FAQ: Are you fluent in Creole?

Q. So, you're fluent in Creole, right?
A. Um... no. I am still very much learning the language. As far as speaking goes, I can generally express the basic version of what I want to say, but I'm often corrected. But that means they understood what I wanted! If I have time to think about what I want to say, the conversation goes much more smoothly. But if I'm put on the spot, then I forget my Creole and make a mess of things.

My listening skills are getting better, but there are still a lot of things I don't understand in Creole. I'm probably the best at understanding school related conversations, but I'm also getting pretty good at figuring out the sermon on Sunday too. If I know the verse or theme of Sunday's message, I can normally get the gist of what's being said.

If I were a serious student I could probably understand a lot more than I do now. But my students love to translate for me at school, and normally either Arold or Beth is with me when I go out. I have a bad habit of letting them talk for me at the first word I don't understand. Maybe someday I'll be brave enough to flounder on my own.

Answers to Prayers

I've been praying a lot that God would provide renters for my house in Mishawaka. Several people have told me that they forwarded my contact information, and that is encouraging. I hadn't heard much lately and was praying about it quite a bit yesterday. And then last night and this morning I found two e-mails in my inbox about families wanting to look at the house!

There are two families who are interested in seeing the house in the next week or so, and one that seems really, really interested in renting from us. I'm praying that one of these families will be the next renters. But if they aren't, I know God is going to answer our prayers and provide renters one way or another.

Please keep praying with us.

Fresh Paint

Remember the team that came way back in February to paint the elementary school? If you don't remember them, they were only able to prime the outside of the buildings. Another group of people worked on the classrooms and still another group started the final coat of blue paint, but only were able to finish the 5th and 6th grade area. Well, this week the project was finally finished. And it looks amazing!! (Click on the pictures for a full screen view.)

A big THANK YOU to all of the painters who have worked so hard to give a facelift to the school this spring. 

FAQ: What do you eat?

Q. What do you and Arold eat? American food or Haitian food?
A. I do most of the cooking and I'm much more proficient at American food, so that's what I make most of the time. However, I have mastered some Haitian dishes that taste pretty good--even if my husband thinks I don't add enough salt. And, Arold cooks too. When we're both home, it's almost always a team effort to get dinner on the table. Sometimes he just does the cooking though.

Here are some links to some of our favorite dishes:

• Homemade Pizza, using this super easy crust with no yeast--we eat this at least once a week! (I use a modified version with more flour and some olive oil from one of the comments.)
• Baked Mac & Cheese, using the sauce from this recipe
• Mostaccioli, recipe from my friend Kristin (basically it's pasta, seasoned beef, sauce, and parmesean baked to ooey goodness)
• Homemade yogurt, easy and delicious! (only I eat this, he's not a fan of yogurt--but there is Haitian yogurt I could buy at the store... but I'm cheap so I make my own!)
• Indiana Style Corn Dogs--we've only had it once, but it will probably be a frequently used recipe
• Rice and Bean sauce--this is Arold's favorite meal of all time, but pizza is a close second
• Chicken cooked in sauce
• grilled ham and cheese sandwiches--my go to when I don't want to cook
• Bannann Peze, twice fried plantains--these are typically a side dish, but sometimes we make a ton of them and eat them as a meal

For breakfast Arold eats an egg sandwich (American) or seasoned spaghetti noodles with ketchup and mayo (very, very Haitian). I always have the egg sandwich, unless we're out of eggs and then I find something else to eat.

Student Spotlight: Viergina

Viergina is a shy tenth grade student. I thought she was 17 or 18, but her birthday was a couple of weeks ago and she turned 22! Viergina often sings on the worship team at church, and is involved in the youth group in Gramothe. I think she understands more English than she lets on, but she refuses to talk to me in English. She always finds someone to translate for her. When she can't find someone to speak for her, she uses Creole with me,but she doesn't like it. ;)

My husband mercilessly teases Viergina (pronounced vee air-gina, with the second g sound in garage) because her boyfriend is the student body president. Arold has made up a song about "Madam President" that he sings whenever he sees her, and he frequently asks when they are getting married. She's clearly embarrassed when he does this because she blushes and turns her face away, but it must not bother her too much because she continues to seek us out.

