Random Thoughts....

Hello everyone. This past week has been rather challenging and I have watched my rash fluctuate in severity in keeping with my levels of stress and the rising temperatures. Today it seems to have calmed down a bit and is not as noticeable to me or others.
We have had more problems with our generator thus leaving us literally in the dark for five of the past seven days. First it was the spark plug which was at the end of its use. Lucner cleaned it up and it worked for a night. We spent another evening struggling with the kerosene lamps (two of them) which both have missing glass covers due to mishaps. One by a dancing child (it was not lit at the time) and the other by an accidental adult (also not lit at the time). But, in the time of need, the lamps failed to stay lit during the strong winds of the evening. So, we just settled for a partial moonlight while we passed the time on the front porch contending with the microscopic biting mosquitoes. I brought out my boom box and let the kids listen to a sermon on the Christian Radio station. They listened along with our watchman and sang the hymns when they knew the words. I was in the dark in more ways than one. No interpreters on this night.
I was grateful for 8:00 p.m. which is bedtime for the little ones. The routine goes as follows: Escort five little ones to the bathroom by flashlight so they can brush their teeth and use the facilities one at a time before retiring. Then its off to the girls room so they can change into night clothes (they don't have pajamas so they find the most comfortable shirts or just sleep in their underwear). I tuck them in, give them hugs and kisses, and move on to prepare Jeemy-Ska for the same. By the time all of this is done an hour has passed and its time to say goodnight to the older kids. Thank God they can manage themselves for the most part.
The next night the watchman tried the generator and the pull starter decided to stick. It would not come out more than an inch. Another night in the dark. We had a mechanic come out and he worked on it. He told us that the gas was leaking into the oil and the generator needed more work. He fixed the pull starter and we had lights for a couple of hours until the gas ran out. The next night we repeated the same dark scene and will continue to do so until it is fixed or replaced. Although we were without lights again last evening, I was grateful for a beautiful full moon. We could see the shadows of the mountains and the various campfires in the hills. It was a peaceful sight.
I feel like a true Haitian now with the exception of the language barrier. However, I am getting better with my Creole. Last night I managed to say two complete sentences to the watchman and had to laugh when he looked at me in surprise. I laughed even more when he responded with a paragraph of words expecting me to understand. The kids thought it was funny as well and teased him about it. He said, "Well, she spoke perfect Creole, I thought she could understand me!"
The other downside of not having lights is the fact that I cannot read or do any of my sewing. I was in the process of making backpacks by hand for the kids and had finished two of them. I still have nine more to go. After completing the two and looking at the calendar,(only two weeks before I leave), I thought it would be wise to get my sewing machine out and finish the others. Not possible at this point, so I will have to be more creative and work faster in the daylight.
Speaking of reading, I finished my book, Fried Green Tomatoes, before the blackout. I managed to read it over a period of six days when I had the time or needed a break. The author, Fannie Flagg, turned out to be the woman I was thinking of. In the back of the book was her picture and a write up about who she was. I did not know that she was a writer and producer for television. She is definitely a great writer.
As for the story, I got so much out of the book that it was hard to determine what the message was. It was definitely a page turner and I hated to part with it when I had to put it down for whatever reason. Ms. Flagg paints a wonderful picture of what life was like during the depression and her humor is so clever and uplifting. By the end of the book, I was wishing that I actually knew these characters. She even included some great southern recipes in the back of her book. I'll have to try them when I get back home to Texas. Yum!
What I mostly came away with was to make the most of every day and live it as if it were your last. It's an old cliche but it finally hit home. I also recognized the value of friends and family and making memories as you go. Because, when it comes near time to go, (if we are fortunate enough to live so long), memories are all you have. How sad would it be to look back on our lives and have nothing to show for our existence? To have lived and not served a purpose for God and demostrated His love in all that we do. Our hope is to be able to remember.
I would like to take this moment to share another blogsite with you. It was sent to me by the couple who are planning to adopt our twins and I found it to be very informative for those who are interested in adoption. I wrote to the author, Angela, and she said she was happy to share her link as long as the readers know that she is simply a loving Mom sharing her personal experiences. This site is called: http://www.haitiadoptionhelp.blogspot.com/ and from there you can click on to her other more personal site http://www.makefunofyourday.blogspot.com/ and a third website http://www.livesayhaiti.blogspot.com/ . The Make Fun Of Your Day site is Angela's personal story about her family and her adopted Haitian family and is beautifully written. The Livesay site is a group on a missions trip and covers a lot of the political and daily challenges of living in Haiti. There is a great article about an interview with a Voodoo priest that I found most interesting as well as some insight to the Haitian President. Worth a look when you have time.
As a final thought, I would like to share what I have mostly been focusing on this past week. I have read for the second time since my arrival the book called "It's Not About Me" by Max Lucado. I am sure that I will continue to read it until it becomes an active part of me. The main idea of this book is to acknowledge the fact that we are here to be a reflection of our loving God. Being a mere human, this is no easy task for me. I tend to get irritated with the little things I cannot control (such as the generator) and lose site of the joys that are right in front of me. It is during these times of distraction that I have to turn and talk to my friend who has been here with me since the beginning. His name is Jesus.

