Hello again: Since I last "spoke" two classrooms were painted at the school, several chores at Hope House accomplished, the team participated in the Monday morning assembly before heading to the airport and since their departure I have had 2 mornings at the school attending to paper work, meetings and some sick kids.

The painting took place Sunday after church and our lunch at the picnic table under the big almond tree behind the chapel. The classrooms were 2 of the smaller ones so the job was accompished in two hours or so....AMAZING. While they painted I did accounting work for the University program and as luck would have it I finished that just as the team finished painting.

They were more enthusiastic about their painting than they were about singing at chapel service.....it was a very reluctant "choir" that stood before the kids to sing. Luckily Jorel, who had been delayed arrived in the nick of time and his accordian music to accompany them gave them a little more courage to their singing. Plus Julienna and Devin had great voices and did an excellant job of leading the rest of us on. In the end Jorel even coaxed a second song out of them. It was a rather lively one and the kids were even clapping and singing along.

The team were quite taken with Hopie's little "girl" and she sure got a lot of loving attention during the week and was given the name "Peanut" which seems to have stuck...although I call her little "dezod" (mischief) as she eats the cats food, drags the dish outside even, chews my shoes and other items in site etc . She like her mom has taken to keeping me company in the office while I work away.

On the news front President Preval had a news conference today regarding the upcoming presidential elections, now set for Nov 28. I didn't hear his speech but what I gather is that a lot was related to the CEP (conseille electoral provisionale) which has had problems with corruption ...not a good thing when they are to assure that the elections are run honestly, with integrity etc. New members are being selected as far as I can understand.

and there you have it for now. Hope the week is going well for you.
cheerio,
Debbie

Good evening ..is everyone enjoying a nice weekend. The team took a "day off" of work today and for the most part it was spent in the back of the truck as we toured about PAP a bit, seeing the sites, hearing the sounds and watching the hustle and bustle etc of a normal Saturday in the city....even the traffic jams. We had stops at the grocery store, Agape mail service, an upscale Artisanat shop, lunch at an outdoor restaurant all topped off with a trip to the metal workers.

The trip to Agape was like Christmas for me as a surprise goodie package arrived for me from my mom and also two packages with books in them from my friend in Holland. One of the surprisingly has the title "The Lazarus Project"....isn't that incredible. I can't wait to get my nose into it to see what it is all about. (Thanks Mom and Els!)

It may seem funny but I think everyone was more exhausted from this type of day than one filled with various odd jobs. Probably sitting in the sun has something to do with that. Even I came home and flopped on my bed for 20 minutes.

The last two days were filled with preparing for the food distribution (Thurs) and distributing it Friday. Thurs we loaded a 110 boxes of rice meals ONTO the truck and then OFF of the truck once we got to the school. That was a job in and of itself.

Visits to Little Children of Jesus and Marie's girls topped off Friday afternoon for us.

Since they say a picture says a thousand words, I will finish with a few photos for you.

The "chain gang" loading up the rice meals.....only 109 more to go.

The team known as the "Count off 1-2-3 Team" may not have been so good at counting to keep track of things but they sure could work and assembly line.

Kurt, Kathy, Devin, Perry, Jennifer, Beth, Trisha, Brittan and Julienna ...happy campers now that the bags are filled with Sardines, rice meals, spaghetti, beans and vienna sausage.

All 650 bags filled and waiting to be handed out...I finally figured out why my shoulders and back of my neck were sore....it was from lugging all of the those bags from the back room to the front room.....supposedly for invetory control but it still didn't come out right....oh well we had what we needed to hand out!

The Kindergarden 1 girls singing their thanks with glee!

Handing out of sun glasses, funny noses and other such items was met with many squeals of delight at LCJ...Stevenson and Manou "showing off"

Marie's girls enjoyed playing with the bubbles...this little sweetie kept at it until all of the bubble liquid was done.

