Day 31 Question: What Will Children of the Promise Do With the Money I Raised?

Today is the last day of our fundraiser.  I'm sad that it is over but I have learned so much about Haiti.  I've learned some really interesting things about snakes, schools in Haiti, taps taps, and how the girls wear their hair.  My favorite post was the one about what kids look like in Haiti.  That was really fun!

For my last question I want to write about what COTP will do with the money we raise.  They will buy diapers and food for the babies.  They can also buy medical supplies, medika mamba, formula, and other things they need for the babies there.  You can read all about Beards for Babies by clicking here.
Thank you for sponsoring me.  With your help we raised $1001 !!

I hope you have learned about Haiti with me.  There is so much more about Haiti than what I ever knew before.

Thank you!!!!

Daddy's Beard: The Last Day

I took this picture of Daddy with his beard.

This is the last day for Daddy's beard.  He is shaving it off before work tomorrow!

Day 30 Question: Did We Meet Our Goal?

We reached our goal of $1000!

 Thank you!!!! Thank you!!!! Thank you!!!!



148 2886 from Brent Sleasman on Vimeo.

Thank you!! Thank you!! Thank you!!

For my last post tomorrow I will write about how COTP could use the money you donated.

Thank you!!!!  Thank you!!!  Thank you!!!

Day 29 Question: How Much Money Do I Need to Raise to Reach My Goal?

148 2883 from Brent Sleasman on Vimeo.

So far, I have raised $869 for the Beards for Babies fundraiser!  Thank you so much!

There are only two days left to help me reach my goal of $1000.

Thank you!!!!!

Day 28 Question: What Do They Do at Children of the Promise?

We have a brochure from Children of the Promise that tells about some of their programs.  Here are some of the things they do.

Prenatal Care [I didn't know what this word means until I read about COTP]

Mommies and daddies visit often to learn how to take care of themselves and their babies.

Formula & Medika Mamba Program [I've written about Medika Mamba before.  You can read those posts by clicking here and here.]  Medika Mamba is a special food for babies made from peanut butter with special vitamins and minerals.  If a baby is under one year old they are in formula program and if they are older than one they are in the Medika Mamba program.

School Sponsorship Program [If you want to read what I wrote about schools you can click here.]

To go to school in Haiti a person has to pay a lot of money.  They have to pay to go to school and buy uniforms and pencils.  You can sponsor someone for school by clicking here.

Day 27 Question: Where is Children of the Promise?

Children of the Promise is in Lagossette, an area very near Cap Haitien.  Daddy said that Lagossette is close to the Cap Haitien airport.  You have to take a bunch of dirt roads from the main road to Cap Haitien.  It is considered more in the country than the city of Cap Haitien.  You can see some pictures of COTP in some of my other posts.
 

Day 26 Question: Who Works at Children of the Promise?

There are 21 people listed on the Children of the Promise website who work in the United States, Canada, and Haiti.  You can see some of their pictures by clicking here.

The people and families that work with COTP are from Nebraska, Washington, Iowa, Minnesota, New Mexico, Texas, Michigan, and Ohio.  I have been to Ohio but not any other of these states.  And I've been in Canada!

Some of the families have adopted children from Haiti.

There are a lot of different jobs done by the people who work with COTP.  There are nurses, and field directors (I don't know what that is!  Daddy just told me that he is in charge), and a teacher.  My brother was in the preschool class taught by the same teacher who is working there now!

They also pay local Haitians to help with laundry, cooking, and groundwork.  Other local Haitians are paid to be nannies.  The nannies take care of the babies by loving them and helping them with getting food and clothes.  They give jobs to a lot of people from Haiti!

Day 25 Question: What is Children of the Promise?

This is Zoe's Daddy.  She wants to take some time over the final week of the Beards for Babies fundraiser to answer the question, "What is Children of the Promise?"  Since many people reading this blog may not know anything about COTP other than what we write here, I thought it may be helpful to provide a brief summary about Children of the Promise.

The following was sent to me by Kirk Vander Pol, Field Director for Children of the Promise:

Children of the Promise is  an infant care center and licensed creche in Northern Haiti.  We seek to serve children and families in and near Cap Haitien seeking to empower them to raise healthy babies and children keeping families together when possible and placing abandoned children with adoptive families.  

Zoe will continue writing the posts tomorrow evening.  

