Construction

The construction of the storage for the kitchen at the HATS school is finished! The ladies will cook in the outside area so that the smoke does not accumulate inside the building and so that it's not too hot. The small gate will keep the children out of the cooking area and the hot dishes but still allow the ladies to pass easily with the food etc.

The larger area in behind where I am standing is for storage of the rice and soybean mix that is cooked for the children each day (a complete meal with added vitamins, minerals etc) and for the cooking pots, metal plates and spoons for the children, and the cooking pots etc.

Thank you, thank you to everyone who contributed to see this idea become a reality!

The construction of two additional classrooms and an office at the school is well underway. Any additional funds that came in for the storage area that were not needed are being directed towards the school construction that still requires more funds. The construction of the foundation took more rocks and cement that budgeted for because of all the water that they discovered when they dug down. The foundation is finished now and ready for the work team who comes in January to help the Haitian workers build the walls and put on the roof.

The laying of the cement floor of the foundation was really fascinating to watch. The men alternated carrying heavy buckets of cement, small rocks, sand and water which they added to the small cement mixer.

The cement mixer put the ingredients together and dumped it into the wheelbarrows that other men were standing waiting with.

The wheelbarrow men then pushed their VERY heavy loads across the wooden planks laid on the metal grillwork and dumped it where directed.

The two men in charge of levelling and smoothing the cement used a wooden plank to smooth the cement and a piece of string laid across the length of the floor to keep it even.

Everyone knew their job and worked together as a team and it got done. The finished foundation is below.

The Beach

We had two really relaxing and enjoyable days at the beach together. I think Karen needs a week there (without her cell phone, Uncle Dickie!) to rest and rejuvenate. She only talked on her phone twice - to check on the kids at the home and to see if the truck was fixed to pick us up. We encouraged her to eat lots, to take naps and to go to bed early.

This is the view we enjoyed from the patio restaurant.

Alex really enjoyed his time swimming. He gets SO excited in the water - it's like trying to hold onto a giant squirming squid! His favourite game was chasing Josiah in the pool. I held him while he swam like mad after Josiah. Those two guys spent a ton of time together, with Josiah being a big help with keeping him busy, taking him to the park and pushing him around.

It was a very nice family time and everyone enjoyed themselves. Below, Tevan is enjoying a hug with his grandma.

Ariane is happy about the fact that she got a nice tan and can't wait to show her dad that she is browner than him!

The kids were thrilled on the way home to ride in the back of the truck. They sang songs and laughed like crazy most of the way home.

As soon as we got home, we dropped off our bags and drove to Borel to have a short visit with Solange, a friend who got married today. She was a beautiful bride and we were happy to have a chance to congratulate her. Cecile was in the wedding party so all of the kids from the home were there too. The truck is gone to the mechanics for a few more touches to get it in working order, so we took 7 mototaxis back to HATS.

Tevan, Ariane and I on a mototaxi.

Karen says to tell everyone she had a wonderful time at the beach and is looking forward to another trip there soon.