Kidz Korner

 

       

Posted: 17 Jan 2010 - 2000HRS

Is it time for bed yet?

Another evening has fallen, we've made it through another day, start to finish everything ran smoothly, and NOISILY! Incredible how much energy the kids still have while the rest of us are dragging:)  We had a news crew stop by the Toddler House for ten minutes and for the first time in the history of Chalinda she was silent, when they wanted to talk to her!  lol:)  There will always be surprises! 

Just like the fact that tomorrow morning we will say "Good Bye" to TWELVE of our Toddler House family.  These kids are going to be evacuated to the Netherlands with members of the Dutch government and the adoption agency that our families' use over there.  They will be met with open arms by their adoptive parents at the other end.  Thankfully many of these children have already met their parents, due to being required to come sign court papers in Haiti.  Something that looked like a burden to families has now turned into a blessing as their children do no anxiously nervously wait to know what their parents will look, talk, smell, and be like, at the other end of the long plane ride, BECAUSE they have already met them in Haiti. God knows everything!   

Tonight Joyce and I held a meeting with all the kids explaining to them and hoping to prepare them a bit for the possibility that they may get to go home sooner than expected but that "Mama" and "Papa" won't be able to come to Haiti to get them.  They were excited and brave with the news!  And have started thinking now about what it will be like, and preparing their hearts for the possibility of embarking on their new long awaited adventure without a familiar face to hold their hand.  

We continue to rejoice in God's great plan, and how He makes all things work together for good, and for His glory!  I was talking to Magalie this evening as she was hand washing out some of her kids' clothes and telling her how it may be possible to get lots of kids home to their adoptive families now.  Tearing up she said to me "Molly, it would be so good.  Then we will have so much room for new kids that have lost their fathers, mothers, family, everything they know.  And if they can come now, then they will not have the bitterness of life in their minds, and if they can come now, they will not have a hardness in their hearts. But if they must wait on the streets for long, then it will be hard to erase the damage done."  How is God going to use each one of us in the coming days, weeks, months, we do not know.... but we count it all a privilege and a joy to be used as His vessels.  

Love from all of us, and many thanks for your conintued prayers!       

 

 

Posted: 17 Jan 2010 - 800HRS

ALIVE AND WELL!!!

We just got through to Adrienne's cell phone for the first time since the quake!!!  SHE is ALIVE AND UNIJURED!!!!  Praise the Lord, our God is a God of GREAT miracles!  She is the LAST of GLA's staff from both house that was unaccounted for.  His Grace is SO MUCH more than efficient!

 

 

 

Posted: 16 Jan 2010

Count Your Blessings Name Them One by One

So many blessings preceded the Tuesday quake and so many blessings have continued since then! I have started list in my notebook and will hopefully one day be able to share them. The moment the quake hit Joyce and I were here, we headed downstairs to get kids out, but most of the kids were already outside by their normal routine playing in the yard, and the nannies had quickly gotten the last out! They thought quickly and acted fast. Everyone was seated on the ground, the Haitian staff was calm and collected their faces were strained, but they kept it together. After a few minutes the ladies one by one went to the opposite end of the yard to try and call their families. The rest of us sat and started singing with the kids, which helped most of them to the point of being board sitting on the ground and wanting to get up and play. We read books, sang, played with toys, and prayed through the aftershocks, until 8pm when the nannies brought the kids food outside and they had an adventure eating in the yard which is NEVER allowedJ. At 9 pm after checking that both toddler houses were structurally sound, everyone headed inside. The kids bathed, lotioned, and pj’d they were all tucked in by 10pm. Joyce and I made rounds then and again 30 minutes later, by then they were all fast asleep looking quite peaceful. A few ladies stayed in the house with the kids and the rest gathered outside and prayed for their families, for the nation, for the kids, for everything, reading God promises through scripture, and breaking into song. The whole neighborhood in fact with singing and praising! We have neighbors that are notorious for their voodoo practices but they were praising and worshipping as though they had always known the Father. “every knee shall bow, and EVERY tongue confess”.   At midnight we had a large aftershock and Joyce and I made rounds again… all but five kids had slept peacefully through it, praise the Lord! We prayed with the girls that woke up, and they lay back down at ease and were quickly back asleep.   Since the kids have held their usual routine, they have not spent one night outside, they have not missed a meal, they had movie night last night, and got their faces painted yesterday by a couple that had been visiting before the quake. They are free of fear as children should be! One of our nannies 4 year old neice and 12 year old nephew arrived yesterday to stay at Toddler House after having lost their house, and the kids embraced them with enthusiasm and welcomed their new friends in. Today they played all kinds of tag, soccer, hopscotch, etc. 

