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
