Back to Normal

Todd came to visit last week and he brought a team with him to help out. They planted a garden, nursed a very sick young lady, and painted the inside of my house. One man also came down to help get the school organized. Thank you Jesus! Things are running a lot smoother than they were.  They also brought me a ton of chocolate. The children and I have been snacking on miniature snickers bars after dinner every night.  The candy is gone now though. Chocolate never last long in this house.

I’ve noticed that it always takes me a day or two to adjust back to normal life after Americans come to visit. While they’re here I get used to speaking in English and eating foods other then rice and beans.  I also get to have two fans in my room when I have guest staying with me. Haitian animals are very noisy at night, and with two fans I can’t hear anything. But my week of being spoiled has come to an end. Life will return to normal for me. We have church tonight and this service won’t be translated into English. If I listen closely I might be able to understand a little of what’s being said.  

My progress with the Creole Language has come to a standstill. Once school started I had to force everyone to speak English to me. It helps them, but it has made me lazy. The better they become at English the less I have to communicate in Creole. I have to be more self motivated when it comes to studying. That is the hardest part for me here. Unfortunately, self motivation with anything is not my strong point. And as a missionary you have to have a ton of it to get anything done here. That’s just something in my personality that God and I are going to have to change.

“Thank you Jesus, for giving me the determination that brought me to Haiti. Thank you, for placing that desire in my heart. But I need more of you, Lord. I need your help every day I’m here. Every time I leave school I need your motivation to keep me going. Lord, you know after I work at the school I continually want to escape to my room for privacy. Don’t let me do that. Give me enough energy so that I may help the children finish their homework before dinner. Give me the energy to tutor every person who has come to me and asked for help. Please, give me patience when the children don’t seem like they care to learn. Help me to remember they are only children. Help me to learn they’re language, Lord. When they cry I cannot comfort them. When they make mistakes I cannot correct them. Help me to understand them. Help them to understand me. Thank you Jesus, for your guidance. For showing me the faults in my own life. For correcting me when I’m in the wrong. For taking the time to shape me into something better. I love you, Lord. In your name I pray. Amen.”