Apparently I have two standards for patience in Haiti...I have come to accept in my job and in all work related that patience is one of the requirements. I can't rush things to get results- they will happen on Haiti time. I even stressed this to my team when they arrived, they are on Haiti time now. You can not get upset- it does no good other than make you upset. However, this weekend I found myself becoming impatient. It was my time and I did not want to 'waste it'. We went to Les Cayes...I had been told several times it takes about 3 hours to drive...I knew better as it is 2 1/2 hours to Jacmel over the mountain but half the distance. We left Port au Prince (the guesthouse) at 4 pm- there were 4 of us and we picked up a 5th person about half way into the trip and arrived 10 minutes short of 5 hours. I was tired and upset (we had hit a dog almost on arrival) and it seemed only to bother me. The driver did make an attempt to miss it and short of running head on into a bus we had little choice. Still....I did not join the group going out but went to sleep. The next morning it was raining. I was told we probably couldn't go to the orphanage- crossing the sea to the island because of this. As this was the main purpose of the trip, I said if the boat is there, we will go- we won't melt. Of course, it stopped raining and we made the trip. It took about 45 minutes to cross and at first the swells were kind of high 1-2 feet at times but more fun than not. Ewald was pretty nervous for the first 30 minutes but then relaxed when he realized he wasn't going to drown. The sun came out about 1/2 and the sea calmed considerably. We spent the next 4 hours talking with Sr. Flora about her orphanage and many many things she needs..A little history here. Sr. Flora came to this island - originally from Quebec- about 28 years ago although I believe she had abeen in Haiti longer. She has 66 kids living with her, 19 of these disabled. Currently she has 3 babies...a tiny 2 month old born 2 months early and weighs about 6 pounds now. The other 2 appear healthy and about the same size though one is 3 months and the other 7 months. Some of the older kids go to school in Les Cayes, crossing the sea on Monday and return Friday, boarding during the week. Some of the others go to school on the Island. There are about 450 kids on the island that go to school on the island. I'm not sure if any of the Island kids go to Les Cayes to school- Sr. Flora expressed concern about paying the teachers for the final 3 months of school this year. Anyway, we finished up and joined the sister and her 2 other guests for a small lunch of rice, mild piklis and banan and I had a delicious cup of very good french tea offered by the guest.
Returning to Les Cayes, although the sea was calm, we made the crossing in less time. Ewald had said we would go to Port Salut upon return and meet up with the Utah team that was spending the weekend at the beach. Back to my lesson in patience- we didn't leave until 6 pm for the 35 minute drive. We caught up with the team as they were leaving the bullfights. I was hoping to catch this- This bullfight is different from Mexico where matadors fight the bulls. This is a match where the owners bring their bulls and if one owner thinks his bull will fight and win will start the bets and if the bulls decide they want to fight each other then there is a fight until one turns away. Thus the win. It is in an open field so the spectators have to be alert as well as they are surrounding the bulls. There were 4 opportunities for matches..the first I think no one was betting, the second the bulls weren't interested much and the final 2 were pretty good from the reports and video that I saw. But I digress from my lesson....I was visiting with some of the team members and had just gotten a drink when I was told it was time to go...what!!!??? I had just arrived. I stretched out my time for another 20 minutes until they went to dinner and my group returned to Les Cayes. Nothing much happened the rest of the evening- I waited but finally decided to go to bed. The next morning the plan was to have a little city tour, visit Ewalds mom and leave for Port au Prince at noon. Ewalds brother took me around on his motorcycle - I'm living large guys...no helmet- and we visited the Jesus Christ church, the soccer field (closed), the nicest hotel in Les Cayes, we drove by one of the Baptist churchs, the Lutheran church, the Catholic church, Ewalds mothers home, the morgue/funeral home, the police station and out to Jolie beach. They also gave me a tour of the tv/ radio station. Then I was returned to Ewalds sisters house to get ready to leave...we still had to visit his mom so we went there to meet her. Finally at 2 we left Les Cayes. Barely 2 hours drive the car broke down. WE sat at the side of the road while a half a dozen men tried to determine the problem and after 2 hours another car came and towed us to the next town, Petit Goave. This was a friend of Ewalds father and he gave us his car to finish our journey. I arrived home at 8:30 pm. I'm not sure what my expectations were with no real plans other than to meet Ewalds family and visit the orphanage- boths goals obtained but another lesson in patience..The car breakdown was beyond my control therefore nothing gained in being upset so I wasn't. Its Haiti time no matter what. Some disappointments sure but I met some lovely and loving people, a darling baby girl- Ewalds neice and had another adventure in Haiti.

