Elise Beutlick, French Teacher

The French II and III students at Cedar Springs High School made Christmas presents in the form of French children’s books for the children living at an orphanage in Cap-Haitien, Haiti. Haiti is a French-speaking country with a very low literacy rate of 60%.

Many children in Haiti do not have access to books. The Cedar Springs’ French students decided to create books to send to Haiti with the goal of encouraging literacy and creating a special Christmas memory for these children.

The French II and III students at Cedar Springs High School made Christmas presents in the form of French children’s books for the children living at an orphanage in Cap-Haitien, Haiti. Haiti is a French-speaking country with a very low literacy rate of 60%. Many children in Haiti do not have access to books. The Cedar Springs’ French students decided to create books to send to Haiti with the goal of encouraging literacy and creating a special Christmas memory for these children

The Rev. Robert Baker and wife Patti, of Oakfield Township, traveled to Haiti earlier this year. Rev. Baker had previously spent 13 years in Haiti, with 10 as field director for the Baptist Haiti Mission, formerly based in Rockford. The home office is now in Louisville, Kentucky.

Rev. Baker returned to Haiti in January to do some seminars for church leaders. “I will return in May to do the same thing,” he said.

Are you going on vacation? Take the Post with you and snap some photos. Then send them to us with some info to news@cedarspringspost.com or mail them to Post travels, PO Box 370, Cedar Springs, MI 49319. We will be looking for yours!

“On jou!” That’s Creole for hello, the language that is spoken in Haiti, where Jan Malmo, recently retired teacher at Tri County Schools, traveled recently on a mission trip, and took a Post with her. She was able to work with children and teachers in a school in Les Cayes for 3 days. Jan’s focus was to bring new ideas and teaching techniques to a small town in a third world country where they are open to everything because they have so little—little to no teacher training and little to no supplies.

Jan said they primarily teach by reciting. She felt blessed to be welcomed by so many eager Haitians in a country where any help is appreciated. She saw God at work in the loving spirits and fellowship of people she could not really talk to without an interpreter.

“It was an awesome trip and I hope to be able to go back annually with more teachers so more lives can be enriched (mine and theirs)!” she exclaimed.

Thanks for taking us with you, Jan!

Are you going on vacation? Take the Post with you and snap some photos. Then send them to us with some info to news@cedarspringspost.com or mail them to Post travels, PO Box 370, Cedar Springs, MI 49319. We will be looking for yours!