Home is where Haiti is.

First of all, I must say, it was so good to see all of my family and friends over the summer.  I love how God has blessed me with people in different cities, states, and countries.  I am spoiled.

While leaving America was difficult, walking the streets of Port-de-Paix has filled the voids.   It has been great reconnecting with families, walking and seeing old friends, and attending church hugging everyone as hard as possible.

First visit first, I had to run to go see the twins, Eliona and Elionise.  I was extremely happy that everything was the same.  They told me funny stories from summer vacation, work they had done to prepare for Kindergarten, and they placed a masked toy on my head saying I was the “Mardi-Gras”.  Then they would put it on each other’s heads.  It was wonderful to hear their laughs, singing, and silly stories.

Next visit, to the Dubois home.  It was great to see that they all looked great, had a great summer, and a great visit to Port-au-Prince to visit family.  I will have both sons in school this year.    Freud, the eldest son, will be a senior this year, I am proud yet sad.  He is very sweet, one you love to be around.

My favorite student Chnida (she graduated last year) keeps showing up to help in the classroom.  I love that she is not embarrassed to be at Sonlight after graduation, love that she wants to help, love her presence, love talking with her, and love making her cry when she laughs.  We are having fun, getting sweaty, and getting work done!

This year our staff has grown, a new single girl and a family.  We have been in orientation all week, and we have bonded over “Fun with Thom”, and learning Haitian History, and different points of Haitian Culture.  It has been unbelievably humbling to hear different aspects that are important in Haitian culture standards, and I have done the opposite.  Merci Senye pou gras-ou! 

Yesterday we completed a prayer walk, stopping in each teacher’s room, and anointing the teacher, the students, and the classroom for the education and ministry that will happen this school year.  It was touching to hear our staff (and some new friends) join together in prayer for the furthering of God’s Kingdom.  Your Kingdom come!

All in all, thankful to be back, and thankful to be back to work, thank you for all of your support in all the different forms of it.  Still can’t believe God chose me.  Please pray, tomorrow I will go visit a student’s home, which lost his father at the beginning of the summer.  Pray God will guide me in words of comfort and love to say, and the discernment if I just need to sit and be with them.  Pray for them as they continue to grieve, as well.

Much love in Him.

P.S. Sorry for the lack of pictures.  I was too fixated on seeing people to snap shots.  Photos to come.

Is this real life?!

I have been back in Kentucky for three full weeks now, and it has been a crazy-busy three weeks without a moment of free time.  It has been fun and difficult at times, but the “life is but a vapor” has complete new meaning.  I feel as if life is not real, I am just walking (or running) from one place to the next not absorbing anything.  I am just a vapor floating from one space to the next, the Scripture has become more literal. 

I am very happy to be back in the States, I cannot tell you how happy I am to see people, to be able to call, and to work in the Hospital and see my Saint Joseph family.  But I have gone nonstop after work trying to see as many people as I can.  And my Granny is about to enter Paradise, and my Dad is not taking it well, he is stressed out and not talking.  The one person that I talk to the most on this Earth is just unable to communicate.  It is hard to communicate that yes it is sad she is passing, but she is on the brink of something far greater!  I have coveted her a few times, but then I am reminded of Philippians 1:21-26.  Too many different things at once, it’s hard to balance.  And the past few days, I have truly missed Haiti.  I miss the people, I miss my students, I miss the work, I miss walking around, I basically miss my life down there.

So, as I feel like a hamster running in a circle, I am praying as I go to church on Sunday night, “Father, I miss connecting with You, I miss time with You.  I miss Your Word, I feel as if I am not even here.  I miss Haiti, you know it is all I think about.  I pray that this service will be a rich time of worship that will fill me for the week.”  THEN God showed up!  Jon, shared work that is being done at Sonlight, and showed pictures of Sonceneter where I taught High School everyday, he shared stories of the Market and the way he described I thought to myself YES that’s it!  I remember going down to the Market, and just being goofy as they yell at you trying to get you to buy something and just yelling back with a huge smile on my face. As Jon is sharing, I start tearing up.  THEN, it is time for worship and we sing “Forever Reign”, which I think is safe to say was a theme song for the spring semester.  Gepson and Stephen translated the song into Creole and, Haitians loved the song, and it is fun to sing in Creole.  I was just blown away.  To say that God answered my prayer for a rich worship time is an understatement.  And then I was able to come home and spend a whole hour and a half studying, then God kept me up to spend another good hour in prayer.  So thankful for Sunday night.