God has blessed us more than I could have hoped or imagined at Toddler House with our Haitian nannies and cooks. They stayed on and on. They have ALL lost family and friends, some of them their homes, and some of them their friends and families homes. Most have husbands and children of their own. All feel the pain of their people and their country crumbling around them. Their faith is an incredible testimony.  For days many of them did not know if their families were alive or dead.  They heard news and felt aftershocks and through it all praised of Father and put the kids FIRST. They remained calm in front of them at all times. If they needed a moment to compose themselves they went into an empty room privately. They reassured the kids, laughed, played, teased, and lovingly cared for them as they knew their country was falling apart around them. One of our ladies has been here since last Sunday morning. She has not yet spoken to her husband or two children but has heard through the grapevine that they are ok. But she says she will not leave her kids. Meaning she will not leave the kids in her caregroup at Toddler House because she loves them and wants to make sure above all they are taken care of, feel secure, and know that God is watching over them. Yesterday her replacement came in but after hearing her coworker and friends story she said, “You need to go, your sorrow is more than mine, I will stay, you must find the rest of your family.” Incredible! Each night since the quake they have bathed, cared for, and tucked the kids into bed, then the majority make their way outside while the kids are asleep and begin their long night of praying, praising, and reading scripture, lifting each other up and trusting God for His grace. I would like to list each of their names here now, that you may pray for them specifically as they care for the children of Toddler House 68 of them ranging in age from 2 ½ to 13 years. Children look to their caregivers to know how they should be feeling at a time like this, and their carefree worry free spirits are just one example of how wonderful a job these ladies are doing mothering their children. 


 

Ghislaine

Nicole

Christianne

Darline

Magalie

Marielle

Gerta

Nadege

Clarna

Claudet

Edlyne

Gwo Mama

Yoline

Marie Lourdes

Se Ketlie

Nadine

Lousianne

Guerlaine

Erlange

Kiki

Sonson

Adrienne (we still have no word from her, please keep praying for her safety )         

Posted: 29 Dec 2009

One day to go!

Joyce and I are back, and today is a full day of Christmas party preperation!  We are celebrating Jesus birthday at the Toddler House tomorrow!  The kids are pumped!  They have been counting down the days since we first told them that we were postponing the party this year to the 30th.  When I got back from the airport yesterday the first thing they asked was if Christmas was on Wednesday:)  So today Joyce and I are wrapping all the wonderful donated toys for the kids!   Every child will have a stuffed stocking of treats, and a wrapped present to open.  We'll have special food, and the dining hall is going to be decorated in true Christmas style when they walk in for Christmas dinner.  The stockings are hung, the tree (needs a little repair from the storm last week) is lit, and the nativity costumes were pulled out of the box.  There will be little sleep tonight as tiny children lay awake in their beds thinking of the "fét" ahead!  :)   

 

 

Posted: 8 Dec 2009

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas….