While some played, others slept....you could only sleep with your best friend while their foot was in your face. ...ah to be at such peace! With that I wish you a good night and a peaceful and spirit filled Sunday. I am off to my own place of slumber to enjoy going through my mail and maybe getting my nose into the magazines my mom sent.

good night ....Debbie

Hi there: where does the time go? ...yesterday it was Saturday wasn't it?...how can today already be Wednesday....but Wednesday it is so I must fill you in on the past few days. Monday was an office day catching up on a myriad of items. I met with Clovis for a short period before he headed off to a meeting at the Ministry of Ed'n. After that one of the items I got under my belt was a revised job description and contracts for the teachers....yes those discussions will soon be upon me. I felt like I got something accomplished getting those done...now I just have all of the others depts/sections to do but they will be easier. Tuesday was a run around day..changing money, grocery shopping and getting food stuffs to hand out to the kids at the end of this week. This is part of the project from the church in Juno Beach that I have written of severa times. As a result on top of the rice and beans we will be giving, each child will recieve a package of spaghetti, a can of fish in tomato sauce and some vienna sausage. It won't go very far for a family but I also know for some it will seem like manna from heaven!!

Jumping ahead a bit, I picked up a team coming from Fond du Lac, WI this afternoon and they are the lucky ones that get to bag all of the items and then distribute it to the students on Friday.

I am glad as I will be emptying the depot of the rice meals from Stop Hunger Now just in time to make place for more coming from Feed My Starving Children. It is a lot of work hauling those boxes back and forth but it is more than worth the effort knowing what those rice meals mean to so many that are on the recieving end.

Yesterday as we were driving around, I was able to get my hands on the latest edition of "le Nouveliste" a local newspaper. I hadn't seen one in a long time so it was a treat to get my hands on it. Interestingly enough there was a large issue in it about Ganthier....although not on the positive side as it was talking about a big land dispute going on and demonstrations in the town in front of the police station. It seems to be a very "hot" subject ...in more ways than one as sadly the protesters burned several tractors. It seems a large landowner is trying to sell off his land to some gov't officials and in doing so long term squatters would have to move.....you can imagine how that went over! Anyways it was interesting to read, because if I had not seen it in the paper one would never know that just a short distance from the school such issues were taking place. It is not surprising to me as the results of disputes over land issues are a major cause of seeing people in the hospital!

Four or five pages were taken up with a tribute to Marc Bazin who was buried last Friday after loosing a long time battle with cancer. Mr Bazin was a very well known top level political figure in Haiti for many years, holding a variety of offices and duties. He was even a presidential candidate at one time.

Today was a nice cool day as it was overcast and rainy most of the day......when we have days like this it many times indicates that there is a tropical storm going on somewhere in the Caribbean area.

The World Cup Soccer is still very much on everyone's minds. As we drove down Delmas street yesterday we came across one block that was totally decorated in green and yellow (Brazil's team colours) and then right beside it another section blue and white (for Argentina).....those are the two teams that the majority of Haitians support over and above their own team.. Odney told me that on Sunday after Brazil won its match, the whole block on Delmas was packed with people and not a car could get through.

So there you have it from Port au Prince on this Wed June 23......two days after the official beginning of summer......for those of you not having perpetual summer I hope it is a good one for you.

cheerio,
Debbie

Good Saturday afternoon to all: I have just arisen from a nice Saturda afternoon siesta...my reward after having folded and put away five loads of sheets and towels and a few other chores under my belt. Wilner is ensconsed in our room happily watching the soccer match between Denmark and Cameroon. I thought I would take advantage of this time and get you caught up.

Thursday, we split up to accomplish our final activities and chores. Half the team stayed at Little Children of Jesus painting, enjoying music hour with Jorel and Lisa did some physiotherapy for some of the kids. The other half (with the muscle) came to my apt and got the rest of the boxes and furniture and took it back to Hope House where we unpacked and found storage space for them. The items are spread far and wide from the new apt. to the kitchen, my room and the small store room. I just have to go back one more time for the plants and a couple of odds and sods and to hand over the keys.

