From Cap-Haitien to Santiago and in between

Hi All

I hope January was gentle for you. February arrived with good and bad news. Nursing student Brunie was mugged Tuesday night @7pm while waiting for a taptap after class. She is very shaken and lost her new laptop,case, textbooks, money, projects.

Brunie in school uniform.

Dan notified her  'Starthrowers in Action' sponsors yesterday. We'll replace what we can.

Continuing in that vein, Mexene (Sen Rafayel, school in Cap) was in yesterday for the first time since his mother died 2 weeks ago. She was 16 years younger than me. He has been suffering from dental pain for several months - we are presently without a good dentist for referrals. Rose-Guerlande's career path will provide some relief but 5 years is a long wait. We are preparing space at our new center (Lakay Jasmine) in Sen Rafayel for a medical/dental clinic so please contact me if you have a small team which can visit. In the meantime, many like Mexene, suffer.

Mexene - dental pain and the pain of losing his mother

If you've been following our blog, you are familiar with Inea's story.  Last weekend we began moving her, after 3 days of cleaning and painting (still not finished). She may be young and has suffered  much but she has learned lessons along the way which will serve her well in life. With her Thyroidectomy scheduled for some day next week (apparently they will let us know on Saturday) and her rental tikay (home) marked for demolition at any time, we charged her with the task of looking for a new place. We've been looking as well but we put in about 10 hours a day 7 days a week between Sen Rafayel and Cap-Haitien. Doesn't leave a great deal of time. She found two rooms on the main floor (step DOWN into) of a house much closer to her school than the current location, saving time and money for taxi-moto.  She negotiated with the owner and the price was acceptable although still high. All housing prices are inflated. Now the sisters have 2 rooms plus shared latrine outback and a small smoky room adjacent for cooking. Filthy yes but we found Lysol in one of the stores so better after the cleaning. There is no water for bathing or drinking but it can be purchased on the street.

Inea and Auguste check out new rental space-2 rooms! - before cleaning and painting

Moving Day - stopped in our tracks  (Inea)

The first wrinkle in moving Inea and Dina to the new location appeared when the owner kept putting us off with regard to turning over keys. Long story short no keys. So -secondary job during the move - find a place (or places) open on Sunday which sell locks and find a Boss available for working at short notice. Having found a carpenter available we loaded up the truck and headed for the new place - or so we thought. Couldn't help but think of The Beverly Hillbillies when I looked at the truck. Dieugrand sat on top as we were full inside as well.

Blocking the only road out-up to the axle in mud

Our 'we can take everything in one trip' turned into an adventure as the only road out was blocked. Pedestrian or 2 wheel was the only traffic getting in or out of the katye (neighborhood). The driver of this truck had tried to execute a turn and become mired. He was nowhere to be found.

To our right-only a footpath

To our left., the business of gathering water continued.
Note the homemade wheelbarrow - necessity IS the mother of invention.

After conferring with several folks standing on the sidelines, Auguste and I walked the narrow, winding  footpath through and around the blockage and decided that with him driving and the rest of us walking we could make it. I think we were all holding a collective breath as he negotiated the narrow spaces between houses and kept the truck out of the mire. The settling in continues.

_________________________

Two weeks ago  we travelled to Santiago to check on our 4 university students. Crossing the frontier at Ouanaminthe/Dajabon is always an emotional experience, looking at the tranquil waters of the Massacre River, being reminded of the horrors perpetrated there. What a history between the two countries.

The Massacre River at the border between Haiti and the Dominican Republic
- tranquil to-day

In Santiago, everyone was studying - Rose-Guerlande enjoying being part of the university now instead of the Language Institute. She was accepted into Spanish 2 at the university with 15 credits. As always, we are so proud of the accomplishments of our young people. While Auguste and Elorge searched for parts for our car (no luck) Jhennie and I had a quiet breakfast to-gether on the Saturday. She was limping with a severely infected toe so I sent her home and went shopping for Epsom Salts and Hydrogen peroxide to help it along. Unfortunately I had given away all of my Allimax supply the day before.

