Happy New Year everyone!

Hope all of you rang in the New Year in a suitable fashion and that 2011 will be a fruitfull one and that good health and happiness fill your days.

School remains closed until Monday. We were supposed to be providing a dry food distribution for the families at the school this week but the organization that provides the food stuffs changed the dates on us at the last minute so it is not to be. However it gives the staff a chance to catch up with the report cards and other planning.

Things are quiet at the moment for the most part in PAP. There have been several demonstrations (Jan 1 and Jan 6) thankfully, not violent. Final election results are supposed to be announced any day now, possibly even this evening. Depending on what is announced we could be in for more demonstrations and upset around the country. How things will unravel after that, up to and including the inauguration period (Feb 7) is anyone's guess. President Preval is to step down no matter what on Feb 7 but rumor has it that is plans to hang on to May. This would be in defiance of the constitution which calls for a provisional President to be put in place if there is no elected President to move into that spot. What is rumor and what is truth will only be made clear on Feb 7th.

The second round of elections is set for Jan 16 but now many doubt that will happen since there is so little time to put everything in place to ensure a corruption free election.

Next week will mark the one year anniversary of the earthquake. I am told the 12th is going to be a National Holiday...a memorial day for all. Sat and Sun this weekend, Billy Graham's son, Franklin will be leading two large revival sessions...Sat is for children and Sun afternoon and evening for adults. People are expected to come from various points in the country and it will be held in the soccer stadium. Other activities are supposedly being planned but I haven't got any clear indication as to what they are.

I've been told that the Cholera is beginning to wane in a number of areas but others are still being quite affected. I haven't been back long enough to get any more news than that.

Until next time, I will leave you with this little prayer for New Year's that I came across.

A New Year’s Prayer
May God make your year a happy one!
Not by shielding you from all sorrows and pain,But by strengthening you to bear it, as it comes;
Not by making your path easy,But by making you sturdy to travel any path;
Not by taking hardships from you,But by taking fear from your heart;
Not by granting you unbroken sunshine,But by keeping your face bright, even in the shadows;
Not by making your life always pleasant,But by showing you when people and their causes need you most, and by making you anxious to be there to help.
God’s love, peace, hope and joy to you for the year ahead.

Peace be with you....Debbie