The travel home was long and had its little blips along the way, but overall went well. We started down the mountain at 4:30am, switched over to the hired bus service at 5:30, and were on our way to PAP. The road to PAP was uneventful. We did pass a wreck, but the drived kept on agoin'. That was a bit hard to do, but we weren't really given a choice - there was an overturned truck over the hill. There were some Haitians there, so hopefully assistance was provided. It is times like these that one is reminded of how much we take for granted. They don't have tow trucks and ambulance services or fire trucks (PAP had some, and the other big cities probably do, but out in the hills, people are kind of on their own - or at least it seems that way). One patient at the hospital was in a bad motorcycle accident and he needed to be taken to Cayes for surgery (we did not have the appropriate staffing). Rich Pfister took him in the back of the Toyota.
We arrived in PAP in very good time (they always plan on lots of extra time, because you don't know what you will run into along the way). Our driver was turning off of the main road onto a side road. He had a long bus (not quite school bus length, but definitely longer than a big van), and the angle that the side road met the main road was steep. They just kind of muscle their way through and he pushed forward and made the turn too sharp, hit a pothole and our back bumper hit the pavement and the back wheels were off the ground. We weren't going anywhere!! there was lots of horn beeping and yelling and the traffic was getting backed up all around us. Our position effectively shut off a lane on each of the roads. There must have been a church at the top of the hill, because while we sat there they ushered through two funeral processions and a wedding. Many walked for the funeral processions and the wedding party road in the back of a truck. The police did arrive and begin to direct traffic and some people even paid attention to them, others just kept driving and one guy even pushed the officer out of the way and kept directing traffic himself. at first, I was a bit worried..it wasn't a good situation and people were angry...didn't know if there would be a riot, but then it seemed to settle down a bit and people helped pile rocks under the tires and after an hour or so we were able to back up and then continue on our way.
They had techincal difficulties getting the luggage off the plane so we waited quite awhile for our luggage. At least we did not have another plane to catch. Picking up the rental car went smoothly and we only drove around the airport once before we made it onto the correct road to head home :-)
Sunday, it was a joy to be in a church that spoke English and to worship with our loved ones in Sarasota. At the same time, we both experienced loneliness for the haitian people and the loved ones we had come to know better serving there. We spent the evening with Loris and Lottie and their daughter Sally.
And what have we done the last two days...you will never guess...we have been painting!!! We tackled the bedroom - ceiling, walls, and dressers. It has been cool here, so we needed to do something :-)
We are looking forward to Charlie and Laura and kids coming in this weekend, and then will head north towards the end of next week. Hopefully, we will be recovered from our last trip to tackle yet another long leg of our journey.
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Thursday evening
The little market was a huge success! The shoppers had big smiles when they left and many told Eric in the hospital that they were very happy. The missionaries were thankful that it went so well. Between the government tax change concerning salaries, and the moving of Haitians out of the klopfenstein and aberle houses, there has been a little tension. This was a boost.
Rudy and I had a great day. We constructed a sit up counter in the morning and went with the medical team to the "Cancer Redemtion Center" for the afternoon. They did a well child clinic. The medical team has been a lot of fun, and we feel like we are seeing another different angle.
Rudy and I had a great day. We constructed a sit up counter in the morning and went with the medical team to the "Cancer Redemtion Center" for the afternoon. They did a well child clinic. The medical team has been a lot of fun, and we feel like we are seeing another different angle.
thursday morning
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| cocoa beans |
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| little market |
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
wednesday
Today Rudy and I headed up the klopfenstein house after devotions. He was trying to make sense of the upstairs electric while I sanded the railing that I had stained. At some point, he decided he needed a break from the mess he was trying to figure out, so we moved to a different project. Daryl and Norma had some pantry doors that needed work, so we moved to that. We finished up after lunch, and I put on a second coat of stain.
Shortly before lunch, Alyssa, brenda and I visited the village behind the hospital to distribute the last of the little dresses. One Haitian lady took it upon herself to direct us to the houses with little girls. It was a bit overwhelming at first to have her run up behind me grab my arm firmly and pull me in the direction she wanted me to go. We worked out a system that was a bit more agreeable. Two young girls gave their dresses to one of the boys and they tried to get me to give them another one. I kept telling them no, I had already given them one. When I brought out the camera for a photo, they called the boy over - they wanted in the photo!
Before supper we hiked down the side of the mountain to a river bed. We then followed it to the road and hiked back up to the hospital. I saw a couple a of girls with the dresses! ! I was so excited.
