Hi Everyone: What a week it has been....lots of activity that is for sure. I saw the "Energizer" team off last Friday evening and then quickly got ready for the arrival of the Enrichment team on Saturday afternoon. The group arrived on two different flights but the first arrivees agreed to wait for the second group which gave us a little more "breathing" space.

The team has jumped right in there and beside getting their craft and first aid classess ready, they have been helping sort clothes, and all the items from the container that arrived. Today we got more boxes from FFTP and they ended up counting school report card booklets before they got placed on the truck for school delivery tomorrow.

Yesterday was shopping day at the Metal workers and today they enjoyed a mini tour of Delmas road and a "tourist" visit to the grocery store to pick up some Haitian coffee, peanut butter and the likes.

Other "excitement" yesterday was helping the Vets who were operating on Hopie. They had set up outside and lo and behold before the procedure was done it started raining. I quickly got three umbrellas and we held them over the docs and Hopie while they completed the operation. Hopie had a growth that had to be removed..neither Vet had seen anything like it. Now she is on a powerful antibiotic and has this huge collor hood type of get up on her neck to prevent her from getting at the stitches on her belly. I am happy to report that she is thus far recovery nicely and ate her food right up tonight.

Kelly and Kevin operating while Lori and Lennie hold the flashlights and others hold the umbrellas. Hopie out like a light did not realize a thing that was going on around her.

The Enrichment week goes well and the kids are enjoying their lessons in jewellry making, music, painting, weaving and various others. Unfortunately the paper mache group has had unexpected challenges...seems the hot humid weather is not condusive to drying glue too quickly.

The boys show off the broaches they have made while another group learns how to braid bracelets from Cynde.

I talked to Wilner last night and got good news in that he got his passport renewed and it is in his hands..or at least in Mimi's (his daughter's hands). It was quite a process and a few dollars exchanged hand in order for him to get it. He knows some poor fellow who has been waiting over 4 months for an "urgent" passport and he too coughed over the gourdes for the "valet" service to speed things up Man, I am saying many thanks for our good fortune. Now we can apply to get his Cdn visa renewed. I actualkly believe we may get away for our holidays as planned.

He also told me that they had had LOTS of rain and as a result the LesForges ravine flooded and caused a lot of damage to houses, gardens etc not too far from HAS. This happened several years ago. It is amazing to see how fast that water can flow and how high up it gets in a short period of time. Fortunately no one lost their life. ...the challenges just never seem to end. ....but the folks "just keep on truckin".........!!

On that note, I will bid you fond farwell until next time,

Debbie