The return bus trip home was uneventful until we reached Haitian customs at Terrier Rouge. The young man who had installed our windows in Sen Rafayel was on the same bus and we chatted briefly. At customs, he was hauled off the bus along with the supplies he had purchased for window framing and arrested -- because he owed taxes we were told. We left him at the customs post. Next day in town we stopped by the store and he was fine although many dollars poorer.

Which brings us to Sen Rafayel and Lakay Jasmine (Jasmine House)

Security lights, a water cooler, signage -we're open for business

Tuesday we delivered the first load of tile and Thinset. Sunday we'll take up another load. Boss Jean has already begun to prepare the floors. We've also scheduled home visits to two of our students, Marline and Herline, who were sponsored this week. Yay! Guerlande, our coordinator, phoned awhile ago to tell us that one of our students was badly burned yesterday when a pot of boiling water (which sits on the charcoal all day) tipped over on her barefeet. We'll visit Mariline as well time permitting and take whatever we have in our small dispensary for burns.

Leaving Sen Rafayel is unsettling. The question always hangs over us - will the truck make it home? We had
t-shirts made for the staff as a New Year's present (zetren) and as a result we have a uniform - jeans and t-shirt with Starthrower Logo are a big hit.

Another instalment in the never ending saga of our truck's adventures on the mountainside
(becoming a legend I suspect)
Even stranded we can be recognized (Myriame, Lusnot, Auguste)

Descending the mountain, we came upon a group of young men kicking around what turned out to be a puppy,  like a soccer ball. It was crying and yapping - probably 5 or 6 weeks old. I always speak out when I see animal cruelty, even though it often falls on deaf ears.  As a result one of the pups was thrown in the truck with me. Because he came from Granjil mountain, he is aptly named Granjil - may he be as strong and tranquil as the 'mon' for which he is named.  It was my sister's birthday that day so he was her present in absentia. Rosema one of our student/staff  has been looking for a puppy so he received my sister's 'kado'. An appropriate gift as his mother gave us our dogs Jolie and TiSab 4 years ago as a gift for sending her son to school.

Smallest Starfish Granjil takes over the table
and the cat's dishes. Rosema looks on

Although we continue to function without interruption,  our rented centre here in Cap is experiencing major new cracks with each earthquake which shakes us - 2 last week 5.1 and 4.5 magnitude. Interior and exterior walls are compromised, in the house, security center, depot and privacy wall. Even small tremors send people into the streets. It is a fragile time.

Recent quake damage to exterior wall (Sherlyne)

We  always keep eyes and ears open for rental space/ or land for building. With the latest damage we have actively begun to find a solution which will benefit everyone.

Ala pwochen (til next time)
Kenbe pa lage  (hang in)
Sharon

January 12th - 2 years after, Signs of the Times

The best laid plans - a blog post  for  January 12 looking at where we are 2 years after the quake is a few days late. One needs a steady source of electricity,  strong enough to fire up modem, router, and laptop. It has been a very quiet, dark week. No electricity - perhaps hoping to quell protests - it worked.  Schools were closed but no programs planned. Some closed the day before as well as the day after. Throughout the country, banks and many businesses shut down.  

Cap-Haitien

Perhaps the continued absence of electricity  is an appropriate indicator of how far we've come in 2 years. Not far.  There are other more tangible 'signs'. The question to be raised -- is this progress?

Life without Cholera - always treat the water you use
with bleach tablets

Billboards are springing up everywhere, this one at our corner  sponsored by the Ministry of Public Health and a very high profile international NGO. The smiling actor is telling  those who can read and afford to purchase, to use  aquatabs to purify water for drinking purposes. It has been my experience that those who can read and can afford  aquatabs can in fact afford to purchase potable water. While not certain who the target audience is, I am certain that the funds for the soaring ad  would be more effectively used implementing a  door-to-door distribution program of free aquatabs. Just the view from the sidelines.

Aside from Cholera, has the quality of life improved? Are there jobs, you ask?  Well, not yet, but according to this billboard, in the first 20,000 jobs that are coming, there is one for you! Again  women, one discernable, the second a blurred image , head bowed in concentration over a piece of material - perhaps sewing t-shirts in a sweat shop  10 hours a day for minimum wage? Here that is   $3.  a day - not enough to feed a family of 2. 