Shortly before lunch, Alyssa, brenda and I visited the village behind the hospital to distribute the last of the little dresses. One Haitian lady took it upon herself to direct us to the houses with little girls. It was a bit overwhelming at first to have her run up behind me grab my arm firmly and pull me in the direction she wanted me to go. We worked out a system that was a bit more agreeable. Two young girls gave their dresses to one of the boys and they tried to get me to give them another one. I kept telling them no, I had already given them one. When I brought out the camera for a photo, they called the boy over - they wanted in the photo!
Before supper we hiked down the side of the mountain to a river bed. We then followed it to the road and hiked back up to the hospital. I saw a couple a of girls with the dresses! ! I was so excited.
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Tuesday
Sunday we went to church in the morning, stopped at the Luginbuhl household and then had lunch. The team headed off to Rainbow beach, and we spent the afternoon/evening with the Hartzlers, Luginbuhls, and Arthur Greenbank. Hartzlers loaded us into the gator (rudy, arthur and I stood in the back and held on to the roll bar) and we started on the road up the mountain. We went for about 30 minutes, waving to many along the way, and then turned around and returned. It was fun, relaxing and beautiful. We had tacos at the Luginbuhl house for supper.
Monday, Rudy and I worked together on the stair railing at the Klopfenstein house. We managed to get a plan figured out, supplies secured, and the railing constructed. Each post had to be attached to the concrete wall. That was tough drilling - I only drilled a couple of them. We went to Hartzlers for supper and the evening.
Today, Rudy returned the front end loader to Cayes. Once again, Toto rode along. They spent a little time at the compound until their ride showed up, so Rudy had lunch with Tim and they talked about his work teams. While he was gone, I stained our railing, helpef Leah with her school work, and spent some time with the ladies at the "little market".
The little market is a perk for the hospital employees. It also has some other purposes. The Haitian government recently raised some taxes ( or something equivalent that reduced the Haitian wages). Many of the workers only understood that their take home pay was reduced. Items are shipped over or are left here, without a good/beneficial way to distibute. Always handing things out creates an atmosphere similar to welfare and a community of beggars. Years ago, they had a little market and they are revisiting the idea. They put a verylow price on the items and the workers were allowed in at a certain time , starting with the lowest paid first. Ex: $1 = 40 gouds. Items were marked, 5 gouds, 10 gouds or 25 gouds. In Cayes, Jami paid 250 for a pair of shoes. In the market, they had them marked 25 gouds. So, they are paying something so it is not just a handout, but yet the prices are so low that it is definitely a benefit. Like items were grouped on 6 different tables and they were allowed to purchase 1 item from each table. It was fun to be there this morning and to see what interested them and how they reacted. It was a very positive experience. The knotted quilts were definitely one of the most popular items (I had given mine out, but there some other ones here). The shampoo was also purchased quickly and they liked the coffee mugs. And they bought some shoes and adult clothes, and childrens clothes (interestingly, it seemed to be the least purchased item).
This afternoon, we sang some in the hospital. The two translators for the medical team, Bosley and Frantzou, joined us. Our "bosses" were in a meeting and many of us were needing some direction for our next assignment, so we found something to do.
This evening, Rudy and I babysat the Hartzlers while the missionaries had their weekly meeting. The majority of the team joined us, and we had a fun time with the kids. I didn't know how itwould go with a medical team vs a construction team, but it has been good. Not too much medical talk and it has been fun to have Alyssa's mom here in addition to the team. Debbie Fischer is a nurse practioner and in the past she had 4 Haitian s that had stayed eith her and her family while they were in the states for heart surgery. One of the young men that she has kept in touch with over the years spent a few days with us. She actually had not heard from him since the earthquake until recently.. they had resigned themselves to the idea that he had not made it, but really they had each lost their ability to contact the other. He found her again on facebook.
Monday, Rudy and I worked together on the stair railing at the Klopfenstein house. We managed to get a plan figured out, supplies secured, and the railing constructed. Each post had to be attached to the concrete wall. That was tough drilling - I only drilled a couple of them. We went to Hartzlers for supper and the evening.
Today, Rudy returned the front end loader to Cayes. Once again, Toto rode along. They spent a little time at the compound until their ride showed up, so Rudy had lunch with Tim and they talked about his work teams. While he was gone, I stained our railing, helpef Leah with her school work, and spent some time with the ladies at the "little market".
