Fonde Baptiste School

The kids of Fonde Baptiste School were waiting for us when the truck drove up full of shoes. They were so excited and we began by opening up the suitcases full of shoes and also some large boxes full of toys. When I saw all those children, hundreds of them, I just prayed and asked God to give us enough shoes for them all. We worked for hours trying the shoes on the children and fitting them. It was a big job but very satisfying. I know in order to put a new pair of shoes on each of the children there, we will need a lot more shoes. We were also able to give a few teachers a pair of shoes. The children gathered around us outside and we loved on them, hugged them and just let them know that they are loved. I videod some of them singing and let them watch themselves on the video and there eyes just got real big from seeing themselves. They loved singing for us and we just had a great time together. After putting on the shoes, a trip to the outhouse and a nice meal of chicken, rice, beans and planteens, we headed back down the mountain. The trip up to the school was met with dirt & rocky roads, hairpin curves, and times when we were going straight up and all sliding together in the back of that truck. The truck was loaded with 12 people in the open bed in the hot sun, 12-15 suitcases full of shoes which were strapped to the top of the cab and put under the seats, etc. We also had a bucket of chicken that had been cooked for us in the early morning. This was not like a bucket we get from KFC but a pail, bucket, filled with chicken as we drove up the mountain for 2 1/2 hours in the hot sun. Needless to say, it was still hot when we ate it! Thanks to Charlie who had a firm hand on that bucket all the way up the mountain! Also, I was amazed at the people in that village, with nothing but a school/church many of them are born up there and die up there, never leaving that village. I was impressed with the gardens I saw on the mountains. Their soil is good that they are able to grow what they need. Our trip to Fonde School is a memory that none of us will ever forget! And our bodies felt the affects of that trip for several days after!