Just because we could, Auguste and I stood under 2 different signs and asked those passing by what they thought the message was. No one had even looked at the signs until we pointed them out. Most looked, shook their heads and walked away without comment.

We're going to get a lot of business - get ready for your share



Opportunities are coming, get ready to grab them.

How is the housing market? I'm glad you asked. The January 12 edition of Le Nouvelliste was just delivered - a few days late,  like this blog. It arrives by plane from Port-au-Prince.  On the front page a picture of Canaan, earthquake tent city. (www.lenouvelliste.com) Inside, articles on gifts for relocating 5000 families. Twenty million dollars to relocate 5000 families? I don't like the math. One can bet those being relocated are not from the ranks of the poor.  So in reply to your question, the housing market is stalled. Here in Cap-Haitien, Carmene and her family and Inea and her sister and hundreds of others wait for their homes to be destroyed for an airport/ hotel. Unknown numbers  have already lost their homes. We have had no luck finding housing for 17 yr. old Inea, and her surgery (Thyroidectomy) is scheduled for Feb. 4th. That doesn't mean it will happen that day, however, we live in hope. We're looking for housing for ourselves as well, but that's another story.

Sen Rafayel

In Sen Rafayel, work continues on our education support centre, Jasmine House (Lakay Jasmine) We finally have a home base from which to work. Last week we visited  2 of our senior students. Here is a short video which takes us from the newly paved main street (another sign of the times) into the neighborhood where Wislet and his family live. Dad died 14 years ago. Mom holds the family to-gether. We were delivering a sponsor's Christmas gift package as well as catching up on family comings and goings. Within our community, there are only 2 families which are intact. Due to space constraints, siblings and parents (if they are living) are  often separated for years without any news of each other.

Mme. M sits in the corner of the one room
tikay she shares with 3 of her teenage children.
The oldest boy is in Port-au-Prince.

Kitchen window

Kitchen corner - family of five

"Your living is determined not so much by what

life brings to you as by the attitude

you bring to life"

                                                                       Kahlil Gibran

The good news is, two years later we're still here,  stronger than ever. From our home to yours, beni-w. More later from the down side of Sen Rafayel.

Kenbe pa lage

Sharon

Lakay Fondasyon

Cap-Haitien, Haiti

PS During the writing of this blog we lost and regained hydro 9 times.

PPS 10 times

Good bye 2011, Hello 2012

Whenever we've been without electricity for a few days (in this case since last year!) I never know what to do first - the dance of joy? iron that pile of clothes? pump water?  toast bread? make coffee? plug in modem and router? write a blog?  As the duration is always a mystery, I usually take a couple of moments to savour the transition  - tonight from candlelight to bright lights and internet.  Although candlelight has its moments, give me electricity for work.

At the moment it's here and it's good to have the opportunity to touch base with you. New Year's greetings.

2012 arrived at Lakay Fondasyon  much the same way 2011 arrived - competing celebrations, each with amplifiers  which probably carry to Port-au-Prince, sporadic electricity and gunfire interspersed with  periods of rain. The rain hasn't stopped, playing havoc with our solar needs.

I had thought about a pictorial look back at 2011, but upon reviewing last year's photos, I changed my mind. Who wants to look at a dozen different pictures of us stranded on the mountainside?  Could we put out a calendar - is that a fundraiser or what?

Sad but true the fact that we were stranded an average of once a month on the side of Granjil mountain  --  our truck  losing the war the mountain wages against all trespassers. Granjil won the last battle - our truck is still out of action  --anpan -- and continuing heavy rains have kept our mechanic Danius from coming to Cap-Haitian  for repairs. It also prevents us  delivering construction materials and checking in with staff.

Dec. 28, 2011 - this patch job got us down the mountain
JUST  (Danius and Auguste)

In between the strandings, we did not stand still. As we received a generous grant from Jasmine Foundation for land purchase and building, 2011 began as 2010 had ended with us looking for property, both in Cap-Haitien and Sen Rafayel.  In March we found this little piece of paradise in the village.  After taking our time to check every inch and blade, we headed home, enthused and infused with the tranquility we had experienced from the land.

March 2011 - tranquility and home

Twenty minutes later, don't laugh. Okay - laugh. I did.