We then collected up the group at LCJ and enjoyed lunch before heading back to HH to do last minute chores, pack bags and get ready for the 10 guests joining us for dinner.

Patty Myer and her team of ladies (9) arrived on Wed to spend time with Marie. Since aAll of them are from the same area (Naperville, Ill) and most go to the same church we thought it would be nice to get together.

Cathy treated us all to brawursts which we barbecued or should I say "grilled" as I have learned is the American way to say BBQ. You can see Jay here "grilling" up the brats, cooked the special Naperville way, with his supervisors carefully watching his work.

It was a fine evening, topped off with a singsone led by Dan and his guitar.

Yesterday, I got the gang off safe and sound to the airport and coming back home did a few chores. The gals at HH busily cleaned rooms and made up 5 beds for the guests that arrived at noon time to spend the night. They were friends of mine who were heading back home today after passing two weeks in a mountain village above Hopital Albert Schweitzer. We spent a good evening getting caught up. They were most interested to learn about the Lazarus Project too.

Just as they arrived yesterday I was in the midst of dealing with a team of EDH repairmen who showed up to fix the wire that had been vandalized the night before outside our house and across the road at our neighbour's place. I was completely amazed they showed up so quickly and it makes me wonder who has "pull ' that lives in our area (I didn't mention it earlier but our street also got graded this week to level out some of the potholes). Somehow or other though I was supposed to go and buy new wire and give it to them to fix our problem as well as change a hook up to our transformer that was not done correctly (or so they say). Knowing the Haitian system, I think they were looking to grease their palms and again knowing the system, I did!..but heh last night when the EDH gave power, we had lights at our place. They were happy with the "ti kob" (little money) I gave them and their bags of rice and beans so it was a win win situation, as they say!

On that positive note, I bid you farewell for the weekend. Hope it's a good one no matter which way you are spending it.

Cheers,

Debbie

Worker bees have been humming around me all afternoon since our return from Food for the Poor and having enjoyed Haitian "fritay" for lunch. Fritay is a variety of fried snack foods that many enjoy. We had banane pesee (plantain), akra (tarot root grated with spices) and Roselene's famous meat pates.

At one time I looked around and everyone was working away at something: Roselene and Carline cooking up a storm, Jeff, Odney, Fleury and others hauling rock to fill in the pothole at the end of the road, Jean and Christophe unloading cement block; Cathy and Lisa sorting clothes and bagging dried beans. Various others were painting desks and doors and the rest building the new desks designed for the school. They are easier for the kids to get under for protection in case of another earthquake and they are also a little sturdier to withstand things falling on them. Mark made the new design (with input from Clovis and I) and they managed to get 10 of them made this week. ..aren't you exhausted just reading this. Just think how they feel!!

Above: L.Jason and Greg adding legs to the desk

R. Dan brave enough to paint with red!

Below: L. Jeff and Blane haul rock to fill the pothole. Two police officers even stopped to give them the thumbs up for their work.

R. Krista putting on the first coat of paint on the new desks and benches.

Our visit to Food for the Poor was as interesting and touching as usual. The staff at FFTP was pleased as they are in the midst of recieving a new shipment of rice. The last time I was there they were all out. Now there are STACKS of it. The gang helped dish out the food at the Canteen while I went to hunt down a box that was shipped for VOH and to check in about a house that is to be built for a staff member. Unfortunately although FFTP is building houses in the rural areas, they still have not recieved the go ahead for the PAP area....thus we are now in a holding pattern until the Ministry of Public Works gives the high sign. This is related to ensuring the buildings are earthquake "proof".

The Shop til you Drop team did not let me down today and lived up to their name when we went to the local market to pick up "souvenirs" to take home.such as spicey peanut butter, Haitian coffee and other such items.

