Loud noises.

October. A cloudy still morning outside with many frogs singing. Our last quiet week now competed as local school will start up next week. Over 500 children attend school on campus and most classes learn by repeating, together as a class, their lessons out loud. And I do mean LOUD.

Last night the neighborhood filled with the loud sounds of mourning. Neighbors lost a family member. Shrill screams mixed with deep agonizing cries filled the air. Hard to listen to without reflecting on death. So thankful know Him who conquered death and gives us hope.

Another loud noise in the community this week consisted of heavy equipment working on the road. The road improvements hope encourage people from Cap Haitian to visit the nice beaches past us on the coast. Unfortunately the road grader damaged some of the cement at the edge of the road. We realize that while a smoother road makes trips easier on the body the down side exists of vehicles will travel faster, increasing danger to pedestrians and folks standing by the road.

Kodiak. Space waiting for new school books.

Our slowed schooling this week helped attitudes a bit. Next week we add two hours of formal learning as Eli, Anna and I will start with a French teacher. Over five years ago we took Creole classes for a while on LaGonave. Time to try again. This will help us follow in church the Bible readings and songs in French. While we continue to work with Rosetta Stone we will be focusing on grammar and vocabulary. Should be interesting.

The teacher originally thought 1.5 hours a day! NOPE. Will start with one hour a day, two days a week and see how it works.  He also thinks that folks who say French is hard to learn are wrong. I tried to lower his expectations by telling him at least two of us have trouble with languages...will see. We figure that time spent with the French now will not only benefit all of us with church and living in Haiti but may someday help the kids with college language requirements.

Prayer: Sunday services. Beth's second round of chemo on Monday. French lessons.
Thankful: Instant message with family.