Marco

Poptarts are a delicious breakfast food. Yesterday, I was finishing one on the play ground with the kids. Marco was sitting next to me and asked for a bite. I broke him off a piece and I gave it to him. I only gave him a little because there were other kids around and I didn't want them to get upset. Marco emmediatley called over Antonio and Clariebelle is brother and sister. He first gave them a piece and then ate the rest. He keeps such a watchful eye on his younger siblings. Clariebelle's shirt was falling off her shoulder and Marco pointed it out to her. Later on of the other boys hit one of the other girls and he stood up for the girl telling the boy that you dont hit girls. I was so proud of him. He is such a great kid, really a mature young man. It is times like these when you know something is going right.

Back to Haiti!

This past week we were able to go and check on our orphanage in Haiti and meet the new kids. Haiti is a very overwhelming place to be and yet the orphanage is a calm oasis. A typical day for this kids begins with morning prayers. After that it's breakfast and time for preschool. A private teacher comes to the orphanage and teaches them the average preschool stuff; letters, numbers, learning songs. At 10 they snack then school some more until 12. After that it's lunch and play time until dinner and bed. The older kids, four of them, get to go to first grade. Every morning one of the house mothers walks them to school. The smaller kids only have school every other day. It is very exciting for them to leave the loving protection of the orphanage walls because Haiti doesn't have any public parks or real reason for them to leave. Father Andre said they all think it's fun when he isn't there to perform mass because then they get to go to mass across the street! There are house mother's that take care of the kids and rotate who cooks and does laundry. At night one mother sleeps in each room so if one of the kids needs something at night there is always someone there. I could write a novella about how wonderful this orphanage and about how it is the definition of hope for Haiti, but who wants to read a 100 page post?!

Love from the DR!

Musica!

“To stop the flow of music would be like the stopping of time itself, incredible and inconceivable," Aaron Copeland, American Composer.

This being said, Dove is working towards the revival of its music program. With the help from some of our friends in Nashville we are seeking the support and funding to fully develop our program long term. The kids here love music. They dance and smile and sing along. The joy that fills each of their faces when music is playing is indescribable. This is why it's so important for us to get started again. Jochy Guerrero, the teacher, is ready and willing to start classes again as soon as we are able. As a teacher, he is so loved by all of the kids. He stopped by the club last week for a little visit and the kids went nuts. They hugged him and talked to him and made him come into their classes to see what they were working on. They need this program and we are very excited to be working on getting it back! Check out this video of Jochy talking about the program.

As always love from the DR!

Slide Pics!

A Slide Is Still A Slide!

Our new home is in Bario Haiti right across the street from a park. It may not be the best park in the world, but it has a slide! The park has other great qualities like multiple monkey bars and a swing, but nothing like this slide. I was in the club working on something and happened to peak my head outside to see what the kids were doing. At least 15 of our kids were piled onto the slide! Laughing and giggling as if this was the funnies thing they had ever seen or experienced in their whole life! It doesn't matter what part of the world you are in; a kid is still a kid and a slide is still a slide!

Each Day Keeps Getting Better

Each hour, each day, each week, each month here is always different, but we are always moving forward! Our new home has brought us new opportunities to better serve our kids and our community; something we are unwaveringly committed to. Just this past week five more kids got sponsored, which is a tremendous success for Dove and for the lives of these kids. Thank you for the support and lets see if we can't get all of the kids sponsors by the end of the year! The more we have sponsored the more we can add, and there is a long waiting list! Our teachers have started implementing the new Boys and Girls Club curriculum and the kids are, so far, very receptive. While the use of these lessons plans are a new endeavor, subject to adaptation and change, we are very confident it will be a great addition to what the kids are learning at the club. More updates to come very soon! Thank you, as always, for your support and love!

Peace,

Dove

A Great Week at Dove!

What a week it has been here at Dove Missions! The children got to resume their English classes this week thanks to the arrival of our new volunteer, Amber! They are very excited and greeted her with phrases like. "How are you teacher? and I'm fine thank you." They are great kids eager to learn and have fun! Our new building is fantastic and suites our needs much better than our last home. Three classrooms, a storage room,kitchen and office area and right across from a park; this place is really something special for us.
The teacher's are begining a new curriculum based off of the Boys and Girls Club of America guide following the six pillars of good character; trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship. Each Saturday the children will do a new activity based on one of the pillars. This will help them develop a sense of community and concern for each others well being; a concept not well developed in the Dominican Republic. Except at snack time! Whenever one child has drink or piece of bread or anything they will always share with those around them! This act of sharing can be seen all over the Dominican, even with adults.The kids will have no problem grasping and applying these new six concepts to thier daily lives!
In other news, Dove is taking a mission trip to Haiti in November! If you're interested contact mbazely@sympatico.ca for information or join our facebook group. This is truly a life changing experience that you would be sad to miss! We are also still looking for more sponsors! Just $30 a month can change the life of a child!

Love from the DR,

Dove Missions