Our enthusiasm was not dampened and in April , after many negotiations, we purchased.  May we cleared the land and construction began in June.

June 2011: Staff and students pitched in as neighbours across the road
 wondered what was coming.

Dec. 2011 - first floor -- windows, doors, washrooms and privacy

It has not been an easy year. In August, Jack left our staff and the project. The learning curve has been very sharp and too brief.  Our staff grew as well, as Solange and  Edeline joined Fabiola and co-ordinator Guerlande in the office and Wilno and Vilsaint joined Kesner in security. What a team!

With staff comings and goings it seemed for a time that the only constant was change, but for a moment I forgot the grinding poverty.  Now there is a constant.

Thanks to Mme Cindy in Pennsylvania, every one of our secondary students received Christmas gifts, and thanks to the wonderful turnout at Acheson's (Orangeville) fundraiser Dec. 8th, everyone received rice, beans and cooking oil for Christmas day. Thank you Dianne and staff, Cindy S. and event coordination team and Danila and staff from Scotiabank. What a day. Thank you also to the many folks who came out to meet, talk, and purchase. Mil Mesi also to the wonderful new sponsors. It was delightful to have one-on-one time.

Lusnot and Myriame package rice and beans. Does the egg carton look familiar? 
It carried gifts from PA.

Edwina and Sherlyne bottle cooking oil.

2011 was a year of arrivals and departures --many new faces, among them Phana the newest member of our 'Vision' club.  She's ready for January term with new glasses.

Phana -new glasses for the January term

Evaldine and her sister Kencia lost their mom. Mme Clothilde died Sept. 1st., leaving the girls orphans, never knowing that Evaldine had just successfully completed Philo. She was 20 years my junior. 

Mme Clothilde with Kencia
Mme died Sept. 1st of tansyon (high blood pressure)

Inea and younger sister Dina wait - wait for the bulldozer to break down the tikay we've been renting for them since July. Their tikay has been marked for demolition by the state in conjunction with the new airport.  

A disconsolate Inea sits on the 'galri' of her tikay, built in July,  soon to be demolished.

 The number on the wall says everything.

Approximately half of the houses (katye) in the marked zone have already suffered demolition. We are looking for new quarters, however UN presence has inflated both rental and purchase prices. Two weeks ago we looked at a beautiful property in town for our home base. The price of the land, no negotiating, was $100.000. USD. Location, location, location? Small shacks with no services are several hundred dollars US per year. Our young people cannot afford a roof over their heads.  We will lose a portion of rent paid but many are losing much more. 

Inea still has thyroid surgery ahead of her, and the hospital lost her dossier. They have no record of her visits/ diagnosis. We pulled to-gether  receipts for all diagnostic tests and notes we had sent since July in order to help the hospital reconstruct her history.  She goes back the second week of January for a consult  as visiting teams are expected in during February. Surgery could be rescheduled for that time period.

In the meantime the cyst is growing, presenting swallowing difficulties. As well, her internal thermostat is malfunctioning due to fluctuations in hormones. She doesn't complain. She is one of many. There are over  100 on our secondary school list this year, each one with unique needs. I thought my parenting days were behind me.  

As of to-day, Mme Carmene is on indefinite leave, under too much pressure not knowing when her home will be destroyed (her house has been marked too). The thousands affected by this thoughtless, unnecessary bureaucratic nightmare are all trying to find new places and new ways to double and triple up in the homes that remain standing. The challenges continue. Housing is always a priority.

While the revelry which takes over the upper and middle classes for two weeks beginning Dec. 24 continues, Edwina spent Independence Day  (Jan. 1st) in the emergency ward at Justinien Hospital. Auguste didn't want to disturb me on my one day off so he spent his holiday in the hospital with her. It will take until to-morrow to get the results of lab work.

Nursing student Brunie dropped in although we were closed,  as she is writing exams this week and just has  no other time. The day after exams she begins her practicum at the hospital here and needs new shoes and uniforms as well as travel expenses.

Jhennie, Elorge and Marlene were in from Santiago for second term fees. All are in third year.

Saturday we sent Rose-Guerlande back to Santiago to write entrance exams to study dentistry. She went with a new lap top donated by Eugene in Ottawa. Although Rose G. is without sponsorship, something will materialize.  Haiti needs dentists as desperately as clean air.

