Sunburn

From Kimberlie: There are 3 very important lessons I have learned so far on this trip... (1) Shorts are NOT optional!  (2) ALWAYS hang on tight! and (3) Apparently, fat IS flavor!  You'll have to ask me in person for more details about those stories. :)

Today was a full day of ministry at our Chardene School with both primary and secondary students. Our Skyview Ranch team did a great job helping with the Good Choices Leadership program for the first time, performing skits and helping our students learn how to avoid being selfish, remaining humble, and putting others before themsleves (Phil 2:3).  Even though things did not go as smoothly as we hoped to begin with, Brent and his team were flexible and made adjustments as needed, and the Haitian students had tons of fun!

 One of our adorable primary students (wearing his MP Leadership bracelet) waiting to

learn about Good Choices from our Skyview team.

I was excited to learn that our Chardene Primary students now receive both breakfast and lunch each school day! 

This was one of several rotated varieties - a sweet & sandy concoction (pronounced "shut-shum") made

of ground corn, ground peanuts, and brown sugar.

Did you know it's HOT in Haiti?  Some of us are sunburned, and trying to avoid more sun, which leaves us in places where the air barely moves.  We're longing for cold water, quickly running out of bug spray (yeah - we didn't plan on that!), and really hoping Miguel can fix the Life Straw at the Center that isn't working.  But despite being uncomfortable at times, the joy we receive when serving him is well worth the momentary lack of our Western comforts!  Nothing can replace the fun we're having loving on kids in Jesus' name - even the ones who don't know what we're saying to them, have no idea what American life is like, and probably don't fully understand the hope & vision we have for how great this country can become through God's grace and the leading of his Holy Spirit.

I loved watching our students receive copies of their student photos!  Many of them have never had a

printed photo of themselves!  This little one kept staring at it and loved showing hers to her friends.

Rene and Heather have spent a lot of time interviewing staff, teachers, and students to learn more about their lives and backgrounds, and we are learning awesome things to share with our donors and sponsors.  Shelby is a great photographer (we've been peeking at her work!), and we're excited that Mike, our videographer, will be arriving tomorrow.  The work that they are doing this week will give us amazing opportunities to share the great things that Mission Possible is doing here in Haiti!

This is a picture Shelby took this morning - a fisherman

on the ocean just outside our Mission Center gate. 

Finally, we will be traveling to Dupin tomorrow morning, then working on the Mission Center fence in the afternoon.  It will be interesting to see the result of mixing intense heat and humidity, paint dust & rust, and red paint with adventerous, high-energy young adults! We'll be sure to take pictures of THAT to share!

I love & miss you, Todd Guys - can't wait to see you in just 4 1/2 days!!

P.S. Someone should really stop in to check in on our male co-workers... We're worried that they won't speak to each other the entire week we're gone and will get too used to a really quiet office!! :)