Dear Friends,
Joyeaux Noël!
Merry Christmas!
We are blessed more than ever here at Christian Light School
Petit Goâve.
Ti Goâve
is a beautiful place year round, but come November the weather takes a most
pleasant turn. Even inside the school building the air is better.
In Recreation we have been learning a new dance every week,
commencing with an instant favorite: The Chicken Dance. From the three year
olds to the second graders, every class has enjoyed wiggling down and turning
around. Even the staff took an instant liking to this silly dance.
As the year draws to a close we are also focusing upon
Christmas: the celebration of Jesus’ Birth. Every week we introduce and study a
story from The Jesus Storybook Bible:
the three weeks in December permit three stories of Christmas, from Jesus’
arrival to the shepherds’ attendance to the wise men’s journey. The children
are perfecting the French lyrics of “Away in a Manger.” Each class prepares to
perform 2 songs at the annual Birthday Party for Jesus on December 20th.
Madame Beverly and Madame Rachelle continue to teach
concentrated English in the afternoon, while teaching English and new methods
of teaching for benefit of teachers and students alike throughout the day.
With the first grade class Beverly motivates with stickers
and lollipops: the children compete to recall sight-words. They’ve been
focusing on essential objects, colors, months and days.
With second grade, Rachelle is focusing on classroom phrases
and introductory conversation. Students are now forming sentences to identify
and describe objects, and can answer and ask questions about name, age,
birthday, and family.
In Recreation, everyone practices English counting and
alphabet, the weekly Bible verse and song, and action verbs. Students love
shouting out “I can run!” as they run along the spray-painted black line and
clap.
In this Fall Semester we have been overjoyed to witness
progress in all classes and students, and in our teachers’ lives. Madame
Eunide, the three-year-olds’ teacher, gave birth to twin baby girls in August.
Every few weeks we visit her home to deliver formula and hold the babies: Olarm
Ifanuella and Olarm Ellael. The girls are growing rapidly and display increasing
individualistic features.
Eunide is a woman of great faith and powerful prayers. Three
years ago she was a married woman with no children and no job. She began
praying earnestly for both of those things, despite her husband’s advice
against so doing. He warned her that with children she would not be able to
work. Nevertheless, Eunide prayed. She was soon pregnant with Raphaella.
Then Madame Beverly followed God’s call to Ti Goave, began
the school, and Eunide was recruited as a teacher. She was soon pregnant again,
but this time the doctor revealed dangerous news: Eunide’s cervix was open.
There was no way she could keep the baby without surgery, and even then delivery
was unlikely. However, Eunide refused surgery. She insisted that God had given
her this baby and He would deliver her.
Beverly implored all to pray, month by month, that Eunide
would keep her baby for those four more weeks. She did.
And in mid-August Eunide delivered two beautiful, full-term
little girls.
The incredulous doctor said that he would never forget
Eunide and her faith. She answered that she serves a big, big, big, big God. After
the twins’ birth, a Sunday School class in Kentucky that had been praying for a
safe delivery began sending money every month to purchase formula.
Last month Eunide woke to a man robbing their home. The
house is two rooms—she and the babies were sleeping on the bed and her husband
on the floor in their bedroom, and the intruder came in around midnight. He
fled when she woke, taking phones and a computer but touching no one.
For weeks afterward Eunide had trouble sleeping, but her
husband insisted she should have no fear. He told her her faith encourages him,
and she ought not give up now.
More recently, Eunide came to school in pain. Beverly looked
at her teeth and saw severe cavities. The dental work would cost 300 USD.
Teachers earn a monthly salary of 9000 HGD (Haitian Gourdes), about 140 USD
(U.S. Dollars). [The Haitian Gourde is continuing to decrease: in September
there were 63 HGD to 1 USD, now there are 65 HGD/1 USD.] Beverly sent out
messages presenting Eunide’s need and inquiring if anyone was interested in
helping Eunide. Within two days 300 USD had been pledged.
Eunide teaches her class of – three year olds and her
toddler daughter Raphaella with Bible stories and songs. A sure way to get
Raphaella to smile through her fear of strangers is to dance a doll before her
chanting “Mesi, Jezi! Thank you, Jesus!” and lift your hands saying, “Le sang
de Jesus! The blood of Jesus!”
Although she cannot speak much English, Eunide understands
and communicates well. She speaks purposefully and slowly, pausing for
translation. She laughs often.
We see Madame Eunide and shake our heads, thanking God for
this woman of faith. And when we want prayers answered, we ask her to pray. God
listens to all prayers, but He is particularly responsive to Eunide. We are so
blessed to have her at the school and in our lives.
Please pray for God’s continued blessing on His servant and
amazing witness Eunide. Pray that she receives more help as the babies grow and
her husband will have ample work to support their family.
Second quarter exams will be from December 12 to 16.
December 19 will be the final day of class, and December 20 will be the
Birthday Party for Jesus with parents and visitors. The children will perform
and receive gifts and their report cards. The next day the Americans will
depart for the United States and everyone commence Christmas vacation.
On January 9 school should recommence. Madame Rachelle
should be present, scheduled to return to Haiti January 6, but Madame Beverly
should remain in Texas with her husband. He is in poor health.
While she is absent Madame Rose, Haitian director, and
Madame Rachelle will continue English classes with the first grade and Michelet
will manage Recreation.
Please pray that much can be accomplished in the remaining
weeks: that momentum will build and carry over into the New Year. Pray for
continued unity and increased relationships for teachers and students and
parents. Pray for wisdom for all of us as to how to teach and love better.
Pray for safe travels for Beverly, Rachelle, and Adrianna as
depart for the United States this month and campaign for God’s work in Ti
Goave. Pray rapid healing for Beverly’s husband Wally and smooth operation of
the school in her absence.
And thank God with us for every child in the school who
every day can enjoy a safe, loving environment, receive medicine, attention,
food, and education of academics and Jesus’ love.
Thank God for His constant amazing provision and protection
of us and the family.
Most of all, join us in rejoicing this Christmas Season,
when we pay particular attention to the miracle of God becoming human and
condescending to the lowliest of birthplaces, to prepare for the lowliest and
most excruciating of deaths on the Cross.
God bless you and thank you for your prayers and support in
all ways.
From Ti Goave, Haiti, we wish you Joyeaux Noel and Peace.
Love
and God’s blessings,
Beverly
Burton “Madame Beverly”
Rachel
Collins “Madame Rachelle”
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