The little market is a perk for the hospital employees. It also has some other purposes. The Haitian government recently raised some taxes ( or something equivalent that reduced the Haitian wages). Many of the workers only understood that their take home pay was reduced. Items are shipped over or are left here, without a good/beneficial way to distibute. Always handing things out creates an atmosphere similar to welfare and a community of beggars. Years ago, they had a little market and they are revisiting the idea. They put a verylow price on the items and the workers were allowed in at a certain time , starting with the lowest paid first. Ex: $1 = 40 gouds. Items were marked, 5 gouds, 10 gouds or 25 gouds. In Cayes, Jami paid 250 for a pair of shoes. In the market, they had them marked 25 gouds. So, they are paying something so it is not just a handout, but yet the prices are so low that it is definitely a benefit. Like items were grouped on 6 different tables and they were allowed to purchase 1 item from each table. It was fun to be there this morning and to see what interested them and how they reacted. It was a very positive experience. The knotted quilts were definitely one of the most popular items (I had given mine out, but there some other ones here). The shampoo was also purchased quickly and they liked the coffee mugs. And they bought some shoes and adult clothes, and childrens clothes (interestingly, it seemed to be the least purchased item).
This afternoon, we sang some in the hospital. The two translators for the medical team, Bosley and Frantzou, joined us. Our "bosses" were in a meeting and many of us were needing some direction for our next assignment, so we found something to do.
This evening, Rudy and I babysat the Hartzlers while the missionaries had their weekly meeting. The majority of the team joined us, and we had a fun time with the kids. I didn't know how itwould go with a medical team vs a construction team, but it has been good. Not too much medical talk and it has been fun to have Alyssa's mom here in addition to the team. Debbie Fischer is a nurse practioner and in the past she had 4 Haitian s that had stayed eith her and her family while they were in the states for heart surgery. One of the young men that she has kept in touch with over the years spent a few days with us. She actually had not heard from him since the earthquake until recently.. they had resigned themselves to the idea that he had not made it, but really they had each lost their ability to contact the other. He found her again on facebook.
Monday, March 18, 2013
Random pictures
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| tree at hospital |
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| Quincy and Conrad |
Main gate at the hospital campus. To the right of me (not In the picture) Is the guest house.
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Friday and Saturday
Friday morning, Rudy continued working on his grading. He had 2 projects - grading around the artisan well, and creating a new "road" to the couple's cottage. Hurricane Sandy changed the land around the well and there was standing surface water ehich they fear has contaminated the pure water source (all water has been boiled). There was not a roadway from the couple's cottage and the rest of the campus. There was afootpath, but one had to go out to the main road and then back in the front gate. This was ok until the Luginbuhls got caught in the middle of a Mardi Gras celebration -not good. Linoece eanted a road.
I helped Rudy. I was his gopher. And then I went up to the klopfenstein house and painted the front door and frame. I delivered some dresses to the three gentleman I have been working with for their nieces (Bosley), daughters (Sony), and grandaughters (Osman). That was a real blessing! Osman seemed especially grateful. Sony had his 5 year old daughter stop after school - such a sweetie!
In the afternoon, I babysat the four oldest Hartzlers while Jami went to Cayes to shop and to pick up Alyssa's mom who had come in with a Cayes construction team. It rained and rained and rained. The kids loved it , put on their swimsuits and ran around.
When Alyssa returned, I discovered that I had traveled with her mom to a dude ranch in Colorado in 1987! What a surprise that was. Obviously, I have not stayed in touch with Brenda over the years ( sandy maibach dotterer eas a mutual friend and the connection for the travel).
Today was a fun day! We helped Sheila this morning deliver a few things, checked out how the grading worked eith the rain, and then headed out after lunch to deliver more shoes andclothes. We headed toward the home of one of the day eorkers at the hhospital. He has been ill anf his family is in need. Jimmy and Bosley went with us toshow the way and to interpret. We headed toeard the top of a mountain and we had so much fun! The scenery was spectacular and we were on a soecial mission. When ee arrived, they brought chairs out for us to sit on. I have discovered this is a common curtesy. We visited a while and then we heade back down, stopping different places along the way. When arrived at the bottom we climbed back in the gator and went in the directin of Jimmy's house. He has bes and sells honey.
This evening, the medical team came in. Glen and Arthur Greenbank are on the team. Arthur was here before, but it is the first time for Glen.
I helped Rudy. I was his gopher. And then I went up to the klopfenstein house and painted the front door and frame. I delivered some dresses to the three gentleman I have been working with for their nieces (Bosley), daughters (Sony), and grandaughters (Osman). That was a real blessing! Osman seemed especially grateful. Sony had his 5 year old daughter stop after school - such a sweetie!
In the afternoon, I babysat the four oldest Hartzlers while Jami went to Cayes to shop and to pick up Alyssa's mom who had come in with a Cayes construction team. It rained and rained and rained. The kids loved it , put on their swimsuits and ran around.
When Alyssa returned, I discovered that I had traveled with her mom to a dude ranch in Colorado in 1987! What a surprise that was. Obviously, I have not stayed in touch with Brenda over the years ( sandy maibach dotterer eas a mutual friend and the connection for the travel).