On a Mission for a Visa

It was a strange trip to say the least but we did accomplish our goal. I had hoped that this trip would go as smoothly as the last but we kept encountering all kinds of strange setbacks. I was trying to stay focused on keeping the positive energy flowing but Actionnel kept saying, "This is not a good sign". I am not sure if I gave up on my focus, if his energy was stronger than mine, or if we were just out of sync with the universe. It was a challenge for everyone. I am sorry to report that my Shingles or my "rash" has returned. It is only on my arms and legs so far. I am still not sure what the problem is but I do know that this is not fun.

No sooner than we left Bayonnais and got out on the main road, we came upon an accident that had happened a few minutes before. The first thing I saw was large crowd milling in the street. I then saw an ambulance trying to make its way around us and through the crowd. Soon we saw a crumpled motorcycle on its side with a bloody helmet nearby. Then, several yards further, we saw two men on lying on the street, motionless, lifeless and dead. It was such an eerie sight. As we passed, I felt like we were moving in slow motion and everything was so quiet. I saw the many faces of shock, fear and grief. We all said our own prayers for the men. I prayed that their passing was quick and that they were safe in heaven. I also prayed for their loved ones. It was a very sad sight.

When we arrived in Port Au Prince, it was around noon, so we headed for the restaurant where Actionnel prefers to eat when he is in town. They were closed because the shopping center was under construction and getting a face lift. We made a quick stop to have my pictures made for the visa (two head shots-only took five minutes) and then went to find another restaurant. When we got inside, we learned that they had been without power for a couple of days but were still serving hot meals. We did not have lights or air-conditioning and the food was okay (it was edible and tasted like food).

Next we headed for the bank to get the cashier's check. We found a great parking spot and were in and out of the bank pretty quick. Then we headed for the Immigration office. Another good spot to park, no problem getting in the door, and up the stairs to the office. We turned in all the paperwork and it was just a matter of waiting...or so we thought. We were told that the check was incorrect and should have been made out to the Public Treasurer. (in French, of course) Then we were told that the office for the fingerprinting closed at 1:00 p.m. (it was now 2:00) and we would need to come back the next day. So, none of us were happy about that. Now, it was back to the bank to correct the check and then over to the Wall's guest house to stay the night.

