Today started early with our alarms going off at 5:30 am. Why an alarm you ask? With all of the crows, goats, cows, trucks etc? Well, to tell the truth I'm getting used to it and have been sleeping until 7 every day.
Mariah, Karen, Odner and I headed out at 6:15 am, arriving in Lachappelle just before 7 am. Jean-Pierre was in his garden and came hurrying back at 7:05. By 7:15 we were on our way up the mountain. Odner came along for the hike, being very curious about everything. He wasn't expecting it to be quite so steep, nor quite so fast a pace. He made the comment that mountain people must be stronger than valley people because of all of the climbing. Jean-Pierre just walked along at a pretty good clip (I like to hike fast) and never once got out of breath. We hiked up the hill you see below and this picture was taken about halfway up. After 90 minutes of challenging hiking, we arrived. All the way we saw ladies coming down the mountain barefoot with huge baskets on their heads for market in the town of Lachapelle.
Once up in Belon (where Mariah was born and lived the first two years of her life, Jean-Pierre showed her where the house used to be and all of his land. He also showed us the place where he was attacked in a land dispute. We are very grateful that he is healthy and strong again now, except the very sad loss of his eye in the attack.
Mariah and Jean-Pierre standing where her house was.
The views on the hike down were beautiful as the mist was just clearing in the valley. Several times on the trip back to his house in Lachapelle, Jean-Pierre held Mariah's hand, seeming very proud of her. We stopped a dozen times or more for introductions, to meet aunts and cousins and for people to take a look at Mariah.
In Lachapelle, we had the opportunit to meet Mariah's three little half-siblings with Jean-Pierre's new wife. The little girl is 6, the two boys 4 and 1.
The four year old boy looks so much like Mariah did at about 2-3 years, that it is uncanny. He had lots of big smiles for her.
Jean-Pierre was so happy we had come, that he wanted to give us a present. He showed up at the tiny little Suzuki we were driving with a huge sac of oranges, sweet potatoes and manioc from his garden. Then he brought a turkey!
In all, it was a very good day and I am so grateful to Karen and to Luckner for making the arrangements to make it happen and for Karen for playing chauffeur for us.
The rest of the day was spent making cake and brownies for Christmas tomorrow, then spending some time at Luckner's Christmas party. I came home early, being exhausted from a long day and having two tired and hungry kids. Mom drove us home, put Alex to bed and is down now again for a little visit. We left Mariah and Josiah and some of the orphanage kids down there and they'll come back with mom.
We'll I'd better get ready for Santa's arrival! Love you all and Merry Christmas!
Liette
6 comments:
Merry Christmas to you all,
I sure wish I could have gone with you to see Mariah's home and family people. It must have been very moving.
Glad to hear you made it safely and hopefully today you are all taking a much needed break and rest!!!!!!!
We awoke to sun and green grass...so much for the white prediction for Canada from coast to coast to coast!
It is noon and we are getting the chicken wings on to cook! Shondi is making sauce. Caleb did breakfast and we are still full.
Love and Blessings to all
Aunt Sandy
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Joyeux Noël tout le monde!!! What a great set of pictures from Belon! I'm so glad you got to go there, Mariah! Now you will remember it. The last time you were too small.
It doesn't feel to "Christmassy" without seeing you all, but that's ok - we'll celebrate on Jan 2!! I'll continue trying to phone today - been getting busy signals every time so far.
Love to everyone.
Don
Hello Everyone
Merry Christmas.
Glad you were able to make the trip Mariah, you should be proud of yourself. What nice pictures and write-up of your trip. Keep up the good work, Liette. We went out to the lighthouse today to see the big waves there was a lot of damage due to the last strom.
Uncle Dickie
what a great Gift for Mariah! we are so happy for you and with for all of you a wonderful day of joy, laughter and love!
We miss you all and we are so happy that you have the chance to be together with Karen and enjoy that anti-Calgary weather! It is still awful here - but we will go sledding today and warm up with ham and turkey so it will all be good too!
with Love,
The Uptigroves
Just home from Uncle Ken and Aunt Cheryl's for Christmas Dinner, the salt beef was my fav, I'll be blown up for days!!
Bob is off to Ottawa tomorrow to see the World Jr Hockey Tournament.
It is heartwarming and inspiring to see all the work you are doing. It is so wonderful that Mariah was able to meet with her Biological father and see some of her half siblings. WOW!!
We love you all and miss you all so much. This world is just so big and yet so small. Love and Hugs to all,
Love Aunt Elaine, Uncle Bob, Robyn and Gordon!!
How very exciting that Mariah got to go up the mountain again. I was sure you'd been there more recent than that but maybe that was Jos. I'd love to be able to take Ronel back to where he was born one day.
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