Road Update

After posting my last story about "Between here and There", I spoke with Actionnel to see if he had any new information about the upcoming construction. He said it was a missions team with the U.N. that he met and spoke with. Their last report to him was to let him know that they have decided that the road conditions are so bad (Yes, that was the reason for needing it fixed) that they do not feel they can get their equipment in here to fix it. Bottom line, they have no further plans for improving the road. I was very sad to hear that and those who have already heard the news are very disappointed.
If there is anyone out there who would love to take on the challenge and show the U.N. that miracles can happen, we welcome your support and your help.Keep the prayers going .............................. Amen.

Between Here.../\..../\../\..and.../\./\..../\.../\...There!

The small upside down "V's' and the in-between dots are suppose to represent the humps and dips in the approximate twenty miles of road to Gonaives. (I am sort of limited with illustrations on the keyboard). I just recently took my second trip into the city since my arrival in April and was amazed to see that in the short time I have been here, the road conditions have managed to become increasingly worse.
I rode into town on the back of a motorcycle which was quite pleasant, although a little rough, and made the trip back in a tap-tap (Haitian taxi) which was much, much worse. Even for the physically fit, (not me, of course), it can be a painful ride. Old injuries in my neck and back were feeling the impact of every shift, bump and sudden dip. I was exhausted by the time I arrived back home. Although I had the honor of riding inside the truck on the passenger side, I kept one hand on the door frame to steady myself or hang on so I would not end up in the driver's lap. I was very surprised to see that my hand and arm were the thickly covered in road dust. I can only imagine what the people in the back looked like when they got home. Going to Gonaives on the motorcycle took about 35 minutes and coming back took more than an hour. There really are some terrible deep holes that a small pick-up truck cannot maneuver around with a bed loaded down with people and supplies. Some holes are so wide and deep, that even after a number of days without rain, the water is still standing and full of green slime and mosquitoes. A health hazard as well. For the areas where the water does recede, there are multiple deep muddy ruts where many have attempted different ways to cross to avoid becoming stuck. In the cases where the driver's attempts have failed, the Haitians are familiar enough with the routine of having to jump out of the vehicle to lighten the load and assist in the rescue. It's all part of the journey and they are happy to have a way to get there.
Although I had the camera with me and took a few shots, the vehicle was not steady enough to take a clear enough picture to publish. Therefore, they have been deleted. The best way to capture the experience would be to videotape the actual ride. However, some viewers would probably experience virtual motion sickness. It really is sad to know that this is the only way in or out of Bayonnais and it is very hard on people, animals, and the many vehicles that travel on this road, but they do it every single day.
On the trip to Gonaives, I saw some men and women wearing T-Shirts that said USAids and they were working on digging ditches for the drip irrigation system along both sides of the road. Other than that, I did not see any other construction taking place.
I know that Actionnel met with some people in Port Au Prince a couple of weeks ago to discuss the road conditions between here and Gonaives and for the completion of the bridge. He said they made a trip out here to see for themselves and have agreed to start working on it. However, I have not seen anything yet. I also know that the Engineers Without Borders are still actively involved with Bayonnais and that plans are in the works to make some improvements very soon. It will be a blessing to all when the changes take place. Getting from Point A to Point B won't be such a chore and progress can happen much faster in this community. Bringing in supplies for home improvements, adding on to a church or school building, or perhaps even building a small store, will be so much more feasible.

Of course, during the improvements, they will have to contend with delays due to the construction equipment and a road that is mostly one lane. You know, the morning and evening traffic...a.k.a. rush hour. It is a sacrifice that I'm sure all are willing to make. They are excited about the possibility of having an actual paved road to walk, ride and drive on. It will take some getting used to for the locals and the driver/pedestrian rules will need to change. I can imagine that the donkeys and other animals will be a little confused as well.
I pray that God sends help soon and that the road completion will happen during my time here. I would love to be a witness to it and to share the joy on my Blog. For all you prayer warriors out there, please add this to your list of things to pray for. It is only one of many much-needed prayers to be answered but it will be the key to "paving the way" to finding the answers. God Bless!

School is Out....Summer Break is Here!

Just like most kids anywhere in the world, my kids are so happy to be out of school. It is apparent in their faces and in the noise level in the mornings. The kids are sleeping in later (until 6:00 a.m. instead of 5:30) and they are more cheerful and friendly. It's funny but I can usually find them in the living room practicing the spelling of their names in their handwriting tablets or writing some vocabulary words on the dry erase board - in English. The younger ones go for the books or building blocks.

