7 AM Breakfast at the Villa was oatmeal and fruit today. The bus came around 7:30, but Pastor met with Rob and Heather until 8. It was fun to chat and reflect on the previous day. I posted a few on day two this morning.
We were only on the bus for an hour today. We picked up several students and musicians along the way. Widelson had invited a few other congregations' bands/directors, including Evens Nelson.
As we take the same route to church each day we are observing more and more of the city and people. It really is a beautiful place and we are recognizing the daily routines. Tracie is learning a lot of Creole and we bought some translation books.
Sidebar: we are all still having a hard time with the garbage all over. Ths t will take time though. Other things are more important...
Music and art lessons started at 10am. The music groups were split up into groups and throughout the day. Music theory, singing, drums, scales, piano, rhythm and dynamics using drumsticks and vocal music. They sang JESUS LOVES ME. they slso played our National anthem... which was funny and touching at the same time. There was an AMAZING drum/percussion lesson/throw down with Adam. Adam got challenged as much as they did! I wish you could all hear it!
(So many tiny stories... too many to write down now.)
(We plan on recording the concert on Sunday.)
Tracie, Sydney and I set up the art station for the little kids in the back of the church. We started out simply with crayons and coloring. We started out with 25 and it quickly grew to 35. They Loved this activity and worked so hard for an hour straight!
We gave them a break to play soccer. Then we gave the cameras to the kids and that kept them entertained for a long time. They take photos and immediately show the subject their pic. Everyone wanted pictures with us or just of us. this went on all day :)
Drawing activities resumed and kids started drawing on blank paper. One girl did a self portrait, some boys drew roads and then cars and played with them... making motor noises. Another one drew a 3-D image. The more serious students stuck around and the others took photos or played.
We bought rice and beans meals for the students again and then the day wrapped up. We were visiting with people and all took away stories. I chatted with a guy, a band leader at another church. It started out with his love of Luther Vandross and Peabody Bryson. Then we talked about our jobs and he loves history. Well I happen to be a professé istwa and his eyes lit up. He was talking about his favorite history stories...including President Lincoln freeing the slaves. He asked me about Egypt and Israel because he didn't understand the geography from the biblical stories. I drew a map... we chatted and I promised him some history books. :)
On our way home we stopped at the Deli mart grocery store. It was a modern, air conditioned grocery store like we have at home. We bought snack and Haitian drinks.
At the villa merchants set up shops along the outer wall... and there was a wooden tap-tap... so I bought it for my classroom. Widelson will have it painted with his logos!
6 PM Dinner at the Villa... RICE AND BEANS... and chicken. Rice and Beans is my new favorite food. Seriously.
Rob and Heather had a meeting to discuss things with Widelson and Enelsen. I chatted with him a bit... he is an accounting teacher at a university. I asked about phones snd he said most people at school have Samsung Galaxy products and a few iPhones. he has a smartphone with data. They buy minutes as needed... no contracts.
Widelson said there was a recent graduation and many found jobs. He said it is hard to find a job in Haiti. High unemployment and high inflation... worse combination... stagflation. Schools and education ate plentiful, but there are not many jobs.
After dinner we took a dip in the pool and enjoyed chatting about mutual friends, school and our day in Haiti. Too many good stories are flying out to catch right now..
Team Reflections on the day:
Tracie: the artistic talents of the kids.
Sydney: teaching a few girls duck face and all the cute pictures.
Heather: Lacy's hairdo courtesy of two little girls.
Adam: Getting challenged in drums.
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