The View Outside My Window (Written Saturday, June 10th)

The view outside my window has had many changes in the past weeks.

The view outside my window was of newborn goats and Malaysian apples.

Then view outside my window changed to an apartment building and a playground set.

The current view outside my window is of roads, cars, and houses, thousands of feet below me.

In a few hours, the view outside of my window will be the city of Philadelphia and then of my dogs in my backyard.

As I sit here on plane ride #21 since July of 2016, I feel like the views outside my window reflect my life in transition.

For someone that struggles with change, life overseas is filled with it! I’ve adjusted to a new culture, climate, home, language, school, and job. I have to meet and then say goodbye to dozens of new people. I taught a grade I’ve never imagined being a part of. I’ve learned to live away from family for the first time. I’ve adjusted to life with two housemates and wayyyy less animals then I’m used to.

So much change in just 10 months!

Though it hasn’t always been easy, it has always been worth it! As one of my housemates and I used to say, “This life is hard, but it is good.”

I love my new life in Haiti, all the change included. I love how God is 

using all of these experiences to shape me, hopefully into looking more like Him. I love how God is using my family, friends, and church family to build me up, encourage, and support me in the call God has put on my life.

Thank you for your part in my story, no matter what view outside my widow there is. 

My ministry is not possible without you.

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! 

Discombobulated Thoughts

Discombobulated Thoughts

      Hello! First of all, I apologize for the lack of posting in 2017 so far. Every time I would start to write, something would interrupt or my thoughts would jumble. I am also currently on my third round of antibiotics since New Year’s for what was/is some sort of respiratory/sinus infection that just might have been walking pneumonia. Please forgive me! J  We are now on spring break and this the first actual  “pause” I have taken since December. 

   So… I thought about writing about embracing the “messy” parts of life, like building cross-cultural friendships, working with kids from hard places, or navigating tough decisions about the future without having my mom close by.

     I thought about copying my housemate Susie’s idea on writing about the verse that states, “How beautiful are the feet of those who share the good news.” Because, you see these feet?

They are almost always dusty, peeling, and mosquito bitten, and a little bit sore. Beautiful is not the word I would use for them. (And yes, I know that’s not what the Bible literally meant).

     But finally, as I walked home from school hand-in-hand with a couple of my girlies, I decided I would show some pictures of things that have made me reflect on what love has looked like the past couple months.

      Love is freshly picked flowers from my students.

      Love is half-birthday celebrations.

Love is notes from my mom.

      Love is friends taking you to get food when your lazy.

      Love is a “Sign if you love your teacher!” board.

      Love is fourth grade completing 100 acts of kindness.

      Love is chocolate from a stranger for loving on her kids when she can’t.

      Love is having personal hairstylists almost every day.

      Love is “Have you had enough water today, Miss Kacie?”

      Love is school supplies from pen-pals.

      Love is a picture drawn of my and student with the words, “This is me and my teacher. I love her and I know she loves me.”

      Love is long talks and Hawaii 5-0 with housemates. (We need more pictures!)

     Love is “Kacie! Eske ou manje ak nou souple?” “Will you eat with us please?”

      Love is morning hugs.

      Love is students praying for me and each other.

      Love is a “pixie dust holder.”

      Love is handmade dresses from mom & grandma for the orphanage.

Love is a happy face on my sidewalk “because you love everything cute.”

Love is this:

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! 

Fourth Grade Lessons

Fourth Grade Lessons

I’m not sure how many people I’ve told, but teaching fourth graders was never on my bucket-list. All my life, I have wanted to work with little kids. My mom and mommom have passed on enough materials that I could teach preschool without much preparation. So when my two supervisors from student teaching in Haiti asked me to teach fourth grade this year, I was a bit skeptical (and if I’m being honest, a bit scared too).

Now that we are half way through the second marking period though, I can say that that has changed! Every day isn’t a piece of cake, but I love my fourth graders. I love how I can have real, deep conversations with them and really work through our material. In the process of me learning how to teach them in the most effective ways, they’ve been teaching me some things along way. I thought I’d share some lessons from fourth grade.

1.)            Be silly!

2.)          Be kind.

3.)          Don’t forget to play.

4.)          Ask questions.

"Miss Kacie, how many galaxies are there?““Are elk bigger than deer?” “How big is the sun compared to earth?” “What is the world’s biggest insect?” (Thank God for Google!) 