We closed the day with a heartwarming sing song led by our two guitar players, Dan and Christa. It was delightful! Christa is heading off to Uganda for a year's Mission and I know the folks their will benefit from her guitar playing and her lovely voice on top of it.

Good night...until next time take care

Debbie

Tues June 15 and all is well here at Hope House. We have just finished our little devotional time which included a brief history of VOH and Lazarus Project and a very thought provoking reading from Lisa. It has been a long day...we were up and at em by 5-5:30 and folks are now ready for a nice cool shower and a restful night's sleep. By far this team has done the most to stimulate the economy in Croix des Bouquets at the Metal Workers artisan shops and thus they have earned their nickname as the "Shop til you Drop" team. I can ensure you that they earned their shopping time after a hard morning's work at the school. Bathroom doors were readjusted, the dining room was painted and the lovely cross created several summers ago by Marni and the enrichment class got moved to a more prominent spot, so that we can enjoy the beauty and sentiment of the artwork as we have our various services and activities in the chapel. Oh yes and several bags of garbage were collected along the entrance road and main gate...I still gotta work on those students in regards to protecting the environment and waste disposal. It is an up hill battle but one worth fighting for.



Below is a picture of the team .....notice them all beaming....they knew that shopping time was coming! ....only kidding!!!...they were happy for the work they accomplished in the AM and the chance to have been able to interact with the kids at the school. ...sorry picture will come tomorrow..having problems uploading this evening.

a demain,

Debbie

as promised here is the Wheatland Salem Methodist Church team photo

Front row Lto R: Jeff, Shawn, Alex, Greg, Dan

Back row LtoR: Jason, Krista, Mike, Lisa, Mark, Larry, Jay, Blane, Odney (our chauffeur), Cathy and Christina

Good Saturday evening to everyone: Are you all glued to your radios or TV sets as the Haitian folks are, following the start of the World Cup Soccer games. Yesterday as I drove around I tried to find news/music on a number of my usual radio stations but all of them were announcing the game that was being played. That is soccer for you in Haiti- POPULAR!

I now have a team with me from Naperville, Ill and they have jumped right in there. Last night even after a long day of travel they got right to work unloading their suitcases, wanting to be organized so they could get to the tasks at hand first thing in the AM....which they did. My office is now clean and dust free, the door in the dining room doesn't stick, Joel doesn' t have to fight with his door to open and close it, beans are bagged, items moved to the depot, supplies purchased.....and on and on...all in all a great day, at least from my perspective. Cathy's mother, in lieu of birthday and mother's day gifts provided funds for a pizza/cup cake party for Marie's girls. Hosting that party was the finale of the day for the team.

While waiting for the girls to wash and dress for their party, many of us sat watching the activities as the workmen poured the cement for the floor of the new orphanage...what back breaking work that is..hauling buckets of sand, rock, water and sacks of cement. I thought I was exhausted Thursday, after a day spent in and out of the car and traffic, while doing errands from sun up to sun down but that fatigue was nothing compared to what those workers will be experiencing this evening.

One of the errands I spoke of was going to see Mme Nazaire at the school of nursing. It was heartening to see that classroom tents were now set up on the grounds and the student nurses back in class. UNICEF provided a lot of start up materials so Mme Nazaire could get the girls back to class. Some of her staff were going through piles of items that had been recuperated from the rubble, cleaning and dusting them off for future use. Mme Nazaire and the Minister of Health have just signed an agreement with a French firm that will build prefab classrooms as a temporary school while the Swiss Red Cross prepares to do stage one of the permanent school.

Items still awaiting dusting and cleaning at the school of nursing...not a chore I would look forward to.

One of the items that struck both Cathy and I as we visited with Mme Nazaire was the sign posted on the all of the office, amid all of the refuse and constant reminder of their terrible loss. The translation may not be 100 % exact but the gist of it is...." every occassion carries a difficulty but each difficulty carries an opportunity. To me it is another reminder of the faith and hope that so many Haitian people still continue to have "despite it all".

Until next time....Debbie