Overflow: Anestacia's Preschool Graduation

Saturday, August 2, 2014

Anestacia's Preschool Graduation

I have known Anestacia for years... I first met her in the baby orphanage back in 2011. She was born with a cleft lip and cleft palate. She had eating & swallowing difficulties secondary to her condition thus having a hard time gaining weight & maintaining nutrition. When the baby orphanage was moved to the Mole Campus Anestacia moved into the Miriam Home until she was able to get the cleft palate and cleft lip surgery she needed.

If you have ever met Anestacia you know that she is a happy...joyful...strong willed...independent...playful...too cute & she knows it girl! Fast-forward 3 years & she has had 2 surgeries to correct her palate & lip...she loves to eat & is very healthy. She no longer lives at the Miriam Home but with a Haitian Family. She attended the nutrition programs preschool at the mission & loved it.

At the end of June Anestacia had her preschool graduation. I was so thankful to go & finally experience a preschool graduation that so many have talked about (It being such a BIG event). In Haiti it is a HUGE deal...If you have a daughter you have to get her a wig...a fancy dress...stockings...shoes...etc. and if a boy a suit. I don't really understand this part of the culture...Why spend all this $ for 1 outfit and 1 day instead of feeding your family...All these families were in the nutrition program because they could not afford to feed their child/children. On the other hand it is a BIG deal their children are in school & graduating & other schools in Haiti make just as big of a deal...so they want the same. It is not just preschool graduation that does not make since to me but on a weekly basis look at church...people will not go to church if they do not have a "nice enough" outfit but many can't afford it. Or take marriage for example if you are not officially married (which costs $) you can't participate in a lot of things at the church or in the community. Sorry...sidetracked. Back to Anestacia's preschool graduation... Graduation was on a Sunday afternoon around 4:00. Her older sister brought her to the Miriam Center to get dressed & so all the weekend mom's (staff) could see her. While we waited we took lots of pictures :-)

Anestacia with her pretty dress...wig and EXCITED for graduation

Anestacia with her older sister

Stephanie & Anestacia

Me & Anestacia

Me & Anestacia's Sister

The Miriam Center Nurse, Anestacia, & her sister

Anestacia's Sister

Ti-Carlos wanted in on the action

Mary-Julie & Anestacia's sister

Ti-Carlos playing with the nurse while waiting for graduation to start.
He was rocking it following directions & copying & talking! So proud of him!

I got my hair done while we waited...

Love these weekend mom's so much!!!

Anestacia with her graduation gown on

I do not have any pictures from the actual ceremony as the church was packed & I sat in the back. It was a very nice church service followed by each child receiving a diploma and a bookbag full of goodies from Ashley Wingate (the missionary who started the preschool & has dedicated the last 2 years of her life to it). It is amazing to see the work that Ashley has done on behalf of the preschool. She has made it Haitian run by educating the natives to run the preschool & setting up the curriculum for them. The school is so different than any other I have seen in Haiti as it takes a hands on approach to learning (verses rote memory/repetition). She has also been working with a group of about 14 of the mothers from the first year class pouring into them spiritually, emotionally and teaching them a trade of sewing & helping them make a living. Just had to brag on Ashley for a second. After the service I took lots more photos. Each child had a Mar and a Par (I don't know if I spelled that right...but basically a godmother & godfather.