Almost over

Greetings from a hot HATS Compound. We just returned from Luckners where we had supper on the roof, picnic style. We took sandwiches, tuna and peanut butter and jam, cookies and Luckner supplied the drinks. There were 18 of us and we had a great time. It was great to spend time with Luckner and for people to get to know him a little better. Tomorrow is going to be a very busy hot day here so most went straight to bed to be ready to face tomorrow. Ed just got some more iodine...Don you are not here so Ed is the receiver of the iodine this trip. I have gotten the bottle for him many times this past 2 weeks.
After work tomorrow we plan to spend a little time with the Haitian workers and give them some clothes for their children and or wives. We do not know yet how we are going to Port Au Prince on Tuesday but I am sure it will all work out tomorrow.
Church was good with Pastor Dennis preaching again and Luckner translating. It started out slow (due to the fact we started at 7 AM.....well that was the time we were told it would start) but people didn't come until 7:30 or later, so we started about 7:40 with people arriving all the way through until 9:15 AM when we were leaving to start work.
Faith and I and Karen gave out clothes to a bunch of needy children that Luckner sent over after church. Most were delighted but one teenage girl had a very hard time finding something to fit her. She left with the others but she had wanted something that didn't fit so wasn't quite as happy as all the others.
Karen just screamed so we are all wondering "what did Dickie do now". I think he set off a fire cracker that Josiah had here at Christmas time. Maybe that is not a smart thing to do here without letting security know that it is a firecracker and not someone shooting on the compound. Dickie has played many tricks on Karen these last 2 weeks so we are all used to her screaming.
Faith, Karen Dickie and I are going down to spend a little time with the kids before bed time. I think our bed time is much earlier than the kids. There are only 5 of us left up at 8:50 PM.
They are gone without me so I must run.
Sandra

Sunday - Just Another Work Day

Hello Everyone,

Here are the photos I promised last night. I was much too tired to finish the job before my eyes closed.

The truck breakdown yesterday was a good experience for Dickie but it was the 'frustrating norm' for me.

Dickie trying to lift the truck with a crappy jack

I need to get out of here

Four out of five wheel posts broke off. Only one post left. What do we do now??

Call Luckner and wait

Dickie driving the truck with the tire being held on with only one bolt. Luckner, Karen and Odner followed closely with Karen staring constantly at the tire, fearing it would fall off.

Today's church service was good. People arrived constantly from the time we started and some even walked in as we were about to walk out. Not really their fault. Due to the absolute Afterwards a lot of students came over to this compound where they all received clothes and/or shoes.

The necessary work to get the project ready to have the roof poured tomorrow was finished today in extremely hot temps. The men were on the roof working on rebar which drew the heat and almost burned their fingers. The temperature was at least 130 degrees up there. Luckner was concerned about the men, but they all seem to have survived.

The unfinished roof preparations. Photos two days ago.

Roof almost ready. Roof ready for pouring cement

I leave you with one more photo. This has been a fairly regular noon hour sight.

Well deserved nap time

Tomorrow work starts at 6:00 a.m. and will be very interesting for 'blan as I love Students will arrive for devotions at 7:30 a.m., enter their classes at 8:00 and get out again by 9:00. It will be much too noisy for them to hear their teachers due to the cement mixer and all the people yelling back and forth. Dickie and I must go to St. Marc and I would prefer for someone to kick me into the canal in front. We, however, ran out of propane for this house yesterday. Today Martha and Germaine cooked a good meal outside the back door on the recho with charcoal. We do, however, need to get propane purchased and hooked up again. Truly never a dull moment in Haiti.

I have thoroughly enjoyed every minute the workteam (and I mean "work"team) have been with us. It is going to be very difficult for me to see them leave on Tuesday. Back to the old lonely existance. Lonely for sure at times, but not often dull or boring.

Many blessing to all of you.

Karen