Below are posts from Facebook this monthā¦
12-hour Movie Marathon
– October 22nd
Tonight is our 12-Hour Movie Marathon! Thatās rightā¦weāve completely lost our minds!
For the past 2 months, all of the kids on campus (including our staffās children) have been earning points for cleaning, good behavior, and random acts of kindness. Tonight, those with the most points were rewarded!
SOā¦we have 48 children in the classroom ready for food, films, and fun! We have several games to play in between films as well.
Sadly, this is the first party where the snacks arenāt up to par. We cannot find popcorn, chips, cookies, candy, chiccos, or soda in town.
BUT –
Momma gigi made her version of donuts – which are honestly better than ANYTHING you could buy downtown! Gabriel made oatmeal cookies as well. AND we also have those good ole peanut butter sandwiches on standby!
We started the party at 7pm and it will end at 7am. Even if the children fall asleep, they will stay until the morning.
Sigora only offers power from 8pm-10pm. BUT nearly all of our party decorations are battery powered! We have several ryobi fans that should last 6 hours – to help with the heat. We also have a back-up ābattery boxā that should be able to hold the projector & phone for the whole night.
Though we donāt have our typical snacks for the partyā¦.we did manage to find the cutest UK cheerleaders to help us keep this party going! š
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Laughing Even When It Hurts
– October 21st
I spend the mornings teaching my kids in school. Our staff love that Iām in the classroom because Iām easy to find on any given day.
Pierre, Momma Gigi, Mme Nene, Elirose, Bena and various other staff often get into random & “somewhat deep” conversations at my desk – while the kids are doing their school work.
Things are looking bleak in the Mole, as we cannot find rice locally now. We always use a lot of analogies when we speak about life. Itās just an easy way for our cultures to connect.
I started talking about how SOMETIMES it can feel like God has left me on āreadā. I know He hears my prayers – but it feels like Iām continually waiting for HIM to respond. I just keep seeing the ābubblesā – (where it looks like Heās writing) – but then nothing comes through.
Momma Gigi & some of the other staff have had some of those same feelings. They said itās like sending someone mail & never knowing if the person received it. Itās just difficult right now to see & know if God is really āmovingā.
**
SO – – – LEVI is sitting quietly at his desk. In fact, we totally forgot he was here.
Out of nowhere he pipes in (while still looking down at his textbook), āWell maybe Godās not getting your messages because He forgot to leave His forwarding address!ā
We laughed so hard at how nonchalantly he joined our conversation with the most random comment. He is definitely one of a kind! (Just a few years ago, this kid thought MLK day was MILK day and wondered if people could choose any flavor of milk or it had to be āregularā).
It was nice to leave our heavy conversation with some much needed laughterā¦.
**
At the end of the day…I have no doubt that God is on the move – EVEN if it feels like our prayers are getting lost in the mail.
And if you ever have those same feelingsā¦. just keep holding on! Thereās no such thing as āreturn to senderā when youāre communicating with our God Almighty!

***
Iāve fallen and I canāt get up
– October 13thĀ
I know for some of you, this post is gonna seem like shocking newsā¦so out of my norm. (Note sarcasm)
This past Saturday, while carrying an armful of books up “exactly 2 stepsā – my sandal got caught and I fell full-force on my left shoulder. Since my hands were full, I couldnāt brace myself.
No, this is not the shoulder I had surgery on before. BUT according to my orthopedic surgeon – it will likely be the shoulder I have surgery on next week.
I have it in a sling and Iām using an ice machine (from my last shoulder surgery) to help with the swelling. Because of my esophagus issues – Iām not allowed to take steroids/IB-prophin normally. However, I was given permission to take those for a few days.
Iām unable to move my left arm in ANY direction without excruciating pain. My doctor said if it doesnāt loosen up in the next few days- Iāll have to fly out to avoid having aāfrozen shoulderā. He also said heād put me on the surgery schedule right away to avoid extra time away. #NEVERADULLMOMENT
In the midst of all the political uncertainty and drama – there are still SO MANY great things happening with our ministry. Our campus school started back this week. We are flying up another plane of food!
Childrenās Church is so much fun and everyone LOVES the new format. Momma Gigi, Mme Nene, Abbey, & Pierre are all participating with the ātherapyā side of the group discussions. ALSO – Iām finally in a groove as I teach school every morning with my kids. ***This is NOT the time to fly out.
We continue to dig-up curses buried all around our home. Everyone thinks all of my medical drama is a result of those curses working against me. In Haiti, thereās no such thing as me simply having ābad luckā. Instead, theyāre giving all the credit to those who wish to prove satan is more powerful than the God we serve.
SOā¦I appreciate your prayers for healing right now! Between my left shoulder and my right hand – Iām quite the mess arenāt I!?! I keep it interesting that’s for sure!

***
CHILDRENāS CHURCH
– October 1stĀ
Jose and I were up until 2am decorating the cafeteria for tonightās big Childrenās Church Kickoff. Ā THIS IS WHEN I REALLY MISS MALAYA!
Momma Gigi and Pierre both came over and asked if they could help, knowing that Malaya is usually with me. I said, āSure. Take this suitcase and decide how to decorate the tablesā.
We all laughed because they had no clue what to do – me either! Lol! They did help move tables and such⦠but Malaya is the master at taking my ideas and making it look right!
This series is all about emotions and a COMPLETELY different format than anything weāve ever done.
The 2.5-hour weekly service will be all about naming, expressing, processing, and sharing our feelings. Itās 13 weeks long.
Joan (my therapist) and I have worked tirelessly together as we āmade-upā this curriculum all on our own.
The kids will be divided into 7 teams. Each table will have a leader who can read and write so that everything thatās shared is documented. The kids will be building a bracelet throughout the series as each week they add a different bead (facial expression) to their string.
They will each have an individual compact mirror to learn how to make the facial expression.
We have a Mr Potato Head that has velcro on the facial pieces – so the kids can change up the expressions.
They will each have a dry-erase āblank faceā – so they can draw that feeling too.
Each table will have a sand tray full of toys that they can use to express ātheirā world as it relates to the lesson.
My children are each assigned a table as well to help the leader. The idea is that anything revealed about a childās āhome lifeā can then be followed up by me privately in my therapy room.
Thereās still SO MUCH left to do⦠but at least the lighting and stage area is ready for tonightās Emoji Movie.
(Here are some pictures from the kick-off. I will post a full blog soon with updated pictures & more information about how great everything is going!)
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