This past week and a half, I have introduced a few more "things" for the children to play with and learn about. They are so happy and excited to have new and interesting activities. The first big hit was the construction set called the ZomeTool Structural set that someone donated in our last shipment. A big thank you to the person that sent it. It has become the favorite and is a great way for them to do something calm and relaxing. It has also been helpful with teaching them about geometric shapes. Three of my boys now say they want to be Engineers or Architects. Here are some examples of their creative works:

From left to right: Marc Antoine, Aquel, Fenelson, and Ismalene.

Jeemy-Ska and his new "chapo" hat. Note: The kids were also very excited when I added my table and lamp to the living room. They had never seen a lamp before.

Smith (Jeemy-Ska's big brother) designs his own trombone.

Having finally located my jar of marbles, I was so happy to give them to the kids. I thought they were going to squeeze me to death. This is one game that they know very well and were thrilled to have so many great marbles to play with. Even the "Big" kids (adults) were just as excited and one could not resist participating in the first match.

Trying to decide which amazing marbles to pick.

Getting set up for the game.

Fenelson takes aim on his target.

Evaniel, the "Big" kid and husband of our cook Marie-Rose, takes his shot.

Aquel, watch out for the ricochet!

Then there was Tether-Ball. I have not seen one since elementary school. We first had to erect our "pole" (small tree) into the ground with rocks, dirt and water. We secured the rope and ball to the pole and then waited for the pole to set. (Not very long). Teaching them to play was just as comical as watching them. Everyone had a blast. It has been a daily activity as well.

Christmas in June? Jeemy-Ska seems to think so. Can you tell he likes hats?

Smith puts some height and speed on the ball. Making the winning point.

I should add that the girls also participated in the games but not while the camera was available. There is still so much more for them to learn and experience but I am pacing myself and allowing them some time to enjoy one thing before going to the next. The kids are so happy to have such wonderful things to do for their long hot summer days. Thanks to everyone who brought them some joy! God Bless you for your gifts and your thoughtfulness.

Then, of course, there's the down side...

Note to my dear Readers: Today is Tuesday, the 19th of June and I am presently in Gonaives at the Internet Office. It seems that the box that connects the cables for the Internet service at OFCB is in need of repair. It has been out of commission since last Friday and hopefully will be restored by tomorrow. Until then, I hope I haven't caused concern for anyone and that this posting will do for today. It is a long letter so please get comfortable. I have had plenty of time to write the past few days. I will have more fun pictures to share with you the next time. Need to get them organized. As always, thank you for your interest and your prayers. My Love to All!