I was happy to see that the woman from the Netherlands (I thought she was French) and her adopted Haitian son were still there. She still has another month to wait for his passport and visa to come through. We visited for a while and her son seemed so much happier than the last time I saw him. I also met another man, Bill Anderson, from Canada who had just adopted a daughter name Maclaire (not sure of the spelling but it is pronounced Maclairee) and was waiting for her visa to be approved. What should have been a week turned into 25 days of waiting for him. He was a very good hands-on Dad and I think the time spent at the Walls gave him a great opportunity to bond with his daughter. He and his wife have three beautiful children together and they had both committed to adopting Maclaire and her twin sister which were born prematurely. The twin did not survive the first year but they still took "Claire". (that is what they will call her) She was so precious and tiny for a near two-year-old. I was impressed by her level of intelligence and both her fine and gross motor skills. Claire's Dad had some great stories to share about his experiences here. Some of them were pretty funny! (Not for him at the time, though). The next day, their visa was approved and they were heading home. We were all happy for them! God Bless the Anderson family in Canada!

Bill said his wife could not believe he shaved his head. He said that even he was not used to it yet. This will be great for the family photo album! Finally got a half smile from Claire. What a cutie!

Before Actionnel and his wife, Yolonde, came down for breakfast, I was in the reading area of the guest house and looking at the collection of books on the 4 shelf bookcase. There was a great variety from romance, history, suspense, and religion. One paperback caught my eye. On the side it said Fannie Flagg in large letters. I remember thinking, "Didn't she used to be on a game show that we watched?" I picked up the book and saw that it was titled 'Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe'. I had once seen the movie, Fried Green Tomatoes, and enjoyed it very much. I picked up the book and started reading. I had read six chapters by the time breakfast was served. Before leaving, I asked the manager if I could borrow the book and have Actionnel bring it back on his next trip. He said that was fine. I will get back to this story in a bit........

We went back to the immigration and finalized all the paperwork and paid our fees. We were then told that I could pick up my visa next Friday or anytime after that. We were just about to turn and go when Actionnel noticed that my last name was spelled incorrectly on the official document. They spelled it Pierre. The woman said she would have it fixed right away. We left hoping that she did just that. We did some quick shopping and then headed back to Bayonnais. When we were close to Saint Marc, we decided to stop and eat lunch. It was a small, dark, long and narrow restaurant. They had a television mounted high in the corner just left of the entrance door. The sound was up a bit but not too obnoxious. We sat midway in the restaurant and I had my back to the screen. I could hear shooting and yelling and other commotion coming from the television. Actionnel commented that he did not like movies like that. A little later I noticed that the sounds had calmed down and a new movie was beginning. I sat there eating my lunch and listened to the dialogue. It sounded so familiar! I almost knew the next line. I had to turn around and look at the screen only to see that they were showing....Yes, Fried Green Tomatoes! I was covered in goose bumps. I still don't know what this is supposed to mean or how in the world I came across this story twice...in Haiti!!!! Anyone have any clues?

So, after lunch we continued on with our journey. As we neared the mountains of Bayonnais, we could see the sky getting darker and darker. Just as we turned off the main road to head home, the clouds broke, the lightning and thunder roared and we were hit hard with a storm. The road turned into a river in a matter of minutes. Because our drive is uphill, the rust colored water was rushing down towards us so fast and the wheels were slipping and sliding around. We came across many people who were braving the weather. Actionnel picked up a few passengers along the way as he always does. It was amazing, but just after five very rough and hectic miles, as we were nearing our destination, the rain stopped and I saw the most beautiful rainbow spanning across the sky and over the mountain tops. I said a very sincere silent thank you to God for getting us there and back safely.

Since Friday evening, I have been enjoying my book and keeping my eyes open for a possible message or inspiration. I am more than halfway through the story and looking forward to finishing the rest. I thank you for taking the time to check my blog and for keeping up with the adventures. Love to all!

Angeline's Birthday!!!

Wide-eyed and ready to taste! Happy 6th Birthday, Angeline!

Just bubbling with excitement and getting ready for the big "blow out"!

Angeline opens her gift of a small stuffed green teddy bear. She was so surprised and let out a huge laugh when she revealed the feet first. I also made her a beaded bracelet which spelled out her name. (see below-can't actually read it, but at least you can get the idea)

Had to put my art skills to work and draw the donkey for the "Pin the Tail on the Donkey" game. It was really more of a "Tape the Tail to the Wall" game. The kids were laughing hysterically while I was trying to demonstrate how the game worked. Once they caught on, they had a blast! Wish I had some shots of that but I was working alone with all eleven kids. Hard to handle a camera and a group of overly excited kids at the same time.