Something's Missing

I love life here, and am very thankful for the opportunity to be here.  It was probably because I was tired this week (and a little bit on the emotional side, cough, cough), but I was missing some things from home this week.  My family is by far what I miss the most, holy moly, especially my Dad.  I only see him about once a month, but sheesh, I miss daily phone calls (I also miss my constant Mom text messages).  The past few years he has become one of my best friends.  If I EVER need to talk something out, vent out my frustrations, or talk about something that made me overflow with joy: call Daddy Cell.  We talk every Sunday night, but it’s not the same. 

I am also a little sad because I miss my Aunt and cousins (Jimmy-Boy too, I guess :D).  My little cousins are growing up so fast, and I am missing it!  Nicholas is driving, Mariah is now 14, Madison will be a teenager soon, Mckenna is getting tall, Emily is in first grade and beginning to READ…holy moly!  I haven’t been to one of their sporting events in over a year!  I am actually thankful for facebook, it helps me to stay up to date.  In some ways I have felt guilty about being here.  Not seeing my family, not being able to help them out.  If anything I have felt as if I am burden to them.  But that is just satan and his lies…obviously.  Nothing about that is excellent, right, true, lovely, or praiseworthy.  DUH!

I miss BSF, I miss my Saturday morning meetings and the rich, scripture focused conversation that stems from it (and the Panera breakfasts afterward :D).  I miss being surrounded by excellent women who have been devoted to God, His Word, His people and who have lived it out! I miss the kids and Mom’s on Monday nights and all the hugs!  Surprisingly, I have not had very much scripture focused, challenging, though provoking conversations here.  But thankfully, God has provided a new outlet for that, I am pumped! 

I miss the girls I work with and their families!!!!!!  I miss meeting people at the arboretum and having walk/talks (God has blessed me with that here in Haiti though…AWESOME!)  I miss meeting friends at Orange Leaf.  I miss my Thursday night family.  I miss cooking/baking for them.  I miss meeting half way for Cracker Barrel dates.  :D

With all of that said, God spoke to me this morning.  I spent time in Hebrews 11-13, good morning if you ask me!  It never has before, but Hebrews 11:10 leapt off the page into my heart.

“For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.”

WOW!  Abraham, was willing to sacrifice his one son to God after be blessed him with Isaac because all he saw before him was the city that God built.  That was his focus.  Things of the world did not matter.  Then God reminded me of Philippians 3:20, my citizenship belongs in Heaven!  Not in Kentucky, or Haiti, but in Heaven.  This life is nothing but a vapor.  And He reminded me of one of the hardest scriptures I have ever had to swallow, Luke 9:61-62:

“Still another said, “I will follow you Lord; but first let me go back and say goodby to my family.”  Jesus replied, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the Kingdom of God.”

I remember reading this a year ago and thinking, I would miss my family so much that it would be utterly difficult to up and leave them.  Bu here I am, one year later.  But I want to live a life that reflects Christ that is not focused on storing up treasures here on earth that will wither away.  But storing up treasures for the Kingdom of God, to love anyone who God puts before me, to encourage them in the Word.  I love it when God speaks peace to me (it is always easier and more comforting to take than discipline :D)

God is good, I am thankful to be able to have a relationship with Him.  I pray that people see Him and not Tara Hibbs…she’s a loser without Him.  I love and miss you dearly.  Let me know how I can pray for you.  Imagine I just sent you a funny text message :D!

To God be the Glory, in everything!!!!

