Sunday in Fauche

It is a beautiful Sunday in Haiti. We had an eventful week. I told you about Dr. Kris’ parents and the other couple who arrived on Tuesday. On Wednesday afternoon, Bill and I along with Chris and Kathleen walked to the market in Port Margot. We walked along the riverbank instead of on the road. Chris thought it would be shorter. I’m not sure about that, but it was a beautiful walk. We had to wade across the river twice to get there. We saw lots of people going to and from the market just like us. They have little plots of ground on the flood plain where people raise little gardens – about 20’ X 20’. There were rocks around each plot to mark the border. One little woman grabbed Bills arm and was calling him some name and pointing up in the hills. People were all around us, as she was almost yelling out to him. Since Chris knows some Creole, he came back to interpret. He said,” She’s calling you her papa.”He then told her in Creole that Bill was not her papa. When he said that she and everyone around just started laughing and went away. Bill thought they might be playing with him because of his white hair. It is VERY unusual!! The market was jammed with people selling goat, chicken, fish, and just about any vegetable available. Many more things too numerous to mention are sold there too.
Dr. Kris came home on Thursday afternoon and we all celebrated her return. It was wonderful to see Cory and the children so happy again. We are very thankful that Kris’ parents are here to be with her after the devastation and grief that she witnessed in Port Au Prince.
Bill fixed the electrical end of the generator on Friday. It was not putting out enough voltage. He opened up an area filled with a nest of wires, and as he tried to follow one he found several spots where there were bare wires causing shorts. He cut all the wires out and rewired it all. Just like that we had plenty of voltage and another problem was solved. He prays for wisdom when he is working on generators, since he hasn’t worked on them since he got out of the service in 1967.
Bill and Chris worked on plumbing in the clinic again. They have one building done; meaning everything is plumbed to the sinks. Water is not piped into the building yet, and they don’t know if they have sewage or not. The sinks are there with pipes attached, but they do not know where they go or if they go anywhere. I know that sounds strange, but you don’t take anything for granted in Haiti.
As I write this, it looks like I don’t do anything but journal. Actually, I keep fairly busy just trying to help out where I am needed. It just isn’t anything to write home about. On Saturday morning the Wesleyan's sent a small plane to Cap Haitian to pick up Chris and Kathleen. They are going to be at the Wesleyan Guesthouse in Port Au Prince. Dan and Joy Irvine are left to run the place without much help. They brought the Sloan’s in to help with the organization of food, clothes washing, etc. Hopefully, they will only be gone a couple of weeks. They will be greatly missed here in Fauche. I have just been named the new "plumbers helper."
On Feb 21st the rest of us are scheduled to go to Petit Guave. We will meet up with the team that was to come here, and we will all work together rebuilding a facility that was damaged in the earthquake. I’ll let you know more details as we find them out.
We are praying for you - please remember Haiti in your prayers. The people are so generous and giving that it is humbling to witness.