What Time is it Mr. Wolf?

Green group, boys 8-9, entered the gate all in a perfect line, their hands on each others shoulders singing with their leader:
Leader - "Agoch!"
Green group -"Adwat"
Leader - "Agoch!"
Green Group - "Adwat"
Together - "Goch, dwat, goch, dwat!"

As their head jr. counselor passed me he tipped his imaginary hat and called out "Mesye di bonjou a madame Hope"(Sirs say good morning to miss Hope) "Bonjou Madame Hope!" they all cried, some giving me high fives, others leaning in quickly for a kiss on their cheek as they passed by and four boys in particular broke the line to give me a hug and say "Good morning Hope, how are you today?" and a couple more sentences that they learned in english class from Miss Sarah. Their head counselor had them all make a circle and stand quietly, I was SO impressed! And told them all how proud I was of them and thanked them all for listening and obeying their jr. counselor.

"Are you ready to play Twizzle?" I asked "YES!" resounded from inside the carport and I couldn't help but let out a laugh and smile as I began to call out "March, march, march" and the boys joined in; a couple adding "et" (and in Kreyol) I waited a little bit as I watched the anticipation building on their faces "annnnd sit down!" they all squatted looking around to see if everyone had done the same "stand up!" again they scanned their group to see if anyone was out yet. "sit down, stand up, sit down, sit down!" we all laughed as several of the boys stood up instead of staying seated and were tickled out of the circle to stand outside of it and help me watch for others that would be out. We played this for a while; I added different movements and whenever I said "Twizzle" the boys had to jump and do a 180 turn. Anticipation grew as the circle became smaller and smaller until there were just two boys left, I began doing a pattern "Sit down, stand up, jump, twizzle" I repeated this until the boys had figured out the pattern, then... with a slight smile I called out "Sit down, stand up, jump, twizzle, stand up!" one continued the pattern while the other had listened to what I said and remained standing! "Li genyen!" (he won) we all shouted and as I lifted the boys arms and congratulated him.

"All right, go touch the wall" I called and 39 pairs of feet went racing away to the wall opposite the carport. "Ok, ok?" I called their attention to me "Ok!" they called back, "Today we're going to play..." cheers erupted into the summer heat as I announced their favorite game; What Time is it Mr. Wolf? Since we had a new child in the group I explained it for him and just as a refresher for the rest, "You children are the sheep and your jr. counselors and leader are the wolves... especially this one" I said pushing a jr. counselor off of his perch on the small wall in the carport "ale jwe" (go play) I encouraged him. I continued to explain that after I counted to 3 they needed to ask "What time is it Mr. Wolf?" and then I was going to say a time (e.g 4 o'clock) they would need to take that many steps towards the wolves, they should continue asking and moving forward until I called out "LUNCHTIME!" when I yelled this they needed to run back to the wall before the wolves could snatch them.
"If a wolf catches you, you're out!" I explained "Are you ready?" laughing I climbed up on the little ledge to be out of the way of stampeding children as I'd been asked/told to take it easy having been down the day before with malaria.

"1, 2, 3!!!" I called out

"What time is it Mr. Wolf?"

"10 o'clock!"

"1, 2, 3, 4..." with every number they took a step until they reached 10 and then it began again; closer and closer they came to the waiting wolves, "5 o'clock, 3 o'clock" until they were all nervously standing in front of them, knowing that I would call lunchtime soon, the anticipation was killing everyone as I chuckled to myself "1 o'clock" one step closer "annnd LUNCHTIME!!!!!" I nearly fell off of the ledge laughing as I watched "organized chaos" take place before me.

The children went racing in all directions, trying to avoid the wolves that surrounded them, there was squealing and laughing as children narrowly escaped fingers that reached out just inches from catching them; as well as some shouts of displeasure followed by laughter as those that were caught were tickled by the captures before they were released to watch the game from the benches.

We played this until there just a handful of kids left. I watched as the Jr counselor I'd pushed off the wall to play; dove to catch a child, barely missed him and slammed his head into the door of one of the port a potties. He popped right back up though! "oh" my hand went to my mouth in shock, but on seeing he was ok I couldn't help but laugh as what had just happened replayed in my head and all the boys around me, who'd been caught and witnessed what happened began laughing along with me. Checking to see if he was ok (once I got my laughter under control, though he was laughing too) we finished the game and then handed out bags of water before they lined back up and headed to their next class.

These boys continued this awesome behavior throughout the next weeks and earned a pool party on one of the Friday Fun Days for their good behavior in ALL of their classes!

I loved teaching younger p.e during English Camp with Maranatha Children's Ministries, these boys hold a special place in my heart and I already miss seeing each of their smiling faces every morning. Just like these boys all of your hard work will pay off so don't stop working towards the honor and glory of our heavenly Father.

