March Update

Sorry, I've been a little slack about blogging... here is an update.

This month Wilson celebrated his 28th birthday, and I celebrated my 32nd birthday.  We spent Wilson's birthday at the beach, which was very relaxing.

And for my birthday Wilson organised a very thoughtful surprise party!

Wilson and I both continue to work in Haiti. Wilson is enjoying his work at ApParent Project, and I have been blessed with an endearing 3rd Grade class. For me, the school year will end on May 31st, only a couple of months away!!

As for our future plans we are eagerly awaiting Wilson's Australian partner visa; the wait has been 5 months so far.  We would like to return to Australia as soon as we have his visa.  Please pray that God would provide for all of our needs during this time. If we cannot return "home" at our desired time then we will need other housing (as we are currently living on the school campus), and I will need temporary employment. Trusting that God has a Plan B, if our Plan A fails.

We are also considering starting a business in Australia that will help support local artisans in Haiti. There is much research to be done and we are only at the "ideas" stage.  If you know someone with expert knowledge in importing goods to Australia, I would love to chat with them.

Other prayer requests:

* That our hearts would be prepared for the "next thing" that God has planned for us.
* Patience and peace in the waiting.
* Favor on Wilson's visa.

Thank you for your love and support.

Kellyanne (and Wilson)

Heaven

Last week my 3rd Graders and I were learning about Jesus' resurrection, and the hope of eternal life that he gave to all mankind (John 3:16).  This lead to a discussion about heaven.  Since the questions were numerous, I asked my students to record them for me; I said that I would attempt to search the Bible for their answers. Please pray that I will answer their questions correctly... or simply say, I don't know!

Here are their questions about heaven and death...

How big is heaven?

When you go to heaven do you build your house?

Can you get married in heaven and have a kid?

Do you wear clothes in heaven?

Can you choose your skin color in heaven? 

Will you lose your skin color?

If you die when you're a baby will God let you go to heaven?

When you go to heaven will you know your family?

Will you have new moms, dad, brothers or sisters?

Will you have wings and fly?

When you go to heaven do you see other people who went to heaven?

Is there everything on Earth that is in heaven?

Do you rise again?

Where does your soul go?

When you die do you go directly to heaven?

Are there birthdays in heaven or anything that includes parties?

- From the mouths of 3rd Graders

Just another blog post...

Do I post this or not?

Every once in a while I remember that I'm in Haiti; a different country, a different culture, with different   safety and laws.  For the most part I feel safe here; some might say I feel "too safe" and that I should be more cautious.  But in my opinion I am cautious, I don't venture to many places alone and I'm never too far from home. 

My usual independent trek is to the local grocery story, which is about 500 meters away from where I live. There's something about the familiar that kind of makes you feel safe. I've walked to this grocery store many times before, but today I walked there with some hesitation; more alert and more cautious.  I took more notice of my surroundings.

On arrival to the store I've gotten used to the security guards with their long shotgun in hand.  In Haiti, this is the norm for most public places; banks, grocery stores, food chains.  The guns have become so familiar to me that I almost view them as a fashion accessory, with little consideration of their potential use as a weapon.  

Maybe I'm just naive; or maybe it's because I've not seen or heard the guns in use before? But on my visit to the grocery store today, I didn't view the guard with his gun as an accessory.  I viewed the guard as a threat to my personal safety; guns don't make people feel safe no matter who is carrying it, they make you feel insecure. If there's a need for shotguns to be held in public, then there must be a potential danger. And if that weapon were to be used without accuracy, innocent people could be harmed. To be truthful I hadn't really considered this before... until this week.

Mid-morning on Thursday, two people were shot dead just across the road from my local supermarket. Don't be too alarmed, they were thieves and that's why they were shot.  Is this the way crime is dealt with in Haiti? What did they steal?  I don't know, I'm just as curious as you are. Nonetheless I was surprised by the punishment received for their crime, and even more surprised by the crowd that gathered around the bodies all day and into the evening, waiting for officials to give permission to move the bodies.

I was hesitant to post this because I don't want to create fear amongst my readers, or speak negatively of Haiti. Like I said earlier, for the most part I feel safe here. I was surprised by these deaths; this is not something I hear of often. I was surprised that this happened outside my local grocery store. Saying that, I was equally surprised by some news articles I read in "The Age" (an Australian newspaper) this week.  Crime is everywhere and so is death.

We most often take our personal safety for granted, because for the most part WE ARE SAFE. This week's event will not cause me to live in fear, but rather thankful for God's presence with me everywhere I go, for his peace and protection.  I also want to thank those who cover me in prayer.

