Music In Haiti!
In July my father-in-law, Jim, and I brought 100 recorders, 10 music stands, 25 music books, and a whole lot of excitement to Haiti. We spent two days working with the Haitian staff teaching them to read music and play the recorder and then empowering them to teach some of the children in the program to do the same.
When we started on the first day, I asked the adults I was teaching how many of them could read music. None of them raised their hands. Some of these people are very accomplished musicians so I was surprised that they didn't know how to read music. We started at square one and built from there. By lunch time, they were playing and reading three pitches in various rhythmic patterns. After lunch, about 30 of the children in the program arrived. I split them into small groups (two or three children to one supervisor) and set the supervisors loose to teach the children. I wondered around the room and observed some amazing things! These people who started the day not being able to read music, were teaching children to read music, and they were doing it very well!
By the end of two days, the supervisors were confident they could continue their learning and were excited about the opportunity to teach the children more regularly. We ended our time by talking about where this could lead. We are all very excited to see where God takes this.
My next trip will be sometime this fall. My hope is do be able to do a Saturday camp with whomever can come (supervisors and children) to keep the spark alive.
Special thanks to Katie, the intern, for taking such great photos. To Doug Schmitt, from Schmitt Music for donating the recorders and to Dean Sorenson for arranging some local Haitian songs for recorder.
When we started on the first day, I asked the adults I was teaching how many of them could read music. None of them raised their hands. Some of these people are very accomplished musicians so I was surprised that they didn't know how to read music. We started at square one and built from there. By lunch time, they were playing and reading three pitches in various rhythmic patterns. After lunch, about 30 of the children in the program arrived. I split them into small groups (two or three children to one supervisor) and set the supervisors loose to teach the children. I wondered around the room and observed some amazing things! These people who started the day not being able to read music, were teaching children to read music, and they were doing it very well!
By the end of two days, the supervisors were confident they could continue their learning and were excited about the opportunity to teach the children more regularly. We ended our time by talking about where this could lead. We are all very excited to see where God takes this.
My next trip will be sometime this fall. My hope is do be able to do a Saturday camp with whomever can come (supervisors and children) to keep the spark alive.
Special thanks to Katie, the intern, for taking such great photos. To Doug Schmitt, from Schmitt Music for donating the recorders and to Dean Sorenson for arranging some local Haitian songs for recorder.
A video of the supervisors teaching some of the children in the program.
A video of Adelcon and I playing one of the songs Dean arranged.
A video of the talented supervisors singing. These amazing musicians didn't read a note of music.
The Team
Team Building
After our two days of music, all of the Haitian and American GlobalFingerprints staff spent two days at a beautiful resort focusing on our team. We spent time talking about what it means to be a cross cultural team and how to collaborate more fully. It was an encouraging time of team building, relationship building, and bonding.Prayer Requests and Praises
Praises
- For a highly successful first instrumental music trip to Haiti.
- For all of the Haitian staff and their commitment to the program, to these children, and to God.
- For the GlobalFingerprints staff and the exciting adventure God has called us to.
- For God's protection of my family while I was away.
- For a husband who is such a huge support to me and an amazing dad to our children!
Requests
- Please pray for our team. Both the Haitian and American teams.
- Pray for the Haitian staff to feel supported, and heard by the leadership in Haiti.
- Pray for wisdom for the American staff on how best we can come along side our Haitian friends in this kingdom building work. Also, that God would provide more team members in the areas that we are still currently lacking.
- Pray specifically for Adelcon (Add el son). He has a very difficult and a very important role for our Haitian team. That God would grant him the wisdom, patience and peace to do his job each day.
- Pray for my family as we head into the back to school season. Especially for Andy as marching band starts, and for Michael as he starts middle school!