Thank you for your ongoing support.  As Zoe likes to say, "Remember.  It's for the babies!"

Day 24 Question: Why Do They Speak Different Languages in Haiti?

Last Monday I wrote about schools in Haiti and why they speak different languages in the schools.  [Daddy's note: you can read that blog post by clicking here.]

The two main languages that people speak in Haiti are French and Haitian Creole.  French is an official language that was first used in Haiti by slave traders.  When slaves were brought to Haiti they all spoke different languages and they didn't know how to talk to each other so they took some of everybody's language and put it together and made a new language called Creole.  I just learned that Haitian Creole is a different language from French.

Many schools in Haiti are in French but in their houses most people speak Haitian Creole.

I wonder if I go to Haiti if I would be able to understand the teacher.  Probably not!

My brother and sister were spoken to in English and Creole at Children of the Promise.

Day 23 Question: What Has Children of the Promise Done for Me & My Family?

My Mommy and Daddy took this picture this morning before we left for church today.  In case you can't tell this is my sister, me, and my bother, oh, I mean my brother.  Oops!!  Hee hee!

This is when my brother and sister still lived in Haiti at Children of the Promise (COTP) before they lived in my house and could sit on my couch for that picture!

This is me from Easter last year before my brother and sister came home.

Children of the Promise helped me have a brother and sister to play with, and read with, and spend time with as a family.  So COTP has DEFINITELY changed my family for the better!!!  I hope to visit COTP some day soon!!

Adoption is only one piece of what they do.  Check back this week to learn more about COTP.

[Daddy's note: If you feel led to consider adopting a child from COTP click here for more information.]

Fundraising: Only Eight Days Left!

Thank you!!!! So far you have helped me raise $661.00!!  Only $339.00 to get to my goal of $1000.00!!

Day 22 Question: What Does Daddy's Beard Look Like Now?

This isn't really a fact about Haiti, but since Daddy is growing his beard for Children of the Promise I thought this is a good question for tonight!  Look at his fancy beard  and new shirt!

Day 21 Question: Where Do People Get Food in Haiti?

Last night the question that I was asked was do people in Haiti have grocery stores and how do they get their food?

Yes, there are grocery stores in Haiti but most of them are in cities like Port au Prince and Cap Haitien.  But most people in the cities buy their food on the street or in markets.  Mommy and Daddy took all of these pictures.  This one is from Port au Prince of someone selling Cokes:

Here is a street vendor selling other drinks in Port au Prince:

Many people grow food on trees.  This tree is at Children of the Promise:

Here is a mango from a tree at Children of the Promise:

Here is a really interesting video about buying food at the market:

Day Twenty Question: Are There Butterflies in Haiti?

Happy first day of Spring!

I could find three kinds of butterflies that only live in Haiti and all of them are ugly!  They are all brown and black.  Here is a picture of one of them but they all kind of look the same.

Can you see the dots on the wings?

Day Nineteen Question: What Would My Life Be Like If I Lived at Children of the Promise?

After I wrote my post on Monday I got a comment (I love comments!) from Christina Vander Pol who lives and works at Children of the Promise (COTP) and she offered to send me some pictures.  She sent me some pictures that I can post on this blog that give me an idea about what my life would be like if I lived in Haiti at COTP.  Here is a picture of how some houses are painted in Haiti.  Pink and lime green are my two favorite colors!

This is her son, Noah.  He is 11 years old and found this really cool snake.

Here is another picture of a snake that she found.  I think I want to touch the snake but only if it is not venomous.  If this snake could talk I think it would say "Please don't kill me."

I don't want to touch this tarantula.  If this was in Mommy's face I think she would say EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEKKKKK!!!!!!

 And this one is HUGE!

I think I would like the snake for a pet but not the tarantula.  Most tarantulas are not mean but they are very hairy.  They have eight legs and two fangs.

Day Eighteen Question: What Are Some Other Ways to Wear Your Hair in Haiti?

Mommy tried to do my hair the way she does my sister's but my hair doesn't stay in the same way.  But, both take a really long time!

My sister is holding a picture that I drew of her.  Can you see her poofies in the picture?

You can see the poofies in her hair.  Super Ellie to the rescue!

This is me and how I would have my hair if I went to school in Haiti.  Some of these pictures were part of the post last night.

