Hi folks: Not a whole lot to report on today. In PAP it is business as usual since Sunday. Some other areas of the country are not so and in one area of the Artibonite two of the parties have been exchanging gunfire and I heard just now on the radio that 14 arrests had been made by the PNH. But that is the rare case. On the whole everyone is quite pleased with how this round of voting went and many compliments are being given to the PNH (nat'l police ) and the MINUSTAH troops who were charged with keeping order.

The preliminary results are to be announced no later than March 31 and the final results on March 16. The CEP has been pretty insistent that news folks and others do not publish any preliminary results, not wanting to incite any rumors and actions on the part of the various partisans of the candidates. However rumors still go around that Martelly is ahead although in the North Mme Manigat had a stronger showing. We'll see how it all unravels.

I really just wanted to share a couple of photos taken of the work site for the Clinic at the school. Already the sky line is changing and it is quite remarkable to see how much ground they have dug up already. ......it was pretty exciting to me to see this when we drove up the roadway today.

Maybe you will feel that way too!.....a pita! Debbie

Sunday March 20......Election Day once again in Haiti!

I have been listening to the radio on and off today and on the whole it appears that the elections are coming off in a much better fashion than the first time around. Mind you that doesn't mean there haven't been incidences here and there around the country. One of the stories running about is Wyclef Jean showing up a the polling station with a gunshot wound to his hand. I haven't heard enough details to give you further information. The polling stations in PAP proper are being kept open until 7 PM tonight, a three hour extension accorded by the CEP due to many polling stations starting late this AM. They were supposed to be ready and open from 6:00 AM but at 8:30 I was hearing reports that some of them did not even have the materials on hand to conduct the elections.

Several of the voting offices have started to send back preliminary results and what I have heard thus far has Martelly being ahead by a mile......we'll see how that changes or not as the other offices report in and the official results are announced in April.

Schools were scheduled closed on Friday and again on Monday. One reason being that many schools are used as polling stations. The other reason they were closed on Friday because no one wa sure what may happen as Arisitide returned to Haiti from his exile in South Africa. Even Wilner was on the road by 6:30 to head back to the Artibonite, not wanting to take a chance that he would get stuck in Port. Happily his return came without incident and it does not seem to have affected the election process today.

It has been a quiet weekend with Bert and Roberta at Hope House. Yesterday Bert did odd jobs while Roberta and I worked on organizing the medical supplies we have in the depot and moving some items from my office to the depot. My back was complaining by the end of the day but it was with a feeling of satisfaction that I was moaning and groaning! It was just a gorgeous Saturday morning...cool with a balmy breeze, so before getting down to work, Roberta and I enjoyed a morning coffee at the picnic table while playing a game of Scrabble.......what better way could one start the day!! This afternoon we had another match and Bert joined us for this one. Opie always wanting to be right in the "thick of things" also got into the spirit of the game.

That's it for this time around. I will leave you with the weekly reflection taken from the FFTP Lenten Calendar ........." Take time to truly listen to God. Allow his WORD to guide you and strenghten you.

May the week ahead be a good one for you.

Hi folks: the pictures may be a bit out of order from my latest writings but one has to take advantage of the fact that the Internet is now working and willing to upload my pictures. So here is a little selection for your from the last week or so.


Monday saw the engineers at the school, doing some last minute surveying on the health center site, before they started digging Tues. Mr Maxi Charles, the former Mayor of Ganthier who worked so closely with Carole Herget as she got her school up and running stopped by to share in the special moment as we started work on the clinic. . He supported Carole's dream of providing Health Care and is delighted as we are that at long last we are beginning the construction. Here is introduced to the engineers, who plan to use as many local resources as possible throughout the construction of the clinic.

Last minute surveying

What do you get when you mix Haitian children with soccer balls.....utter enthuiasm with little order ...the well laid plans of the team members were for naught once the kids saw the soccer balls. At one point I think they all threw their arms up in the air.....but not with despair...instead they just joined in the free for all with the kids and EVERYONE had a great time.

Odney did double duty as a translator and here he is with Bob leading the kids in a little warm up exercise before kicking the ball about.

The "New Beginnings" team from Bethany Lutheran Church, Alexandria VA with one adopted member from Hamilton, Ontario

Who can ever resist capturing such beauty....a few of the reasons for our existance.

and finally.....all the chatter is about the election on Sunday.....here is a sample of the many billboards around the country encouraging people to vote on Sunday. It is going to be a tight race I think. On top of it all, added to the talk is news of Aristide's immiment return...at one point rumored to be tomorrow but some latest news has him arriving Sunday the day of the election.... more interesting times for Haiti.

Greetings: the last day I wrote the Bethany team was just arriving and today as I write to you again they have bade us farewell and are at this time safe and sound at home again with their families. I think it is safe to stay that it was a very touching and life alterating visit for each of these first time visitors. What a pleasure it was to introduce them to the delights and challenges of Haiti.