The kids decided to put their own tails on. Each tail had the child's name on it.

Do these look like the same kids from April? We all had so much fun! After the game, the kids danced for an hour to some music while I found the nearest chair and took a break. We will celebrate Fenelson's and Alicia's birthday next month before I leave for Houston. They talk about it everyday. A big thank you to Mrs. Wylmetta Harman for sending the complete birthday-in-a-box kit for us. The Funfetti cake was delicious and the kids wore their hats and blew their horns for the rest of the week. We managed to save the tablecloth. Will write about my trip to PAP on the next posting. Love to all!

Special Note: My son, Dylan, left today for California to start his internship with the Oakland Raiders. Please keep him in your prayers.

Three Months and Counting...

Hard to believe another month has past but it really is true! Where have I been? Ah, yes, in Haiti.

I was unable to be here last Monday because we had so much going on at the Orphanage; finishing some construction in the house, trying to get ready for upcoming vacations and the new school year. We are also starting the annual (probably the first ever for some) check-ups for each child before going back to school. Jeemy-Ska was the first to go. Lucner took him to Gonaives and let him spend the night at his house. Lucner has two small children, a son, Lukemane who is not quite two, and a baby daughter, Luck D'Anna, who is only a few months old. I know he is having a great time there. They will be back late this afternoon. We all missed him very much. His absence was very noticeable.

I had really hoped to post the pictures of the birthday party for you but time did not allow for that today. I was busy writing the necessary letters and retrieving the necessary documents by email to prepare for my day trip back to Port Au Prince tomorrow. I hope things will go smoothly to request my Visa to stay here in Haiti. From what I understand, I am only supposed to be here for 90 days and then need to have permission. (Actually, I should have had this by now).Pray that all goes well and that I won't be arrested when I go home in August. :) ! I am looking forward to making the trip with Actionnel and his wife. It will be the first chance I have had to spend some real time with her.

I will go ahead and post the one picture I would love for you to see. It is when Angeline saw her cake for the first time. I think she thought the whole thing was hers. Ha! She is a real joy! I will post the rest the next chance I get. My Love to All and a special hello to my cousin Mark Alan who just sent me an email for the first time today! Thank you! I will be back online on Friday...if all goes well.

The Children's Profiles

I have finally completed the profiles for the kids and posted their pictures. Please take the time to click on the link under the Blog Archive to "Meet the Family", or just scroll down until you find it. I would love for everyone to know who these kids are and what they are like. I did my best to condense the information but there was so much I wanted to say about them. I hope you will indulge me by reading all about each one of them.
I plan to have the pictures of Angeline's birthday celebration ready to post on Monday. The kids had so much fun and most of them ate cake for the very first time.
It has been a very long day and I am ready to head back home for some dinner and relaxation. Enjoy the profiles. Love to all!

Wednesday's Update

I am only halfway through putting together the profiles for my kids at the orphanage. It has been a slow process gathering the information and downloading the pictures. I hope to have it finished by Friday.
In the meantime, I wanted to let you know that things are still going well here. We endured quite a bit of rain for the past month and today the ground is getting close to dry. The wind is blowing quite strong and the sun is in full heat. Our thermostat showed that it was 84 degrees on our front porch at 6:30 this morning. It was hotter inside the house.

This was a typical view from our porch every afternoon and most mornings.

Our front yard (the soccer field) being washed out to the road. The smaller door on the gate was later blown off the hinges for the second time.

The good news is that I finally found my portable fan after two months of looking. The bad news is that the batteries (eight "D" size) did not last long. The good news is that I bought 16 more. The bad news is that the first set lasted four days and the second set is at the end of its energy. The good news is that I will get some more on Saturday. The bad news is that I will probably go broke trying to stay cool this summer or will just have to endure some sleepless nights. Oh the joys of Haiti!

