Flexibility

First, sorry for the late post. No internet then an intense game of Spoons got in the way!

Today we drove about 20 minutes off the main road for our first VBS. We learned we have to be very flexible in Haiti. They didn't seem to know we were coming so kids from the local school were rounded up. We had planned for 125 kids but ended up with close to 160. We danced and sang songs lead by our interpreters, Evans and Pierre. Then we did our skit to tell the story of Joseph and His Multicolored Coat. Rob won Oscar for Best Supporting Actor playing the part of a slave trader. Who knew?  The kids then enjoyed re-enacting the story. They were an energetic ad well-behaved group. Some of us even got to snuggle a sweet baby whose mom was there. Unfortunately, we forgot our crafts but it was okay because we wouldn't have had enough materials or time to complete them. We then passed out the peanut butter sandwiches - a half to each instead of a whole - and a cup of Kool-Aid. No goody bags for this group, as we didn't have enough for everyone.

Following VBS, we drove back to the school where we enjoyed a delicious meal of rice and beans with a fish sauce. As usual, frisbees were used in place of plates! Then there were three tasks - bagging food for the malnutrition clinic, painting the guard house, and prepping for putting up coat hooks for the kids. There was a slight glitch with the rice... When we were almost done, we found out we were supposed to be putting half as much as we had been in each bag. We jumped into action and quickly rectified the situation. Three sweet kids whose mom was at the clinic being seen by the doctor entertained and helped us.  The guard shack was painted quickly with just a little paint getting on the painters. The last project group got the wood cut and painted in preparation for completion tomorrow - all while dodging soccer balls!

After watching the kids play soccer and basketball, we've determined that Haitian kids are much tougher than American kids! One kid, playing soccer, did a baseball-like slide into a concrete wall, knocking blocks off of it, and just got up, brushed himself off and kept playing!  Will enjoyed connecting with several Haitian boys through playing basketball with them. Let's just say, they don't seem to care much about fouls.  They were very dramatic, however, when they fell down, much like FIFA soccer players!

We returned to Hope House, had a great dinner of Haitian chicken and rice, did devotions, and spent time socializing. An energetic game of Spoons was played to end the night. Paul S. again proved he's cut out for other pursuits. 

Tomorrow we will do VBS at the school with 3rd and 4th graders and then do some painting!  Remember, if you don't hear from us, it's because the internet is not working.