Isaiah 60:5a

Bonswa tout moun!!  It is with enthusiasm I write this blog.  The past few weeks have gone smoothly, and I have had an overwhelming peace with life here, and every day I fall more in love with the culture, land, and especially the people!  I am starting to find my place, get into a routine, and my personality is coming out, so thankful!  

Isaiah 60:5a says: "Then you will look and be radiant, your heart will throb and swell with joy."  I constantly have moments where joy overtakes me, and I call them "Isaiah 60:5a moments".  I have them all the time here in Haiti. I am thankful God sent me here.  I canNOT imagine my life any other way right now.

I have recently started regularly visiting House of Hope.  This week I met, Reginald.  God is so good people, I have always had a soft spot for deaf people, I want to make them feel loved and to communicate with them.  Thus, I know enough sign language to carry on a basic conversation.  You know when you are surrounded by people you cannot communicate with, but there is one person you can, you hold onto that person.  This is what happened with Reginald.  We walked around, signed, and got to know each other.  He followed us out as we left to wave good-bye.  Friday, I was visiting a sick student and was near the hospital.  He was outside saw me across the street, we waved, came over and we talked while I waited for my ride.  My heart was full!!  Then yesterday I went to the hospital again, and he showed me a book he is studying on David.  He showed me the verse he is trying to memorize from Deuteronomy.  I am going back Wednesday and we are going to play cards.  I downloaded two different ASL books to brush up on my sign language.  Below is Reginald.

Now I want to tell you about my Juniors.  Holy moly, it is hard to find the words to express how much I love them.  They are good kids, that I love being around.  Kindergarten is fun, I get all of my wanting to be a mother out with them.  Then it is time for Writing, and the beginning of an hour and half with my jolly Juniors.  Fiona had malaria last week and ended up missing the whole week of school. we all went to her house after school on Friday to see how she was (she is doing well and will be back at school tomorrow).  We rode a tap-tap together, trip there - hilarious.  Our driver was rambunctious, driving down an unpaved dirt road with numerous "pot holes", 14 people in his truck bed, and driving 40 mph.  Our butts lifted off the bed by 2 feet at least three times.  I wish you could have heard the laughter coming from Cashna, "Me-Zanmi!!!"  "Oooo....HAHAHA".  And heard Laud Ancy's belly laugh, loved it.  It was scary, exhilarating, and definitely an adventure never to be forgotten.  We spent time with Fiona, then headed back.  The tap-tap ride back was much fuller, I had a seat in the back looking ahead and I had the perfect view of each of my students.  I watched them interact, laughing with each other, I kept thinking, "Thank you God for bringing them into my life, I adore them."  Then Ayvory (whom is now known as Grandpa Vo-Vo) started singing, and I was saddened I didn't have my camera.  His facial expressions with his eyes bugged-out, arms flailing in the air, while rapping in a steady rhythm.  Oh I love that boy.  Below are my juniors, my heart melts.

And some good news!  God has lead me to return next school year!  I'll be able to see these beautiful faces graduate!

Please be in prayer for my ability to learn creole, I am doing somewhat better, but communication can still be a frustrating barrier.  Also, be in prayer for quick recall with my sign language.  That God will continually remind me of John 3, that I will forget myself and He will increase and I will decrease.  Thank you for everyone for your support.  E-mail me any prayers you may have, I will gladly petition.

To God be the Glory.  Forever, and ever.  Amen.

A Week Off...What does that mean?!

A week off of school for Mardi Gras.  Hmm...what is a week off?  I honestly cannot remember the last time I had a full week off from work, without compensating for some other type of work.  I think it was my freshman year of college Spring Break when we went to Fort Lauderdale (it was also the last time I have seen an actual sandy beach).  Mardi Gras is big here in Haiti, so we all received the week of from school.  I was worried, usually when I do not have a lot going on is when I get emotional.  When I miss my family, miss my Lexingtonian family, miss BSF, miss being able to get in my car and meet up with someone, miss sending funny text messages, miss going to the gym or church.  But, thankfully, I have had a busy week!  I have been able to get a LOT of school work done, and able to visit with a lot of folks here in Haiti.