I had the pleasure of sampling one of the first melons that Evaniel grew in his garden. It was not one of the best I ever tasted but it was nice to taste one again. This particular variety has very little meat, a ton of seeds and the fruit inside is a light pink.

On our way back from Port Au Prince last week, we stopped and bought some watermelons. They looked like the one I am holding except that the outside was a dark green and the fruit was a bright red. I brought them home and put them in the ice chest overnight. The kids had never had this kind and they had NEVER tasted a cold watermelon! They were so excited and devoured them in a matter of minutes. I could not cut them fast enough. They really were delicious. Next time I go, perhaps next week, I intend to buy the other kind of watermelon that look like the ones from Texas. Yum! I can't wait!
We have a new housekeeper that is helping out just for the summer and she is also putting in our landscape. I would have liked to have helped her with it since I come from a family of nurserymen and landscapers but she is considered "one of the best" in the area and I did not want to impose on her territory. It seems that her landscape design is suppose to look like a natural habitat or rather, there was not really a "design" or any kind of plan as far as I could tell. I'm sure it will turn out fine. What do I know? I ain't from 'round here.

Just getting started with the layout. Not a very good shot. I will take more pictures when the project is complete. It really is coming along nicely.

On a more personal note, I received an email from my son and he informed me that he has been offered a one month internship as an athletic trainer-trainee for the Oakland Raiders professional football team. He will be in California from July 22nd to August 25th and I will only have one or two days to spend with him when I make my trip home during that time. I am so excited about his new adventure and also very proud of him. God Bless you, Dylan! Be careful and have a great time!

My time here is up and my escort has arrived. The other good news is that today was the first chance I have had to ride my bike since it was returned to me. It works just fine but the rains kept the road too muddy to make the trip. Sure was a joy to be riding again! Hope to have my family blog ready to post on Friday. In the meantime, enjoy the news and enjoy the day! Love to all!

Meet the Family......

Aquel Saint-Louis Remelus - Age 17 - Born May 17th, 1990
Aquel is a young boy still making the transition into manhood. He behaves according to what is going on around him. Although we celebrated his 18th birthday when I first came to Haiti, it turns out that he is only 17. I sometimes think that he is still younger than that. His mother is uncertain as to his real birth date. Aquel is the third child of four. He has two older brothers; the oldest is blind. He also has a younger sister that lives with his mother. His father died a few years ago. Aquel is very competitive in most games or sports. He thrives on soccer and marbles. He also tends to cheat while laughing about his attempts. He knows he won't get away with it. Aquel likes to learn about most things and especially English. He learns quickly and applies what he learns as often as he can. It bothers him that he started school late (age 13) but he is doing his best to succeed. Aquel will be in the Fifth Grade.

Ismalene Bernard - Age 10 - Born March 22, 1997

Ismalene is a beautiful but nervous girl. We are working on her habit of nail biting. She has constant mood swings that make it hard to determine how to approach her at times. She is basically good natured and is a big sister and mother to the other girls. She helps them get dressed and takes turns with Alicia to fix the hair of the younger girls. Ismalene has an interest in fashion design and is always trying new looks. She loves to wash clothes because it keeps her hands busy and she enjoys playing in the water. She is also very intelligent and finished the second grade in first place. She has five brothers and two sisters but is uncertain about where she fits in. Her mother is living and father is deceased. Ismalene will be in the Third Grade.

Fenelson Donacian - Age 11 - Born August 20, 1996

Fenelson is a boy of many words and speaks them in rapid fire. He used to say he was going to be a pastor until he discovered the joys of building and drawing. He now says he will be an engineer but calls himself an artist. He is constantly writing down vocabulary words and is always trying to learn English. He likes to debate and is quick to express his opinions. Fenelson is very conscious of his appearance and always dresses his best. He is also an excellent dancer with great rhythm. Fenelson is the oldest of four and had a hard time adjusting to the separation from his family. His mother is alive and father is deceased. Although he is very smart, he did not do well in school. Fenelson will repeat the Third Grade.