Day Seventeen Question: What Are Schools Like in Haiti?

Some boys and girls do not get to go to school.  But, the girls who do go to school have to wear their hair in a certain way.  Boys and girls also have to wear ribbons in their hair and uniforms.  Oops.  I don't think that boys have to wear ribbons in their hair.  I don't think I would like to wear a uniform to school.  

Students have to pay to go to school.  That is why many kids don't get to go to school.  They also have to pay for their own supplies.  That is sad that kids can't go to school because they don't have the money to go.

Our church sponsors a school in Cap Haitien.  This is a picture of a student from that school.

This is what I look like with braids and ribbons in my hair.  I didn't enjoy sleeping with these braids in my hair!

Here is a picture of the room where my Daddy taught at the Emmaus Biblical Seminary:

Schools are a lot like they are here.  But they teach in French or Haitian Creole.  [Daddy's note: this is an interesting article if you would like to learn more: 

Day Sixteen Question: What Food Do People in Haiti Eat?

We like to eat a lot of the food that people in Haiti eat.  We like to eat chicken and rice, beans, mangoes, and bananas.  One place I read also said that people in Haiti eat pineapples.  Mommy said that fried plantains are REALLY yummy!  I don't know what they are but they sound good?  Plantains kind of look like a banana.  Here is a picture I found of fried plantains:

They look so good!  I don't know why there are two pictures of plantains.  But they look double yummy!

Many people do not get to eat since they do not have money to buy food.  And if they have money they may not have enough money to buy food for their whole family.  It makes me sad to think that some people can't eat because they don't have money.  Many children don't get enough food to eat.

Some people raise animals like goats, chickens, cows, and pigs so they can eat them when they get big.

Good night!

Day Fifteen Question: How is My Fundraising Going?

Thank you to everyone who has given money to my Beards for Babies fundraiser!  So far I have raised $371.00  I used a thermometer to show how much money people have donated:

10 different people and families have given money.

My goal is to raise $1000.00

Thank you!!!!

Daddy's Beard: Week Two

This is a picture of daddy's beard after two weeks.  Can you spot the gray hair?

Day Fourteen Question: What Timezone is it in Haiti?

Cap Haitien, Haiti, is in the same time zone as me!  We live in Pennsylvania and we are in the Eastern Time Zone.  The reason there are time zones is because all of the earth can't face the sun at the same time.  So the different time zones help people set up their day so they can sleep when it is dark and work and play while it is light outside.

Many people in Haiti don't have electricity so they go to bed when it is dark outside.

Good night!

Day Thirteen Question: Are There Snakes In Haiti?

I received a great question from a friend and want to use that for tonight's post.  Thank you for the question!

Yes, there are snakes in Haiti.  My daddy saw one when he was in Haiti.  He told me it was called a Haitian Tree Boa.

Join in if you know the song...

Daddy's getting swallowed by a Haitian Boa Constrictor

Daddy's getting swallowed by a Haitian Boa Constrictor

Daddy's getting swallowed by a Haitian Boa Constrictor

And he doesn't like it very much

Oh, no, it's up to his toe (it's up to his toe)

Oh gee, oh gee, it's up to his knee (it's up to his knee)

Oh fiddle, oh fiddle, it's up to his middle (it's up to his middle)

Oh heck, oh heck, it's up to his neck (it's up to his neck)

Oh...he just got scratched Daddy's beard and he went away!

Here's a picture of a Haitian Tree Boa (this was not taken by Daddy):

None of the snakes are venomous but they can still be dangerous.  

We also looked at some pictures of a man who was a snake charmer.  I don't understand why someone someone would want to do this.

Good night!

Day Twelve Question: What Do Houses Look Like in Haiti?

 Daddy and mommy took this picture of the houses in Port au Prince.  It's hard to see the houses but you can tell how close they are together.

Daddy took this picture of Cap Haitien.  Not as many people live in Cap Haitien so the houses aren't as close as they are in Port au Prince.

This is a hill that leads to many houses.  The houses are on a hill so if there is a flood the houses won't get flooded.  And they are not on the bottom of the hill so the water won't run off the hill into their house.

Houses are often made out of whatever the people can find like dirt, mud, sticks, and wood.  They can use cloth for a door.  Mommy and daddy visited this house while they were in Haiti.

