Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Good Morning to all:
Its a cloudy overcast day that greets the team as they get ready to head to the airport. I think they are all praying that the rain drops will hold off until they are at least at the airport. They have had enough experiences getting wet in the back of the truck. It seems the rain in Haiti is getting some press in the US as I have had a number of emails with prayers for our safety. I haven't heard the news of what's going on in the rest of Haiti, but accept for the big storm end of last week, the rains are more or less what comes with the rainy season. But normal or not it still is not ideal conditions for all of those living in temporary shelters. The prayers and concerns are appreciated. Not all is negative though as some of the team members took advantage of the rain off of the roof to "soften" their hair with rain water.













Attendance at church was quite limited on Sunday but the few kids that were there thoroughly enjoyed the singing of our group and readily joined in for a second rendition..hand movements and all. The team repeated their performance at Little Children of Jesus yesterday and it was heartwarming to see some of those kids attempting to do the hand motions. The big smiles on their faces seen as the team sang away, though were more than enough. This was the team's reward for all of the choir practices they had before going to church














Many chores were got attended to this week as the team split up into various groups. A new carpet was put down on the stage in the chapel, two classrooms painted and touched up after repairs were completed and another one refreshed and best of all (for me at least) was getting all of the classrooms organized. We got new tables and chairs in place and were able to dispose of a number of broken/warn our desks. All of the senior grades are pretty much set and next step will be to take care of the junior grads (grade 7 and down).

As the "Moving Drip Dry Team," thus named for all of the furniture shuffling they did and their several baptisms of rain, heads back home, I will be heading to the school to deliver the staff pay and continue with my contract work.



Brooke, Brenda, Nelson, Melinda, Mike, Judy, Liz
Pana, Elizabeth, Tom, Joe, Kim, Rose Marie, Jessica
tira for now...time to cook up some breakfast.
Debbie












Friday, September 24, 2010

Hi everyone: howdy from VERY wet Haiti.....we had a rain storm, dare I say a bit of cyclone this afternoon as we were driving home from the school. I think maybe I have seen it rain that hard once or twice before...but I have never had to drive in it myself. Odney was in the big truck with 3/4 of the Prince of Peace team.....they got drenched to say the least. We in the pick up truck behind them were okay until we had to face that music once we arrived at Hope House.
The road was like a river and our yard a lovely wading pool. I can only imagine how the folks in the tent camps were faring.

The team arrived yesterday and as usual jumped right in with work. Today we were busy organizing furniture (new tables and chairs) in the classrooms and trying to make the classes a bit more organized. We got 4 of them done and tomorrow will continue on. I think they look pretty good, even if I do say so myself.

Previous to their arrival, I spent several days with two visitors from Boca Raton who came to meet with the contractors for the Health Center Project. All is moving along fine..we are set to sign the contract in 2 weeks and then will be full steam ahead by mid Oct. All in all very encouraging for us.

We have results from two other classes and we are quite pleased. All of the kids in the philo (grade 13) class passed their national exams. Eight out of 15 in the rheto (grade 12) passed and the other 7 are able to write make up exams...which is a good thing for them. Please keep them in your prayers as they begin to prepare for round 2. We still await the results for the grade 9 class.

On that positive note I will say tira for now...time to go and tend to dinner for the hard working crew.....pumpkin soup....a perfect thing for this rainy evening.

a pita...Debbie

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Hello all: Back safe and sound at Hope House, mind you a day late. Due to airplane mechanical problems and rain storms in Miami we missed our connecting flight by 10 minutes.....that was disappointing. But such are the vagaries of travel. AA gave us a hotel room and food vouchers so we headed off to the hotel to settle in for the night. It turned out I was traveling on the same flight as Patty Meyer and friend Jeanine who were headed to Marie's. So at least I had company along the way.

The event in Fond du Lac was a big success as Perry managed to keep that bike going for the 24 hours...he did 401 laps or approx 269 miles in the 24 hours. He now awaits confirmation that he dotted the i's and crossed the t's correctly for the Guiness World Record Book and to await the final tally for the funds donated to the cause. The turnout was a bit disappointing probably due in part to the rain and clouds that plagued us Saturday. Luckily the rain stopped just as Perry was to begin but it did not enhance the track conditions AT ALL....what a mess. The dirt was like clay and stuck like crazy. I managed to loose my shoes, lost my balance and fell in it, as I was heading up to the starting point to wish Perry well....that sure made a site!
But away he went at any rate. He had a great support staff and after each hour they would get out the power washer and hose off all of the mud. Perry said it felt like it added an extra 100 lbs or so to the weight of the bike (photos below).

