Haiti first few days

sittin' on the porch, next to an almond tree, listening to Haitian music off in the distance and chewing on fresh sugar cane that Sarah got while we were in town today.  Our trip here went fairly well, just many people claiming to know Nadar (our taxi driver) and being very willing to help us "for two bucks" -so after 4 bucks we got the guy who Nadar actually sent in to show us to his taxi.  Felt much better once we were with him.  He took us through Port au Prince (actually around to other side of airport) to the small airport to wait for our smaller plane.

 This is at the airport we walked through gaited area until at the taxi with Nadar.

Flying out of Port a Prince  couldn't tell what was damaged and just partially built...

 but we could see the tent cities....  :(

 Seemed there was lots of damage at the foot hills area... but hard to tell...

 Away from the city you began to see fields

 this is as we came into Cayes. it is right on the ocean.

This morning we got up and ate breakfast together and then packed up the vehicles to go get the street kids for their Christmas outing.  There is a restaurant in town where Tim and Joan take guests and mission teams ect. and these kids hang outside waiting for their leftovers. These kids are around town helping carry groceries, whatever they can do to make some money.  They are pretty much left to themselves... Other years T&J have taken them to where there is a fresh spring and given them hygiene kits and they go in and wash and play in the pool of water.  They give fresh clothes and then took them to the restaurant only let them come inside to eat a meal that T&J had preordered.  This year they wanted to do someting different so the plan was to take them to the spring to wash and then bring soup and bread to feed them, give them new crocs and shirts. Then,  before we dropped them back off we would give them a Bible Story booklet with an envelope of some spending cash.  So that was the plan... :)

We stopped at the market bought some veggies from a lady thru the window, saw all kinds being carried on heads (including a basket of roosters "now that is a feathered hat!!"Joan says. :)

Then we stopped at the grocery store and as we went in there a funeral procession came by... band in the lead and all... it sounded like New Orleans :).

Once Joan got a few things we headed to get the kids.  It went fairly well,  hard to keep it to just the list of names that was given to them my the "mother" of the group. One girl and she is respected.  We had all kinds wanting to get in and ride. Our kids opted to ride on top in suntan (burn) land.  I will admit it was a little uncomfortable and out of my box when we were sitting with lots of Haitians around the door to the van and you have no idea what the conversation is about, that is going on around our vehicle.  I think they get defensive sounding in their voice very quickly.  We stopped at a soccer field and let them play with one of the soccer balls that we brought and they got to keep a few to share (if they don't sell it them first...) .  Then to the springs... they loved just getting in the water and messing around.  Kind of felt sorry for the ladies that were there doing their laundry... Joan explained to them who the kids were and their situation... gave them their hygiene kits and then they figured out what to do with what was in their bag... we tried to get out of the local peoples way as soon as they were done... had to be careful with picture taking through this part... ;) 

The area is a peaceful rural area, animals "grazing" on the hills and women washing in the waters. Laundry lines the bushes and hillsides drying in the sun.

Once they had their time there, we went up the hill and so the top where we had them sit and listen as Tim told them the Christmas story.  At one point he asked them if everyone goes to heaven?  They cheered "yes, yes!" but then one of the oldest spoke up and said "no, only those our brothers go to heaven, if you are not of Christ you don't" (something to that effect) and it was a lively discussion.  We dished the soup and gave each a small breadstick and a bowl of barley soup.  There were locals who live in this area that came to see what was happening.  Joan explained that these kids have less than they have, so we are giving to them today. Some of the street kids shared the soup they didn't want with the local kids :), we also gave the local kids extra Bible story books we had along.   Then, the street kids got their shoes, shirts, books with gift ($). and we headed to take them back to downtown. It was somewhat strange driving around with whites on top and Haitians inside.  A UN officer stopped to take a picture :) she had someone from the US embassy with her :) and she was from Chicago! small world.  She commented on the fact that they had to stop and get  picture of whites on top :)

We stopped at a nursing home to make arrangements to take a group out next week sometime. It sits at the intersection where they had their accident and Gabriel was killed.  It was sad to see where it all occurred and to remember that happy little guy...

We headed home to take on a game of volleyball once the new net and poles were erected, Tim made them for Joan for Christmas :).  The christening of the set was a success!

This is a guy's treehouse that he lives in...  cooks at the bottom on the ground, lives up in the treehouse...

Then Tim's nieces, who came the same day as us, had brought a meal to prepare! and was it a meal! steak, potatoes, pie! the whole 9 yards!  We told T&J we didn't know they lived so well!! lol  they were enjoying it immensely!  what a treat!!  Shela Moser came over to eat with us also, at one point she just sat and just looked at her plate of pie in all it's beauty! :)  We came at the right time!

FAITH!!!  she brings joy by the bucket loads!

Then the gifts were exchanged that had been sent from family ect. and we gave T&J's girls a stocking of goodies and T&J gave all of us beach towel sets for later in the week !! :)

  once the paperball, sticky styrofoam snowball fight was over we all started to settle in. It was a tiring day. 

Sticky Styrofoam ... they make wonderful adornments :)

                                                                           

   

                                                                       

and Styrofoam snowballs :)