Today is a BANNER DAY for the Village of Hope....WHY you ask? The much dreamed of and long awaited Heath Center is finally underway! YAHOO!. The engineers have been at the site the last two days and today the bulldozer started moving the earth around to clear and level the land for the building. Bert was out their recording this momentous occassion while Roberta and I attended to affairs in town. I still felt a big THRILL even though I was not here to witness this special moment myself! The builders estimate 7 months for the project so please keep your prayers coming that elections run smoothly, the hurricane season passes over us without big distruption etc. to keep us on schedule.

March 16 ECSA begins excavating the ground for the Village of Hope Health Center.

that's it for today folks..I had hoped to get more pictures posted but it is a no go....will try again next time.

Cheers,

Debbie

The team from Bethany church arrived safe and sound and are adapting quickly to their many new experiences. All are first time visitors to Village of Hope and Haiti. Yesterday was a day of work around Hope House..some painting, others building benches while others cleaned and re-organized the "red door depot". I told everyone when it was done I just wanted to take a chair inside the room and sit there and admire how it looked...there is even space to spare now.

Today the team is out and about with Roberta to visit Food for the Poor and Little Children of Jesus. Bert and I stayed behind to meet with the Eng for the Health Center. What excitement as they will begin working at the site on Monday....yahoo!

Pictures to follow as right now they refuse to be uploaded.

Have a good day............Debbie

Hello folks: In my last report I mentioned that I couldn't believe how the week with the medical team had whizzed by.....now I am really scratching my head when I look and see that it has been three weeks since I last touched base with all of you. In the meantime we have had another team, I have spent a week in Canada, our Board met in Haiti and a photo team took pictures of all of the school kids. I think in order to catch up, I will "say it with photos" as I am sure you will find them more interesting than a long written diatribe.

Coming from Texas, Minnesota and Virginia the team led by Greer Putnam from St John's Lutheran Church in Alexandria worked as if they had known each other for years. Here they are getting supplies ready to repair a depot wall that was damaged during the earthquake.

Board members that were able to come to Haiti for the meetings, standing outside the Administration window at the school in Ganthier.
Fr Row: Pastor Ron (blue shirt) and Pastor Andy

Back Row (Lto R) : Tom (photo team member) , Dr Randy, Pastor Cheryl, Mme Marni, Darrell and special guest Rick.

Pastor's Andy and Ron, sharing a moment with Mr Robert Acra long time supporter and friend of Village of Hope. He is also President of the Haiti based board for the school. He worked closely with the School founders Carole and Jim Herget in the early days of the Project.

A thrilling moment as the dream starts to become a reality.....Engineer Delva signing the constrution contract for the Health Center with Pastor Ron while Pastor Andy and Engineer Moise look on. We expect to be digging up the ground within 2 weeks or so.

Lively discussion and debate took place as the Board members deliberated over the various agenda items. The Village of Hope is Blessed to have a group with such heart for the work they have volunteered to do. All enjoyed meeting outdoors....that is until dusk rolled around and the mosquitoes came out looking for dinner.......and what a smorgasboard they had!

What a photo team!....all of the kids at school that day (600+) had their photo taken before 2:00. They went home feeling a great sense of accomplishment....and a well deserved one too.

Visitors are always greeted by a very enthusiasitc group of student's and it was no different for Board members Pastor Cheryl and Pastor Andy.

Now Bert, Roberta and I enjoy several "quiet" days to catch up on various and sundry chores. Today and tomorrow many businesses are closed as Mardi Gras celebrations take place in various towns across the country. The festivities have caused a lot of chatter on the radio talk shows as people debated the pros and cons of continuing with the celebrations when so many are still living in temporary shelters and recovering from the Cholera epidemic. The powers that be have decided " the show must go on" and so the actities have begun. Normally the biggest celebrations have been in Jacmel and downtown PAP but this year they are trying to de-centralize them a bit more so other towns are also engaged.

Churches will be filled on Wednesday as the faithful attend Ash Wednesday services and then it will be back to "business as usual"....even for us as we prepare to greet a group from Bethany Lutheran Church in Alexandria, Virginia.

The two Presidential candidates Mme Manigat and Michel Martelly continue on the campaign trail. M Martelly visited the DR to meet with their President with the thought of improving the relations between the two countries if he is elected President. Mme Manigat reportedly travelled ot the US and Canada to attend fund raising activities for her campaign. Many Haitians "lot bo dlo" (across the ocean) are still very interested and active in Haitian politics and carry a loud voice.

Last week I made a quick trip to the Artibonite Valley to be with Wilner as he buried his father, who passed on unexpectedly. It was most interesting to see the changes taking place along the routes as we made the trip their and back. More and more temporary houses are popping up here and there and several new schools and training centers are underway...one of them just outside of St Marc in the Artibonite Valley. It is encouranging to see that in the future kids will have the chance to study in their home department (state) without everyone having to come to PAP for further education.

In the weeks and months ahead you may look forward to receiving news regarding changes being made as we implement decisions taken during the Board meetings. It is an exciting time for us as we look forward to our growth as an organization.

We thank you, our faithful supporters, new and old to the Village of Hope - Lazarus project for your prayers and generous contributions (that come in many different forms) to our success.

Until next time.....peace be with you.