     

http://pics-about-space.com/

5.)          Love all of God’s creations.

Ok, so this one is kinda my fault. I'm one that cannot kill a bug without feeling guilty..It annoys people, but I can't help it, I promise! :P .I may have turned many of my students into that too. Where they used to freak out at bugs, spiders, snakes, etc. they now are curious and kind. Now, instead of screaming at a giant spider, they say, "Aww! It's so cute! Let's move our stuff so that he can be safe where he is." 

6.)          Dig deep into God’s Word.

This one goes alongside the questions one. They have so many impressive questions about the Word! Where did dinosaurs go and where are they in the Bible? (Genesis & Job in case you were wondering) What does the Bible say about angels? What will heaven be like? If Jesus was born in 4 A.D., how was He at creation? How can one God have three persons? I love these questions as it makes me dive deep into the Bible to make sure I am teaching them correctly. It is also evidence that they are thinking through these issues at a young age! 

7.)          Sing “Bless the Lord (10,000 reasons)” whenever it comes to mind.

This is some of my kids' favorite song (which I love)! We started adding in some worship song time to our Bible time recently. I've found that it really sets the pace of the day and makes everyone in a better mood. This song though, it's not just sung at Bible time...It is hummed while I am teaching. It is done as a duet, quartet, 11-tet as we are doing stations. It is begged for at chapel. It brings a calm across the room as we sing, "Bless the Lord oh my soul. Worship His Holy name. Sing like never before, oh my soul, worship His holy name." 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtwIT8JjddM

8.)          Pray boldly.

One of the best decisions I've made this year is to turn from one or two people praying each day to doing "popcorn prayers." Though there are some that will whine that it takes too long, for the most part they offer up pure, bold prayers about so many things. I just have to give you some examples. 

"God, thank you for all that you have made and all you have given us. Please comfort those who don't have as much."

"God, thank you that we go to a school where we can grow more in you. Please be with those who cannot hear about You at school and with those who cannot even go to school. Help them find a way to learn about you."

"Lord, please come back soon so we can see the New Heaven and New Earth...but God give us enough time to tell more people about you so that no one will spend forever without you"

"Let the bad guys stop doing wrong, and turn to You so that others will see and do the same." 

"Thank you for loving us. Help kids without parents get to go home soon with forever families."

"Help the people dealing the flood so that they can fix their homes, find food, and a safe place to sleep." 

I'm telling you- when these kids really pray, I get the goosebumps and feel the Spirit in my classroom. I even told them that I don't care when it takes more than 5 minutes to pray because I imagine God listening and smiling in Heaven at us. 

9.)          Hug often.

If you have questions about this one, please see my post about my "clingy class." ;) . 

10.)        There is something way more important than lesson plans, conferences, and standards. These 4th graders "love Jesus deep down in their hearts!" ♡

"Doing Life"

        Hello and happy November! I have been in Haiti for almost 3 months now and I finally feel like I'm "doing life." Instead of just focusing on school work (which is honestly enough to keep me busy), I am able to make my decisions and add diversity to my life as I grow in relationship with the people here. Here's some examples:
        Doing life looks like a trip to the Potter's House to take a sick baby to the doctor. Little baby was malnourished with intestinal parasites.
        Doing life looks like weekend trips to Children of the Promise to love on and tutor some of the kids I met during my first trip to Haiti in 2014.
         Doing life looks like an impromptu trip to a nearby restaurant when your groceries don't arrive and you really just need a  girl's night.
         Doing life looks like a Halloween party, a week early, so that you can celebrate with friends.
         Doing life looks like stopping class mid-lesson to "rescue" the school's dog from her leash in the rain so my students could focus. (It was like a movie scene the way they cheered as she came running for them full speed.)
         Doing life looks like making flour & sugar free cookies with a student so that she can participate in our awesome class party that she "paid" for with her class economy money.
          Doing life looks like canceling your weekend plans to attend a co-worker's mom's funeral to show your support.
           Doing life looks like an exciting adventure with the radio station's president.
           Doing life looks like housing a co-worker and feeding her family because her house is flooded, school is cancelled and it's been raining for 4 days straight.
           Doing life looks like changing from our sweats (it was 84 degrees and we were cold) into shorts to run through the rain and stomp in some puddles.

These examples are only a few of what my life has started to look like...I am so thankful that I am learning to not be so busy that I miss what God is doing around me as a do life here in Haiti.