Gracie's blog

Today is our fourth full day in Haiti and this experience has truly been amazing. We’ve already met so many great people and made some awesome memories that will make saying goodbye extremely hard on Saturday. So far this week we have had a really good turnout at VBS with over 150 kids each day. This is the first year that the Haitian church has organized the VBS on their own and they have done such a great job. To start off we have a worship time filled with singing and dancing and very many smiles. Next, the kids do Bible verse memory and Madame Pastor (Pastor Robbie’s wife) teaches a lesson. After the lesson, the kids break off into different groups and participate in games, crafts, and have smaller, more intimate lesson groups.
         For the first couple days I helped out with games and it is so awesome seeing the kids get competitive and the excitement they have when they win a game. Starting yesterday, once VBS is finished for the day our group heads back to the house for lunch and relaxation before we head up the mountain for the soccer clinic. This time of the day has been my favorite. Bro. Tony has put together multiple drills for the kids and teaches a lesson while the kids eat a little snack to cool down. Those of us who don’t play soccer have an opportunity to get to know the kids and take pictures with them which they really enjoy.
      Each night Madame Damus (the cook) has prepared the best food. Every night we have rice and beans and picklies which is basically a non-creamy cole slaw and it is so delicious.
        Everywhere we go we have five translators that follow us: Gady, Obed, David, James, and Johny. All of these guys are so great and fun to be around. They are all jokesters and enjoy laughing but they also have a love for God and for their people and I find that so special. Once our day is finished we all gather and debrief or talk about how our day has gone and how we have seen God move and it has been so amazing to not only see what I’ve learned but to hear what everyone else is learning. We’ve all grown closer as a group and I can’t wait to see what else God has in store for this week and even as we go home.
Gracie