Today, on the 18th of June, marks the end of the second month of my living in Haiti. I have already seen and experienced quite a bit but still have so much more to learn about and explore. Some things I have found fascinating and others leave me shaking my head in confusion. Of course, everybody would love to have a glorious time no matter where they are or what they do but the truth is, life is not designed that way. There are some very real issues that can be upsetting and change the way you think or feel. I heard a saying in my twenties that I have always liked: Life is what’s so, but it’s also, so what! The whole key is attitude and how you view life.
This brings us to the next topic: Stress. It seems that the human body finds a way to deal with stress in any way that it can and it usually results in an illness of some sort. Sometimes it can take up to a year before an illness or an accident occurs because of stress. My body decided it was time to display the results of all the stress I have been through in the past few months. What I thought was a simple heat rash seems to have manifested into something a little more annoying and potentially serious. My previous personal experience tells me that I now have a real case of Shingles. I experienced it in my thirties but only on the tops of both of my thighs. My doctor explained that Shingles are simply ruptured nerve endings, which can happen when one is under constant stress. Once you have had it, you can be susceptible to having it again. Looking back over the past few weeks, I can now understand and recognize the strange tingling and random numbness I was feeling in my arms and legs prior to the physical outbreak. Currently, the only part of my body that has not been affected yet is my face and the bottom of my hands and feet. I have known people who had it in their eyes and inside their mouth. I am hoping that it won’t go that far. Of course, the heat only aggravates it and seems to stimulate the skin eruptions. Fortunately, I have a ten-day supply of Amoxicillin that was prescribed for me in April after some dental work, but I kept it “just in case”, which I have decided is now! I am hoping that this will help to minimize (too late) the severity of the rash. Aveeno, Benadryl Gel, and Calamine have not been effective. (If anyone has any suggestions or advice, I am open to them). The most difficult part of having Shingles is that it is painful to have anything touching your skin. To give you an idea of what it feels like, I can only compare it to the sensation of how your skin feels when it is covered in fiberglass. It is the very same sensation, only constant. There is also the frustration of resisting the urge to scratch when every part of you has an itch. Scratching is very painful and disturbs the clear tiny blisters that tend to multiply. The ice cold showers offer relief but only while I am in it. If I were an African-American, I would gladly shed my clothes, submerge myself in the cool river, and blend in for the day. Unfortunately, that is not the case.
For my next not- so- good-news, I am still uncertain as to how I should feel about this. I was very upset and angry at first but now I guess I am just somewhat numb. Last week while I was working at OFCB, someone, or several some ones, took it upon themselves to use my bicycle for their own use. I noticed a couple of times that my bike had been moved and the gears were changed. When I came to work last Friday, I asked one of the staff members where I could purchase a lock for my bike. He offered to get one in Gonaives for me over the weekend. Later in the afternoon, I had that “feeling”. I went to check on my bike and saw that it had been moved. I went downstairs to move it back to the place where it was parked. That is when I discovered that the right hand gear shifter was broken. The entire mechanism was separated from the round plastic housing on the handle bar and the cable had been stretched out. Upon further inspection, I noticed that the front reflector was missing and the hardware that held it was twisted and bent to the side. I noticed the mud on it and on the brake handle. There were also a couple of dark patches of rubber on the rear tire where the tread used to be. It became obvious that the bike had been wrecked as well. Now I was seething with anger. I had so many thoughts rushing through my mind. How can someone just take my bike without my permission? How can people just damage someone’s property and put it back without saying a word to the owner? What makes them think that they are entitled to use my bike? What gives them the right to do such a thing? I felt like I did when my apartment had been broken into and my possessions were stolen. So violated! It shattered my trust. Then there was the other side….Well, I knew it was a problem. I saw that the bike had been moved before, that’s why I mentioned the lock. It’s too late to worry about it now! Then the thoughts went back and forth. It’s only a bike. Yeah, but it’s MY bike! I was really enjoying the times I was riding it. Well… I kept saying I was giving everything away. Yeah, but in GOOD condition… not damaged! Well, I did make the decision to not be attached to my possessions. Maybe God was saying, “Okay, let’s see if you are serious. I’ll make it easier for you”. Suddenly I noticed that I was holding my breath so I let out a deep sigh and just shook my head. It’s just stuff! Outwardly, I appeared very calm so no one seemed too concerned. When I showed the damage to a couple of people, they just shrugged their shoulders and smiled. Others thought it was very amusing. I heard my name along with Creole chatter, giggles and laughter, more than I care to count. I had a real sense of being a stranger in a strange land. I finally found Actionnel, who found the guilty party (a ninth grade student), and then confronted him. They spoke for several minutes and then the student walked away. He did not even attempt to apologize to me. The only apologies I received were from Actionnel and the brother of the amateur bicycle rider. Actionnel said he would take the bike to Gonaives to see if he could have it repaired. I looked at my bike thinking that it would never again be the same. I doubted that they could find the right parts to fix it if they could fix it at all. (Hey Bubba, all we need is wire and some duck tape….an inside Redneck joke). I told Actionnel that if it was not possible to repair it, I would be willing accept his Toyota truck as a replacement. He had a very good laugh over that statement. So did I. Ah yes, another lovely day in Haiti. The anger is gone but I am still a little sad. I know when I leave here, the bike will remain in Haiti along with the rest of my possessions, so this is just part of the “letting go” process.