This is inside the house in the picture on top.  They have dirt and rock floors.  My brother and sister are looking around.

Day Eleven Question: What Types of Jobs Do People Have in Haiti? (Part Two)

Today I watched this video with my mommy and it made me think of last night's question.  I learned more about the jobs people have.

In this video I learned how peanuts grow.  They also showed the plant where they make medika mamba and they showed how they make it.  The video shows how medika mamba helps kids.  My sister was given medika mamba while she lived in Haiti.  I told mommy that I think they put something silly in her's!

A sad job is the casket maker.  He wanted to get a new job because he didn't like making them for children.

You can watch this, too!  If you are like my mommy get your tissues ready.

MFK 2014 Video from Chelsea Fiske on Vimeo.

Day Ten Question: What Types of Jobs Do People Have in Haiti?

I researched a lot of different jobs in Haiti.

My most favorite job is the tap tap driver since I want to drive a tap tap when I am big.  Most people who drive a tap tap own their own truck.  My new idea is to paint my tap tap with dinosaurs mixed with a hot pink and lime green rainbow.

I am also interested in the sugar cane farmers.  The workers cut down the sugar cane and donkeys carry it to where it needs to go.  Many workers make less than $2.50 a day.

Some farmers grow rice but there aren't as many as there used to be.

I didn't know how peanuts grow.  Children of the Promise and Second Mile Ministries use a special peanut based food called medika mamba for the babies.

There are also other jobs like teachers and government jobs that we have here.

Day Nine Question: What Will Your Money For This Fundraiser Go Toward?

All of the money that I raise will go toward Children of the Promise in Cap Haitien, Haiti.  They will be able to buy food and more parts for the new baby house they are building (daddy and mommy took all of these pictures and you can see a picture of the baby house below).  Here is a picture of the old entrance gate: [Daddy's note: You can read more about the new gate by clicking here]

Mommy and daddy stayed in this building both times they visited COTP:

This was my brother's classroom:

This is inside the old baby house:  [Daddy's note:  you can read more about remodeling the baby house by clicking here]

Here is a picture of the foundation of the Grace House: [Daddy's note: you can read more about the purpose of this house by clicking here]

Here is a picture of the construction of the baby house:

The Grace House is on the right and the Joy House is on the left:

You can visit the Children of the Promise website by clicking here to learn more!

Thank you!!!!

Day Nine: Fundraising

Here is the amount I have raised so far:

Thank you for supporting me!!!

Zoe

Daddy's Beard: Week One

Here is a picture of daddy's beard after one week.  It looks pretty good so far!

Day Eight: What Is the Weather in Haiti?

My home is cold and windy with snow.  But Haiti is usually hot.  And they don't get any snow.  But people get used to the hot weather and even wear coats and pants when it is 70 degrees.  WOW!!!  The usual temperature is between the upper 60s and the mid 80s but some days are even into the 90s.

The rainy seasons are in April through June and October through November.  During the rainy season there can be really bad floods or hurricanes.  Many people were hurt, missing, or killed during the hurricanes.  Diseases like cholera can spread during the rainy season, too.

It only goes to down to the upper 60s overnight but usually it is warmer.

Day Seven Question: What Animals Live In Haiti?

I am using more pictures from daddy's and mommy's trips to Haiti.

I don't know if this baby goat is a he or a she but it's very cute!  Daddy took this picture at Emmaus Biblical Seminary.  It's not fair.  He also got to hold a baby goat.  People use goats for milk and they sell them when they get big to make money for their families.

This is Boone.  He is a guard dog at the seminary where daddy has taught classes.  

This is the awesomest dog, Frank.  This is the only dog tree in Haiti (just kidding). 

Can you see the gecko on the tree?  This was taken at Children of the Promise.  Well, look closely and you'll see the gecko.

I don't know what happened to this crab's legs but daddy took it's picture!  This crab lives in the Caribbean Sea.

I don't like this frog.  I don't ever want to see him face to face.  Dadddy took this picture at the seminary.

This is a cow.  It's tied to the tree because it is a bull and could hurt somebody.  There are a lot of cows in Haiti.  People have cows to get milk and for food.  Daddy took this picture at Second Mile Ministries.

This beetle is big.  Mommy took this picture at Children of the Promise.  It is an insect.

 There are also tarantulas, chickens, birds, and pigs, but we don't have pictures of them.