Smith Maxius - Age 11 - Born November 5, 1996

Smith is the big brother of Jeemy Ska. He is quiet for the most part but has an intelligent sense of humor that is like a breath of fresh air. He does very well in school and loves to play soccer. Smith is truly a big brother to Jeemy Ska and is always looking after his needs. Their mother died when he was eight and Jeemy was three. Their father is in very poor health and living conditions. They have an older brother and sister in their teens that live with others in the community. Smith wants to be an architect or engineer when he grows up; he has not decided. Smith will be in the First Grade.

Alicia Chery - Age 10 - Born August 28, 1997

Alicia is a pretty quiet child who can also get loud when someone invades her space. Her anger is usually justified. She is mostly a joy to be around. She loves to help with chores and is very serious about her studies. She is the baby of eight children but the only one who ever attended school. Both of her parents are living but her father has been out of the picture for years. Her mother and siblings live in horrible conditions. She is also a cousin to the twins. Alicia is a fast learner and enjoys working on her English. She also has a fun and silly side which is so wonderful to see. She usually catches me by surprise with her antics. Alicia will be in the First Grade.

Marc Antoine Sentile - age 10 - Born March 24, 1997

Marc Antoine is a little shy and sometimes timid. He is a follower and shows signs of being dyslexic. He claims to have eleven brothers and six sisters but they come from different mothers or fathers. He is not sure where he fits into the order. Both parents are living but do not have room in their lives to care for him. He was living with his Grandmother before coming to MMM. It is understandable that he is a confused child. He is active but not as coordinated as his peers in sports. He usually has the others laughing at his unintentional mistakes but keeps the laughter going by making them laugh on purpose. The kids think he is a comedian. He is also a very loving child. He has a beautiful smile and a great laugh when something strikes him as funny. Marc Antoine will be in the First Grade.

Angeline Louis-Marc - Age 6 - Born July 12, 2002

Angeline is our zany child and a bundle of energy. She is also a very affectionate child. She is constantly moving and singing. Rarely will you see her still except for when she sleeps. She loves to dance, run, spin, do half one-legged handstands and partial cartwheels. She will jump for the joy of jumping. She loves language and will repeat a sentence she has learned, over and over, until she thinks of something else to say. She loves the color red and loves looking at books. She will call your name and make a silly face to get a laugh. She celebrated her sixth birthday yesterday and she loved her birthday party. (Pictures and story to follow soon). She is the oldest of three girls and her two year old sisters are twins. Both parents are living but the father is not involved with the family. The mother's living conditions are very bad. Angeline will be in Preschool.
Cardina "Dina" Chery - Age 5 - Born March 11, 2002

Cardina is usually smiling but is the more serious twin. She approaches things with caution and usually studies something before attempting to try it. She loves the color blue and enjoys playing with stuffed animals or anything that looks like a doll. She and her sister are identical twins except for the silver dollar sized birthmark on her sister's back. We still have trouble telling them apart without checking. Hope to get some earrings soon. Cardina will be in Preschool.
Cadjina "Jina" Chery - Age 5 - Born March 11, 2002

Cadjina is the more active twin. She does not mean to cause trouble, she just has a lot of ideas that are not exactly practical. She is a leader and has motherly instincts when it comes to her twin or her peers. She also mothers anything that looks like a baby. You will usually see her braiding the yarn hair of the Dallas Cowboy football player doll that someone donated or rocking her stuffed teddy bear wrapped in a towel. She loves the color pink and dreads having her own hair done everyday. She is usually smiling but can cry crocodile tears for longer than necessary. Cadjina will be in Preschool.

Cardina and Cadjina have a half-sister that is almost one year old. Their father died suddenly two years ago and their mother remarried. They have mutually decided to not keep the twins.