It is unfortunate that this had to happen but it happens everywhere. I cannot judge a country or it’s people by the behavior of one. However, in the short time I have been here, I have observed some attitudes and behaviors that are labeled by the Haitians themselves as “the Haitian way”. A lack of apologizing is one of them. I actually know someone here who is in the habit of saying, “I did that, but it’s not my fault!” In this small community of Bayonnais, there seems to be a general lack of respect for personal possessions because most of what they have is not worth having. They are not accustomed to “taking care” of something valuable. They are familiar with the fact that Americans are usually the ones who bring “the good stuff” from the U.S. and some feel that they are entitled to it. Whatever they desire to have, they expect you to give. Quite a few are under the assumption that because I am from America, I must be rich. I have had to use caution in my dealings with some of the local residents. I have already been confronted by a few who have demanded that I give them money or something I possess and they are not shy about being aggressive. They do not have a problem with “getting in my face” or grabbing my arm or the object that they want. I just have to stand firm and let them know with my body language, facial expressions, and in some cases, their own language, that they will not get what they are asking for. Again, it happens everywhere. It is particularly disheartening when faced with the reality of the situation. I just need to ignore the few bad seeds and keep my eyes on God and my purpose for being here.
Now I would like to give you the down side of actually living here. I have been asked more than once, “How do you like living in Haiti? What’s it like?”Well…if I don’t pay any attention to the heat, the dust, the constant rains, the mud, the mosquitoes, the greasy food, the hot beverages, the dripping perspiration, the body odors, the other odors, the variety of continuous noises (made by animals and humans) and the lack of privacy, it’s not bad at all. I have yet to meet another American who knows what it is like to “live” here in Haiti and call it home, but I would love to have the opportunity. The ones I have met were just “visiting” for a short time and were treated as visitors. They also had electricity 24-7 (when it was working) and fans! Oh, the luxury!
The fact that we are living as a family in a home with young children, makes my situation a little different. I am playing the roll of mother, father, teacher, friend, and disciplinarian. I am using my skills and experiences as a homemaker, educator, spiritual guide, nurse, nutritionist, carpenter, and mechanic. I am limited with the tools and supplies that I currently have for my use. I have eleven children that both love and resent my presence. I have staff members that feel the same way. It is the desire of the founders of MMM for me to teach everyone who lives here or is involved here how to speak English. They also want me to teach them proper etiquette, personal hygiene, care of self and their environment. Again, when you are dealing with a group of people who have never seen a real toilet, much less used one, or a house with a real floor, separate rooms, actual beds, furniture and electricity, it’s hard for them to understand what or how they are suppose to care for it. They love that I am there to show them the way but they resent when I have to correct them or confront them. They love the attention and devotion but resent the discipline and the fact that things need to be done daily and sometimes according to schedule. We have fun but we also have our differences just as any family does. The children are actually more accepting and easier to deal with than the adults that are set in their ways. It is very common. You know, old dogs, new tricks. It has been a challenge and sometimes very frustrating. Especially when dealing with the same important issues repeatedly. I hear myself saying, “I did not come here for this!” when in fact, I did. I just don’t like what goes along with it. I have had to change the way I approach things. I have had to exercise more patience for the fact that they are not aware of many concepts and never had to be. Some examples would be to use the eating utensils and not their hands to eat. The way to hold a knife and fork and how to cut the meat (not very common, but it happened once). Only a small amount of liquid soap (not the entire bottle) is needed to take a bath. The same goes for the toothpaste, shampoo, lotion, laundry soap, dish washing liquid and household cleansers. The cardboard dustpan (that I introduced because they used their hands to gather the trash and dust) does not hold up in water. The trash goes in the trashcan, not on the ground just outside the door. The dishtowel is for drying “clean” dishes only. The potholders are not for grabbing hot coals of charcoal to return to the stove. Because the radio knob goes up to level 10 does not mean you have to set it there. It is not okay to spit inside the house or cough in someone’s face. The fact that the boxers look like shorts does not make them shorts. The book is not for squashing spiders. Words like “please, excuse me, thank you, and I’m sorry” need to be a part of your everyday vocabulary. I am happy to say that I am starting to see results among the children with the concept of manners.
Because I am dealing with a wide range of ages and personalities, my job is continuous and I am constantly moving from one situation to the next and from one person to another. Sometimes several will have a need that requires my immediate attention and my name is constantly called. I have exhausted myself on occasion. Mishaps or disagreements tend to happen when I am in another room. (Gee, I wonder why?) On the days that I am at OFCB, I have to remind myself to take the attitude of “So what!” My absence gives everyone a break and allows him or her to discipline themselves or each other. It allows me the time to regroup and catch my second wind for when I return. It is a slow process, but as a teacher, I am well aware of the stages of the process and the joy of the positive results. Therefore, at the end of the day, when I am saying goodnight to eleven precious souls or kissing the forehead of a five-year-old that is wrapped in my arms, sleeping in my lap, it makes it all worth it. I love being here. I thank God for this moment in time.
Great News!!!
My bike has been repaired and was returned to me this afternoon. The original parts are still there and all looks very well. Yippee! Thank you, Actionnel, for your help in getting it done so quickly.