In closing, the staff and I wish each of you the blessing of beginnings - may this year be the start of whatever you most need for healing, health and happiness. From the steps of our new Jasmine Centre in Sen Rafayel n'ap swete w bon ane. 

Staff members:Kesner,Fabiola, Guerlande, Edeline, Solange
Wilno, me
Danius, Vilsaint

A New Year means renewal, and I choose to begin 2012 with hope - and a commitment to continue changing the world in whatever way I'm able. How about you? Everyone who reads this has the ability.  What is your path?  Jack Layton's letter to Canadians, written Aug. 20 just 2 days before his untimely death says it so eloquently:

                              " Love is better than anger.

                                   Hope is better than fear.

                                   Optimism is better than despair.

                                   So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic.                            

                                   And we'll change the world."

Beni-w
Sharon
Lakay Fondasyon (Foundation House)
Cap-Haitien

Travels, New Faces and Gifts from PA

According to our local radio station, the government is experiencing a 'kriz gaz', in other words a fuel shortage. This is the first time in my memory we have been given a reason for no electricity.  Thankfully its a macro problem not micro - no problem purchasing fuel for vehicles - this time. Although it's inconvenient and frustrating not being able to communicate with you, we continue to be as busy as the proverbial bees.

Since Jack's departure from the Sen Rafayel project at summer's end, Auguste and I have become the conduit for purchasing and delivering any and ALL building, plumbing, wiring materials up the mountain. We could probably rebuild the National Palace with our new skills. Our poor truck is paying the price. A new starter is on my list of  "Things to purchase in Canada". Danius is coming to-morrow to check the tires/brakes.

Joceline, Auguste and Lusnot loading doors and framing materials.

Lusnot has become a valuable member of the  team, keeping the office open and functioning efficiently when we travel to Sen Rafayel. He will rewrite his Philo exams in July. For those sponsoring Gaby, Lusnot is his brother.

Lusnot working on text-book distribution lists.

Up the mountain

Yesterday we travelled up to Sen Rafayel to deliver hand made cement balusters for the privacy wall. Last week it was porcelain toilets and sinks. Torrential rains have rendered the already treacherous mountain track almost impassable. Ruts are now deeper and mud-filled , more crevasse than crevice,   pulling the tires in unthinkable directions.  We crawled up and back the last two trips. Everything arrived without a scratch. The only damage was to the nerves of the occupants of the truck.

Last week we moved from the depot into the new office. Although not complete, it is far enough along to accommodate staff and programs. Because of the increased space, we have added staff members. All are drawn from our current and former student lists. In the midst of the upheaval, support programs continue to function and we have begun work on programming for our students sitting out the Philo year due to teacher shortage.

Note door behind Guerlande. New staff Wilno and Solange (to my rt)
Guerlande(coordinator), Vilsaint, Edeline, Kesner

If our yard looks foreshortened to you, it is. We have lost 5 feet of frontage to the village, as the magistrate has decided to widen the path in front of our centre  and anything in the proposed way will be razed.  On the bright side,  we don't have to plant grass now,  one less chore. 

Down the mountain

In Cap-Haitien, in addition to providing support for the 100+ young people on our list, we continue intake. In November we added 7 new faces to our roster. There are several stages to our process. Initially, students come calling, asking for support. We request a handwritten letter detailing their situation, including school history. Once we have read the letter, we make a decision. If we continue  an appointment  is made with the students. Depending on  age and living arrangements, we may ask for a parent/guardian to be present. At this stage we check all appropriate papers: birth certificate, report cards. payment cards, attestations for state exams... After papers have been vetted we make a home visit to ascertain there is at least a chance for academic success. There is always something we can do which isn't too invasive to further support - ie mosquito nets or window screens...

Let me introduce brothers Jean-Woody, Fritzman and Raymond-son. Both parents are dead and there is no relative able to take 3 young men. They want to stay to-gether.  After reading their letters, we made an appointment.

Perhaps I was hiding...

On their first visit, instead of the papers requested, they brought book lists. I had to laugh when I saw the body language Auguste captured digitally. Nothing is easy here, nor does it go smoothly. After explaining again what we were requesting and why, the boys left to find the papers we needed. It took them a few days as their living conditions are fluid to say the least.

