Well, it's been an interesting couple of days of ups and downs...
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Yesterday, I went to the market with some of the interns for some random shopping, and we ran into my friend Ifozya! Remember her? It was ironic because I was planning on going to see her after the market anyway! She looked good. It was really nice to see her. I'll keep you posted. :)
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After the market, I decided I should probably go get the sea urchins spikes out of my feet... I got them yesterday and didn't even know they were there until the morning. They didn't even hurt, so I didn't think it would be a big deal but OH LORD ALMIGHTY WORST DAY OF MY LIFE. Long story short, I had four in my feet total, got several numbing shots PER spike (which probably hurt more than them taking them out without them), and then got dizzy and threw up from pure pain. Horrible. The end. Quick shout out to the three girls that came with me, talked to me during it, and let me squeeze the life out of their hands...
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For dinner, I got invited to the house of a Haitian friend of ours, Weslyn. She wanted to make dinner for some friends, so Kelly, Kelsey, Logan, and I all went over. It was adorable... she had popcorn out for an appetizer and served all of us before herself. Some other Haitian friends were there, so it was quite the party. Food, music, dancing, the whole bit. The longer I sat in her humble little room, the more I realized something. When you first get to Haiti, you think, "Wow. They have nothing." But when you stay long enough you think, "Wow. We have WAY too much."
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Keep checking in for details of my computer's funeral.
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Lots of teaching today! I spent the morning helping out in the preschool. It was fun but confirmed my desire to teach older grades. I found out that Jamantha, Ifozya's daughter, is in the preschool. Later, I went to help out with the deaf school. Some of the students got sick and the teacher, my friend Fedner, had to take them to the doctor. Mary, the intern working in the deaf school, was left to work with them, so I was helping with my limited signing and French skills. The school system is very different and the students are very behind, but it was still a lot of fun. After lunch I hung out with a boy from the Miriam's Center named Steven, or Stevie Wonder, as I lovingly call him. (Not that I have favorites, but he's my favorite.) Anyway, he doesn't walk and he can't talk (though he's not deaf), so he's learning sign. I was carrying him around and ended up inventing a game I called Word Hunt. I would point to a word and he would fingerspell it. Then he would sign me the color or even the name of the object, like water. I even taught him a new word: milk. Kid is smart. Seriously.
Prie
Chirsti and John are two fairly new missionaries we have here. They were supposed to be our spiritual "mommy and daddy" for the summer, but they were called to something even greater. They are currently in the works of created The House of Moses, which will be located in a beautiful two-story home off-campus. Their whole family plus 12 of the teenaged orphans from our programs will be moving in. It will be a transitional stage for the students while they finish high school and look for internships and jobs. Starting this up will be very expenisive. Please pray that God will provide for them!
Loue
Not only did John reach his goal by his birthday, but he got even more than he asked for! Niason, Jim, and their family are going to get one heck of a house! Thanks everyone. :)
Creole:
Ak po ko ou ou vini, ak po ko ou ou prale.
With your skin you came. With your skin you will leave.
This is the proverb I have chosen to do my devo on. Any suggestions for some Bible verses to go with it?
Guys, seriously. We have way too much. And we won't have any of it when we leave this earth. What's really important in your life?
Love ya,
Melissa
I hope your foot feels better. did you put something on it to prevent infection?
ReplyDeleteAck!!!! Where were your water shoes??? Please protect those cute feetsies.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad you got to see Ifozya. Keep us posted.
As for your computer....I think you need to just keep it turned off so hopefully we can still get all your stuff off it when it gets here.
I love you so much! Mom
And again happy birthday to John. :)
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ReplyDeleteI love reading your blogs and I have decided that you need to do more writing....you should write some children's books...in Creole...new life goal I just made for you :)
Also I just found out that Jill's brother is also in love with Haiti!!! You two should meet sometime!
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Got kinda lost in the woods this morning :)
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I got us out of the woods (literally) after getting us lost!
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I miss you!
Keep the updates coming!! Also I think you just need to have a blog all year long so that I can know what is going on in your life!
<3 Nikita
This has been my favorite blog of yours. The whole sea urchen event sounds horrible!!! Please take care of yourself and your sweet little toes. Melissa, you are so insightful and truly a deciple of Christ. We love you and miss you so much!
ReplyDeleteLove,
Mona
A few Bible verses on the stewardship of stuff-
ReplyDeleteProverbs 30:7 Two things I ask of you; do not deny them to me before I die: 8 Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that I need, 9 or I shall be full, and deny you, and say, "Who is the Lord?" or I shall be poor, and steal, and profane the name of my God.
Luke 12:13 Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me." 14 But he said to him, "Friend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?" 15 And he said to them, "Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one's life does not consist in the abundance of possessions." 16 Then he told them a parable: "The land of a rich man produced abundantly. 17 And he thought to himself, "What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?' 18 Then he said, "I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.' 20 But God said to him, "You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' 21 So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God." 22 He said to his disciples, "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.
Acts 2:38 Peter said to them, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him." 40 And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." 41 So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added. 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. 44 All who believed were together and had all things in common; 45 they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.
and a couple of quotes:
Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius - and a lot of courage - to move in the opposite direction. ~E.F. Schumacher
Live simply that others might simply live. ~Elizabeth Ann Seton
May you continue to grow in grace and truth.
May you continue to trust in God's goodness and power.
May to continue to join God in the provision and salvation of all.
- Lisa <><