d fruit, ventured up the mountains on a hike, and Chris has been known to have a group of Haitian boys gathered around the computer on our front steps showing them videos and pictures of our friends and families, while listening to music. (That is one of my personal favorites, and the kids love it!) This last Saturday we also had the opportunity to do something different. One of the doctors from the clinic was doing an HIV/AIDS talk at a youth meeting called OJEPP. This is a Christian youth organization that educates youth and hopes to help them make good decisions. He invited us to attend so we ventured out of the compound and down the road about 5 minutes to sit in on a meeting of about 60 youth as they learned about the history, prevention, and specifics of AIDS and about abstinence. The talk was in Creole, of course, so we practiced our listening skills for about 2 hours, and both received a certificate saying we had been there! It was interesting. The speakers kept looking at us and saying little phrases in English, and we were the only two offered chairs to sit in rather than the school 
benches. (We declined the special treatment) We were glad to be there, sitting outside on a beautiful warm day surrounded by Haitians and participating in something in the community. It is always a little disconcerting, since we can't really follow what is being said, but we were both encouraged by how much we did pick up! Most of the jokes or things th
e rest of the group laughed at were lost on us though! Afterwards, we decided to take a mini hike up the mountainside, and were joined by a young man Kendall along the way. He is eager to learn English and so we chatted with him about the US and Haiti as we walked. He, like many Haitians, is under the impression that America is the greatest place and the problems he faces in Haiti do not exist there. Money is in abundance, so problems disappear, right? We tried to explain that there are problems and struggles in the US too, and money doesn't fix all of them. People still need God there, and they need him here. He nodded and agreed at all the right moments, and with his limited English it is hard to know if he understood or agreed with what was said, but he seemed to know the Lord, hopefully not just all the right answers. Walkin
g back to the compound we briefly talked with a family who had been yelling "Katleen! Katleen!" as we walked past. We didn't know them, but they were friendly and so that was nice!We have been indulging in the amazing sugar cookies we made this weekend too. My sister had sent us a mix with frosting and pumpkin sprinkles and we finally made them...YUM! The other picture is of two gourdes Chris found and we tried to carve as substitutes for pumpkins. Unfortunately, they are rock hard and we bent a knife trying to cut into one! Guess that will have to wait till next year...
It is Thanksgiving week! I hope it is a restful and fun one for everybody. Thanks for your prayer and support!
