Where are all these people coming from???

Monday, January 30, Larry and I, along with Fre Michelet, our program secretary, met with the men and women who were interested in attending the English and computer classes the Wesleyan mission has been offering for about five years on La Gonave.  We had a pretty decent turn out of 27 people.  We held our first classes the following Wednesday night. 

Were we ever surprised when we walked over to the hospital where the English classes are held  - 20 additional people surrounding Fre Michelet in the courtyard of the building, bustling to get their names on his list!!  Fre Michelet sorted it out for us handily, and our program grew in the blink of an eye! 

The following night, there were 10 more who wanted to take the classes.  We were then up to 57, with the bulk of them, beginners.  Whew!  Larry was immediately booked to teach a beginner English class!

We had to draw the line when there were 15 additional who just came into the classroom and sat on the benches the next class period!!!  (  Where in the world was Fre Michelet? )  Word had definitely passed along.....BUT  there was no possible way to serve them all. 

So ... we had to turn a whole bunch of potential students away; that was difficult to do!  But, to do those who had registered first justice, we just couldn't pad our classes any more.

I think we are about settled now ....  (famous last words?)

Greg Edmonds and Larry built tables for the English classes

which are held in the chapel room at the hospital..... 

..and the tables are appreciated by all!  They just need a little coat of white paint now!

Larry's maxed-out classes are held in the hospital administration building.

So, we're off and running now!  What a privilege it is to be working with these energetic and enthusiastic men and women who so appreciate what we are hoping to teach them!  To have them come up and thank us repeatedly for coming to Haiti and "helping" them - especially when their goal for being in our classes is to help their country!   To start each session with prayer and have them pray for us as well as themselves -  Humbling.

May the Lord work wonders in our classes and in our relationships with our students,

to His glory and to the benefit of our students and their very needy country.