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. 

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!