Friday Morning

Good Morning,
This will be short. I just wrote a long one and it would not post and I lost it all.
Our day started with a walk around the canal and across the bridge to see the people waiting for work and people starting their work day. Then we opened the school gate and inspected the tiolet as we saw the door was open. Next we went to devotions at the school at 7:30 and stayed until school started at 8:00 AM. They are writing exams this week and until Wednesday next week and then will be off on March Break. We are diappointed we will not get to see or help with the feeding program as they will not be fed as they go home whenever they finish their exam. You will be pleased to hear that that was cinnamon sticks in the pot Anna!
We had pancakes for breakfast this AM, really good pancakes with syrup. Yesterday for lunch we had rice, goat, veggie and spices and sas pwa (bean sauce) and for supper last night we had leftovers from Wednesday of spaghetti and soup. Marta cooked a great porridge the first morning we were here. It could have been dessert. I will have to get that recipe.
Last night we cleaned off the shelves in the kitchen....removing all the food and kitchen paraphernalia to boxes and living room floor. Alex is delighted because he is able to pick up all the stuff with his feet when he is in the walker. A big new playground for him. He is better with his feet than most people are with their hands. Yesterday when Dickie was putting in the air conditioner he was using a hammer and Alex got it when he laid it down and got it right side up and then started hammering the floor. He is able to do anything with his feet when in his walker. A wonderful sight to behold! We have been working with him to walk by himself. He can get up by himself from a sitting position and take a few steps and is very proud of himself, as he should be. He can sit up by himself from a lying position too.
The men told Marta (the cook) this morning when she came and saw the mess in the kitchen that it would be 2 weeks before it was finsihed...she smiled and then laughed as she knew they were pulling her leg.
Karen and Luckner went to Saint Marc on school business yesterday and while there bought 4 mattresses for Fedna, JJ, Mirlande and Moyez. Thank you to those who gave us money for a need!
The men put in an air conditioner in the living room window yesterday. It was donated by Karen's cousin, Gray, from Newfoundland. What a gift! We were not very far away from it last night.
It was 40.6 degrees yesterday afternoon and by bedtime it was cool. We were on the roof and Gail said she was chilly...what a pleasant feeling. It was 28.6 when I got dressed this AM so watch out later today,
I can't remember half the stuff I wrote earlier but this will have to do for today.
I noticed Gail with condoms for her toes.....what do you suppose she was expecting?
Have a great day, we are!
Sandra for the crew

from Gail & Trueman

Good morning all....

We didn't get back to you last night.... I (gail) fell asleep and they didn't have the heart to wake me up. We start early in the morning with devotions... Yesterday we went to the school and shared in their devotions. This morning we were with the staff. We sure had some lively music. Even I was dancing around waving my arms and clapping. Can you imagine that... Trueman and Dickie have been hard at work on computers and installing the new airconditioner, re-installing shelves with cement screws instead of the nails which were in the walls. They didn't hold. Dickie warned all Karen's helpers what he would do to them if they put another nail in the wall. Last evening we had a birthday Party for Maladetta. She just turned 16, a lovely girl. They placed her in the center of the room and each person in turn praised her, or gave her a blessing. And also a hug or a kiss. Everyone around here loves to be hugged and kissed. Then she was given her gifts. We all had some cake which Sandra made, and some pop. You should have seen little Alex when everyone arrived, he was just bouncing around and running around in his walker and screaming for joy. His face was glowing. What a precious little fellow he is. He and I play a lot of soccer. We had a heavy rainfall last night but this morning it is beautiful and (HOT!!!) with the fresh rain it is more humid. You would love to be here right now. Karen, Trueman and Dickie are out on the porch and three little ones J.J. Mirlande and Moyes are singing for them. Their voices are so beautiful and their faces just light up. Oh I hear what they are singing in English "He is master of the Wind" and now "Holy, Holy, Holy" Mirlande just gave me a spelling lesson, on how to spell her name.... Oops must go. Dickie needs to turn off the power..... Sandra and Dickie will write later...

We are here

Well, believe it or not but we are finally here! We had long wait at Halifax but finally got out and in to Montreal in time to get a good nights sleep at theTravelodge. Had a great flight down and a wonderful trip in to Deschappelles. We had 2 trucks and 5 men and 2 women to greet us and load and pack all our luggage in with the stuff they had bought earlier. Karen was inside the airport and waiting for us. We headed out with all our 12 bags and box and had about 15 Haitians trying to help us but we already had 5 men of our own plus Dickie and Trueman...we made quite a good procession across the street to the trucks!
Cecile was there to meet us too, that was a pleasant surprise! She and I and Timothy drove in the truck (Tap Tap) with Daniel and Patrick (Police) and Baniga in the back with most of our luggage. Dickie, Gail and Trueman drove in the Hats truck with Karen and Luckner and the rest of our luggage and many boxes of stuff they bought in Port Au Prince while waiting for us. We made a great sight driving like maniacs (as everyone else on the road drove that way). Only God could have gotten us here safely and that He did with us all relaxed and enjoying the trip!
The kids were all waiting to greet us as we came through the gates and we got lots of hugs and kisses and warm loving greetings!
Trueman set up a new printer in Karen's office tonight and we are now running off test papers for the school for tomorrow. Trueman and Gail have gone to bed and I am typing this and watching and feeding papers to the copier.
I will get Gail or Trueman to write their thoughts tomorrow!

We are on our way tomorrow

It is time to head out again. We are on our way tomorrow morning and will go to Montreal and stay overnight and then head to Port Au Prince Tuesday morning. We will let you know when we have arrived safely and then hope to give some updates to let you know what we are doing there.

Dates change again

We are not going to Haiti until March 4th. We fly to Montreal on the 3rd and leave Montreal on the 4th . We are looking forward to our new travel date.

We unpacked the cheese and chocolate and ate the date squares! The 8 suitcases and computer tower sit in our family room awaiting our next date and our carry-ons have been partially emptied of personal tioletries.

Karen is due in Calgary today and hopes to have surgery on her left eye this Thursday if all goes well with tests on Monday. Please be in prayer for her.

We will be back in touch before we go on the 3rd and will keep you updated as our days in Haiti unfold.

Sandra

We have arrived safely.....

We have arrived safely....back in Yarmouth! Our flight to Montreal was cancelled due to weather conditions and now our plan is to try again next Monday. We were presented with several options but the best was to return home and try again next week. Air Canada only flies to Port Au Prince once a week, Tuesday. We are very disappointed but are optomistic that things will go better next week. Thanks to all who prayed for a safe trip for us. We did make it safely to Halifax and back.

Packed and ready!

Gail and Trueman Browett and Sandra and Dickie MacDonald will be writing this blog for the next two weeks. (Thanks for the help, Theresa.) We are on a 2 week trip to HATS-Haiti Mission in Pont Deschapelles in the Artibonite Valley of Haiti.

Here it is Sunday morning and we have our suitcases and carry-ons all packed and ready to go. We leave Yarmouth tomorrow afternoon and leave Halifax 6:20 AM Tuesday. We are scheduled to arrive in Port Au Prince at 2:50 PM and then the fun begins.
We will be in contact to let you all know when we have arrived. Please be in prayer for our health and safety.
Sandra