It's Graduation Day at Institution Univers!
There has been preparation happening around the school for the last few weeks cosmetically but preparation for this day in the lives of these young people and their families, all life long! The students and parents are excited, as well as all of us! Out of country guests have all safely arrived, new paint on the walls, decorations hung, trash across from the school compound burned, caps and gowns distributed, rehearsals completed. We are ready!
Personally, it has been an emotional week for me, as I have come to love these students so much, I am at the completion of my first year, and I am departing for two months on Saturday. But, thanks to God and to you I get to return to begin year two in September!
Friday was one of the best days I can remember! It began with assisting Pamela Mann, along with Pastor Dave and Hans-Jerry, in evaluating 21 10th and 11th graders to choose 10 of them to be the translators for Summer Camp over the next three weeks. After two and a half hours of one on one interviews, tallying our scores and "having a little chat" (borrowed from Heidi Klum!!) we had our 10 translators. The process is now much more organized with evaluations sheets and a point system then when Jan Iannetta and I evaluated students with Pamela in 2009, when it was not so developed. Compliment to Pamela's organizational skills! I commented to Pamela, after she thanked the evaluators for participating, how fun it was, kind of felt like being a judge on American Idol. Everyone chuckled at that!
Then, I spent the afternoon meeting with the U.S. Bound college students and their parent(s) to sign the contract between Institution Univers (I.U.), the student and their parent, stating in the contract the responsibility of this privilege and that the student will return to serve in our organization or if not a suitable position is available, in Ouanaminthe for as many years as they departed Haiti to study. Also it was a time to convey to the parent the dedication and the sacrifice we realize they personally made to bring their student to this day. Pastor Dave and I both had the opportunity to spend time with each one. It was solemn yet extremely joyful!
As  you can imagine there were a few tears shed as, from both moms and dads, as they sat at in my office. Wow - to be a part of this is just huge and humbling for me.
In between the contract signing appointments, I crafted the appeal letter for a different kind of appointment related to the U.S. bound students - the plea to secure timely Visa Interview appointments for both our college and ESL students. It was a letter that I massaged over and over until at 7:06pm I pressed the "Send" button. We appreciate your prayers as we really need appointments in the next two weeks; it has been a month long process working with a U.S. Senator's office, other contacts I have and the Embassy directly.  There are an unprecedented amount of Visa requests AND the staffing in the State department has been substantially cut back therefore we are caught in the "perfect storm" of interview scheduling delays. Just this morning I awoke thinking and praying of what else can I possibly be doing and while again reviewing the Embassy website I realized for the ESL students there may be an additional avenue with the Type of Visa we have requested. So I will craft another letter this afternoon to send before the Embassy office opens in the morning. We serve a Big God who is in charge of the appointment calendar, so ask Him for discernment and direction, involve my contacts, and write email letters and continue to move as He directs, knowing that He knows what this is all about.  We Trust Him.