Ministry Partners

Arold and I enjoy working for Mountain Top Ministries. We get to help people at the medical clinic, disciple new believers through a Sunday school class, and help with a variety of projects. But what we really love is building relationships with the students and investing in their lives. HOWEVER, we could not be the hands and feet of Jesus in Gramothe without our many ministry partners. We may be the "go-ers," but it takes senders and intercessors to make a successful ministry.

We are blessed to have so many intercessors. I've tried to count them, but it's impossible to know for certain. I can tell you that I send our prayer updates to 111 e-mail addresses. If only half of those people are faithfully praying for us, that still makes 55 prayer partners. We depend on these partners to pray for our ministry, our students, and for us. Prayer is a powerful and effective tool, and we need others to join with us as we serve here. We can't do it alone!

In addition to intercessors, we need people who are willing to send us to the mission field. It would be impossible for us to minister in Gramothe without financial support from others. We'd have to find "real jobs" to support ourselves and that would leave little, if any, time for our students in Gramothe. We are blessed to have 11 very faithful families/individuals who serve as our senders. They partner with us each month for about 54% of our support. Then there are two churches who give about 14% of our monthly support--putting us at 68% funded each month. To date the rest of our financial support has come from one-time donations from a variety of individuals and organizations.

We use the word "partner" to describe those who support us with prayers and finances because they are very much a part of our ministry. They may not be in Haiti working at the school, but they are vital to what God is doing here. Arold and I are the ones who are physically present, but these senders and intercessors are just as much a part of empowering Haitian youth to live their lives for Christ.

If you're not currently a part of our ministry team, we'd love to have you join our team! To receive our prayer updates, e-mail me at britneyLsmith (at) gmail (dot) com letting me know. If you want to partner with us financially, you can set up automatic monthly donations on the Mountain Top Ministries website. Or you can give a one-time gift on the MTM website by clicking on "Donate Online." (It's under the Get Involved title on the right.)

Refocusing

I've been pretty grumpy this week. It's mostly due to the fact that I'm too focused on myself and how some things didn't go my way. And those things that didn't go my way? They don't really matter.  My life wasn't changed because I didn't have electricity when I wanted it or that I got a little wet on my way home from school. So, I took some time this morning to refocus on the One who does matter, on the One who did change my life.

Friends

The Oregon/New Orleans team leaves in the morning. They have been faithfully working in the clinic this week, even though they haven't had many patients. We've had some very unusual weather; it has rained off and on all stinking day for most of the week. The sun came out to tease us yesterday morning, but the clouds rolled in about an hour after the clinic opened.

Anyway, this post is not about the cold and rainy weather we've been having, but about my friends. There were several familiar faces on this team, and it was so good to fellowship with and serve alongside them. One friend is veteran mom who gave me lots of advice about parenting ,and she also loaded me up with a bunch of baby clothes. I really enjoyed my talks with her, and hope I didn't monopolize her time! The other friend is just a couple years younger than me and totally sold out to God. She is crafty and funny, and most importantly she speaks truth into people's lives. She helps in her church's youth ministry and loves playing with the babies who come through the clinic, so you know we have a common bond.

I generally have mixed feelings about teams. They throw off my routines and schedule, and by the end of their time here I am tired--they just wear me out (in a good way, though). But I'm really sad to see this team go. It feels like they just got here a couple of days ago. Thankfully we have Facebook to stay in touch, and the team from Oregon will be back in November.

Student Writing: Thank You

I haven't posted a student writing in a while. I guess I haven't saved anything recently. But today one of my 12th grade students caught me after class. He asked me a question and then said, "Oh, this is for you." as he pulled a note out of his pocket. I was curious to what was inside, but he was already talking to some friends. This is one of the reasons I love my job. So sweet. Click on the picture to see it a little bigger.

This post may not be family friendly. Just a warning.

Well, I wanted to write something good today, but my 7th grade class changed all that.

They made me angry.

Really angry.

So angry that after I left the class I speed-walked up the hill to the school yard and then all the way up to my computer lab. I was beyond miffed. I wanted to throw something, or punch them all in the face. (Don't judge me!) By the time I arrived in the computer lab I was huffing and puffing and I had to use my inhaler to be able to breathe normally again.

I guess 7th graders are the same everywhere. They all obtain the ability to royally piss off adults.