Massey School Kids

We are back up and running! Since the last time we wrote, Hugues's computer has croaked, as in won't boot, nothing on the screen, completely dead...croaked. And we couldn't get the internet to work on my computer. BUT, today it worked so here we are!

Over the past couple of days, word has spread that I am here and people have started to come by the house asking if we can put their children in school next year. Several had already asked Hugues, and he had a list going of requests. There are now 36 children on the "waiting" list, in addition to the 14 that went to school this year. No two children are from the same family. We had to start telling people that we were no longer taking names because we did not want people to count on their children being included and then have it not happen. We have been clear that there are no guarantees, but that is a hard point to press when people are so hopeful. People are still coming by every day, some walking miles and miles down the mountain to get to us. It is discouraging to see so many needs and not be able to meet them all. But, we just continue to pray that God would lead us where he would have us to go and provide the means needed for us to do what he has put in front of us to do.

Jovan is loving it here! He loves all of the kids so much, which is good because they follow us wherever we go! We sat outside this morning and said bonjour to all the kids on their way to school. They stop by in big groups to see if the "school bus" is going down to town, but the bus has a flat tire today so off they went! One of the girls, Carline (she is standing to the right of Jovan in the picture) walks an hour from her house to Fito's house and then another 30 minutes or so to school. She is on the list for next year as she will not be able to continue. She is such a delightful girl, always smiling and giving big hugs to everyone.

I could go on and on, but only one more story for today as Jovan is up from his nap and outside playing with Daddy. Yvena (the little girl who Hugues has been caring for) has two older brothers, Ludson and Gardimy. Gardimy is a very smart and serious boy. He is younger than Ludson but is already in high school and speaks pretty good English. The other day he told Hugues that one day he is going to be the President of Haiti and that when he is he is going to call Jovan and ask him to be his Prime Minister! I have no doubt that he will do just that! Yesterday he and Ludson were walking past the house and Gardimy yelled to Hugues, in English, "I am hungry!" Gardimy does not ask unless he really is hungry, and he asked in English so that no one else could understand and say that they were hungry as well. We had some instant mashed potatoes that we brought so Hugues came out and gave one to Gardimy and then went back inside to get one for Ludson. Gardimy ran off while Hugues was inside to make his. Later, the boys came back and Hugues asked how the potatoes were. Gardimy said they were very good and that they had shared. Turns out, Ludson had not told Gardimy that he got one and instead went off and ate his, in powder form, then went to the house and shared Gardimy's! I can't imagine eating instant potatoes with no water, but at least he wasn't hungry!

Speaking of hungry, Jovan is so I am off to feed him! Love to all!