it goes on!

Hello from the middle of week 8 in Ayiti!  Now that I'm past the halfway point, America feels a lot closer than I want it to be.  It's going to be really difficult going back, but I am excited about my senior year of college!

Saturday we went to Manno's wedding.  He is one of our translators, and he is so sweet!  It was really interesting to see how different the wedding was from American weddings.  I guess there aren't that many formal events here, so it is not considered important for people to be all that proper.  I mean, in America we would sit quietly during someone's wedding, and we wouldn't think too much of it.  Here people talk the whole time.  A lady in the row in front of me stood up and walked over to someone to have a conversation with them standing right in front of me.  Also, anyone who owned a digital camera would just walk wherever to get a good picture.  During important moments, like the bride coming down the aisle or the first kiss as a married couple, we couldn't even see them because people were crowded around them taking pictures.  It was fun though, and I am SO happy for Manno.  I got to play with a balloon with some kids at the wedding.  Also, I was talking to the kids behind me at the wedding (only before the wedding started because I'm an American).  They tried to say something to me in English, but I kept telling them "M pa konprann" which means that I don't understand.  So then I heard them talking about me, and they were saying, "She doesn't speak english!  She can't speak english!!"  Also, I sold my phone to Ostanel, and he used the flashlight on it to help the pastor during the wedding.  My phone helped save the wedding!  Ostanel translated a few key parts of the service for us, and it was the best thing ever.  For instance, "if anyone knows something that these two shouldn't be together, you can stand up and tell us about it now.  if not, you can keep it shut forever."  Bahahahahahaha.  

Friday, I got a new purse from the Heartline Shop.  They have these bags called Haitian Creations, and they're beautiful!  They are really good purses that they are teaching the ladies how to sew to give them a job opportunity.  I love mine!  If anyone wants one, I can get them one and you can pay me back when I get back to the states.

The past few days have been wonderful!  We haven't been taking such large groups out, so that makes it better, I think.  We have a team here, but it's just a mom and her two sons.  They're fun! I have really enjoyed encouraging the boys to interact with the Haitian kids.

Yesterday, we went to Wahoo Beach Resort again!  I almost didn't want to go.  We've been having too many American days.  It is a really good fellowship time when teams are here though.  

Today we are going to go work on painting Pastor Joassaint's new house.  Should be fun.  I feel weird because I'm wearing shorts and a tank top out, when I have worn a dress out every single day since I've been here.  

The Kelley's are back, so yay!  The house already feels more like home again.

To sum it up, these past few days have been pretty great.  I've had to spend a lot of time mentally letting go of the things I've been involved in.  There is no way that I can be sure these kids will be taken care of after I leave.  They could end up anywhere.  Anything could happen to them.  I'm not in a place that I can assure them a good life or a good future.  I don't have the resources, and I can't move here right now.  I know that I need to finish college, and I'm excited that I have one more year with my dear Asburians.  So I have to trust God and know that I did do my best.  I am learning a lot - about ministering to kids, about getting along with people, and about dealing with all sorts of problems.  I'm learning how to make my own time to read the Bible and pray.  I'm learning how to wake up at 7 every single morning if I want to eat breakfast!  I could go on and on, but now it's time to get ready for Williamson!  WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!