StarTeam Prepares to Leave their new friends in Jeanton.
It is hard to leave. Here is a note from Jean-Marc Cassamajor, Star of Hope Haiti who has spent the week with the team. (Pictures expected Friday during the day, so check back.)
Tears, smile and hope
Barry Parker felt better, this morning, with the sinus infection although Tony advised him to stay and to take some rest but he refused, saying that he came to work, not to become sick and to lay down. There were no tent sleepers last night because of that big rain with wind and as the mattresses are not really dried up, everyone will have to sleep inside the house again.
The morning went well, with the kids helping out with what they can do or just playing with Sara Mc Dermott and the guys were painting at a first time and after, three of them, Scott, Bob and Collin, went hiking along with some of the older kids from the school and the director.
After that, the daily sessions went on, like the singing and Bible classes, and the goodbye's started with some tears. Then, came the lunch time and some talking about how the rest of the day will be according to Tony. What was a good note for the kids it was how some of them, were telling others not to dirty the walls because the school is so pretty with these colors. All the three young girls braided their hair and Cheh and Melinda followed as they took it for one of the best moments of their trip.
The principal, his assistant, all the teachers and all the students wanted to thank the team, it was a moment full with emotion, tears and joys. Ten kids picked, each one of them, a member of the team and thanking him or her for the good work that have been done, so far, what will allow more kids to be able to come to the school . There came the mixture tears and smiling. The kids did not want the team to leave. Some wanted to be taken to the States, some other wanted to play till dawn, some other would liked to have more work done just like Neremi Frederic.
He's a tall 18 year old, living with his family of 9 kids and the two parents. He has five (5) sisters and three (3) brothers. He is in grade 5. Both his mother and father work a piece of land that they own. Now, they are growing corn, water melon, and millet. The sell a part and save the other to feed the family.
He did not want them to leave as he kept on shaking and holding Barry's hand inside the car, as we were leaving the school. "Unfortunately I did not have the opportunity to go to school early and I don't want that for the other kids in the community. The school building has become so beautiful and I like it a lot. I thought the sun would be too hot for them but they kept on working hard even under that hot sun.
When I will be done with school I want to become a doctor because there are so many sick people in my place that I would like to help them. I love each one of them and I hope they will come back to give me a bigger building with everything and food, everyday. I played soccer every day, which was neat because I rarely have that chance. I hope they would stay forever."
A time to come and a time to leave. Haiti is the first experience for many of the StarTeam Volunteers and a routine to some others, but always the same magnet that always want you to come and stay with the people. Between tears and smile, the kids are keeping the hope that their school building will be brand new and bigger, there will be food every day, there will be a bridge on the river to help against the rainy season and there will always be visitors, not of any kind but the Kansas team type.