A day in the life....

Its been a busy few days since I last wrote...meetings with the new Operations Manager from US and here, assisting the team with their logistics and I was hoping to get out to the orphanages with them as well but there hasn't been time. We were going to try to do the Water Truck visit today but with only one vehicle working we couldn't make it work. Kevin came over and visited, had dinner and 3 stitches removed from his head. He will have to return to Minnesota before tax day to get those done and do some work before he returns again to Haiti. I'd like to make another water truck run before he leaves but we'll see.
I'm planning a trip to Les Cayes and Ile a Vache with Ewald this weekend. Team Canada has given me a job to assess needs at the orphanage run by Sister Flora. It should be pretty fun.

We are going to hear RAM tomorrow night at the Oloffson and this team will leave Friday morning for a (5 hour) trip to Port Salut. It is at least an hours drive beyond Les Cayes. Cyril came by this evening to give them the information- I haven't seen him since Portland team was here. They will return Sunday to pack and prepare for Mondays departure.


We've had rain almost every evening even if just a few minutes but today was quite hot and a beautiful evening..Everyone has commented on how nice the weather has been.

I must get back to finish my work emails...or get ready for bed.

A Voudou Ceremony

Jill sitting with Richard from RAM & Menehem his manager.

Haitian flags hanging from the ceiling of the 'temple'.

The dancers calling the spirits.

From what we understood this ceremony was called by and for a

a young man in need of help for a problem.

At different times during the ceremony there was prayers, quiet, anger, and jubilation and hopefully in the end the young man was freed from the troubles he had.

I was invited to attend the ceremony by Menehem;

When I mentioned it to this team, several in fact were interested in joining me- our group ended up being 18. At first it was going to be in LaPlane, but when we arrived at the Oloffson to join the others going there was a change of plans. It was actully held downtown in a temple near the soccer stadium and a cemetary (seems fitting). They took us through some dark allyways to reach the 'temple' room. There was a mixture of people - blans and Haitians. Many of the Haitians knew each other and the person seeking help. They pretty much ignored us. They passed around bottles of Barbincourt and scotch through out the ceremony and some water but we had agreed not to drink or smoke or take anything offered to us. This part of the ceremony lasted for about 90 minutes at which time we left...

A day or 10 minutes at the Zoo

ON our day of shopping yesterday, we had the opportunity to visit Haiti's zoo....in all my visits to this country this is the first time I have been. Its very small and the security guard was happy to show me the animals he cared for, wanting to explain about them. He took his job seriously and even though others were there wanted to make sure I saw all of them. Honestly, I could have gone 6 years or 16 years longer without seeing it.

These pictures minus one of the Boa constrictor and all 32 rabbits represent the zoo. There is one angry looking monkey (makak), an alligator, a sleeping Haitian snake, goats, peacocks, a turkey....pigeons oh and a very large lizard thing. I think these animals are pretty representative of the people in Haiti... angry, sad, resigned, eager for the food they are given...locked in a situation of not their choosing. How would they florish in another setting? It doesn't sound like a very nice way to describe people and I don't mean it disrespectfully in any way... but as a way to describe situations. I do think the rabbits are happy however.

Another visit to General Hospital

On Friday the team made a visit to General Hospital. I have mentioned this place before- the state run hospital that appears to be taken out of the movie Gone with the Wind. We went directly to the Abandoned Childrens Ward where we spent about 4 hours playing, exercising and feeding the majority of the kids. Some of these kids have been here for a very long time- a few of them- especially the older/ larger ones seldom get removed from the cribs they are in..no exercise means atrophy and weakness and lack of stimultion is evident. But a little stimulation and attention and many of the kiddos 'awaken' and laugh and respond. You leave this place full of emotions. Part of me wants to return everyday- just to hold them...and touch them and see a beginning of a smile. I don't want to think about how much I have done in my life in the past year and realize that during that time these children have not been out of their cribs. What is the PLAN for these kids? Questions without answers.

And this morning is another day- blue skies, moderate temperatures, a very slight breeze carrying a sweet aroma, childrens voices carried along, roosters of course crowing and birds of all kinds chirping; I am surrounded by this amidst the dozen or so different variety of trees and think where am I?

The Plantation

The new team arrived late afternoon on Wednesday and got right down to business unpacking and preparing for a visit to LaMardelle and the plantation on Thursday.

