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/

Past, Present, and Future

Past, Present, and Future

Hello from Pennsylvania! In case you haven’t heard the exciting news, I have been accepted with One Mission Society to continue serving in Haiti, this time, as a first-grade teacher at Cowman International School! I am so thankful for God’s faithfulness in His call for my life as His plans continue to amaze me as they unfold.

I’ve been in Bensalem for about a month now and this “in between” feeling is new to me. I’ll elaborate a little bit on how I feel like I’m stuck between the Past, Present, and Future.

Past

Okay, so when I say “past” I really don’t mean that far into my history, just the past year. I just finished my first year of teaching, my first year living away from home, and my first year living in a foreign culture. As challenging as it could be at times, I loved it. I loved my housemates, I loved my community, and I loved my class. My thoughts have been stuck on Susie’s return to Canada and Erin’s move and on nights of Hawaii 5-0. My thoughts have especially been, though, on my fourth graders. Those 10 kids became like my own children and 6/10 of them shed tears at the end of the year because I wouldn’t be their 5^th grade teacher. (I’m talking sobs from 4/10 of them!) I wonder if they are having fun this summer, if they are eating enough, and if they are talking through the tough stuff. I wonder if they are practicing their multiplication (probably not) and if they are reading at all (I hope so!). I wonder if they are thinking of me too and if I really made an impact on them last year.

Present

My favorite part of being in my stateside home is being with my family. I have to remind myself that my time with them is short and to not focus on the past or future too much. I’m enjoying watching my sister play basketball and quoting movies with my brother. I’m enjoying going to thrift stores with my mom and talking about animals with my dad. I’m enjoying eating ice cream (and lots of it!) and chocolate and my dad's cooking.

The most humbling part of being here is fundraising. I am completely reliant on people’s faith promises and special gifts to continuing living and ministering in Haiti. Telling stories of what God is doing there and showing pictures of my kiddos is exciting, but seeing people’s response is so humbling as they sacrifice to partner with me. I hate asking for money, but seeing people give so generously and freely leaves me in awe.

If you want to partner with me, click: https://onemissionsociety.org/give/kacieloucks

Future

       Lord willing, after I’m finished fundraising, I will return to Haiti at the end of August to start my 2^nd year of teaching! My mind also wanders to this and I’ve even found myself having dreams about the first day of first grade. I’m so excited to move down and work with younger kids, but I’m also nervous. I’m wondering how I’ll memorize 27 names so quickly. I’m wondering if I’ll be a good partner with my co-teacher and assistant. I’m wondering how I’ll introduce writing workshop and what books the kids will like best at read-aloud. I’m wondering if I can build a strong bond with them all and make an impact on them. I’m wondering if it’s possible for a classroom to have too many elephants. There will be so many firsts in this first year of first grade! I’m sure it will be a blast and I can’t wait to tell you stories as it progresses!

For now, though, I’ll leave the past as it is and pray for my fourth, now fifth, graders. I’ll live in the present and enjoy time with my family, friends, and church. And I’ll continue to look forward to what God has planned in the future. 

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!