Updates as of Dec 2nd

Hi everyone!
So as of yesterday I am officially a substitute teacher for Duval County! Sweet!

I am also moving. That is a long story, suffice it to say that the new digs will save money and give me some more space. It is in Arlington, which is kinda far from some things...but I am optimistic. And she is cool with me living there until the big move next year. That is the best part.

Lastly, I will be submitting all my final paperwork soon for Haiti stuff. Some got pushed to the side for a variety of reasons, but I plan to have it ready to go by the end of the year. Just pray I get it done, and some of it is personally challenging.

That is all for now, thanks for reading!

Subbing at Kelly

I am almost a substitute! I interviewed and fingerprinted today, and have orientation in 2 weeks!
This will be more good experience for me before the big move to Haiti. And it is good money with a flexible schedule. I plan to throw all of that income toward school loans and such, too.

And apparently Kelly is in a hiring freeze, but called me and a few others because they had a "few open spots."
It all went well today :-)
So yeah, that is the latest on that.

Kumon is still GREAT and I love working there. I intend to work at both places, and Kumon is willing to accommodate my subbing a few days a week.

The only sad part is that my weeks will be more full, and I won't have my quiet mornings anymore :-( I will miss those...
But at least I still won't be as crazy as the college busyness. :-)

So I feel official...all because of an email that goes to a lot of people...

I got this email update from the teacher/missionaries in the Cayes school in Haiti. See the third paragraph...
I just laughed in joy at seeing it in print, and the knowledge that this is REALLY HAPPENING! AHHH! :-D



Hi everyone,
Even though hurricanes have passed, the rainy season is still in full force. We have had a week of strong storms with lightning hitting transformers and a person being electrocuted at the bottom of our hill. Continue to pray with us that God helps Haiti endure......
Since the hurricanes,the whole southern peninsula is cut off from the rest of the island. A lake grew at the half way point between us and Port. It cut through the road and It has cut off supplies coming out here to keep the stores supplied, gas stations opened and the City Electric company in fuel for power. The lake is not going down and it is even growing still. A bridge is needed but there is no money for it. IF YOU CAN FIND IT gasoline is going for $12.73 a gallon. That's US money.
There is a new road that has been cut into the mountain to go around the lake but it is too steep it seems for big transport trucks to pass. This road has made it possible though for passengers to pass again from Port to the South.
Thank you all for you prayers and support for Haiti through ESMI. ESMI continues to lead efforts for rebuilding devastated parts of Haiti. It will be a long process. Keep praying............

School is progressing steadily as we are approaching our first quarter grade reporting. It seems students are
Motivated and taking the new extended regular afternoon hours of school in stride. Way to go CLCS!!!!!!!
The continued French program started last spring is proving to be just what the school needed to boost motivation level for all. French, the second official language of Haiti, now being part of the curriculum for all our students, is raising their confidence level, while gaining an overall education in English. Bon Dieu te konnen..........( The Lord knew..)

On the note of needing a new teacher for K-4, Geri Bass, is preparing to come for the 2009-2010 school year.Thank you Lord for working in the hearts of many to raise up teachers which are so needed everywhere. Geri is from Florida, coming to Haiti as a missionary teacher with World Team. Please pray for her as she presents her calling to teach at CLCS to many potential partners in ministry. To God be the Glory................

For the first time since we came to Haiti, all three of our kids are planning to come to spend Christmas with us.
This will be such a blessing. We have been praying and working toward this point for some time. Pray with and for our kids, Crystal, Christie, and John as they plan this trip to our beautiful island.

May the Lord bless you and keep you till next time,
Have a great Sunday.

Tom & Karen Ferris

Some things speeding up, some things slowing down...

So if you attend CrossRoad, you have probably heard by now that the October trip has been postponed until next year (maybe the spring). If you have not heard, that is the case. So yeah...
I am not sure if, at that point, I will accompany them or not, because....
I have been in some good conversations in the last few weeks, and it looks like everything is falling into place, especially with certification, so that I will be able to be in Haiti by fall (August) of next year, 2009. I am EXCITED!!!!! So...that is the latest. Stay tuned...and email me if you have questions.

In case you wanted to know just how bad it got in Haiti...

...during the storms, check this out. Yikes!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yC4yZCcCrhE