Little friend

Meet Janey

He is one of my newest little friends. We met because he was calling to me 'Blan Blan' to come and check out his leg. So I took him to our clinic and he got some salve and a band-aide. Everyday after that for a week he kept calling me Blan and asking me to look at his leg. It took about 5 days but he finally learned my name and we've been friends ever since. He likes to sing and somehow always has new cuts and scrapes on him. He is new since the earthquake and seems to be adjusting to life here well.

Update: Today Janey comes up to me limping, he stepped on something that gave him a little cut on the bottom of his foot and he was bleeding. So we walked/limped to the clinic and he got cleaned up. I asked him where his sandals where and he replied that he doesn't have any because the sandals that we have are all too big for him. I will be looking into buying him some sandals.. however I'm not convinced that this child will stop getting scraps... he is just one of those kids that trips on air.

More Sunday School pic's :)

No radio for musical chairs? No problem! Our teachers sing and clap or drum on chairs!

We called these three the girls in white

Getting ready for a game of head and shoulders, they all have to sing and do the actions, and then the rest of the group watches to see who messes up

These three girls are recent additions since the earthquake

This girl is absolutely gorgeous! She could have a career in modeling!

I'm such a proud mother.. I mean manager!

Flesh Iroko with a group of children they are teaching about basic life skills; hygiene, cleaning, and getting along with one another

Max with a child singing for the group

I am a manager for a Rap Kreyol group at Espwa called Flesh Iroko. Over the past year I have seen them struggle to make their own music and be recognized among their peers. During these past few months, however, I have seen a LOT of growth. They are very serious about wanting to keep the group together and do whatever it takes to make it work. They have contacted relatives and friends reaching out for support and have really stepped up to make things happen. Today we had a meeting with a music producer and a studio recording artist who after today are interested in helping them out.

Above are pictures of a daily happening at Castel Pere. The group takes a different group of boys each day and teaches them some basic life skills. Along with the lecture comes games and a chance to show off their own musical talents. They invited me to stop by so I brought my camera and was very very proud!

Soccer Fun

Here are a couple pictures of Fritz playing around before a pick up game at Castel Pere. I asked him to show off for me and he did!

Here are Fritz and Terry showing off their skills

Friends in Haiti

Here are two of my friends that live at Pwoje Espwa Sud. The first picture is of Placide, he was my first 'Godson' unofficially. He is working on his English and even helped my Mom with her Creole while she was here last January. His smile is contagious and he is growing like a weed!

The second picture is of Rebert. He is working on lists of the children that need to be given medication. One of our volunteers Ryan has been working with the Public Health team here to make sure that once a child comes into the clinic we don't just give them their pills and send them on their way. Now our Public Health team keeps track of each child that should be taking medication and when, so that they can make sure they are taking them properly. Rebert is a gentle soul with lots of potential! He has a big smile and is always looking on the bright side of things!

Ti Flesh Iroko

Here is a picture of the group Ti Flesh Iroko, they are the small version of Flesh Iroko a rap group that I support here at Espwa. These kids were so cute all dressed up for me to take their picture I just had to share!

Litan

Meet Litan

Here is one of Father Marc's boys. He has been with Espwa ever since I first came to stay in January 2008. When I first met him, we didn't hit it off, and by that I mean he really really didn't like me. I don't remember exactly what happened, but I know that it had something to do with me not giving him everything that he requested, whether it be my ipod or crackers.

One specific encounter I remember is when I was watching Fritzner coach soccer and he stood directly in front of me telling me to return to my country because no one liked me. There were a few other things he said but I don't need to mention those. Needless to say when I come back to Haiti he isn't the first child I run to meet.

Upon returning to Haiti this year I was pleasantly surprised to be greeted by Litan with a hug and a hello. I have learned that Litan is now in a rap group called B Cross. He is doing rather well and no longer glares at me or tells me to leave his country.

Stories like his are very common at Espwa, a child comes and has many issues and once they find their niche they start to really bloom. This is one of the many reasons I love it here and continue to come back!

Preschoolers

Above are photos of our preschoolers at Castel Pere eating lunch. With the IFRP program we are able to give all the children who go to our schools a very nutritious meal every school day. They like the food as it has foods they prefer, rice and beans, along with lentil salt and other spices.

To everyone out there who teaches preschool and kindergarten, you are patient souls! Try explaining to one of these children that they need to sit down and wait for the food to be brought to them... it isn't easy!!

International Food Relief Partnership

Here are the smiling faces that welcomed me to Tiburon today!

This week was a busy one. We started feeding our preschoolers the Harvest Lentil blend food we received through the IFRP grant, we also distributed a months worth of food to kids in two other Espwa schools located in different towns. Here are a few photos of where I have been this week. It was very interesting and it definitely feels like Friday!

Here is a video of the welcome that I received! It made my week to have all 200 of these children singing to us as we arrived. They were all very welcoming and represented their school and community well!

Easter program

Bags of goodies!!

Stripping Jesus of his clothes

Dejantis narrating the Easter story

Some of our new girls dancing for us

The Sunday School teachers and the OEV program worked together to put on an Easter program for our kids. There were dances by some of the girls, a poem by Daniel, songs, and the Easter skit by the SS teachers. At the end all the kids received a treat of candy and a hard boiled egg. It was fun and the kids enjoyed it!!

One Saturday Afternoon

Biondy and Samy

Ryan, a volunteer with Samy Evans and Wilson

A basketball game was arranged and it wasn't quite the same as a game in the States but it was fun nonetheless.

At first I didn't want to play because it's been years, but after some encouragement and an injured player I hopped in and actually really enjoyed playing again!