Bright Eyes

Sitting on my lap, very quietly but as always very attentive & obedient; his shaved head beginning to sweat, is a little boy with the brightest eyes. It is just after 2:30pm so most of the kids are still racing about, they're all waiting to be picked up after a fun day at Preschool. I wrap my arms around him to hug him close “Ca va?” (how you doing?) as usual he doesn't respond “Ou bien?” (You good?") he nods his head and snuggles closer. We start rocking as the cool breeze plays with the long leaves of the palm tree beside us. I kick the random ball that is kicked my way,  talk in my broken creole to the children and tickle those that get close enough. He quietly rests his head on my shoulder and after a time falls asleep till almost all of the children have been picked up. His beautiful sister loves to play with my hair and is surprisingly one of the three that are very gentle, not that the other children are mean, but their thick hair is tougher than my thin caramel hair and they're used to tugging where my scalp (though babysitting and younger siblings has toughened it up some) can only take so much before it comes out. She begins braiding and twisting the strands together, as he wakes up he too begins to play with the tip of my hair trying to copy his sisters actions.

When their mother arrives she walks over and pats his little cheek as he stares up at her, his fingers still hard at work "Bonswa" (Good afternoon) she greets all three of us, my head is cocked so I can see his face and I'm shocked when from his little mouth comes a whispered "Bonswa". I had never heard him talk!!! His mother assured me that he talks "All the time" at home but the teachers and I all explained that none of us had ever heard him talk; though he's always very obedient and sweet. 

The next morning I didn't see my little bright eyes before it was time to serve the kids breakfast. I helped to serve the plates of oatmeal and raisins to each of the kids and spotted him sitting at one of the long tables. He is one of the last ones to finish eating along with another little girl with bright ribbons in her hair "Bonjour Redjina, comme ye?" (Good morning, how are you?) I ask kissing her forehead as she leans back to look at me "Mwen bien, messi" (I'm good, thank you) she giggles as I tickle her "Bonjour Chilo, comme ye?" I kiss his forehead and he pauses for a moment, his deep brown eyes melting my heart for the millionth time "Bien" he whispers, I can't help the huge smile that escapes my lips "Bien?'" he gives me an almost smile and replies "Oui" my heart felt like it was going to burst  "Oh wow, bravo! Messi por parle avek mwen!" This happened in my second week of being here in Haiti while my mom was here; she happened to walk in as this was happening and I turned to her and whispered excitedly as I pulled him close "He spoke!"

Over the past 3 and a 1/2 months little bright eyes has progressed in school and continues to be a sweet and loving little boy. He's a quick learner and is one of the first in the 2's class to go to first position on his own, he loves dance class and his face lights up as he runs to jump over the river. 

A month ago the children were playing with chalk. We'd been working on horizontal lines and vertical lines and to my amazement little bright eyes began to draw little horizontal and vertical lines on the black gate with his green piece of chalk!!! We all praised him and like the little sweetheart that he is he gave us a little smile, acknowledging the praise and went back to work; vertical, horizontal, vertical, horizontal.

Whenever I've had a rough day it always seems little bright eyes knows and will come at the end of the day to sit with me and wait for his parents to come pick him up. He'll play with my hair, snuggle up against me and the love from his little heart just seems to pour out on me. 

Yesterday he'd waited for the two kids that had "stolen" my lap before him to be picked up, as soon as they left he toddled over and climbed up onto my lap. I snuggled him close and asked him if he'd had a good day, his usual whispered answer met my ear and I felt like I needed to interact with him more and get him to say something else. So I turned him around on my lap to face me. I held his hands and began play "This is the Way the Gentlemen Ride" (the child sits on you lap as you bounce them slowly for ladies, medium for Gentleman, fast for Jockey and than rock them side to side for Old man and let them fall backwards at the end) As soon as I started his face broke into a bright, toothy grin and he began to laugh! I'd heard him laugh a handful of times but it was always just a short little laugh when I tickled him or when he'd get really excited and the rest of his class were laughing. We played this several times and as another little girl was passing by who I always play Kote Ou (Where are you?/Peek-a-Boo) I put my hand over his eyes and said "Kote ou?".... "Voila! Mwen wè ou!" he laughed again and he couldn't stop smiling that wide, toothy smile. After a bit I told him it was his turn, I placed my hands over my eyes and he grabbed my wrist; I told him he had to say the words or "it wouldn't work" I waited for a moment and then came his tiny voice "Kote Hope?" a little bit louder than a whisper!