While Perry was riding there were various other activities going on...DJ played for several hours, then a band..there was a silent auction and stunt performances by some fellows on their bikes. Everyone worked hard helping to ensure the success of the event.

I was pleased to be able to attend the church service at Ascension Lutheran Church and to bring greetings to the congregation from Haiti.

As soon as the event ended on Sunday I was on the road again to Naperville to attend a meeting with Pastor Scott and other church members at Wheatland Salem Church. My google map directions did not let me down and I arrived just in time to a warm welcome from the group.
Monday I enjoyed the sites and delights of downtown Chicago and Oak Park with good friends.
All seems to be well back here in Haiti.....nothing outstanding to report thus far. Will head out to the school tomorrow to catch up with Clovis and continue our planning for the school opening on the 4th of Oct.

Pictures for your enjoyment (hopefully)

Perry at the starting point...within seconds of taking off


















The bike before and after a pit stop





























Not the best of pictures, but at least is shows Perry in action on one of his 401 laps on Saturday morning...the sun finally came out around 4 which brightened everyone's spirits















The folks (at least some of them) who cheered him on and were there with him through thick and thin...wife Melissa stands beside him in the blue jacket















Perry and I at the finish line...a much nicer end than beginning with the sunshine brightly and no muck to clog him down.















so there you have it.....24 Hours for Haiti......if you wish to see the Fox news blurb about the event check out their website: 24hoursforhaiti.com
until next time...take care....Debbie









Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Hi all: Another short note for you. The office work has continued on the past couple of days with a few excursion here and there to meet with the teachers, fill the vehicles with gas, visit the Labor Board etc. Tomorrow I head off to the Fund Raising event in Fond du Lacs - http://www.24hoursforhaiti.com/. I will also be visiting Wheatland Salem Church and friends in Chicago..an extra bonus to the trip.



I did drop by to visit Marie today...she is traveling about so I missed her but I did stop by the school/church/orphanage to check out the progress on the new building. I understand from Fedner that even though it is still in a very rustic condition that they have already had several services in the Chapel area of the new building.


The first picture shows the windows to the girl's side of the building. Picture 2 looking at the front with the entrance to the Chapel on the left. Last photo inside the Chapel...fellows putting the finishing touches on the walls and ceiling.


That's it for now......
































Saturday, September 4, 2010

Greetings from Hope House:

It is a quiet Saturday, early evening. I was out for most of the day, getting my mail, grocery shopping, purchasing some Haitian articles for a silent auction and then stopped to visit some friends....just a normal Saturday like y'all have at back home. The week was also fillled with other routine business...payroll, paper work and the like. My ear was buring after the two hour teleconference I joined in with the Board members. I think it is such a miracle everytime I can do that....when I think back to my first days in Haiti, we would have to drive sometimes 1-2 hours to get to a phone if we needed to make a call and we only had HAM radio contact once a day with our PAP office......it seems like it was the "dark ages"...amazing what can change in only a few short years!


We got the exam results for the kids at the school and I am happy to report that we had a 95% pass rate overall. We still await the results for the Grade 6,9, Philo and Rheto (grades 12&13) classes all of whom wrote their state exams in mid August. Hopefully they will prove to do as well as the rest of the classes.


The kids in the Grade 6,9,Philo and Rheto classes were rewarded with a day at the beach and by all reports from Clovis it was a day most enjoyed and appreciated by all. Unfortunately I was home on vacation when they went so I have no pictures to share of the kids frolicking about.


In a few short days I will be heading to the US for a brief trip to attend a fund raising event in Fond du Lac Wisconsin. Perry Prichard a Mission trip alumni is going to try to set a Guiness Book of World Record for the most times around a motor cross raceway in 24 hours. All proceeds will come to the Lazarus Project. If you are interested in learning more check out http://www.24hoursforhaiti.com/. I am going to "cheer him on".
It's short I know but that about sums up the week. I tried to post the picture below last time around but it was a no go then. This is just a glimpse at the tropical paradise Wilner and I 'suffered" with during our free days in the Dominican Republic....it was a taste of heaven!
Until next time, peace be with you.....Debbie