Report by Lisa Downing
The Teachers Conference concluded today with great success! Our teachers presented techniques to engage students in learning, as Haitian classrooms are traditional style. Vicki and Dana presented several science experiments to show the laws of nature created by our God. Ruth followed up with how a teacher can impart Biblical truths alongside teaching a science experiment. It was a joy to see the wide-eyed teachers sitting on the edge of their seats to watch the experiments, and even more so when they were able to participate! Another session was conducted with games that can be used in the classroom for learning. The teachers had a great time with the games, and they now have new “tools in the toolbox” to use in the classrooms.
When the Haitians requested our help months ago in starting a library, I could never have imagined the amazing outcome – we ended up with about 300 books! Words cannot express the gratitude I have in my heart for all those whose donated books and/or money to purchase books. Thank you Sandy Perez for your incredible efforts to get so many books. Thank you teachers of Cinco Christian School for the vast amount of teaching resources that the Z’Orange teachers will now have available to enhance classroom teaching.
The Z’Orange administrators and teachers alike expressed that they will start engaging the students in the learning process. They truly see that engaging students in a lesson will enhance learning. I feel thankful that this team has been able to share so much with our Haitian brothers and sisters. I shared this verse yesterday morning at the beginning of our conference: “For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvelous are your works, and that my soul knows very well.” Psalm 139:13-14. I pray for the teachers here in Haiti to go boldly into the next school year teaching God’s truth through all subjects!
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Report by Ann Marie Wilson
Friday night we invited women from all over to join us in a women’s Bible study. We studied about the moment Jesus came to Mary and Martha, Luke 10:38-42. Martha was very anxious to serve Jesus, while Mary was anxious to learn from Jesus. I spoke about how God gives us many gifts and using those gifts is not a bad thing, but it becomes a bad thing when we focus on the gifts rather than the Giver. God is the Giver: Giver of life, love, hope, peace, comfort, guidance, grace, mercy, and the list goes on. We are so undeserving, yet Christ gave Himself so that we could have life eternal with Him. Then we looked at John 12:3-8, when Mary washed Jesus’ feet with very expensive perfume (a full year’s wage). This was truly a remarkable moment to show us what a servant, a true follower of Christ, really looks like. Mary was so eager to learn from Christ and serve Christ no matter the cost. The other people around her did not understand why she would wash a man’s feet with such expensive perfume, but it did not matter because Mary wanted to be obedient and wanted to serve her Savior. We talked about how being a true follower of Christ means doing whatever it takes, spending whatever the amount, because we know our God IS faithful, we know His promises ARE true, and we know for a fact God’s love will never fail!
After the discussion, the ladies wanted to serve those who had attended the Bible study by washing their feet. We each found a lady to pray over, to love on, and to wash her feet. As soon as I started to pray over one of the ladies, the Lord spoke directly to me. It was a moment I will never forget, because I knew God could understand every word I was saying even though the lady in front of me could not. We were of different races and different cultures, we live completely different lives on completely different continents, but at that moment nothing else mattered, because we both were worshiping the same God. In that moment, we came together to worship our amazing, sovereign God. As I prayed, I thanked God for knowing both English and Creole (we both laughed because those were the only two words we understood from each other). But as I continued to pray and as tears rolled from both our eyes, I thanked God for knowing our exact words and knowing the exact amount of hairs on our heads. It was such a testament of God’s love despite the barriers keeping us from understanding each other, but God understood! My God understands our deepest pains, our deepest concerns, our deepest hurts and our deepest failures, yet He STILL loves us! After we washed all the ladies’ feet, we continued to worship in song. The worship was a glimpse of the glory of God as we sang in different languages, all praising the same God. After we sang a few songs, we asked the ladies if they had any questions and prayer requests. We were able to answer some questions about God’s love and pray over them.
No matter the differences, the barriers, the misunderstandings, the confusion, God remains the same! “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8. God knows our every need, our every hurt and our every word. His love is never-ending, His grace is all-sufficient, and His Word stands forever!