Valentine's Day and more ...

After the PA team left, a bunch of the staff decided to take a hike down the road a little bit to watch the sunset. It was a beautiful evening ...


With good friends ...


And good music! Philipson brought along his guitar because we were planning to have a time of worship along the water's edge. But as soon as we arrived, all the white faces in our group drew the attention of the neighbors. So we soon had an audience =)


And with Philipson's dynamic worship leading, the audience didn't take long to warm up and join in with the singing...


... and dancing! And let me tell you, it is NOT easy trying to dance on rocks like this ;)


Some of the children who hung out with us for the evening.


This group of 'ti moun' (children) made a new friend - the cool 'blan' in sunglasses =)


And this was the sunset. Wow ... we decided after that evening that we need to get out more often to enjoy this view. It was my first time out during the entire 6 months I've been here! So tragic ...


Ok, those pictures were part of the 'and more..." This was taken during our Valentine's Day party with the Liberty Academy students. We played a balloon relay with them, as well as a spoon relay where they had to keep 10 red cinnamon hearts from falling onto the dirty arena floor. But what we forgot to tell them was that they shouldn't try eating the hearts after they fell ... ;) The kids had a great time though, and enjoyed the chance to hang out with the whole school in a setting other than chapel.


Miss Lindsay's class celebrating ... all of our students picked names and exchanged gifts with each other. Teachers were included. I got the most elaborate home-made card from Lillyana Gephart. She told me she spent 2 hours making it! I felt the love ... =)


And THIS ... Stu's gift to me, straight from an artisan at the Club Indigo beach resort in Montrouis. I had been eyeing it before Christmas, but didn't think I could or should buy it at the time. But I kept going on and on about it (according to Lindsay...), so after consulting with her over email, Stu decided this was IT =) And it made my day!


This was where I found it, hidden away in my bedroom. Beautiful, eh?


I spent my day hearing bits and pieces from Stu's adventures back in Lancaster County, where he was on an all-day scavenger hunt I had planned for him. I couldn't have pulled it off without my mom and dad, who prepared and strategically placed all my gifts, letters, and clues, OR without the PA team, who delivered some of the necessary parts of the plan when the traveled home the week before.

By the end of the day, I was ready to enjoy some homemade pizza =) Thanks, Lindsay!


I also enjoyed playing some computer games with the kids afterwards ... good way to wind down a good day.


Random shot of a dragonfly on a georgeous pink blossom.


Another random shot of Mike, doing a front flip into the swimming pool.


Hiking to Amani beach ... Marc, Esther, and Clayton.


It was great hike with amazing views the whole way ...


And the walking paid off! We paid a total of $1.75 US to be at this resort. There was no food included, but it's a far cry cheaper than Club Indigo, who have upped their prices to $40 US in the last several months. Don't think I'll be going there any time soon!