We’ve been busy getting things ready for Christmas at Kay B. Today Joyce’s English classes spent some time making decorations and Christmas cards, and jazzing up their school room. Joyce let them decide how they wanted everything and the kids couldn’t believe when she pulled out a big green sack and told them to dig in! The oldest class did the bulk of the hanging stuff, and the younger classes did a fantastic job coloring and using stickersJ. Sonise was elected “light putter upper” and armed with a roll of duck tape strung lights everywhere. Rose Mitha did the snowy window panes, and Robenson decided where 60 feet of garland should go. We listened to “Jingle Bells” “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” & “Frosty the Snowman”. It was a very festive time with Odeleine, Ilienne, and Rose Michelle stopping every few minutes to twirl in circles and look at their creation as it went together. Chalinda and Ilienne made over 25 feet of green and red paper chains to hang from the ceiling, and Remy dutifully moved around the room hanging up the snowflakes they had all designed and cut out. The end result resembled a hair parlor in Jersey and ITS BEAUTIFUL!! Have a look!      

 

 

 

 

 

Posted: 4 Dec 2009

Movie Night

Every Friday night we have “Movie Night” at the Toddler House for the oldest 15 kids. This is a HUGE deal to these kids, and one of the few great privileges they cherish. Last spring we had several 5 year old boys being very naughty in school and getting kicked out half way through class. We tried reasoning with them, putting them in quiet time, making them clean their rooms, etc. Nothing was working. Then we decided to hold their Movie Night privileges as penalty for getting kicked out of school and things changedJ. 

On most nights the bath order goes youngest to oldest. Leaving the oldest boys and girls to bathe and dress themselves while the nannies are drying and dressing the little kids. But on Movie Night the big kids go FIRST, and by the time we pull in the drive after having supper at the main house they are lined up in their pjs just inside the house, as we pile out of the car there is usually a big cheer! One at a time they leave the line and find their chair, then popcorn or Cheeko (another story) is handed out. Finally we begin the “VOTE”. We have a VERY wide selection of children’s movies thanks to the lovely families and volunteers that have brought them down for this purpose. Joyce or I bring out a selection of 10 to 12 movies and hold them up one at a time. Each child gets to vote ONCE, however it tends to end up that everyone votes for whatever ones they want, and we just tally it up. Samar tends to vote for every single one every single Friday, sweet girl that she is, so easy to please and grateful for everything. I feel like the vote is usually a great majority, this is the result of discussion amongst the kids previous to the night. The current favorite movie is “Marley and Me” after a very long reign for the “Air Bud” movies, previous to that “Cheeper by the Dozen” and “Baby’s Day Out” were big hits. In “Baby’s Day Out” the kids are CERTAIN very very CERTAIN that one of the babies who is just jabbering in the movie is speaking Creole, because the phrase the little boy says does sound like a true sentence. It’s amazing that they could pick that out! Joyce always sets up English captions at the bottom and this helps a lot. That way if there is something they really don’t follow they can read along (a few can read that fast!) and explain to the others what is REALLY happening, not speculated. Most of the 90 film there is non-stop chatter as the kids debate and discuss what is going on in each scene, what will happen, what they feel should have happened, what they do and don’t like about it, and who are the characters is nice and love Jesus and who is mean. If ever you decide to sit and watch with them, plan on missing the movie entirely but enjoy the entertainment of observing these incredible kids!      

 

 

 

Posted: 3 December 2009

Sibling Love

We have a GRAND total of 14 sibling sets at the Toddler House.   That’s a lot of siblings, and these kids as a rule have a very strong bond with each other. They have virtually “lost” the rest of their family, and their brother or sister is their best friend for those first few days in their new home at Kay B… and though after that they make new good friends and “adopt brothers, sisters, mamas, aunts, and uncles” their closest bond is always their true sibling. Their love for each other is expressed in many ways. The older is ALWAYS the protector of the younger without fail. All the younger must do is pout a little and the older is at their side wanting to know who caused them grief and if they should get them back! The younger is always ready with sympathy for the older and always ready to shower love and affection on them. Both sibs are great at sharing… older to younger/ younger to older, everything you give them they will save a half for their sibling, or make sure that their sibling gets to play with the toy next. Siblings always look out for each other not to get missed. If one sibling is going for a walk they will run to find out if their brother/ sister wants to come before they leave. Or if we are handing out balloons or sidewalk chalk the sib that is present will ask to hold a portion for their sib that is in school or using the bathroom. It’s an amazing bond! One of the most amazing things about it to me is the sacrifice one sib is willing to make for another. A recent example: Ermithe was being Joyce’s helper during her sister Destinee’s class the other day. Destinee did not do her homework the night before.  Ermithe, knowing that the penalty of this for her older class was to have to stand in silence by the wall for five minutes, quickly hurried to Joyce’s side and with a very serious expression asked, “If Destinee has to stand by the wall can I please do it for her?” Such incredible love…    