(Note: I was nowhere near the scene of the crime at the time it happened; and I am thankful for a great expat community who communicates safety concerns.)

Merry Christmas

Wilson and I would like to wish everyone a belated Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

We are excited about God's plans for us in 2013, as they are revealed to us day-to-day.

I will continue teaching 3rd Grade in Port-au-Prince and Wilson will be working on demand as an interpreter for NGO's.  

Watch this space for updates!!

Thank you for your continued love and prayer support.

Mr and Mrs Cazeau xo

My prayer tonight...

Father God,

Help me understand the depth of your love for me.  Help me know how much I'm worth to you. 

People's attempts to love me, will always leave me feeling disappointed. You alone can meet the longing of my heart, to feel valued and cherished.  Allow me to be still long enough, to dwell in your presence and comprehend just how much you love me.

Amen.

Give a gift that will not be forgotten

At this time of year almost everyone in the Western world is racing from store to store, buying loads of Christmas gifts. If you began early you’ve already completed this annual act of madness! Many spend excessive amounts of money on gifts that are remembered not much longer than Christmas day.

The more time I spend in Haiti, the more reflective I’ve become about the value I place on “stuff”!  But what’s an object worth anyway? Who determines its value?  We do.  An object doesn’t have intrinsic worth; people assign value to things.

We’ve all been to garage sales and haggled over the price of an object. When the price matches the object’s “value” we hand over our cash.  You may have seen that strange looking couple at your garage sale buying your shabby-looking trinkets.  What in the world were they thinking?  

The value we assign to things is personal.  Something of little value to you can hold great value to another person… and I’m thinking beyond material things! As a teacher I value education and learning.  But more than that, I value the individual child in my classroom. When I’m not too busy thinking about the curriculum and the next lesson I have to teach, I think about the "whole child" in front of me.  A child whose future is yet to be determined by the choices they make; a child with unique talents waiting to be discovered and developed; a child loved by God and created with a purpose; a child who has the potential to change the future of poverty-stricken Haiti.

I’m hoping that you value education too.  But more than that I’m hoping you see into the heart of this child. 

Eight years ago my heart chose Yoanny. At the time she was only four years old.  She lives in the Dominican Republic, the neighboring country of Haiti. In 2010 I had the opportunity to meet Yoanny and her family.  It was a humbling experience to say the least!  A photo of myself was displayed in their makeshift home. Their warm hospitality demonstrated their gratitude for the opportunity I was giving their child. As I was leaving they handed me a large bag of produce from their garden as well as homemade preserves. I was overwhelmed by their generosity!

Outside Yoanny's home

Finally, I’m coming to the purpose of this blog post.  I hope you've read this far!  Sadly, I can no longer afford to sponsor Yoanny, in addition to the other three children I sponsor.  My salary in Haiti is just one fifth of what I earn in Australia and for the last 18 months I’ve been able to make ends meet, but now finances are very tight.  

Hence, I’m appealing to you this Christmas to give the gift that will not be forgotten; the gift that keeps giving; the gift of education. 

Many parents in developing countries are uneducated; their hope for the future is in their child who gets the opportunity of a lifetime to study.  One child can change the future of a whole family; or the future of a nation.

Would you like to give a gift that keeps giving?  What value will you place on Yoanny's future?

If you can sponsor Yoanny please email me at kellyanneborg@gmail.com.

As requested...

Today one of my 3rd Graders from last year said to me, "When are you going to update your blog?"
I told her that I'd been thinking the exact same thing... I guess this post is overdue.  Here it is Neissa, as requested by you.  (I'm quite honored that you read my blog, even if nobody else does!)

This week I came across a song that I began writing in Haiti, just a few months after I moved here.  It seems timely to post the lyrics now, as I once again reflect on my purpose here... or God's purpose for me here.  He continues to show me areas in my life that need to be made NEW!

While this song came from my reflections and observations of Haiti, it can be applied to any place or anyone.  On the outside, Haiti is different in many ways to other countries you may visit but it's people are just like you and me.  In need of a Savior.  Broken.  In need of being restored and made new.
(For more thoughts on restoration see this old blog post.)

Without further delay here are the lyrics of a song in the making.  

I just need some guitar chords to go with it!

Restore my soul

In this land that is hurting

For the heart that is yearning

You are Lord, You are Lord

To the weak and lonely

Humbled before thee

You restore, You restore

For Your glory Lord

For Your glory Lord

Restore my soul

Restore my soul

To the broken in Spirit

There is hope, forgiveness

You restore, You restore

You make all things new

You make all things new

For Your glory Lord

For Your glory Lord

Restore my soul

Restore my soul

What He says he will do

What He says he will do