We had a day to relax if you can call 15 people in a truck driving two hours over a terrible road to a resort, relaxing. It was very nice though, we went swimming and enjoyed each others company and had a meal together. The road is in worst shape than my previous trips to Haiti. At one place we had to get everyone to get off and walk while I tried to get the truck through a deep hole with the help of Bob. We stopped in St. Marc to return the second water cooler which did not work. The owner of the store was not impressed and blamed Karen for not having the right voltage, etc. We have to go back to St. Marc tomorrow to get plywood and plumbing supplies for another water tap for the school and another go at the water cooler problem. Everything in Haiti is expensive and the quality of most things is poor. For example most plywood you buy has to be glued together before you can use it. The only kind of screwnails you can buy are slotted and in my opinion useless. I always bring my own and it makes every job easier.
Progress at the School was slow today due to a number of factors. The Boss Man was in no mood to work. They were going to rent forms/plywood to pour the roof and expected to pay $4,000.00 and the guy wanted $18.000.00, Haitian $ that is. Tomorrow is another day and Gerry will crack the whip.
Karen is working way to hard and is in constant demand. Problems are the norm here but lately seem endless. I sent her screaming to her office and bedroom but she would not stay. I brought mousetraps to catch a mouse she says is here. One night I took a mouse trap out of her room with a large toy very real looking rat attached and asked what I was supposed to do with this. She disappeared instantly. Last night I got down on my knees in the Galley behind a door with a scary mask on and terrified Karen and Sandra on there way to the Depot.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Sunday, January 11, 2009
What a great day
What a great day we have had. A wonderful church service, delicious lunch of rice and beans, a 3 1/2 trip to Ti Rivere and back by a different route. Dickie drove with Luckner, Karen, Dennis and Paul or Bill inside (they took turns) and the rest of us outside. We put 2 benches in the back....trying to be a regular tap tap but we were not very successful, no one wanted to get on with us! A lot of people laughed at us though.
We saw the whole valley and what a beautiful sight!
We returned home and a bunch walked the canal with all the kids. Faith and I stayed at home and "poisioned" the wood. We are to paint it tomorrow when we return home.
Tomorrow we go to a resort for the day, all 12 of us and Karen and Alex. School also starts again tomorrow and the kids return with the construction well underway.
The living room is a bee of activity with about 8 or 10 people playing Mexican Train.
I am hoping Karen will get a few lines in here. She has been dealing with a lot of stuff since we returned and has to get things organized for tomorrow while we are away.
Hi, me here now. I just had a two hour phone call with my trusty assistant dealing with problems at school and onsite. Fun and games.
We really did have a great day, which helped make the problem solving go better.
Alex is spoiled rotten, more than usual even, by all the loving attention from the great crew here. He is loving every minute of the attention and is shining in fine form with his performances. It will not only be hard for me to see them leave, but it will be horrible for him too. So how many of them am I going to be able to tie on down here.
Now I have to go down to the depot with the giddy sister to prepare food for the students as school reopens tomorrow.
Two we have to take time to check over our kids skin for any problems to see if a visit to the doctor is needed tomorrow.
If I don't go now I will get even more giddy, so goodnight. More tomorrow.
We saw the whole valley and what a beautiful sight!
We returned home and a bunch walked the canal with all the kids. Faith and I stayed at home and "poisioned" the wood. We are to paint it tomorrow when we return home.
Tomorrow we go to a resort for the day, all 12 of us and Karen and Alex. School also starts again tomorrow and the kids return with the construction well underway.
The living room is a bee of activity with about 8 or 10 people playing Mexican Train.
I am hoping Karen will get a few lines in here. She has been dealing with a lot of stuff since we returned and has to get things organized for tomorrow while we are away.
Hi, me here now. I just had a two hour phone call with my trusty assistant dealing with problems at school and onsite. Fun and games.
We really did have a great day, which helped make the problem solving go better.
Alex is spoiled rotten, more than usual even, by all the loving attention from the great crew here. He is loving every minute of the attention and is shining in fine form with his performances. It will not only be hard for me to see them leave, but it will be horrible for him too. So how many of them am I going to be able to tie on down here.
Now I have to go down to the depot with the giddy sister to prepare food for the students as school reopens tomorrow.
Two we have to take time to check over our kids skin for any problems to see if a visit to the doctor is needed tomorrow.
If I don't go now I will get even more giddy, so goodnight. More tomorrow.
Sunday after Church
It is another great day in Haiti. We had a great Church Service this morning. We are having a great time together and getting lots of jobs completed. The kitchen cupboards at Luckners are completed except for the doors. Luckners children have poisoned it and will paint it tomorrow. Then I will make doors. I finished Karen's storage closet yesterday, Faith and Sandra will poison it and then paint it.