 

 

 

 

Posted: 2 Dec 2009

"Kabann!"

Every evening the kids have a rinse off, lotion up, get their pj’s on, and settle down for bed. This process usually takes 45 minutes to an hour. Most nights the ladies give the kids a grace period of 30 minutes to chat, sing, cuddle in each other’s beds, jump around a bit, do their homework, play in the blankets, dance, or whatever other ways they burn off the last of their energy. At the end of this time one word puts everyone to bed, “Kabann!” Usually it is chanted slowly and repeatedly till the last little pair of footed pj feet is in its bed. The lights are turned off and almost certainly every little angel will be sleeping soundly within 20 minutes. I love the joy that exuberates from their rooms during this time. They have come from so many backgrounds of hardship and suffering… but at bedtime they are simply – just fed, clean, carefree little darlings enjoying the last of the day before they say “Good-Night”.    

 

 

Posted: 1 Dec 2009  

Now All We Need are Some Names

Last year in November when Joyce and I were in the states a ten gallon aquarium caught our eyes. We stood there in the store for half an hour figuring out in our heads not only “how” do we get this thing back to Haiti in one piece, but also “how” do we display it where the kids are able to see it at all times and yet not destroy it? We came up with a plan in our heads and decided to go for it hoping that a talented carpenter would come along who could help construct our idea. That carpenter came in the form of my brother, Daniel, who not only took the project on but bettered our blueprint and came up with something much more functional. The display table had been sitting in our garage for several days drying through its various varnish coats and it was driving the kids crazy that every time they asked what it was we would simply reply, “A Surprise!” This morning under quilts we hauled all the things for our underwater village through the yard of kids and into the girls’ house dining room. We shooed everyone out of the house and after Daniel bolted the table to the wall we slid the aquarium into place and began arranging rocks and vegetation. Joyce came up with an “island” floating on bamboo skewers to give the three tiny local turtles a place they could climb up on and take a breather. Meanwhile Josh was busy making sure our four goldfish and two algae feeders were acclimatized to the water before we let them loose.   Finally Daniel latched the lid, plugged in the light, and we were ready! The kids began to form lines outside according to height and age. No one could guess, not even one, what we were doing! Some thought it could be funny chair, or a dresser, but they weren’t even close. It was with a range of mixed emotions that the kids filed in and discovered their new pets. Manuel and Guerlens were not sure that they should get within three feet of the tank. Whereas within seconds Manaika and Daralyne had their noises pressed against the glass. Silvanie, Jerry, and KiKin started jabbering immediately about the underwater creatures, though much of their baby speech was lost on usJ. Everyone had questions, wanting to know if they had to be fed, what they eat, if the goldfish and algae eaters are friends, etc. The kids came in and out all day checking in on their new pets, and enjoying the total access they had to looking at them anytime they wanted. LaLan snuck down during naptime just to get some exclusive alone time with themJ. And tonight a countless number of pj’d bodies have made their way downstairs to see the fish one last time, cause the light in the tank is just so much brighter and better when it is dark outside, wink, wink. Now all we need are some names… but that’ll be another day. 

