Report by Sandy Perez (from Wednesday, November 22)
Today we picked up all the school supplies we bought yesterday and took them up the mountain to Z’Orange. The teachers were very glad to hear about them! We were able to say a quick hello to the elementary children we had seen on Monday before their classes dismissed at noon. We visited many of the secondary classes this afternoon.
The elementary students attend school from 8:00-12:00 and then the secondary students attend school from 1:00-6:00 pm each day. During the hour between sessions we had a meeting with all of the teachers and administrators to present the first-ever Teacher of the Year Award (for the 2016-2017 school year). Vicki and I were privileged to be given seats of honor up front and time to speak to all the teachers before the presentation of the award to the head Kindergarten teacher, who was very surprised. I thought she was an excellent choice, not only because of her rapport, energy and awesome ability with the kids, but also because it showed all the teachers the respect the administrators have for the Kindergarten department, as they mentioned the very important foundation the youngest children are getting will serve them well throughout school.
We were blessed by this whole experience this week, even though they continued to thank us and say we were the blessing to them. But that’s how God always seems to work–when we do what He has called us to do, and when we use the gifts He has given us to serve others, we receive blessings as we give of ourselves.
We are already excited about, and beginning plans for, our next Haiti Teachers Conference on July 9-10, 2018. These teachers are eager to learn and have already demonstrated to us their desire to improve and apply what they learn each summer. If you are a current or retired teacher and always wondered how you could use your gift of teaching on the mission field, please contact me so I can tell you more about it. Teachers in all grade levels and all subject areas are needed, Pre-K through 12th, foreign language, math, sciences, reading, history, etc.