The School work is progressing nicely and with a couple of hundred kids added tomorrow it will be fun. The Market trip yesterday was interesting as usual, I almost lost it smelling the rotten meat,etc. We are going on a field trip after lunch, 14 people in one small truck, no small feat. The heat is bad but getting somewhat better at standing it. Lots of funtimes with the children. It is always a pleasure to come here, I enjoy it tremendously despite the trip in from PaP.
Love Dickie
The School work is progressing nicely and with a couple of hundred kids added tomorrow it will be fun. The Market trip yesterday was interesting as usual, I almost lost it smelling the rotten meat,etc. We are going on a field trip after lunch, 14 people in one small truck, no small feat. The heat is bad but getting somewhat better at standing it. Lots of funtimes with the children. It is always a pleasure to come here, I enjoy it tremendously despite the trip in from PaP.
Love Dickie
Friday, January 9, 2009
Giddy sisters
One of the giddy sisters here, the smaller one.
We are having a good time together. What a great bunch of people I have here. At this time of the day Sandra and I are very overtired and extremely giddy, but I am really enjoying having someone to be giddy with.
A ton of work is being done on the school. Things are moving along nicely. Alex and TiFi are both benefiting from the attention of the other giddy sister and of non-giddy Faith.
Today a large contingent of blan yo (12) walked from the HATS compound to Luckner's house, along with Alex (in stroller) and Pal on a leash. It appeared that Pal was walking Gerry most of the time. This walk brought a lot of attention and stirred a lot of comments, but was well enjoyed.
Tomorrow morning I plan to take some of the group to the market in Verrettes. Sunday afternoon we plan to take them to Ti Riviere, and one day next week we are planning on a beach day. So, who came here to work anyway??
It is fantastic for me to have the group here, but is going to be extremely difficult to see them leave.
Now the other giddy sister needs to write a few lines.
We are having a great time....much too hot. Karen wears jeans, corduroy pants and long sleeves and the rest of us are melting!
We have eaten a lot of good food and had a few good laughs. We go to bed early......last night I woke up having to go to the bathroom and I looked at my watch to see what time it was only to find out it was 10:20PM. I laughed so hard I woke Dickie and he wanted to know what was wrong and I told him it was only 10:20 PM and he said "good" and went back to sleep.
It is good to be back again. I love the children and seeing how they have grown and changed. It is so good to see the staff and families and we look forward to school starting on Monday so we can see it in action. The storage and cook area are great and I have been taking food over to the Haitian workers to cook there daily. The work team at the school are all working so hard and they have a great rapore with the Haitian workers and you can find them laughing and teasing each other as they work.
It is too late and I am too tired to write anything intelligent tonight. Dickie has some good pictures and I hope to get some up soon.
We are having a good time together. What a great bunch of people I have here. At this time of the day Sandra and I are very overtired and extremely giddy, but I am really enjoying having someone to be giddy with.
A ton of work is being done on the school. Things are moving along nicely. Alex and TiFi are both benefiting from the attention of the other giddy sister and of non-giddy Faith.
Today a large contingent of blan yo (12) walked from the HATS compound to Luckner's house, along with Alex (in stroller) and Pal on a leash. It appeared that Pal was walking Gerry most of the time. This walk brought a lot of attention and stirred a lot of comments, but was well enjoyed.
Tomorrow morning I plan to take some of the group to the market in Verrettes. Sunday afternoon we plan to take them to Ti Riviere, and one day next week we are planning on a beach day. So, who came here to work anyway??
It is fantastic for me to have the group here, but is going to be extremely difficult to see them leave.
Now the other giddy sister needs to write a few lines.
We are having a great time....much too hot. Karen wears jeans, corduroy pants and long sleeves and the rest of us are melting!
We have eaten a lot of good food and had a few good laughs. We go to bed early......last night I woke up having to go to the bathroom and I looked at my watch to see what time it was only to find out it was 10:20PM. I laughed so hard I woke Dickie and he wanted to know what was wrong and I told him it was only 10:20 PM and he said "good" and went back to sleep.
It is good to be back again. I love the children and seeing how they have grown and changed. It is so good to see the staff and families and we look forward to school starting on Monday so we can see it in action. The storage and cook area are great and I have been taking food over to the Haitian workers to cook there daily. The work team at the school are all working so hard and they have a great rapore with the Haitian workers and you can find them laughing and teasing each other as they work.