Today was a fun day! We helped Sheila this morning deliver a few things, checked out how the grading worked eith the rain, and then headed out after lunch to deliver more shoes andclothes. We headed toward the home of one of the day eorkers at the hhospital. He has been ill anf his family is in need. Jimmy and Bosley went with us toshow the way and to interpret. We headed toeard the top of a mountain and we had so much fun! The scenery was spectacular and we were on a soecial mission. When ee arrived, they brought chairs out for us to sit on. I have discovered this is a common curtesy. We visited a while and then we heade back down, stopping different places along the way. When arrived at the bottom we climbed back in the gator and went in the directin of Jimmy's house. He has bes and sells honey.
This evening, the medical team came in. Glen and Arthur Greenbank are on the team. Arthur was here before, but it is the first time for Glen.
| View from hospital campus |
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| Hartzler home -two views |
Friday, March 15, 2013
Wednesday and Thursday
Wednesday was a slow day for me. I headed off to devotions in the morning and coming back, I felt like my legs were lead and I was completely winded. I felt tired on Tuesday, but nothing like this. Back to bed I went, sleeping soundly until lunch. After lunch, I went up to the house to work a bit, but didn't last long - back to bed and I slept a few more hours. I don't know if I had a bit of a bug or if I was just plain wore out, but I slept through the night and felt much better on Thursday.
Dr. M had the service Wed night. He spoke about Numbers 14 and the Israelites wanting to turn back to Egypt and not trusting God to deliver the promised land - fearing the giants instead. He used the example of watching a rerun of a soccer match. If team A won the game, what were thechances of Team A loosing during the rerun of the match? None. If God promises something, what is the chance of failure? None. Why do we fear? Why do we doubt?
He then related that to the project here. When the founding doctor wanted to purchase this land, the owners woukd not sell. The person assisting the doctor commented that it was too bad, because he wanted to build a hospital here, When the owners heard that they changed their minds. When asked why, they said that their great great grandfather had said that something greatwould happen on this land. So, God has blessed this project and it cannot fail. Maybe it will not be us that is here, but it will succeed. This message meant a lot to the missionaries here. He also talked a lot about fear and turning that over to God.
On Thursday morning, Rudy was taken to Cayes to drive back a front end loader to do some work around the hospital. It was NOT an enjoyable trip. It is a two hour bumpy rideinthe Toyota, and twice as long and more body jarring in the machine. Rudy felt even worse for Toto who road along for directions and to speak the language if there were problems,. They did have a loose wheel 15 minutes into the journey. Totocalled back to Tim Reindhart and he sent someone out with a wrench. No other problems, but they both looked weary when they pulled in.
Thursday afternoon I had a bit of my own excitement. Amber Pfister, Alyssa Knobloch, Gracie , Conrad and I headed out on a path to deliver some shoes and dresses. It was a beautiful walk and it was such a touching experience.
Dr. M had the service Wed night. He spoke about Numbers 14 and the Israelites wanting to turn back to Egypt and not trusting God to deliver the promised land - fearing the giants instead. He used the example of watching a rerun of a soccer match. If team A won the game, what were thechances of Team A loosing during the rerun of the match? None. If God promises something, what is the chance of failure? None. Why do we fear? Why do we doubt?
He then related that to the project here. When the founding doctor wanted to purchase this land, the owners woukd not sell. The person assisting the doctor commented that it was too bad, because he wanted to build a hospital here, When the owners heard that they changed their minds. When asked why, they said that their great great grandfather had said that something greatwould happen on this land. So, God has blessed this project and it cannot fail. Maybe it will not be us that is here, but it will succeed. This message meant a lot to the missionaries here. He also talked a lot about fear and turning that over to God.
On Thursday morning, Rudy was taken to Cayes to drive back a front end loader to do some work around the hospital. It was NOT an enjoyable trip. It is a two hour bumpy rideinthe Toyota, and twice as long and more body jarring in the machine. Rudy felt even worse for Toto who road along for directions and to speak the language if there were problems,. They did have a loose wheel 15 minutes into the journey. Totocalled back to Tim Reindhart and he sent someone out with a wrench. No other problems, but they both looked weary when they pulled in.
Thursday afternoon I had a bit of my own excitement. Amber Pfister, Alyssa Knobloch, Gracie , Conrad and I headed out on a path to deliver some shoes and dresses. It was a beautiful walk and it was such a touching experience.
This is the daughter of one of the workers at the hospital. She is unable to walk. .
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| We passed out shoes and dresses here. |
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Holding up their new dresses
Ornery Boys
Color doesn't matter
She was so excited!
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