know the families and sharing our faith and hearing about their own lives.  It can be pretty interesting.

We split into three groups, one with each interpreter (one memeber of my team's group is actually fluent in Creole, so we used her as an interpreter).  My little group actually ended up finding a small Haitian-run mission.  It was an orphanage where they also give Bible lessons and Americans sponsor the kids to go to school.  I was so interested that I asked if we could have a look around, so the owner, a sweet Haitian woman, took us around and gave us a quick tour.

Two things I've learned so far:
1) I know way more French than I thought I did.  This week, I had two decently long conversations with two different Haitian men in French, and a little English if I got stuck.  It was awesome!  I wish I could practice more in Creole, though...

2) I would love to teach English classes as a profession.  Whenever I can, I go to help with the English classes they have here, and I love it.  That would be a fun job.

Today, I went off to Tortuga again!  Favorite place we go by far.  I have a little friend there named Wensha that I actually met last year, so it was nice to hang out with her again.  I played Jacks with her with little pebbles, and it made me miss my mommy.  I told her "Mwen joue Jacks avek mama mwen."  "I play Jacks with my mom."  Really, I played Jacks with Mommy once or twice, but my Creole is kind of limited... Anyway, since her mom was there also playing with us, Wensha thought that was cool.

Back at the mission, a bunch of us went down to the Gran Moun to wash their feet and paint their toenails, which they absolutely love.  They are so adorable.  When I was washing the feet of one old man, who was blind, he couldn't stop laughing.  He was ticklish!  It was hilarious.  Then a little boy, 8-years-old, came down and joined us.  We started calling him "Ti Pastor" or "Little Pastor" because he basically led us in a full service down there with the Gran Moun.  It was awesome.  He led worship songs and had them singing and dancing. He led the prayers.  He even led Call and Response.  So cute.

Well, I guess that's all until Friday.  I've been able to sleep under the stars lately because it finally stopped raining all the time.  Of course, now it's about 156 degrees outside and 100% humidity.  It's like swimming in a hot tub all day.  You win some, you lose some.

Creole Lesson: "Mesi, Senor, pou tout bagay!"  "Thank you, Lord, for everything!"

Don't take for grantedd what you have there in the States, guys.  Miss you all like crazy!

PS At first, I was upset that the only person who cares enough about me to comment on my blog is my Papa, but then I realized that no one else could because of my comment settings.  I have now changed those settings so that anyone can comment.  AKA No excuses, people.