Wednesday we started a new VBS here on the compound. It turned out so well! There were 300 children altogether at this church and they were all so incredibly adorable and loving. I fell in love with the kids and I wanted to take them all home. I’m kind of an introvert and shy though, so on Wednesday, I didn’t really get to play with the kids much and that was completely my fault. It seems like I’ve become more and more shy the longer I’ve been here. I’m not sure why that is. Anyways, Wednesday, we did games with the kids and a craft. We taught them about creation and the beauty of all that God has made around us. It went well, but it wasn’t too exciting and again, I think that was my fault because I was too shy to sit with the kids. But, after three hours of being there, a little girl came over and sat down right next to me. She was speaking in Creol and I understood most of it. She asked how I was doing and what my name was. The easy stuff. I was able to respond which was really exciting! I’m learning this language pretty quickly Then she said something that seriously melted my heart. She kept repeating the words, “Ou bel” to me. That means you’re beautiful. It was so cute. I said it back to her because she was beautiful too, every Haitian is. It’s like impossible to be anything but beautiful when you’re Haitian, in my opinion.
After VBS on Wednesday, we took the teams to the radio station to give them a tour. Jane was talking about all these really neat stories of how God spoke to people and told them exactly where to build the radio station even though everyone was saying the radio station would fail miserably where the original builders wanted to put it, they built it anyways because they knew that’s where God told them to build it. I’m kind of jealous, in a good way, I guess. I never feel like I can hear God’s voice.. I’m NEVER one hundred percent sure about anything. I always feel doubt about the path that I follow and I always wonder, “Is this really where God wants me?” Even coming to Haiti, I had doubts. I never felt one hundred percent about it. I was pretty sure God wanted me here by the fact that He helped me raise the money and allowed me to get accepted, but when I applied, I had a nagging doubt in my mind. I constantly prayed that if this wasn’t God’s plan then He would not let me get the money to come here. Obviously I got the money and I’m here so it was God’s plan, but how do you know when God speaks directly to you? I am awful at discerning when God speaks and I’m jealous of those who know when they hear God’s voice. I constantly pray lately that I would be able to discern when God talks to me and that when He speaks, I would listen and know it is God.
Thursday, I though, was going to be a tough day, but it wasn’t at all and I was so thankful. I prayed right when I got up that God would help me push through the day and that it would be a great day. At this point, I was exhausted and worn out and really just ready to have a break from doing VBS. God definitely helped me through the day and I sat with the kids all day. I was kind of shy, but the kids came up to me and grabbed my hand and pulled me to sit with the. I liked the feeling of the kids wanting me to sit with them. I felt like maybe I am making an impact here. We ended up doing a skip about the Good Samaritan. It was hilarious and the kids died laughing! I think it went really well and I feel like they learned from it. Then they acted it out and I wish I would’ve gotten it on camera. I loved watching it. I think I was crying I was laughing so hard haha!
Thursday night, a couple guys went tarantula hunting. That already has disaster written all over it. A couple girls from this team and I were playing scrabble and listening to my itunes when the guys walked in holding a bag. I didn’t think anything of it. Rachel, one of the girls on the team, got up and started yelling and screaming and visibly shaking. She kept screaming, “Get that out of here!” She seriously had a panic attack. It was awful! They said Rachel and I screamed so loud when they showed us the bag that the people at the Holiday House could clearly hear us which says we screamed too loud. I was so scared. We huddled together in a corner and made them do into the kitchen away from us. Well, then Jamie decides it would be hilarious to throw a bag on us that looked like the exact same bag that the tarantulas were in. So, he threw the bag on us and we screamed so loud that people were saying they have hearing loss from it. (Obviously they don’t, but we screamed really loud.) We ran into a bedroom and slammed the door. I think we all shunned Jamie the rests of the night.. That was so mean. Now we can laugh about it, but it was not funny at the time. I hate spiders!
Friday was the last day of VBS. It went really well! I was finally getting comfortable with the kids and they were finally beginning to pronounce my name correctly. (On Wednesday, when they introduced everyone, I said my name and the Haitian pastor could not pronounce it. He wouldn’t even try to repeat it. He asked the kids to repeat it and it just sounded like a bunch of mumbling. Apparently Renee is really hard to say because they don’t pronounce R’s in their language and they didn’t understand that we do. They could not get it. Even the translators just nod and smile when I say my name. Gee thanks mom and dad ;) haha.)
Friday afternoon, we went to a pool party for Jane’s level two English class. It was pretty fun. A guy was drunk and fell into the pool and almost drowned. That was not fun to watch. He’s fine and Jane was mad cause he wasn’t even supposed to be drinking. Overall though, we had a good time and we got to mingle with the students and learn more Creol. I know a lot, I think, but not enough to have a full conversation. I’m learning though!
Last night, I was able to talk to Rachel and Jaclyn from the team that’s here. It was really nice. We talked about random stuff and then it got into deeper conversations. I really liked it because I haven’t had a deep talk with anyone since before I left to come here. Everyone needs someone to pour their heart out to every once in a while. I usually pour mine out to my mom and Rhea every night before bed so being here and not being able to talk to people about deep stuff has been difficult, but it has taught me more to talk to God. He’s just as present as anyone else if not more present. And He wants to hear everything I have to say no matter how stupid and trivial it may be. That has been on eof the biggest lessons I have learned and it has really grown my relationship with God, I think. I have had to turn to God and talk to Him because there has been no one else, but it’s not a have to anymore. It’s an I-want-to-talk-to-Him sort of thing now. I want to tell God all that’s on my heart and all that’s going through my mind. If that’s the one thing I learn here, I’ll be just fine with that.
Today, we went to the beach all day. I didn’t get burnt at all which is good. I tried really hard not to (just for you Johnny, I know you worry about that). I had a good time but I’m exhausted. That’s all for updates. Eleven more days. I’m excited, but I think it’s going to be really tough to leave this place. I’m so acclimated to this culture and environment so if I cry when I’m back home for the first couple days, don’t mind me, I’ll be fine.