Noula Fils-Aime-Donacian - Age 5 - Born April 5, 2002

Noula is a very sweet and quiet child. The only time she gets loud is when someone bullies or disturbs her and then she SPEAKS! She is very self-conscious about smiling because her baby teeth are in very poor condition. Noula is a bright child and learns quickly. She spends most of her time writing the alphabets or looking at books. She also enjoys pretend play with the twins. We do not have all the information for Noula's family at this time.Noula will be in Preschool.

Jeemy-Ska Maxius - Age 5 - Born Jan. 2, 2002

Jeemy-Ska, little brother of Smith, loves to play with the small cars and building blocks. His favorite color is orange. Favorite thing to do: Eat! He has learned how to say, "Ms. Vicki Jean, I am hungry!" in English, and usually says it just before meal time. He is hoping I will speed things up. Although he can consume quite a bit, he is underweight for his age. His head weighs about as much as his body. Jeemy-Ska is very intelligent and makes great observations about what goes on around him. Most adults like spending time with him. He is a very happy and loving child and almost never has to be disciplined. Jeemy-Ska will be in Preschool.

I hope you enjoyed meeting my beautiful Haitian family. They have been a daily blessing and a joy for me. If anyone would like to be a sponsor for any of the kids, please feel free to email me VJPierce@gmail.com and let me know. I can also be reached on this blogsite. Thank you for your interest in my kids and for all your prayers. God Bless.

It's Only the Beginning....

I have been quite busy for the past week working on several different projects and trying to stay focused on my purpose here. The two main concerns were trying to see about getting help for our roads and learning more about the laws regarding adoption in this country.
I took a two day trip to Port Au Prince and back this week with Actionnel and three students. I needed to go to the Haitian Immigration to see about getting my Visa and they were there to visit. Divine intervention made it possible for us to find the perfect place to park (close and in a shady spot) and to get in and out of the Immigration office in a matter of minutes without any problems at all. That is not too common in any large city of millions. The woman that assisted us was very pleasant and helpful. Also not so common. She gave us a printout for the list of requirements and explained each one to us. But, as one woman said, "You only really need it when you are leaving the country". So, since I am planning a short trip to Texas in mid August, I need to take care of it soon.
I described the road conditions to Gonaives in my earlier blog and I am sad to say that the road to Port Au Prince is twice as bad. It is the same road that I originally came in on but it has sustained more damage as well. Since we have had so much rain in the past few weeks, it is a huge challenge to make the trip in a vehicle and especially on foot. Some of the holes are three to four feet deep and twice as wide. Full of water and very soft earth. It is also necessary to cross the river two or three times when leaving or coming into Bayonnais. Again, when it rains, it is extremely dangerous. I was constantly thanking God for the fact that we were in a Toyota truck that sits high on the ground and also has four wheel drive. I just don't see how people do it everyday. When we got out on the "good road" we still had to use a lot of caution with the sudden dips and loose gravel. We drove on whatever side of the road that was driveable and also had to watch for other vehicles. There was so much dust it looked like a snowstorm. All the trees were covered in it. I was very grateful for the fact that the truck had air-conditioning (something I have not experienced in over two months) so we were able to stay cool and keep the windows rolled up. It was actually a very nice trip there and back in spite of the bruises and whiplash.
We stayed at a wonderful place called the Walls International Guests House and I felt so at home and comfortable there. The place was very clean and the staff was helpful and polite. It had a small swimming pool, which we did not use, and also had a couple of conference rooms. The property was surrounded by a tall concrete wall and had a large solid iron security gate. They also had 24 hour guard protection. We were provided with dinner and breakfast the next morning and everything was really delicious. I especially enjoyed the french toast. My room had an A/C unit as well as an oscillating fan. I felt so spoiled but I was loving every minute of it.
While we were there, I met a woman from Canada that had just adopted a little 19 month old Haitian girl and they were waiting for the girl's passport to come through so she could go home. I asked her a lot of questions because we currently have a couple that are interested in adopting the twins, Cardina and Carjina. One of the men that came to visit last month expressed an interest while he was here and we have been staying in touch. So, I am doing what I can to get some information to them. Thanks to God, I was able to meet this woman from Canada. She said it took her almost eighteen months for the process from start to finish. I hope to see this through before I leave.
During breakfast the next morning, we met a gentleman from Indiana that talked about a new concept for repairing the roads in Haiti. I was very interested and fascinated by his ideas and with the work he has done to reach the right people. I told him we would be willing to be his guinea pigs in Bayonnais if he wanted to start experimenting somewhere. He gave us his card so I hope to continue to stay in touch with him.
I have had enough "coincidences" in my life to know that there is no such thing. I was right where I needed to be and I thank God for his divine guidance. I was able to move a little further on the two most important concerns. It is only the beginning.
When I returned home from PAP, the kids were so excited to see me. You would have thought I had been away for a month. It will be tough when I leave in August for two weeks and even harder when I take a month in December. By then, we will be much closer then we are now. The only thing that makes it okay for them is knowing that I will come back and I will also be bringing some great gifts, specifically the DVD's for them to watch.
Yesterday, Lucner spent most of his day working on the files for our children and having the kids measured for their school uniforms. Since the orphanage opened in March, a few of our kids did not have a uniform. This year, they will all look so sharp. Lucner also went to visit all of the family members of our orphans. Even though they have one parent that is still living, their living conditions are so bad that they are unable to care for their children. All of the parents said that they have put their children in our hands and they hope that we will be able to find homes for them. The fact that our budget only allows us to take in eleven children and our house is set up to accommodate only 12 at this time, we are very limited in being able to help the hundreds and hundreds of other children here in Bayonnais who have the same needs. Nearly all of our orphans have siblings and the parents are begging us to take the others. It is very heartbreaking to know their circumstances and to have to say no and walk away.

