That's why it's so important to me, and to all of us at Be Like Brit, that we give our children the same kind of experience. Memories and childhood experiences really are instrumental in our development into adulthood. They are the foundation upon which we build our lives as we reach adolescence, young adulthood, and on and on. We want our children to have fond memories of their time with us at Be Like Brit. So fond, in fact, that those memories will be the driving force for our children becoming responsible citizens who care for and love their country. Citizens who will want to work to help it. Proud leaders of a future Haiti. With that sentiment in mind, we decided that over these few days off for the Easter Holiday, we would bring the children on a field trip - a field trip that we hope will instill within them so much more than just a fun day!
The National Museum is located on the Champ de Mars in Port-au-Prince. The Champ de Mars is the largest public square in the capital city. It is home to many monuments, including tributes to Dessalines and the neg mawon. The statue of the neg mawon was commissioned by the Duvalier government to commemorate the slaves who revolted against the French, and ultimately gave rise to the first black republic - where slaves overtook their masters and declared their independence!
Our third and first grade children, whom we took to the museum this past week, were enamored with this bit of history. Most of them had never been to their own capital, and so this outing was a great adventure in so many ways!
The neg mawon, as it stood before the 2010 earthquake. (The National Palace collapsed and is no longer there.)
Sadly, MUPANA won't allow photos to be taken inside the museum. But here's a few of our proud group outside, and around the Champ de Mars:
Thursday night after dinner I asked all of the children who went to the museum to stand up on the altar in our chapel. As the other, younger children gathered, we went down the line of those 18 children who went and had them share with the other children one new thing they learned, one thing that they saw, and their favorite part of the trip. Each one of them said something different - and we were so proud of them and the excitement they had in sharing their day with their younger BLB brothers and sisters. The younger children then asked questions, and we sat together in the chapel and talked about the day for a good hour. It's this kind of memory I hope they keep with them. "Remember that time we went to the museum...."
I also have an announcement to make! Finally, after 8 trips to the Immigration and Emigration office in Port-au-Prince, they have officially accepted my application for a permis de sejour, or residence permit! I was convinced that the woman in the office quite simply didn't care for me much ~ as the runaround I got was unlike anything I've ever seen before! It didn't happen without some pushing on my part, but on Thursday this past week, while the children toured the museum, I got it! Bureaucracy, navigated. Again!
While we are just in late April, we are gearing up for a busy summer! We have long term Britsionarys coming in starting in less than a month! One of the Britsionarys, as I wrote last week, is bringing with her a ballet, tap, and jazz program for the children. We were so fortunate to have Jenna from Traveling Tutus Charity reach out to us and donate dance costumes for each of our girls here at Be Like Brit! Today, we finally got to have the girls try them all on, and talk about the upcoming summer dance camp they will be able to attend! It was quite entertaining to watch them all dress up and dance around the courtyard, as if they had any idea of what they were doing! What they were doing is having fun - and something as simple as dance costumes brought endless smiles to their faces. We know that the dance program will bring them confidence, too, and are so excited to get started!
Our soccer players also go out today to a field up above us in the mountains. There's this one flat space that is just absolutely beautiful, and the rains and more clouds than usual allowed for enough respite from the heat that the children wanted to play up there. Francky drove the group up with Junior (one of our coaches) and some other caregivers for a few hours of soccer practice! What do you think about this backdrop? Is this not a beautiful place to play?
The children are especially excited for Easter! Last night, they were busy picking out their very best clothes for the special service they will attend at Mission of Hope International. Thanks to our good friend Eileen, each of the girls has a pretty new pink or purple Easter had with which to complement their Sunday bests. She also provided the children all with a simple cross, so that the children are mindful of why we celebrate the Holiday. A small evening service in the chapel last night, Wilmann eliciting answers from the children. "Why do we celebrate Easter? What happened to Jesus that day?" The children answered loudly and with confidence. Easter Sunday will be a day of fun, but also a day of fellowship and of prayer for the children at Be Like Brit.
Aren't Marie Flaure and Nascha cute? And isn't Kerby just silly!?
We had a small but eventful Easter egg hunt this morning, too! How many eggs do you think we needed to hide for 41 children (and our staff!)???
Easter is about the resurrection of Christ and about starting anew. We believe our children, through Be Like Brit, are in some ways starting anew, too. They are finding through their experience here many opportunities they might not otherwise find. As Matthew 25 tells us we must feed the hungry, clothe the naked, give shelter to those who are homeless. As an organization, and with the help of countless supporters, we are able to do that for these precious children in Haiti. We challenge you to start anew, too. To sacrifice so that others might have more. As Christ Himself did for us.
We wish you all the best during this Holiest Season and wish you a very Happy and Blessed Easter. Thank you for helping us help the children of Haiti at Be Like Brit!