Mme Marie-Micheline

The latrine (full to capacity) is on an island -

They have been given floor space to sleep by Mme. Marie-Micheline, a friend of a sister of an aunt. After visiting the one-room home and speaking with Mme., we admitted them to the program for the year.  The room which houses Mme., her 5 children and the 3 brothers, is about 8X8. No kitchen, no running water, no privacy. There is a latrine out back, however IF it could be reached,  it is full and in need of expensive cleaning . Cleaning is a non-issue as it is inaccessible,  swamp which surrounds it never dries. This makes mosquitos (marengwen)  and by extension malaria a big issue.

                                                   Raymond-son and Fritzman - new uniforms, new hope

The boys were admitted on the understanding that we pay one trimeste at a time. Thanks to your donor dollars, distributed through our Education Support Program, these boys have 'possibilite'.

First trimeste exams are starting this week, which means the Christmas break is just around the corner. Our weekend staff have been sprucing up tables and chairs for the holidays with a coat of paint. Boxes filled with assorted gifts are arriving daily from Mme. Cindy in PA. We'll package and label them  for students when I return.

Auguste arriving with boxes-Jolie supervises

On Wednesday, I head to Canada for a week to attend the fundraiser at Acheson's in Orangeville.  We're one staff member short as Mme. Carmene is off for the month of December. Last week she received notice that her house has been marked for demolition by the state for the new airport. It is located miles from her house, yet the katye is being razed, with little and more often than not no remuneration. After losing both sons, now her home is going.   The new tikay we are renting for Inea and Dina is also marked for demolition. With so many already living in makeshift tents, the number is swelling instead of dwindling. Many in Fosenmichel have already had their homes destroyed. It is a nightmare from which there is no waking.  If this is prosperity, the price is too high.

It will be a difficult Christmas  for many.

Kembe pa lage

Sharon

Day One down, day two

Homecoming was worth the frustration. After arriving at the Provo airport at 6:30am for a 9am flight, I was informed that the flight would depart at noon. Noon became 2:30 and finally the plane arrived and I was home in a mere 35 minutes.

Auguste was waiting with 2 of our students - the starter has gone on the truck and we needed a push to get it going. We picked up Sherlyne on the way, heading to our place on foot. Once in the compound the dogs  barked and danced their welcome. It was quite a joyous time.  Joceline has Malaria so her welcome was less enthusiastic.

In addition to my 2 overflowing suitcases (a tip of the hat to WestJet for the second suitcase) Auguste had picked up 3 boxes which had arrived from Mme. Cindy in Pennsylvania, so we unpacked and sorted until about 7 pm. Mil Mesi (a thousand thanks) Dan and company for the backpacks - what a windfall. Cindy also sent backpacks and shoes - it was like early Christmas.  I don't know what we would do without Cindy.  Carmene hadn't shopped yet, so a litre of water and a handful of almonds became supper and I fell into bed at 8 o'clock.

Auguste unpacks and counts (kontwole) backpacks.

The night was noisy - gunfire at our gate, and voodoo drums complete with a huge bonfire and much revelry in the cemetery above our property.  I forgot that it was Fetdesmort and Fettousens (All Souls and All Saints day). Thankfully rain began about midnight, the heavy, driving rain of autumn complete with strong gusty winds. It dampened the celebrations and allowed sleep. 

Morning arrived too soon but the roosters will not be denied. I think they have radar which tells them when the job is done and everyone is up. They are persistent. Dogs and cats fed, water boiled, oatmeal cooked, there was electricity so time to check email. We were scheduled to meet Sylvia at the airport at 8:30 to pick up a laptop she was donating for Bruni.  From her Blackberry a message saying the plane was 30 minutes ahead of schedule. A plane ahead of schedule??? Thankfully Auguste is always a early for work and Lusnot arrived at the same time. Lusnot works security while I'm in Canada.  He's just finished writing Philo (last year of high school), and is filling in here where needed. This morning we needed him to come with and push the truck to start it.

