This page is dedicated to Katie Broecker, our staffer, who died in her sleep early Saturday morning. One of her pet projects was to beautify the school campus with plants and upkeep. She died on the morning of Beautification Day at QCS. Here we see some of the plants to be planted yesterday. She was also in charge of the team sports at school, as well as staff recruiter. Lord knows our sorrows; He understands our tears. We do not accept death easily. We are saddened and our hearts wait for His peace and comfort. Be our constant Companion Lord as we live through the painful days ahead and yet may we all be a living witness of our living faith in You.

Thank You Lord for the safe arrival of Benjamin Pieter DeKoter. Thank You for the miracle of new life, but above all I thank You for the new life that You made possible by the gift of Jesus Christ. We praise You also for the opportunity made available to be present at Aidann's and Benjamin's baptism on November 4th D.V. Mary is wearing a mask while washing Benjamin because she had a cold.

Reading the New Testament at the flag pole was the main event during teen reading week for the grades 7 and 8. It took exactly three and one-half days to read the the New Testament. Then the students started to read the Psalms. They were excited to read and usually came on time for their turn. Parents, teachers and some of the classes came and listened to the readings.

Reading of course also occurs in the classroom. Here in the grade three classroom a girl is readying herself to report on a story she has read according to the outline that is on the clipboard.

The various members of Sous Espwa get together when ever there is a work group or a new volunteer in Haiti. This past Saturday night we were at the de Blaeij's home welcoming Leslie Millar to Haiti. She is volunteering her services for one year. She is from the Brampton, Ontario. Her major task will be doing audits for SE and for a number of our partners. She is also looking forward to getting involved with some youth/children's ministries. here the kids were playing with lego as the adults entertained themselves.

There were some creative moments up the mountain. A pumpkin was imported from the US and the children had fun cleaning out the pumpkin, separating the seeds from all that stringy mess and whatever else is on the inside. Carving the fave was a challenge but as you can see they did a fantastic job. With all the humidity in this land, this pumpkin will not last until thanksgiving day. But them we need to give thanks each and every day:-) Thanksliving!

Remember the sodding of the soccer field last school year? It was rolled a few weeks ago by this pneumatic 'lawn' roller. Upon seeing the roller going down the street, a worker ran after it and asked him to roll the school 'lawn.' He came and after a few passes on the grass, the price was negotiated. It was a great improvement. The students look forward to playing soccer on the grass but with all the rains this past week, it will take sometime to dry:-(

The grade 6 class is working on the science unit entitled Forces and Machines. Here the grade two class was watching how the grade sixes made containers to prevent the egg from being damaged by the fall. The fall wasn't really bad, but the impact was. From the second storey of the Elementary building, there were only three survivors. It was a good thing that we had placed the egg inside a plastic bag before the fall.

Building community is an essential ingredient in the classroom. The class is a mini 'United Nations.' We expect each student to know and to be thankful for his/her own gifts, never considering himself/herself either higher or lower than he or she ought, and always to use those gifts in the service and enrichment of others. Here the girls are working in harmony, building each other up in community.

We praise the Lord for the save arrival of Aidann Kathryn Dieleman this past week. Mary is in Chatham for the month to give a helping hand to both Susan and Kathy and to enjoy the grand children. God is good, God is great and I need to thank Him daily for all His blessings. Thanksgiving weekend reminds me that every day I need to live as a day of thanksliving. I need to become as a little child and list my blessings one by one. I thank Him for my daily bread, for life in Christ Jesus, for grand kids at home and at school, for my daily work, for safety in Haiti, for making a difference upon the children I teach, for my understanding wife, for the support of God's people in Port Perry and St. Thomas, for the internet so I can talk to my family back home and even see them, etc. Help me Lord to live the attitude of gratitude always so others can see You in me.