It is too late and I am too tired to write anything intelligent tonight. Dickie has some good pictures and I hope to get some up soon.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
New blogspot address
Hi everyone, we have arrived safe and sound. It was quite the ride here but God is good! Our team will be writing about our adventures from a blog that was set up early in the planning stages. The address http://www.haititeam2009.blogspot.com
I will try to add a few personal stories when I can on this blog for those that know me and want to check.
Sandra
I will try to add a few personal stories when I can on this blog for those that know me and want to check.
Sandra
Friday, January 2, 2009
Final thoughts
Well, we've been home for 2 days now.
Our trip home was eventful with Mariah, then Tevan getting the same flu bug that my mom had. Mariah was up all night sick in Miami and Tevan was really sick all the way home from Miami to Calgary. He was a real trooper, using his bag on the plane and never once complaining. Plus Ariane was still suffering with her bad ear and fever. I was so happy when we finally made it here. The kids have all turned a corner and are on the mend, although Tevan is still pretty green. I think he'll be back to normal by tomorrow.
Unfortunately, with me taking care of three sick kids on the plane, my camera was got lost on the plane from Miami to Dallas. I called yesterday but the Lost and Found was closed, so will be calling again today and sure hope someone turned it in.
I've been thinking about our time in Haiti and what it meant to me and to our family. Haiti is a beautiful, crazy, upside down, magical, terrible place. It's a place where children die every day from malnutrition, water-borne diseases, and preventable illnesses. It's a place where labourers line up every morning at 4:30 am on a bridge near the orphanage, hoping to be hired for a day's work in the fields so that they can provide for their family. Where women can't read or write, but can do complicated math calculations in the marketplace. It's a place of corruption and distrust. But also a place of laughter and unending hope where people find reasons to celebrate, to laugh and to make connections with others.
Haiti can seem lawless and chaotic, but when you observe the culture, there are complicated social and cultural rules that govern everything that goes on. People live according to age-old rituals and culture, with both harsh aspects and beautiful and gracious ones. It's a reminder that our way of doing things and of living life isn't the only way or even the right way. Being a part of another culture helps keep things in perspective here and helps me to be more open to the myriad of differences in the people I meet every day.
I had time in Haiti to reflect, to slow down the hectic pace of my life, and to spend time with my children. I had a chance to welcome more people into my family as Mariah and I visited with her father again and had the chance to meet Mariah's siblings. I enjoyed the beauty of the country right outside the gate of the orphanage and I got in touch with nature in a way that just doesn't happen in a big city (cows mooing, goats sqealing, roosters crowing - oh joy!).
My two oldest kids had a chance to reconnect with their roots and heritage, while they all had an opportunity to learn about different ways of seeing the world and different ways of living. They saw what their efforts could do to help others, forged friendships, and worked alongside people who live in very different circumstances. I know their lives are richer for the experience.
Haiti reminds me that it is possible to make a life count for something more than commercial success and material gain. I can use my gifts, my education and my blessings to help others. In Haiti, if you are hoping to change a country, you will be sorely disappointed. But if you do what you can to touch one life, you can make a difference. That applies not only to Haiti, but everywhere. We're here for a bigger reason than just finding success as defined by our culture. We're here because God made us and our lives have a purpose. We can be fueled by our passion to make this world a better place, one individual, one person at a time.
It has been a joy sharing my experiences with you!
For those of you who are reading and want to know more about Hands Across the Sea, directed by my mom, Karen Huxter, you can post a message here for me, email me, or email hats.haiti@starband.net. You can also visit hats-haiti.com.
There is a team travelling from Nova Scotia in a few days to spend 2 weeks in Deschapelles, Haiti and they will be posting their photos and blogging about their experiences on this same site. I hope you'll turn in to read about their adventures.
Liette
Our trip home was eventful with Mariah, then Tevan getting the same flu bug that my mom had. Mariah was up all night sick in Miami and Tevan was really sick all the way home from Miami to Calgary. He was a real trooper, using his bag on the plane and never once complaining. Plus Ariane was still suffering with her bad ear and fever. I was so happy when we finally made it here. The kids have all turned a corner and are on the mend, although Tevan is still pretty green. I think he'll be back to normal by tomorrow.
Unfortunately, with me taking care of three sick kids on the plane, my camera was got lost on the plane from Miami to Dallas. I called yesterday but the Lost and Found was closed, so will be calling again today and sure hope someone turned it in.
I've been thinking about our time in Haiti and what it meant to me and to our family. Haiti is a beautiful, crazy, upside down, magical, terrible place. It's a place where children die every day from malnutrition, water-borne diseases, and preventable illnesses. It's a place where labourers line up every morning at 4:30 am on a bridge near the orphanage, hoping to be hired for a day's work in the fields so that they can provide for their family. Where women can't read or write, but can do complicated math calculations in the marketplace. It's a place of corruption and distrust. But also a place of laughter and unending hope where people find reasons to celebrate, to laugh and to make connections with others.
