Caleb-Back from STEM Camp

I got back from camp yesterday. I had lots of fun, but I was disappointed to miss seeing the Bundys. While I was at camp I learned about science, technology, engineering, and math. We coded a website using html, programmed a Lego robot, and built an underwater robot. We also learned about the water cycle and a bunch of other stuff. We stayed in a dorm. My roommate's name was Zachary.

On the first day I met Caleb S. Soon we became friends. We sat next to each other at lunch a lot and one day a counselor came over to the table.

He said, "Hey, Caleb,wait a sec."

He looked back and forth between the two of us then said, "You are both Calebs right? You're gonna mess me up, man!"

One night at dinner I sat next to Isha, a girl who was in my class.  For a couple of minutes her friend, who was about to turn thirteen, and I arm wrestled. Then Isha told me about how her friend arm wrestled her mom and broke her mom's arm!

Each night in the dorm my "lights out" ranged from 10:30 to almost midnight. 

On the last day of camp we had an award ceremony. The lady who was calling out names said that this was an extremely smart group of kids and asked us who we thought was going to receive the next award.   People were shouting out "David."

The counselor asked "Why do you think that?"

Somebody shouted, "'Cause you are going in alphabetical order!"

The counselor asking said, "See, they figured it out before I did."

I won the "Most Generous" award for being always ready to help someone out. Before I left I passed out prayer cards so people could stay in touch with me.

Me on stage during the award ceremony - my friend Caleb is standing next to me on the left.

Bundy Kids - Our Future Neighbors

By Samuel

Three days ago our family dropped Caleb off at STEM camp.(Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math).  After we dropped him off we rode to see the Bundys, who are in Greenwood for a few days of meetings at OMS headquarters.  The Bundys will be our future neighbors in Haiti.  There are four Bundy kids named (in age from least to greatest) Kristina, Alanna, Jake, and Brianna. 

Sarah had gotten a build-a-bear at the mall after we left Caleb and she showed it to Kristina.  While we were visiting the Bundys, everyone was riding bikes two wheeled.  Hannah did not know how so Brianna taught her. Now Hannah hasn't gotten off the bike for more than ten minutes at a time.

Yesterday we went to visit the Bundys again and it was supposed to rain so we all brought things we could do.  This time Sarah got Hannah's tub of build-a-bears out of storage.  It must have had at least eight bears in it.  They played with them all day long.  Jake and I brought some Legos to play with but it wasn't rainy outside so we rode bikes most of the time.  I brought a ripstik but almost knocked out a permanent tooth in the first five seconds after we arrived.  Hannah brought duck tape and scooters to play with.

Tomorrow is our trip to Pennsylvania.  We have an eight hour drive there but it feels like nothing compared to the trip to Haiti.  How could it?

Caleb going to STEM camp. 

Sarah and Kristina with the tub of build-a-bears.

The girls making ducktape hairbows.

We brought ice cream.

Our family ate at the OMS cafeteria.

All of us got injured throughout the day.

Caleb- VBS

I've been a volunteer for my church's VBS (vacation bible school) this week. It has been awesome! I do recreation for 5th and 6th grade. The kids love it, but they get wound up really fast. Soon kids are hitting each other with noodles, throwing wet sponges at each other, grabbing the hose and soaking me (not fun), and kicking footballs.

Still, I think they're learning about God. Sometimes after we play a game, we ask questions.

Example: Q: How did spinning affect your throw?
Predicted answers: It made me dizzy; It was harder to find my target.
We (the volunteers and I) ask them the question.
Kids: (nervous silence)
So we start giving them the answers: "Did it make you kind of dizzy?"
Kids: It was easy!
Volunteers: "The point of the game was that God would always show you the way."

Today we decided to end recreation in prayer. My first thought when we started praying was that they were silent and they must get really serious when it comes to praying. The moment prayer was over they started screaming and sprinting.

The other thing we did differently today was having them run a lap around the church so they didn't have enough energy to goof off like they did so much yesterday. Some kids were lying on the ground after the run, but five minutes later kids were chasing each other, but it wasn't quite as crazy. After a while we played a game boys against girls that involved holding hands. When we asked them to do the game as a group the girls didn't want to hold hands with a boy and the boys started chasing some of the girls that they wanted to hold hands with. Eventually we got them under control.

One of the cool things about being a volunteer is that there is a "break room." There are snacks and couches and tables in there. The other volunteers and I go in there at the end of VBS and have snacks and talk while sitting at the couches. One of the volunteers, Preston, and I sat there and talked for a while. We have become friends over these few days of VBS.

I think that VBS is a great opportunity for the kids to learn about God.

Sarah - Introduction

Sarah is 6 and just finished kindergarten [see picture to the left], so this information came with a bit of help from Mom and Dad asking some questions.

Who are your friends? - "Lindsey, Ally, Chelsea, Nicole, Ellie and Megan."

What do you like to play with?  - "My baby dolls, Legos, and crafts."

What's your favorite color? - "Purple!" (Note from Dad: last night it was green.) "And pink!"

Favorite foods?  - "Froot Loops, pizza, meatballs, chicken noodle soup, chicken legs, corn on the cob, chocolate and gum."

"I need to go to the bathroom. Think about something else you can ask me."

[She returns.]  Best part of moving to Haiiti?  - "Nothing. I don't know."

Hardest part of moving to Haiti? - "I don't know.  School."  Why school? - "Because I don't know Haiti language!" [Mom and Dad explain that classes will be taught in English ... and that her Haitian friends will know a little English and she will learn Creole as she goes.  She is relieved.]

A few more questions? [Sarah starts examining a boo-boo on her knee with great interest.]  Are you paying attention to us? - "No..." [At least she's honest.]

Who was the best kindergarten teacher? - "Mommy." [Sheepish grin.]

Who was the best kindergarten student? - "Lindsey! Wait... no.. ME!"

What will be the hardest part of going to Haiti? - "Leaving Grandma and my friends."




Sarah knows how to pour on the emotion when it suits her needs...

 

Plus, she's smart.



Sarah was only 4 and a half the last time she was in Haiti.  This is one of Dad's favorite pictures from that trip.

Samuel - Introduction

Hello! I'm Samuel.  This is our third blog post.  I will be going to Haiti with my family.  I am 9 years old and my birthday is in October.  While I am in Haiti I hope to help with what ever is needed.  I would like to help with the orphanage like Caleb, too.
Yesterday was our last day of school for the school year. 

We are about to leave for a trip to Pennsylvania in a few weeks.   Our next few weeks will be hectic because now that school is out my mom has to pack up the stuff in her classroom for school in Haiti.  Then we have to pack for the trip at the same time as packing up school.

I like several things.  I like playing Star Wars with our toy lightsabers in the back yard.  I also love playing with Legos (mostly Star Wars).  I am also the most physically flexible in the family.  I love to climb thing like trees and rocks.  I also like to ride on a thing called a Ripstik.  On this you swing your body so the wheels move then you go straight and the wheels keep moving to push you forward.  It is a mixture of a skate board and a scooter.

Me on the Ripstik

This is my newest way to drive Mommy crazy.