Hi all: Another week has gone by and with it a few more experiences to add to the coffers of "life in Haiti". The most recent was yesterday afternoon. We had the pleasure of sharing some Haitian culture with our visting team from New York State / Ohio as we attended the church ceremony of the marriage of one of our primary school teachers. In order that our VOH chauffeur would not be home too late, our nearby friend, Marie, agreed to let us use her vehicle and chauffeur as they are so nearby. We arrived at the church just in time as just after we were seated the bridesmaid's started dancing their way down the aisle. It is always to beautiful to see how they sway and move to the music as they make their way to the alter. The bride was beautiful (aren't all brides) and the groom handsome in his dark suit, maroon coloured shirt (to match the colour of the bridesmaid's dresses) and his white gloves. We enjoyed hearing the hooting and hollering of the congregation as the happy couple gave each other a chaste little kiss on each other's cheek after they were presented as a couple.

We snuck out before the end of the service to start our way back home. Heading up to the service, we had a little car problem when smoke and a very toxic smell started coming from the front of the truck. After a short stop and investigation the driver assured us it was just some oil burning off (burning off what???...I don't know ) and all was okay. So back in we hopped and off to the church we arrived without further incident. Due to this little incident we headed back hoping it would go well. We got about halfway back, when trouble began as the vehicle kept stalling out.....this in the middle of rush hour traffic. You can imagine the vehicles behind us were not too happy to be stuck behind a stalled vehicle. After about 3 or 4 times of this halting action, the one fellow who accompanied me came to the back to tell me he thought we were out of gas. What next I wondered! So I told him to head to a gas station. Two stall later we arrived at a pump and gave the car a "drink". Then thinking our problem was resolved we headed off once again.....then horror of horrors we stalled again. By this time we were very close to a major intersection that was now totally gridlocked due to the going home traffice and now worsened with the pouring rain that began to fall. I was fortunate to be sitting in the back with folks that had a good sense of humor because before too long we were totally soaked to the skin. Meanwhile I am thinking of what to do because by this time the battery had totally died on the car and the drive couldn't even get it to turn over ...even one little whine. Luckily we were not too far from Jean Dimanche who agreed to don his rain coat and come up to get us. Knowing that the route he would have to take would also be backed up, I told the gang it would be best for us to get down, cross the road between all of the stalled vehicles and then start walking down the road to meet up with Jean and some further point. ...and yet another adventure awaited. We got to the corner and ended up in water rushing past us, up to our knees as we slogged our way across the intersection and started our march down the road. Although we all looked a bit like drowned rats...especially those of us who had been in the back, we were lucky in that it had stopped raining as we were walking along. It was interesting hearing the comments of the Haitian folks as they saw this little line of "blancs" making their way through the water and down the road. ....what fellow said....."this is Haiti for you" and another asked Bert "what are you doing out in this".. Not too far down the road I heard this voice saying Mme Debbie here I am . Soon we were all piled in Jean's vehicle ...all 9 of us. Yes, we were crammed in but we were so thankful to be thus.! I did feel badly leaving the two fellows in a middle of the mess to take care of the car situation, but I was happy to be having the team on its way back to Hope House.
I learned this AM that their was a problem with the fuel pump and the fellows got back to Marie's around 10:30......Althought it was late I was relieved that they got home never the less.

Once back at Hope House, we all disinfected ourselves and our shoes with chlorinated water......it was dark so we didn't see the water through which we slogged but we could just imagine all of the garbage and other materials that would be floating around in it.

As we sat down to a warm bowl of soup we had reason to give thanks for it, the dry clothes we had on and that we were safe and sound at Hope House. These blessings were especially appreciated as we know so many others around the city were not so fortunate.

Another highlight of the week was helping out at the Easter lunch provided to the kids.....chicken and juice being added to the usual rice and bean menu. The team were also ambassadors for a church school in Florida as they handed out home made Easter cards to the pre school classes.
The Kindergarden teachers had been busy decorating eggs for their kids to take home along with other Easter decorations and goodies in their paper Easter baskets.

While we enjoyed these activities we could hear the jackhammer in the background as the fellows on the work site chipped away at the hard rock they have encountered as they prepared the holes and trenches for the footings and retaining wall. I give them credit as they go about their bone jarring work under the hot noon time sun.

Port au Prince remains calm after the announcement of the election results for the President but according to the news this AM it is not the same in some of the smaller areas around the country as they announce the results of elections for the senators and deputies, who are the departmental (state) representatives in the legislature.

So I leave you today, it is with thoughts of spring and rebirth and the beauty that it brings to us all....wishing you many Easter Blessings as we celebrate this Easter weekend.

Debbie

Hello everyone: Yes we are alive and kicking here in Port au Prince. I just returned from a 16 day trip in the US and Canada while Bert and Roberta held the fort in Haiti. Five days were spent in the Washington/Virginia area, 5 days in Boca Raton/Kissimmee area and the rest in Hamilton with my mom.

The Washington/Florida legs were to attend Regional meetings for supporters of Village of Hope ..new and old. I was able to greet many former Mission team members and got to know some new faces as well. It was such a pleasure to be able to give everyone an update regarding our activities in Haiti and to also say our "thanks" in person for all of the support and efforts that so many go to which ensure that we can keep things "ticking in Haiti" .

Beside the pleasures of the Regional Meetings and being spoiled by my hosts/hostesses, I was able to finally see the infamous Cherry Blossoms in Washington as the Cherry Blossome festival began the weekend I was there.

Another highlight was the time I spent with the school children at Trinity Lutheran church in Kissimmee. Their questions about Haiti and the Village of Hope sure kept me on my toes and it was amazing to hear the breadth and depth of them.

While I was flitting about Bert and Roberta kept things going in Haiti.....taking care of everyday business, overseeing the construction work and welcoming and working with the team from Prince of Peace.

Finally the work of moving the earth around for the clinic has been completed and today when I was at the school a number of young men were beginning to dig trenches and holes for the footings.

a..a..a..h...the beautiful Washington Cherry blossoms

Presentation by Grade 8 kids at Trinity Lutheran Church in Kissimmee..with a promise to have the box filled and more, with school and medical supplies to be sent for the new School year.

Pastor Andy Hagen giving a Board update to the participants at the Advent LC Regional meeting in Boca Raton.

Enjoying special church music presented by the Haitian church band and singers that worship in the Friendship Hall at Advent church each week.

These fellows deserve medals as they chip away at the hard rocky earth, under the hot haiti sunshine, to prepare the ground for the footings.

Many say that rocks grow in Haiti and you may now believe it too as you see the pile of rocks that have been saved to be reused for the retaining walls.......we are glad our engineer has a "waste not want not attitude to his work"

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