Blogger Blackout or so I thought....

Howdy friends and family. This past Monday, I spent several hours getting my story together and ready to post. Right about the time I was about to save my work and do my final editing, we lost our internet connection. I left here thinking that I would have to wait until Wednesday to complete my work. When I checked the blog this morning I was surprised to see that it had been posted. It was unfinished, so if you happened to read it in the past two days, please take the time to read it again, as I have made some changes and additions. I am still working on my other stories but do not have all the necessary information as of yet.

Below are a few pictures I'd like to share with you . Enjoy and God Bless!

I have always had a fascination with trees and "Mapou" is one that impresses me. Here are a couple of shots of the interesting branches. The bark of the tree resembles the skin of an elephant.

When Jim Smith of the First Baptist Church Huntersville saw these branches, he commented that he would love to tie a swing to the tree. I said it would need to be a porch swing. How fun would that be?
Wash day at the river. Bathtime for some. The clothes on the ground are drying as well as the ones scattered on the bushes across the river.

A typical food storage hut. The tin funnels are designed to keep small animals from climbing up the posts.

A mother hen finds a safe place to hatch her unborn chicks.

My love and blessings to all. Please keep us in your prayers.

A Wonderful Weekend

Last week I really struggled to come up with topics to write about on the blog and this week I have four stories to share but did not know which one to start with. I finally decided to tell you about this past weekend because I had such a wonderful time and was very happy to have American visitors.

A group of five people came in last Wednesday from North Carolina and they were on a Missions trip for the First Baptist Church Huntersville - FBCH. There was a married couple and three other men traveling together.

Cheerfully posing in front of "Mapou", one of the oldest and largest trees in Haiti. You can guesstimate the width of the trunk by comparing it to the people in front. Does not measure up to a Redwood tree but still as interesting. (From left to right) David Mashburn and his lovely wife Rita, Robert Wallace, Scott Phillips, and Jim Smith.

It is my understanding that Actionnel was in North Carolina about twelve years ago and went to visit FBCH to speak at the church and talk about Haiti and his vision for OFCB. The church was very interested in helping and being a part of a growing ministry so they began raising funds to help build the church. Since that time, they have been financially and spiritually supportive for the past twelve years. David and his wife, Rita met Actionnel during his visit but had not seen him for all these years. This was the first visit for everyone that arrived here in Haiti. Everyone expressed how much more of an impact it was to physically be here and see things first hand. It was so much more real for them to meet the children and take in all the sights of Haiti.

Actionnel invited me to have dinner and spend the night on Friday at the OFCB compound so I could meet the folks and learn about their mission here. I was so happy to accept. They were all very kind and interesting to talk to. We had a delicious dinner and then took a short walk back behind the OFCB compound. We were actually visiting the better neighborhoods of Bayonnais. We walked up the path leading to the river, we stopped by the house where Actionnel was born and his parents still live, and then back around to OFCB. Took a few pictures, but not as many as I wanted to because it was getting dark.

The Reverend Actionnel Fleurisma - my dear friend and brother in Christ. A man with a huge vision for the people of Haiti and a loving heart to match.

Actionnel's mother and the house where Actionnel was born about 43 years ago. Originally it was a two-room mud hut and had a thatched roof similar to the one that was remodeled in my last posting. Over the years the house was expanded and upgraded to be more comfortable. Actionnel was the second born of eleven children but not all of his siblings are alive. Nearly half of them have died. The house in front of the home (on stilts) is where they store their food to keep them safe from animals and other creatures.

We headed back to OFCB and everyone settled in for the night. I found it incredible but not surprising that I had a hard time sleeping. I was sharing a room with Actionnel's newly adopted 18 yr.old daughter,Marie-Ange, sleeping on a comfortable bunk bed with two oscillating fans and could not fall asleep until around two in the morning. The next morning when Actionnel asked why I did not sleep well, I told him it was because it was too quiet. Ha! I could not hear a thing except the hum of the fan. (Made up for it with a one hour afternoon nap).

After breakfast, Rita started our day off right with a morning devotional. It gave us much to think about and plenty to be grateful for. My thanks again to Rita.

The group wanted to go for a walk and explore so I invited them to walk down to the orphanage and meet the kids. When we arrived, I found it strange that I could not see my kids anywhere. When we walked into the house, there they were, all nicely dressed and seated in the living room, ready to greet the guests. I was so very proud of them. They all even made their own beds. It was great!

Because it was Saturday morning, the English class was in session with David taking the class alone in my absence. The group went to observe and take some pictures. They met and talked with some of the students as well.