It's easy to let little things slip by us or to not take something very seriously. But the little things count. A child thats brave enough to be pushed a little harder and higher on the swings, the older child that helps a younger one down from the gazebo or helps them finish eating and takes them to the bathroom,  the child that closes and folds their hands for prayer instead of wiggling around, the child that chooses to obey when others don't,  the one that eats all their food, the one thats brings your attention to a child in pain or with a fever. All the children that hug you for the first time or say something new. The one that used scissors correctly though their paper is almost shredded. They should all be praised, noticed and shown some love because believe it or not; it makes a huge difference.

So, open your eyes this weekend, find the person working hard without any encouragement and encourage them. Find the little, beautiful moments that are worth praise. And hug someone because everyone needs a hug.

My Butterfly

Once upon a time there was a Haitian butterfly that came to preschool at Maranatha. She was sweet and shy and from day one I fell in love with her as we sat and sang songs from assembly that were stuck in my head.

She looked up at me with her big brown eyes and a smile slowly creeping from lips. "mwen pa vle, mwen pa vle" (I don't want) her little hands trying to hold mine down "Oh, ok I won't.... TICKLE YOU!" her laugh went flying into the hot air as she squirmed on my lap with the biggest smile! I couldn't continue tickling her as her laugh was contagious and I held her close as we laughed long and hard. When she caught her breath she looked up at me and whispered "Mwen pa vle" her eyes sparkling with laughter and the game continued.

When we couldn't laugh anymore and everyone had finished eating and recess was under way she caught my long bangs in her hand and began to make a twist; being ever so gentle. When she was done she showed off her handiwork; a look of pride on her face, I thanked her and pulled her into a big hug telling her thank you and telling her what a good job she'd done she stayed on my lap the whole period and it was hard to send her into class but giving her an encouraging smile I let her go.

After that she'd walk through the gate and I'd shout her name and call out good morning to her, that shy smile would poke through as she'd nod and place her back pack on the bench before coming to give me a huge hug! My Kreyol was limited to a couple words, but it was ok because she just wanted to be held and loved on and so I did my best.

As the weeks flew by and she'd made friends with the other girls in her class and became more outgoing and that Haitian Sassafras, as I like to call it, had really begun to show in her. Several weeks ago though she came to me as I sat with my back to the big kids table playing a game with some of the little 2 year olds that were seated outside, quietly little arms wrapped around my neck and she rested her delicate chin on them and my shoulder, I knew instantly that it was my butterfly "Mwen renmen ou" (I love you) I said patting her arm and rest my head against hers, she didn't speak. I tried to twist around to look at her but she held me close, I tickled her and she squirmed enough to loosen her arms so that I could swing her around to my lap "Ou byen?" (are you well?) she nodded but I could tell in her eyes that things were not right. I held her close and sang to her and she picked up on the words and tried to sing with me. I didn't know why but my heart was aching for this little girl.

At the meeting with the teachers I found out that my little butterfly had a hard homelife, some things had happened that should never happen to little children and it brought us all to halt. I couldn't wrap my mind around it, "Theres gotta be a mistake, who would do that to this sweet sweet adorable girl?" but my heart new it was true and when she didn't come to school for a little over a week I was sick with worry and fear for her. We continued lifting her up in prayer and when my butterfly walked in a little late one morning a cried with joy!

