Tuesday Blog Entries from Kay, Brenda & Lee Ann -- HnH Schools

Tuesday October 28, 2008

Kay Carver writes:

9:00-ish…We loaded up the truck for the drive out to the Hand-in-Hand school, Cite de la Paix (City of Peace) our team of 8 (Kirk and the girls). It was evident that the students knew we were coming because as we drove toward the church on the dirt road all of the students ran out of the church screaming with excitement, waving their hands and running along side the truck. We felt like celebrities.

We met Pastor Simon and the 3 teachers. There were two classes inside the church building and a third outside with palm frond walls, a chalkboard and some benches. We worked individually with the students in reading and writing and we observed level 3 learning French. The children were fed a bowls of porridge. The church is making bricks and will begin construction of a school building with 3 classrooms, an office and a nurse’s office (Pastor Simone is a nurse) in January. The funding and construction of the project is supplied by the church members themselves. It was a blessing to see this church, that has little, sacrifice for the children of their community. The pastor said they are soldiers of the Lord.

Brenda writes:

One of the most touching things I’ve seen this week happened today at the Hand in Hand school we visited. One little boy got his cup of porridge and, against the rules, fed a bite each to two younger children not enrolled in the school. That cup of porridge may have been the only thing that child had to eat that day, or even for two days since this school gives food three times per week. But it is forbidden to feed those that are not students as the numbers of “bystanders” who coming to be fed would quickly overwhelm the staff and resources. That young, hungry boy knew that he would be scolded, yet he shared his meager lunch and “took a hit for the team.”

Kay again: After lunch, which was "Pizza a la Rosalie" (the wonderful cook at the guest house), the ladies assisted Heidi with her English class while Kirk and I treated a few ‘patients’ here at the mission station. I am not sure what they did during class, but we could hear a cacophony of laughter from the ‘classroom’.

We, the ladies, have helped the economy of the C.A.R. by shopping at the artisan market. That is quite a cultural experience. I did the bartering myself in French.

Tomorrow Dr. Hibaile from the International Center for the Development of Ethical Leadership (CIDEL) will share with us the vision and work of the organization. Then, we will go to the center to visit with our orphans (all of us can’t wait!!!) and visit the widow’s garden.

Lee Ann writes:
During my teaching career, I’ve had the opportunity to work with many interesting and fantastic ESL students at the middle school level. Today, the highlight was working with 7 adult people who are closely associated with PHC and are learning English as a second language.

Knowing before we left that they would be working on telling time, I found little clocks with hands that moved. It was so much fun working in groups with these clocks to practice various practical situations dealing with time. It was challenging thinking up questions that were meaningful to them such as “What time do you arrive at work?” They then had to set their clock to indicate the answer to the question.

“Nicholas,” one of our valued security guards, “if you go outside to play with your boys at 3:00 and come in at 4:30, how much time were you outside?” Rosalie, who lovingly prepares our fabulous meals, shared that she goes to church at 7:00 and leaves church at 9:00. “So, how long are you in your church service?” The questions all came after we practices telling time. Carol just came through and said, “That was so much fun.”

Brenda, Carol, and I feel that the students are well prepared for their big quiz next week!! They are in the beginning class but I’ve never seen such striving for excellence. They smiled and laughed with us and had time to ask questions for the last few minutes of class. Of course, they had to ask using their new English skills.

Of course, at the very end, we had to teach them how to spell O - H - I - O that we all love. We have really cute pictures of helping with this Buckeye tradition. Thanks to Heidi who is the residence manager and the teacher of these students for sharing them with us today!