Note to Robert: The kids are still talking about the "animals in your mouth". Ha! Note to Readers: Robert did several impressions of different animals, making the sounds that they make, and had the children both amazed and laughing.

We headed back to OFCB and had a nice lunch. Well, it was nice for some of us. David Mashburn did not enjoy it as much. Seems they were serving the goats that the group went to purchase at the market the day after they arrived. David made the mistake of naming his goat, George, and then made a further mistake by witnessing the goats being prepared for the meal. Robert took some graphic pictures but it did not deter him from his meal. David sort of lost his appetite. I chose not to be a witness so my lunch was very tasty. Everyone rested for a while and then each just did their own thing until it was time for the evening events.

After battling the path up the side of the mountain on an early morning hike to the Fort of Bayonnais and back (about four hours round trip) , taking a walk to Modene Murphy and back (another hour and a half), Scott lays down for a much needed power-rest.

Actionnel had planned a meeting and a dinner to honor the teachers and the cooks for all their hard work and dedication throughout the school year. I really enjoyed what he had to say to them and about them. I was moved to tears at one point when he was talking about the sacrifices that they all made and the dedication they had for the ministry. It was very moving. As a lovely gesture, he had the teachers serve the cooks for a change. We had a great dinner, a wonderful time visiting each other and playing with the children. I was sad to have to leave and head back to my house but I also missed my kids very much. It was good to be home.

David, Robert and Jim shaking hands with my happy children at Modene Murphy Ministries.

David participates in the English class and points out the importance of capitalizing the name of the country. He also helped with pronunciations during the lesson.

Actionnel explaining the purpose for the evening. Robert is seated next to Wilson, the principal of OFCB.

Everyone joins in to sing Amazing Grace in their own language.
A beautiful presentation for the banquet.

After a long day of working on the Sponsorship program with Jim (far left) and Robert (in yellow shirt), Mislet (in blue shirt) is ready for a feast. Actionnel helps with handing out plates. Mislet will be a big part of my life this summer as my Creole teacher and also to help me set up a sponsorship program for the Modene Murphy Ministries. It will be a joy to work with him.
Rita and some of her new friends.
Scott is happily surrounded by all the excited children.
A couple of poses before I had to leave. David smiles from behind with his Haitian sunburned cheeks.
So many to love and not enough arms to hug them all.

I was home and in bed by 9:00 p.m. on Saturday evening and I missed the group already. They left the next day and stopped by the house on their way out just long enough to drop off some bottled water for me and to say a quick goodbye. I was very happy to meet them and hope that we can always stay in touch. God Bless!

Count Your Blessings....

We have some neighbors across the road who decided it was time to do something about their roof after contending with all the recent rainstorms we've had in the past few weeks. The man said that during and after the rain, there is not one dry spot in the house to lay down on. I asked for their permission to take a few photos of the before and after and they were happy to allow me to do so. They were also fascinated to see themselves in the picture review of the camera.

It is quite humbling to see how some people really live here in Haiti and how they do their best to make the most of it.

This is the house located next to the one that is being upgraded. It has the same type of thatched roof that was removed from the home. (No, that is not poor photography on my part; the house really is leaning that way).

This is the house just after all the roof had been pulled off. The smoke in the back is from the fire of the discarded material. The man in the white hat is using a machete to trim the wood down to the right size to make the rafters.

Checking the results of his work and stopping long enough to pose for the photo.

One side on and one to go.

Making great progress on Day Two of construction.

(Front of Home) Putting the finishing touches on the roof. If you cannot see the furniture inside, it is because they do not have any, except for the one folding wood chair in the room on the left.

(Back of Home) Notice how the top of the walls are crumbling all around the base of the roof.

The family members were very happy to have the new roof and it was completed in time to receive the next round of severe rain. The roof survived the high winds and they slept in the comfort (?) of their dry home. It will be a while before they can raise the funds to upgrade the roofs on both the house next door and the one behind them. They also have a mud hut that is about to collapse. I am not sure if someone lives there or if it is where they store their food. There are so many homes in our area that are very sad to see. Some of them are just tin walls made from scrap with palm leaves for their roof. Some of these homes are as small as a single bedroom in an average American home and they house as many as six to eight people. Most of them have dirt floors. I wish I could help them and I pray that God has a bigger plan.

My thanks go out to the many people who have a place in their heart for Haiti and do what they can to contribute or get involved to make it a better place to be. Love to all.