It is so wonderful to be able to share our home with Fito, Janice, Abigail and Deliverance. They are a blessing to us. We are so thankful that God has given us this privilege to help them have a brand new beginning here in America. They are excited at all the opportunity ahead of them.
And the first step is speaking, writing and reading English! They all speak some level of English, and we are all communicating well. It takes just a little time to understand - they are working hard on pronunciation too! Sometimes it is like we are always playing the game “Mad Gab”! At times we laugh so much when we figure out what they are trying to say and what we thought they were saying!
So the second week they were here they began attending Handke Language School in Elk River. They love it, and we can already tell how much they have learned! They are asking questions…all through the day…so eager to learn.
If you live in the northwest suburbs of Minneapolis, we can always help with rides to and from school for them. Contact me if you are interested to be on a list to help.
We have begun the application process for them to get jobs, and speaking English well will help them get good jobs. Your prayers for all of this are so appreciated!
Our son B.J. wanted to make sure that our Haitian family still had some familiar foods to enjoy, so he took them to an international market to shop on the 2nd day they were in America! They loved it. I was shocked when I looked in the refrigerator and saw a fish with a head on it in there! They had bought a big tilapia, and as Janice was cleaning it…(so much work!) I showed her how I buy tilapia fillets frozen from Sam’s club! We had a good laugh. Here’s a video of her cleaning it. She was sawing through the skin. What a gal!
She is a great cook! We are enjoying rice and beans weekly, and she makes a delicious chicken boiled with vegetables in a light tomato sauce. One day she made us a pizza from scratch! I was definitely impressed. We are having fun cooking together and Deliverance has the kitchen cleaned up before we sit down. They are an amazing team!
I am making new foods for them too. We now sit around the dining room table most nights and it is so beautiful. One night all the kids and grandkids came over and Janice cooked a Haitian meal. We had the most wonderful time! I don’t ever remember so much laughter in our house, especially when Janice was asking where we could buy some goat around here! I think they miss eating goat. Hmmmm…not sure Brian and I can go there. We will see. I will let you know if we ever partake of goat!!
I must update you on this adventure we are on! The kids were accepted by US customs and within 10 days they were living in our home. There was much to do to get ready for their arrival as we rearranged rooms, created a bedroom in the attic that needed cleaning, painting, building, finishing carpentry, & electrical. Then we needed dressers, beds, bedding… but because of so many of our friends and family all those needs were met! It was miraculous that we were all ready when they arrived! Thank you all! I cannot start writing names because I will forget someone, but you know who you are and we are all so very grateful!!!
When they came they just had backpacks. The gangs watch for people with suitcases. They not only steal their things, or kidnap them to try and get ransom money, they will steal their papers too, and that would have totally stopped their chance to come to the US. So they stuffed all they could in those backpacks, but needed more clothing, especially with winter coming.
People have been so wonderful to bring clothes to us! It has been amazing to see God’s provision for each one of them!!! They have so many beautiful and warm clothes now! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your outpouring of help!
Fito, Janice, and Deliverance want to also tell you all how much they appreciate all people are doing for them. God is using you to give them a brand new start…a life filled with promise and purpose!!!
