First Kreyole Lesson Day

Today we went ALL the way

D

O

W

N

the hill to Delmas 83. (Delmas is pronounced withOUT the s at the end. Have fun with that!)

Delmas 83 is where the ETS school has moved. They were at Thomassin 48. It's quite the haul. We were going to hop on a tap-tap, but our landlord came by. He was heading down to Pettionville anyway - we could ride at least to there and then catch a tap-tap. Well, he decided that he'd just take us ALL the way to the front door. What a TREAT! It's the little things that are actually HUGE things. 

We ran out of propane, too... so, no coffee, breakfast, lunch or dinner at home... ugh. We were very fortunate, though to have all we needed. Henry, our landlord, took our propane when he went to town and filled it back for us for 500 Haitian goudes.

We met Louiceius, our teacher, and commenced with Kreyole 101 day one. What do you think we learned? The alphabet and some basic words. We had to say and resay the entire alphabet names and sounds of each letter. There are 30 Haitian Kreyole letters. Chris has to get me a Kreyole keyboard (on my ipad) so that I can start using the correct accents on letters. There are four different "Os" in the alphabet and 2 different "As". And we learned some basic words that were just interesting. 

The word "fe" means "to do" or "to make" or even "iron" the metal!? Craziness!

The word "fa" means lipstick or ligthouse!

Our professor, Louiceus, was heading home on a tap-tap the same time that we were heading home. So, he helped us to find our way up the hill. It's a GOOD thing. It was CRAZY madness. We learned a LOT. He taught us when we're on the streets that are full of people we have to wear our backpacks on the front of our bodies to protect them. He reminded us a couple times. The streets were FULL of people. It was just like the pics you see on the internet.

Well, I have a story to tell you from the tap-tap. We were just going to stand up in the front, but the Haitians kept insisting that I sit down. (I guess I'm old, grey and overweight... and stand out). So, I finally caved and sat down even though I'm telling you there were NO open spots AT ALL. A gentleman scooted over and I squeezed on the end. An older gentleman sitting opposite me, but beside me still... there was an aisle, but we were sitting in it. The older gentleman said something the the gentleman on the other side of me. I was so confused and scared of what was going on. The older gentelman apparently told them to pick up the seat and scoot it towards me so that I had something to set my bottom on... instead of the air in the aisle... HOW SWEET was that?! So, I said "Messi!" And then "How sweet!" The gentleman to my left then spoke to me in English! He is a pastor of a church at Thomassin 39 that is JUST starting up. It's called something that means "Good Shepherd." 

Well, now it's Wednesday and Chris finished up with his staff meeting. We are getting ready to grab a pate' for lunch from the vendor on the street and head back to more Kreyole class. Pray for us. It's a LONG ride... and we're rubbing shoulders and sweat with everyone in our path. Hope you have a great day wherever you are. Praying for you!

"for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control."

2 Timothy 1:7

thanks Heather DiEnno for this reminder in my August card because I've needed it every day!