I wish I could say "and she continues to grow and smile and dance in the sunshine here at Maranatha and I hold her close and kiss her every day" But sadly this is not the end to this story. Two weeks ago something horrible happened and my butterfly is missing. I don't know where she is or what is happening to her and once again it's hard to process... but my name is Hope and I hope for the absolute best, I know that no matter what God is holding her and looking out for her and though it's painful and hard to understand I've given my worries to Him.

Please join me in prayer for these particular things that God has really laid on my heart:
 She will be returned to her mother
That God would touch her fathers heart and make a radical God glorifying change
She and her brother would be safe
That if there is someone who can help God would give them the courage to act
And that she would feel God's love and peace in her life

This story is far from finished help me pray and lift this beautiful butterfly and her family upto our loving Father who sees and knows all

He "is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us" Ephesians 3:20

The Day She Danced

From the moment she walked through the tall black gate, clinging tightly to her older brothers hand, to the moment she walked out of it into her fathers arms and is lifted up onto the front of the dusty motorcycle; she's silent. Reach out a friendly hand to greet her and she'd immediately pull away or let out a tiny scream. Encourage her to dance, run or even walk and she'd stick her fingers in her mouth and take the tiniest painfully, slowest steps in whichever direction the activity was. Her smile remained ever elusive and her lips sealed in a permanent frown it seemed as words were kept from rising by her tiny fingers constantly pressed to her lips.

Day after day I greeted her with a cheerful smile, kissing and hugging her older siblings and hoping that as I moved to embrace her today she'd accept it. But no, today was not that day as she dodged my arms and continued walking to breakfast; though I thought I saw a twinkle in her eye that I had not seen before as I turned to carry the little backpacks that dangled from my arms. I held on to this little glint of hope as I continued with my day and as her class joined me in the front for chalk I watched as she stuck close to another two year old who is also very quiet. I watched as they sat down together and than watched each other making tiny marks on the cement; and then it happened! Her hand came down from it's perch on her lips and a giggle erupted that hushed all the other sounds of the yard; I sat there grinning from ear to ear, calling both little girls names and trying to get more laughs from them.

The next morning I greeted her and she didn't run or doge my arms, she didn't hug back or look at me but I held her close for a moment. That day dance was scheduled and I couldn't wait to see what God had in store. I worked with my first two classes and several of them were showing great improvement! As I watched the line of 2 year-olds came through the little white gate to the front yard singing their ABC's in both English and French. And there she was my little caterpillar; hands out of her mouth singing a couple letters here and there.

We danced to Cat and Mouse and I watched as she tiptoed and froze, twirled quickly and waited for the rest to catch up! I was beaming!!!! She'd never participated in this dance other than to shuffle her feet and walk around! She'd been watching and learning the whole time!!!! As we asked the Cat to come play I watched her lips move and repeat the words, I couldn't hear her tiny voice but it was beautiful none the less!

Anxiously I pulled out my long red river, the children moved into a long line and when their turn comes they have to stand in first position with their hands up in order to run and jump over it. Several of the children can now go to first position on their own which is awesome and so encouraging. One by one I called each child by name to step forward and go to first position. My little caterpillar was second to the last; as her turn came I looked her in the eyes with a big smile and asked her to go to first position, her little black Mary Janes with white frilly socks wiggled around for a second and then went to first, I couldn't help it, I squealed "BON TRAVAY!" (good work) I placed a hand on her shoulder and told her to run and jump high for me and away she ran, her little red and black tulled "Christmas" dress rustling as her feet left the ground and her little white, flowered clips in her hair bouncing as she ran and jumped for the very first time! Both of the teachers and I shouted and cheered for her loudly and clapped; the biggest smile I have ever seen erupted as she shyly tried to hide it with her tiny hand her face simply shining with happiness.

I love teaching dance and I have tons of stories that I could share with you. I've loved every single one of my little dancers and they all hold special places in my heart. It has blown my mind how my little Haitian dancers have progressed with no barre, no dance attire or footwear, no mirrors, the threat of falling coconuts, people coming and going, sun, wind and standing water. I'm so incredibly proud of every single one but my favorite dance story so far is this one.

I will never forget the day she danced.