Enough

It's easy to be frustrated and discouraged here. 

Or anywhere really. 

But all the little things will eventually add up and sometimes you just want to throw up your hands walk to the corner and sit with your arms over your head and your knees to your chest pretending that nothing exists, that children are not running wild and that people are not waiting on you to bring order to the caos that swirling around you since you are in fact, the teacher.

A lot has happened in the past month leading up to and during the past weeks of English camp. Both good and bad things. I had some hard personal struggles and heartaches and was hit really hard with some family news. Plus my ever present Chikungunya. And though I didn't realize it slowly I was picking up "rocks" and adding them to the basket I'd strapped over my shoulders and it was becoming heavier and heavier with every restless night and every rock not handed into God's caring hands. 

I'm not a muscular person. Our great big night guard has even given me the nickname of little mosquito because I can punch him as hard as I can an he "doesn't notice" all this to say, the weight I was carrying began to be to much and the day came when I was scrambling picking up all the rocks that Satan was pelting at me and I broke under the weight I'd placed on myself. 

It wasn't pretty. Words flew like fists from my mouth, anger rattled my bones and I fell in the Haitian dust and dirt.

But God.

Pause for a moment; I love that so much, it sums up our God so well in just two little words: but God.

But God did not leave me there; mind spinning, heart aching, cheeks burning with shame, eyes watering I stumbled my way back to the house where God placed exactly who I needed in my path. Seeing her I began to put my walls back up and tried to be strong; but God knew what I needed and He tore down the wall I tried to build and I fell into her embrace a complete wreck.

We were in the last classes of camp and she could have easily told me to go lay down or wash my face or any number of things and waited until after camp had finished. But she took the time to hold me as my shame and frustration poured out in a flood of salt and when it was time to talk she spoke only truth and love to me. Pointing out things I thought had gone unnoticed and thanking me for all my work.

I've never felt like I'm enough, 

Enough of anything really. 

Or enough to make anyone happy or proud of me. I could always do or be better or do or be more never truly satisfied or happy with myself I created a pit and an easy target for the devil to push and pull me with. 

Ephesians 2:8-9 "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, so that no one can boast"

I don't know how many times I have heard this Bible verse, or how many times I've been told that it is NOT works that "get you into heaven" and yet I work as if my salvation depends on it instead of working solely for God's glory and His kingdom. I work myself until I physically cannot work any longer, worrying the whole time whether or not its going to be enough.

I'm not perfect

I stumble fall, cry and fail as much as the next person. But I have this eternal hope and I have a God that says I am enough for Him and He wants to be with me for all eternity. And so dear reader I encourage you to take time, to rest in His loving arms, grace is an unmerited favor, let Him work through you instead of you working and worrying yourself into a frenzy. God delights in You and He isn't watching you and keeping score. 

He loves you and you're enough for Him

Fearless Leader

AH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MY DAD GRADUATES TODAY!!!!!!

My dad has worked so very hard for this and I couldn't be more proud. I remember helping to pack lunch as well as dinner for dad shortly after we moved into the schoolhouse, my older sisters placing notes and cards in his car and lunchbox encouraging him because we all knew how he hated taking time away from being with family. Family has always been important to my dad and I have to say that dad, you've set a pretty amazing example for each of your children.

Through the years dad, you've shown us what perseverance is as you've worked tirelessly towards this goal, you've shown us grace as we've bothered you while you're studying to help us with any number of things and you've set aside the heavy textbook or set down the flashcards to answer our questions or fix whatever was broken. You showed self-control when the rest of us headed out to see a movie or off to an event and you stayed behind to study because you knew you had a tough test coming, though we all knew you'd get an A on it. You showed us love as you wrapped us in hugs or joked around when we'd had hard days or were just being pills. You showed us how much you care about us as through every class, test and long study nights we were always your main concern. I have a pair of dangly, silver, post earrings that you gave me one Christmas after you'd been really busy with work as well as with college classes and while I've collected numerous pairs of earring over the years the dangling star earrings are still my favorite.

You've always been there for each of us and you always seem to know what each of us need when things aren't going right. You've been a huge Godly example as well and your unwavering faith is something that's always inspired me.

I'm so glad that you are with us today, fire can't stop my dad!

Thank you for all of the sacrifices and long hours you've put into providing for our family, for all the fun adventurous that we've been on together or you've provided a way for us to go. Today you've shown us that all of that hard work and sacrifice pays off as you graduate with honors today. I wish I could have been there but I hope you know how unbelievably proud I am of you and I hope you heard my voice cheering as you received your diploma.

I love you daddy forever and always

Your Hoper

My dad dancing with me for my senior dance recital

  Italy with my parents and brother

 France~

 My family

My dad handing me my high school diploma

CONGRADULATIONS!!!!!

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.