Perfect timing - we drove past a truck filled with blans  (non Haitians) and a voice called out my name. Sylvia had already passed customs and was heading for Milot.  Sylvia, thank you so much for the laptop and carrying case.  Bruni was beyond happy to receive such a necessary tool. To add icing to the cake, she picked up a pair of new shoes which Cindy had sent (as did Jimpson!!) What an amazing support team  growing.

From the airport we headed to town with the knowledge that perhaps we couldn't go to the bank as it was possible they were closed. Yes - all banks closed, most schools, many businesses as well. We changed some US currency at a hardware store and headed to the grocery store. Realizing that schools were closed meant we had very little time as that always signals a busy day.

True to form it was non-stop. Venise had moved down from Sen Rafayel because her parents are dead, there is no Philo offered in the village and she had a friend who would put her up. She came tell us she had secured a place at Lycee Philippe Guerrier  so we pulled to-gether backpack (thanks again everyone), school and hygiene supplies and, thanks to the hardware store, funds for her uniform.

Venise-in the big city and headed for Philo

Bruni arrived as Venise was leaving. She is enjoying the new University and grateful to be close to home. The nursing program runs 6 days a week from 7am to 4 pm. It takes her 2 hours to get to class and 2 to return home to her aunt's tikay. Long days.

Bruni - 2nd yr. Nursing - Elated with laptop and shoes
Camiose (background) covers textbooks

Jimpson in for shoes and a meal - Fresnel dropped in to read the paper and have a snack. Weby- Schneider brought in his year end report and we put to-gether a budget for his second year of university. He looked so tired. His dad died 2 years ago of Diabetes related problems. Now his mom is ill.   He struggles between wanting to be in Cap to help out and going to school so far away (Port-au-Prince) A year seems to go by as quickly as a day.

Weby-Schneider - 2nd year university

Camiose came in at noon to cover 3 new text books she had picked up, and stayed to work the afternoon as we had other books in need of covering. She is recovering from Typhoid and H Pylori infection so was  a little tired. She perked up when I gave her the birthday present her sponsors had sent. Thanks Cathy and Ian. She told me it was the first time in her life (except for the small gifts we distribute) that someone had celebrated her birthday.  Everyone of our young people will relate the same experience. Birthdays go by unacknowledged. Edwina popped by then Myriame, and the drop-ins continued. It was really great to see so many and be welcomed back so warmly.

Camiose unwraps birthday gift from sponsors

Danius came down from Sen Rafayel to work on the truck. His university program is also demanding , his time is now limited. I'll have to look for a starter in Canada. Truck patched to-gether we sat down for an update on the building project in San Rafayel. The cost of a bag of cement has jumped $5 in the last week, so we'll buy in Cap on Friday and deliver up the mountain Sunday.

In addition to Malaria, Joceline sliced her thumb quite severly so I changed the dressing on it. In my spare time I set up the ledgers for our new fiscal year which began October 1st, then entered expenses for the past month. Did I say spare time?

Auguste and I conferred several times when young people who had written letters asking for support followed up to see if we had funds. We made an  appointment with 3 brothers (Fritzman, Jean-Woody and Raymondson) for 9 am. That's now to-day as the internet did not co-operate last night. Their mother died 4 years ago and dad went to the Dominican Republic to look for work. He has not been heard from since. They stay wherever they find space for as long as they are allowed.  

During the quiet times (again hah) we began to plan the group study sessions for those in Rheto and Philo who are unable to attend school this year in the village. Curriculum will be two-pronged as about half are studying Nouvo Secondaire, the rest Secondaire Traditional.

As Carmene left for the day she mentioned that her 2 daughters have Typhoid, one in tandem with Malaria the other with worms. I have experienced the Typhoid/Malaria combination and it is debilitating to put it mildly.

Timing is everything. Heather and the CLM team in Canada donated another case of the natural supplement Allimax, which I picked up and repacked the day before I left. Joceline, Camiose, and Carmene's daughters Magda and Feri were our first customers.

Students gone, gate closed, staff filled me in on the political situation. Our newly elected president (February) still has not convened parliament. His primary goal seems to be establishing a new military. He has also accused a senator of being a thief and had him hauled off to prison. The senator is now free, after police checked the accusations. Who needs television?

Day one down, day two has begun and the rest will blur -- I'm really home.

Kenbe fo

Sharon