 

 

 

 

Posted: 30 Nov 2009 

She was Everyone’s Friend…

One week ago a very special little person left Haiti and the GLA Toddler House for the final time and was at long last united with all of her “Forever Family”. We are overjoyed for her and her family, but with her she has taken a part of all our hearts. The kids knew she was leaving, but continue to ask if she left for good. They are happy for her, but miss their good friend. Tears have been shed by her caregivers, and the rest of the nannies, as well as the cooks, not to mention Joyce and I! We all miss her! They have asked to see the photos of her in her new home with her new family, they want to know constantly how she is and what she is doing. What an impact she has made on us all! What a blessing each and every one of these children is, what joy their smiles bring, their loving arms opened wide always ready to receive love, but also to give it… this little princess reached out to every child around her, it didn’t make a difference to her if they were 2 of 12 she was everyone’s friend, and everyone counted it a privilege to be had! Darling girl, we wish you the best this world has to offer! May God continue to use you everywhere you go, and every day as you grow. May you feel loved as you have never before, and find your perfect place in the family God has prepared for you. We will always love you….. 

 

 

 

Posted: 29 Nov 2009

Off to Church

The kids love to go to our local church.  The services are all in Creole and French.  The church is packed, and the morning worship lasts 3 hours.  There is not often children's church, and when there is it is still 3 hours of sitting still on a wooden bench, so obviously not all the kid are able to handle that:).  Each week about 18 Kay B kids from 5-12 years old get all dressed up and walk the 6 blocks to church.  I think what they enjoy most is the worship time, which is usually about half the service.  The whole congretation sings and praises the Lord at the top of their lungs, accompanied by a keyboard, sometimes drums throughout the week.  I snapped a couple shots this morning before they left... but the boys were getting ready up until the last minute so their shots are from a few weeks ago.  

 

 

 

Posted: 28 Nov 2009

Afro's

Saturday is hair washing day every week at Kay B.   The kids get their extensive braids taken out on Friday, and loose braids are put in for the rest of the day and to sleep with.  Then early on Saturday morning, all the loose braids are combed out, and everyone gets a good scalp soap down.  Even many of the 4 year olds can take out their loose braids on their own or help a younger child do it, all together they make quick work of the ritual and all 36 girls are ready for suds by 6:30am.  We use approximately 30 ozs of shampoo every Saturday alone!  After a good shampoo, they leave it fluffed and full to dry while having breakfast.  They spend most of the morning out in the sun helping their full fro's to dry before everyone gets a good conditioning of a waxy pomade and the ladies nimble fingers go to work creating lots of beautiful braided styles to get them through the next few days:)    

 

 

 

 

Posted: 27 Nov 2009

California Kickball

Joyce was ambitious this afternoon and took the oldest children down to the public soccer field on Thomassin #25.   The field was clear except for a few lingering local school kids who had just gotten out of class. Most of the volunteers went along for the fun, and when they plus the kids walked onto the field a crowd of local children began to gather. Sure enough when the first kick was played they had more than enough participants to make it an exciting game.   The group played kickball, softball, blew bubbles, and played with the parachute. Our kids enjoyed socializing with some new friends and did very well explaining the rules to the games and cooperating with them. It was very impressive and a good hands on life lesson for this afternoon.    

 

 

 

Posted: 26 Nov 2009 

We have SO MUCH to be Thankful for! 

It has been far too long since I shared a little of the fast paced life of Kay B with you all!  But what better day to get back in the swing of things than Thanksgiving!!!  We had a grand celebration with the kids and nannies. There were smiles all around as everyone enjoyed extra large portions of fried chicken, mushroom rice, finger jello, pickles, creole sauce, and chocolate cupcakes! Several of the kids spent a few hours this morning making colorful paper turkeys and writing on them things they were thankful for.  Our refrigerator is covered with the reminder of the blessings we recieve each and every day.  We have SO MUCH to be thankful for!  Thank you for your support in prayer and finances that allows us to continue with the ministry here at GLA that God has brought about!  May He continue to bless you for it!