And now for my public service announcement:
With the new school year just around the corner and eleven souls to take care of, we truly need your help. If you would like to sponsor a child, we are asking for $30.00 per month to help with their needs. The children are fed three hot meals a day and we have four staff members in addition to Lucner, Saint-Victor and myself (volunteer) to watch over and care for them.We also have about 150 other students that attend school on our property and many of them cannot afford their tuition. The children in Haiti are required to pay to go to school, otherwise, they do not get an education. The tuition covers the salaries of the teachers and the replenishing of supplies .We also will need to add on to our current school building and build more benches to accomodate the additional children that will be joining us this year. We could have as many as 200+ when school starts. We still have many that cannot afford their uniforms, their books and other school supplies. We are not set up as of yet to serve lunch during the school day for our students. For most of them, this is the only meal they get. If we are not set up for it, then most of our students will go hungry day after day. We hope that by having sponsors or more funding, we can enlarge our kitchen and add more staff to make it possible.
If you are seriously considering adoption, I would like to be able to help you accomplish that dream. Every state has its own rules so research would be necessary in order to have the proper information and speed up the process. It would truly be a blessing for these children to have a place to call home and to be cared for by a loving family.
If you have a place in your heart for children or have been led by God to do your part in helping, please contact me at VJPierce@gmail.com. We will be happy to give you all the information about the child and keep you posted on a regular basis about their needs, their health and their progress. Haiti is the poorest country in the Western hemisphere and Bayonnais is the poorest region in Haiti. Please do what you are lead to do to help. We will be forever grateful and especially the children whose lives will be changed for the better.

Many of you who have been keeping up with my blog know most of my kids and the faces that go with them. Next week, I plan to post their pictures along with some information on each child so that you can know them a little better. They are all really good kids and I have come to love them very much in the eleven weeks that I have been here. I hope that you will come to love them as well. Thank you for caring and for your continued prayers. God Bless!

Health update: For those who are wondering, all visible signs of my Shingles rash have disappeared but I am still experiencing the strange prickly feeling on my skin in all parts of my body. Whether it was the Amoxicillin or the Haitian antibiotic cream, I don't know for sure? I am just happy to be rid of the itching and the painful rash. I have an appointment scheduled with my doctor in August and hopefully all will be better by then.