Storytime

A small team from Bless Back Worldwide joined us in Haiti this week. After almost a year of not being able to come to Haiti, it was such a joy to have them here on the ground once again. There was lots of work to do in the medical clinic - inventories, meetings, de-wormings, and basic assisting. We also did a mobile clinic outreach and food distribution in the village of Fauche.

The team brought in some laptops that Bless Back Worldwide has donated to MOHI. (Thank you Bless Back!!!) Kaylah and Kimber set them up and got to work having a blast with the computer class students.

Kimber wanted to read in the classroom. I can't even tell you how thrilled I was to see the children's reaction to her wonderfully animated story time. They were totally interactive - even with Johnsley translating in between. (Of course, he did an amazing job, too!)

I grew up in a culture where reading books was normal. I remember my adoptive mother reading to me in bed right after I went to live with my new family. I remember my 3rd grade teacher, Mrs. Seplowitz, reading to us in class. (Specifically James and the Giant Peach [because it was just so weird] and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory [because we got to eat malted milk balls while she read!].) Reading books before bed is certainly one of my own children's fonder childhood memories and our grand babies are well on their way.

I LOVE story books and I love reading them to children with great animation! I think it's so sad that there are whole societies full of people that do not know how to read a story book to a child. Story books have never been readily available in Haiti. Those that are available cost money that most would choose to spend on something else (like food).

MOHI's library was an important first step for us in bringing stories to the children of Haiti, but the books don't read themselves. You and I can have a part in instilling a love of stories, books, and reading in the children of Haiti. You don't have to be a doctor to visit Haiti and make a difference. Come share a love of reading and books with our students! Help open wide doors of opportunity for their futures.

The dental clinic has been very busy lately, with not only our own students, but students from a couple of other schools, as well. It's such a great feeling to know that this ministry is fulfilling such a critical role in the community.

The dental swish program started back up again with the return of students to the classroom.

L'Eglise Evangelique Mission of Hope had a great turnout this morning on our Thozin campus. Pastor Lex shared about the role of spiritual comprehension in life transformations. The church was doubled over with laughter as he shared some examples from his childhood of having a choice to listen to the right voice.

The churches here at MOHI take prayer very seriously. So many have told me that they were praying for me as I underwent surgery back in September. I hear them praying for you at every service, too! Please let us know if you have any specific prayer requests so we can join our faith with yours.

Lex had a short conversation with a young student in our school this week. She told him that she had been praying for me, that I would come out of surgery okay. She went on to ask him to "stop wearing that hat." (A bright red, Boston Red Sox cap.) She told him that if he must wear it, he should wear it when he leaves the school yard, but that none of the students like to see it on his head. He told her that he would have to ask me about it. She confidently told him that certainly his wife doesn't like it either. Aren't kids the best?!!!