Full!

As promised, here are the pics from Saturday's market experience.

This picture of Alex's market group is taken on the shore where all the boats come in with their goods. Most of the boats are row boats and they came a long way in order to be at the market. These people work very hard. 

As always, worship at Christ the King was a total joy. I wasn't sure how our teens would handle sitting in church for 2 hours with most of what is happening is something we can't understand. But last night I had the opportunity to talk with some of them about it and they really thought it was great and couldn't believe how quickly the 2 hours went. 

The goodbyes on Sunday are always difficult. We know all week long that they are coming, but it doesn't make them any easier. I love when a group first arrives at Christ the King. They don't yet know the children and are a little shy with them. They see the poverty and differences in our cultures and are understandably timid. By the end of our first full day with the children it's like they've known each other all their lives. The children know all of our names and we remember some of theirs. By Sunday, the relationships are sealed and the poverty and language barriers are no longer an issue. Relationship. Relationship. Relationship. Can you see it in these pictures? 

Sunday afternoon, Julie Clobes and I were privileged to attend the Kindergarten (culmination of 3 years of school) students. 27 students were in the class. It really was very exciting to see and be a part of the ceremony. The graduation was a little bit more elaborate than our Kindergarten graduation ceremonies. This was much more like a high school graduation, with guest speakers, performances by the graduates. It lasted 3 hours, complete with sandwiches being served near the end. Each student received a backpack from the ones we brought with us. That was cool to see. The other thing I really appreciated about the ceremony was that as each graduate received their diploma and backpacks, the families of each student came up with gifts for their special graduate. Their picture was taken and the next graduate was called forward. When we are in Haiti we see very little parent involvement with the children so it really was great to see the families smiling at their children, waving to them, taking their pictures...just like we do. 

And then the fun began. After graduation Julie and I had the opportunity to ride in the tap tap as we drove 2 rounds of people home from the ceremony. It was awesome. There were so many people in the back and on top. Another cultural experience for sure! Jacques wanted us to ride in the cab, but we explained to him that we were having the time of our lives riding in back. We rode there all the way to the hotel where Jacques and his wife, Ruth joined us for dinner. 

And thus ends our week! God is so good! We're full of His Holy Spirit! He has given us phenomenal times in worship together, He has opened our hearts to see what He sees and He has given us new thoughts as to what it means to walk with Him. We are ready to come home and see our families and friends, but a part of our hearts remain here. 

See you soon!

Lisa :)

On Behalf to Collide Team Haiti