Haiti can seem lawless and chaotic, but when you observe the culture, there are complicated social and cultural rules that govern everything that goes on. People live according to age-old rituals and culture, with both harsh aspects and beautiful and gracious ones. It's a reminder that our way of doing things and of living life isn't the only way or even the right way. Being a part of another culture helps keep things in perspective here and helps me to be more open to the myriad of differences in the people I meet every day.
I had time in Haiti to reflect, to slow down the hectic pace of my life, and to spend time with my children. I had a chance to welcome more people into my family as Mariah and I visited with her father again and had the chance to meet Mariah's siblings. I enjoyed the beauty of the country right outside the gate of the orphanage and I got in touch with nature in a way that just doesn't happen in a big city (cows mooing, goats sqealing, roosters crowing - oh joy!).
My two oldest kids had a chance to reconnect with their roots and heritage, while they all had an opportunity to learn about different ways of seeing the world and different ways of living. They saw what their efforts could do to help others, forged friendships, and worked alongside people who live in very different circumstances. I know their lives are richer for the experience.
Haiti reminds me that it is possible to make a life count for something more than commercial success and material gain. I can use my gifts, my education and my blessings to help others. In Haiti, if you are hoping to change a country, you will be sorely disappointed. But if you do what you can to touch one life, you can make a difference. That applies not only to Haiti, but everywhere. We're here for a bigger reason than just finding success as defined by our culture. We're here because God made us and our lives have a purpose. We can be fueled by our passion to make this world a better place, one individual, one person at a time.
It has been a joy sharing my experiences with you!
For those of you who are reading and want to know more about Hands Across the Sea, directed by my mom, Karen Huxter, you can post a message here for me, email me, or email hats.haiti@starband.net. You can also visit hats-haiti.com.
There is a team travelling from Nova Scotia in a few days to spend 2 weeks in Deschapelles, Haiti and they will be posting their photos and blogging about their experiences on this same site. I hope you'll turn in to read about their adventures.
Liette
Monday, December 29, 2008
Last day!
Well, our last day in Haiti wasn't spent exactly as we'd hoped or planned.
Mariah and Martha making passionfruit juice.
Josiah getting rice ready.
The day started out great. Mom and I had a nice long walk by the canal at 6 am with the german shepherd, Pal. Pal was awesome until he almost had a fit of excitement when a whole family of goats went by. We held his collar because he so much wants to play that he runs at them and barks and almost scares them half to death. The goat owners really don't like that!
When we got back from our walk, Ariane was crying because of a bad earache. Apparently she had been up in the night and Karen had given her pain medicine then too. Over the course of the morning, the pain got worse and worse and her fever kept climbing. Luckner got us some antibiotics and my friendly pharmacist buddy Christy gave me the dosage. She had a very rough day but seemed a little bit better by the time she went to bed, so I'm hoping the medicine is working so she'll be better again tomorrow.
Karen didn't feel great all morning (nor last night), but started to feel especially sick after lunch and spent the whole afternoon and evening unable to keep anything down. It's been 30 minutes now so I'm hopeful that I can soon give her a glass of water and maybe a cracker.
I managed to get some of the things done that I had planned, including packing up some of the donations that are set aside for kids in the church that are away visiting family right now, cleaning up and organizing mom's room after using it as a donation centre for 10 days, and taking down the Christmas decorations. That in between giving meds, hugs, and helping Ariane and mom make it through the day. Oh yeah, and I packed our bags and am almost ready to get the last of the laundry to pack to leave tomorrow morning.
Josiah is sleeping down at Luckner's place again tonight. Cabano and Ricardo just adore him and wanted him to come and spend the night again, so Luckner asked if he could keep him forever. When I said no, he asked if he could keep him just overnight. So he was excited to run off to another sleepover.
Tevan had a big moment today! He lost his first tooth. He was playing outside with JJ and Moise when he got bumped by a ball and pop - out comes his tooth. He's quite thrilled to have lost a tooth and has it under his pillow for the tooth fairy tonight. I wonder if she'll bring Haitian goudes, US currency, or Canadian money?
The kids were a big help today, moving boxes and helping Martha prepare food. Martha cooked a special goodbye meal for us of rice and congo peas, akra, and banane peze. Plus my favourite juice, passionfruit juice. It was a wonderful meal.
Mariah and Martha making passionfruit juice.
Josiah getting rice ready. We leave tomorrow at 9 am and catch our flight at 5 pm. We'll spend the night in Miami and will be home late on Dec 31st. I'll post one last message when we are home safe and sound.
Liette
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)