Saint-Fidor Family Ministry

   

 In just a few weeks time, Mikken, Nathaniel, and I are due back in Haiti for the beginning of the 2020-21 school year.

 •Our family's goal is to live out the plan God has written on our hearts- to fulfill the Great Commission by making disciples (Matthew 28:19) through transformational education and to always “seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with Him (Micah 6:8). 

Here’s what we’ll be doing this year: 

    Mikken will be the lead fifth grade teacher this year and already has eleven students enrolled in his class! He’s excited to start the year as a lead for the first time and is already brainstorming ways to make his class fun and engaging. He’ll also be trying to squeeze in some elementary art classes. 

    My role is very different this year as I will be stepping out of the classroom into the director role of Cap-Haitien Christian School. This summer I have already started on some of these responsibilities that will carry into the school such as our covid-19 response, hiring of teachers, and updating handbooks. I will also be meeting with teachers to review their lesson plans, create pacing guides, and get into the classrooms to work with them as they reach and teach our students. It’s my prayer to use the foundation of the leaders before me to continue on the path to academic excellence, spiritual growth, and making disciples to best serve our staff and families at CHCS.

    Nathaniel will be at home with his Grann (Mikken’s mom) and his fur-siblings. ;)

    In order for us to get back in time, we are in need of some more monthly support. If just 10 people would give $100 a month, we would be fully funded for the year. Would you consider joining our team? No amount is too small. We’d love to sit with you and explain the mission and vision of the school and how we hope to help achieve it as a family.

Thank you! 

Our Support Page:

https://give.teachbeyond.org/support/saint-fidor/

Stop and Enjoy!

“Stop and enjoy!”

She yells it as I take in the chaos of the other children in the house running around the room screaming with the joy that comes with childhood.

“Stop and enjoy!”

She tells me as we work hard on learning her letters and shapes. I smile at her because her focus and speaking skills have grown so much in the time I’ve known her.

“Stop and enjoy!”

She whispers as I ask her to calm down her hyper self so we can read her favorite books while she lays in my lap.

“Stop and enjoy…”

I’m not quite sure that 8 year old A even really knows what that phrase means, (even though she uses it in a decent context) but that catchphrase of hers has stuck with me ever since she started using it a couple of months ago.

March and April have been crammed pack with fun, comfort-stretching, growth-making, hard but oh-so-good moments. Through it all, I’ve had handfuls of moments where I’ve had to listen to A’s voice in my head to just “stop and enjoy” what God is doing here in Haiti and in my life.

I stop and enjoy the beauty found in God’s creation in Haiti where the contrast between beauty and poverty sit side by side.

 

I stop and enjoy as I realize how many blessings come out of Bethesda Clinic, OMS’ clinic on our compound. So many people, including me and Susie, have benefited from its service. Dr. Rodney, the head doctor, strives to make sure that every patient receives quality physical care, but never leaves out sharing about Jesus!

These are my pneumonia free lungs (after 2 months of  it!)! :D

I stop and enjoy know that "my kids" know that they are loved by me and by God. 

I stop and enjoy chapel on Friday mornings with Cowman School as all of our student’s sing that they love Jesus “down deep in their hearts.” 

I stop and enjoy doing resurrection eggs with my fourth graders as we declare that Jesus is risen and sing that grace wins every time.

I stop and enjoy celebrating Easter away from family for the first time with friends that have become family.

I stop and enjoy the feeling of tiny hands playing with my hair at the Potter’s House or bigger hands styling my hair at school.

  

I stop and enjoy and marvel that this is my life and I am so blessed and content with it. In fact, here’s the exciting part…

I’ve just received word that I have officially been accepted with OMS as a longer term missionary! This means that I will get to, Lord willing, live and minister in Haiti for at least two more years! 😊

Stay tuned for ways you can help make this happen! 

A Year in Review

Though I am about a week late, I’d like to say “Happy New Year!” or in Creole, “Bon Ane!” While I was in the States over the holiday I had time to reflect on my 2016. I wanted to give myself a quick recap so I figured I could share it with you too!

         One of the first things I did in January 2016 was pass my teaching certification tests so I was officially certified to teach preschool through elementary and special education in the state of Pennsylvania! Since I graduated mid-December of 2015, it was awkward time to be looking for a job as a teacher. I wasn’t too fond of the idea of substituting, but I knew that was like gateway to a job so I was ready to apply! Instead, my care.com and sittercity profiles lead to 3 job offers! In the end, I started my first paid jobs as a substitute for Christian Life Academy and then as the lead infant teacher at Tabor Innovative Academy (TIA). This all happened by mid-January. Praise God!