One day I went on a 12 mile hike (do not do in Sperry's without socks), and we traveled to this cave in La Croix.  It was a beautiful hike through the country side.  God makes some beautiful scenery, by golly :D.

This picture was taken on our walk back.  I love being able to see the mountains and the ocean together. This high up you are able to see how blue the ocean is, and the different shading of blues.

Tuesday night, a wonderful family invited me to their house so that I could see the Mardi Gras festivities first hand.  Their house is down town, right in the thick of it all.  Groups of a hundred people would march up together with drums and the whole group would dance and sing.  We all danced on their balcony it was a grand ol' time!

These are the parents, the Maurrasse's, and they are such wonderful people.  Anywhere from 10-25 people who are homeless in the Port-de-Paix area stay the night at the bottom of their house, and they feed them.  Not to mention they have raised 7 wonderful, respectful children and put their relationship with Christ and school first.  They have also taken in a couple of their nephews because their Mom was not able to take care of them.  While interacting with them I could tell they were genuinely good parents.  They were involved in their kids lives.  Which is rare here,  and equivocally heartwarming to see.  They carry out the open door policy, and the Romans 12 hospitality practice.  After dinner we had the best discussion on the importance of living a holy life, and priorities in life.  They gave me a tour of the land that they own, this picture was taken on a rock on said land.  They also drove me around down town and gave me a tour, I now love down town Port-de-Paix...I used to be terrified.

So thankfully, I have been busy this week and have fallen even more in love with Haiti.

To God be the Glory.

Celebrating L-O-V-E!

I love Valentine's Day, it is the day to celebrate love.  Here is how we celebrated in Kindergarten and High School today.

This is what each Kindergartener had waiting for them on their desk this morning.

Today was also Mme. Patrick's Birthday.  We had a lot of celebrating to do in Kindergarten.

Please look at Hadassah's face, too funny!  This was their excitement over all of their goodies!

After Writing I kicked all the Juniors out.  I told them they were not allowed to return until I said so.  I then placed all of the Juniors and Seniors surprises at their seats.  I enjoy them so much, they're good kids.

This is a few of them enjoying their treats.  Rodh, sharing (or taking) with Evenson.

This was our hallway decoration for Kindergarten.  Flowers (made from their hand tracings), hand picked just for you!

The Juniors and Seniors wrote love poems and decorated them.  Who would have thought a group of 18 year olds would love glitter so much!!

Seriously, I LOVE Valentine's day!

To God be the Glory!

For the Least of These...

This is very simple, but by far started my Monday off on the right, humble foot.  And I thought it was fit to share.  This morning in my reading, I read Matthew 25, and I did not get past that chapter because God was already starting to speak to me through it.  Here is the main passage that stopped me:

I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me,I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

With this on my mind, I was running late to get my room ready for school.  Already my mind was flooded with tasks to do, and I had forgotten the scripture 50 yards away from my house.  When all of a sudden, a young boy comes right in front of me, "Madame papaye s'ilvousplait, papaye."  I had 12 writing books in one arm, my keys and coffee in the other, and over my shoulder a very heavy bag filled with all the teacher materials I would need for the day, oh and it was pouring rain, oh and I only got 3 hours of sleep the night before.  I was prepared to blow him off, to tell him I was running late.  But for some reason, not of my own will, I stopped handed him the writing books, set my coffee on the ground, reached into my bag grabbed out my notebook and ripped out a handful of sheets of paper and gave them to the boy.  "Mesi Madame," and he was on his way.  I picked my coffee up from the  ground and started walking, already thinking of what I needed to complete for school.  Then God  whispered in my ear, "The least of these, you gave ME paper.  Mesi." God is good people, and He takes my breathe away. Since you also answered God's call and helped me be here, He says "mesi" to you as well.  I love you so very much!  I hope He takes your breathe away! To God be the Glory!