         February- I was still working at TIA, but found out that the center would be closing for good in April. Yikes! Time to start looking again. At this time, I was still in contact with my people in Haiti who were praying for me to return the next school year.

         March- The director of TIA, and another co-worker, moved to another center and invited me to work there! So in mid-March I moved to Kiddie Academy of Langhorne as a lead 3 year old teacher! J (God really provided for me in the job department this year.)

         April- I finished applying to One Mission Society to return to Haiti and Cowman School the following the school year.

         May- OMS accepted me as a short-term missionary!

         June- Still working at Kiddie Academy & raising support.

"Miss Kacie, I made you this bunny because I am your tiger cub and I love you." This bunny is with me in Haiti now. 

         July- Travel to Greenwood, Indiana for CROSS training with OMS in order to be commissioned to the field in Haiti. I also get to travel to Florida with my family.

CROSS training friends

Day at Disney

                                     

         August- I taught 3 year olds at VBS, turned 23, was commissioned by my church, and moved to Haiti! J

         September- School at Cowman started smoothly (thanks Cairn professors) and I felt like an official teacher.

         October- We started off the month afraid that Hurricane Matthew would wreak havoc, but it missed the north! Hooray! Other than a stomach bug, it was a relaxing week.

         November- One day in early November it started to rain. In one night, 12 inches fell on Cap Haitian. We thought that might be it, but then it started again and didn’t stop for a week straight. I witnessed a natural disaster firsthand for the first time. When the rain stopped, they got to work restoring and rebuilding. In the midst of this, we gathered for Thanksgiving to remember our protection and His blessings.

         December- This was a busy month! Kids know when the holiday is coming and the class atmosphere was hectic and exciting. We had a class party, sadly sad “See you later” to a classmate moving to the States, and spend time focusing the advent story. We had a Christmas program at a beautiful church too! 

Then, I went to my Stateside home and spend the holiday with my family and my church which was all so so so wonderful!

My little sister is taller than me! 

Basically what this year in review shows me is that God has blessed me so much and has been so faithful. Bondye fidel! 

Catching Up

January 7^th, 2016

Coming back from Haiti this time was different. Everyone handled it differently. My family had work and school on my first day back so it was just me and my dogs reconnecting as life went on around me. Even with friends though, at church and otherwise, I felt like I was getting a glimpse into the future. People said, “Welcome back to the States” or “Good to see you back church.” No one said, “Welcome home.” In fact, the one person who started to say that stopped himself and asked me, “Wait, or are you visiting here and Haiti is home now?” Other comments included, “How long are you here for?” “When do you go back?” And even “When do you go home?” And “I have a feeling that pretty soon we won’t be seeing you very often around here.”

As much as these comments caught me off guard, I wasn’t offended by them. I know missionaries who have lived internationally for years and their family and friends refuse to acknowledge their official “home-ness” of their countries. It just seems to me that everyone around me as just accepted my calling before I have. I have known this was coming but I think there was always a little part of me that hoped God would tweak my timing to be more convenient. You know, like after some teaching experiences or a husband, or paying off student loans…Fortunately, God’s ways and His timing are not my own and I need to let Him call the shots on this one. He has proved over and over that this is His voice I’m feeling and it’s not a call for I’m ready. It’s for now.

          I’ve stayed awake until 5am pondering my future to come to these conclusions…I’m hoping now that I’ve admitted it, I’ll be able to sleep.

August 17^th, 2016

          Well….as many of you know, I let God call the shots and I am headed back to Haiti this Saturday. It is currently 2:52 am on my birthday and I’m laying downstairs because I am literally hotter than Haiti and my mind is buzzing with emotions and thoughts that I haven’t gotten on paper yet. I’ll give you a quick recap of my year since that revelation and then hopefully update you from my new normal.

          January: Start working at TIA as lead infant teacher

          February: Start application process to get back to Haiti

          March: TIA closed so I moved to be the lead 3 year old teacher at Kiddie Academy

          May: get accepted to OMS! (Start fundraising)

          July: resign from K.A. to head to CROSS training in Indiana

          August: two week of VBS and this one week of prep before heading down!

** I think I fell asleep because that last sentence wasn’t even finished.

August 21, 2016

          It hasn’t been an easy road, but I’m finally back in Haiti. A quote I kept finding in random places is this:

 which is fitting because even though the transition will be difficult, it is not about becoming better, it is being who God created me to be. So anyway, after a lovely commissioning service by my church, last week was spent cleaning and packing and cherishing every moment with my family. I’m now in the process of unpacking and settling before I start back to school with the other teachers on Wednesday. This week I will hopefully give you a better update on my life in Haiti and what it will look like.  Thank you for your prayers! Stay tuned....