The plantation is the 'compound of school, orphanage and church' that serves the community of LaMardelle- approx 20,000 people. This town is about 1 hours drive from Port au Prince on the good street and another 20 minutes drive on a rough dirt and gravel road. However, it was better than my recollections from my last visit there. Gina Duncan is the former executive director of HHH and her mother in law donated the property for the orphanage and school. Its a beautiful orphanage and she works towards getting these kids adopted.

We arrived about 9:30 or 10 to do a clinic to see some of the kids and teach a care givers class to some of the moms of the kids. About 1:30 we gathered for lunch prepared for us and some other guests and had some of Mama duncans famous punch, a delicious cormeal cassarole dish, sandwiches and cake hot out of the oven. Following that we had a tour of the orphanage and played with some of the kids for an hour or so before heading back to PaP.

The pictures: On the plantation - men working in a field, Banana trees and sugar cane. The cart pulled by the oxen brought supplies to the orphanage, the community voudou temple and children in school or waiting to be seen in the clinic. When we arrived we were greeted with several songs.

Web Visits-not spiders!

Although I nearly reached down and picked it up, I saw a fairly large spider. He looked exactly like the spiders on the little plastic rings at halloween. But luckily he moved before I could actually touch him! The following websites are of the internet variety so will not startle you or make you scream in fright!

On sushi night a few weeks ago, I met a man involved in a documentary film project he hopes will be accepted at Sundance and other international film festivals. The film gives voice and positive vision for the young people in Haiti and their love of their country and what they are doing to make a better life for themselves and their family.
This link to the website tells a little of the history of the country and about the movie and also has some pictures.
www.repiblik.com

A few days ago I met a young woman, american, who is a photographer and living currently in Gonaives - a city that was hit very hard with after effects of the 4 tropical storms/ hurricanes. She was in Port au Prince having a little 'relief vacation'. She also has a website www.keelykernan.com

I also met a woman named Chris, an american who along with her husband moved here to start an orphanage 10 years ago. She told us of a story of saving 2 babies left in a garbage pile, maybe just days old. The babies are a testimony perservence and love and are seeming healthy babies several months old now. www.hishomeforchildren.com

These are representative of the people I meet living here- a wide spectrum of people with a shared basis of love for humanity and Haiti. I hope you enjoy their story as well whether in word or photos.

Hospital Co-pay $1.25

Two of the pictures are taken at Indigo Beach. The other 3 were taken at the Melon Home and the Hopital Albert Schweitzer- The tree in the yard that was planted as a stick in 1958, Kathi and I in the swing and the cost of visits / services in the hospital. A referral in the district is 50 gourdes. or $1.25. Out of district is 1000 g. or $25. A big difference but apparently the Melons wanted to serve the people in the area first.
The hospital itself at this time appears a little shabby and in need of attention- repair, paint etc and looks like most hospitals I've seen everywhere else in the country. I've heard that at one time it was considered the finest in Haiti. We met Mr. Melons' niece and she told of how he was inspired by Albert Schweitzer and became a doctor in his 40's. and established this hospital. The book Song of Haiti was written about him and this history.

I've sort of come to this weekends posting a bit backwards as we did this tour Sunday afternoon after being at Indigo Beach all day on Saturday and Saturday night. Driving through the Artibonnite Valley from St Marc to Deschappelles and Mirabalais is very similar to Willamette Valley on a much smaller scale of course but I've never seen rice grown in Oregon. The mountains of Haiti raise up around the valley floor showing all their starkness while the farmlands are still green even as we are in the heart of the dry season. We see many mango trees, banana trees- I'm not sure if they are the sweet kind or the plantains and other fruit trees that we can not identify as we drive along. The roads seem in a little better condition from St. Marc to Deschappelles and it still takes us 90 minutes to drive.
We meet up with Shaun on the road and get our tour and history talk before leaving about 5 pm for the 3 hour trip home over the mountain. Before it became to dark we saw damage from the hurricanes and evidence of road repairs- much of the road home was newly paved for which we were very grateful. We arrived home in time to avoid a 20 minute downpour! Very tired from the drive but happy to have had the time on the beach!

Comment from Portugal!

I don't have too much to say today...we are just preparing for the next team to arrive as soon as this team leaves. Our internet is down and out at the guesthouse for some reason and Jimmy, the internet fixer is away due to his mother passing away. I am able to connect to internet in the office but after office ours will not have access unless I can link up out by the pool.

Yesterday we had a rousing game of pool volleyball- 2 vs 2.. my team won, I'm pretty sure of it.

Tonight is RAM night at the Oloffson so we will have a late night/ early morning day! On Saturday we will go to Indigo Beach and on Sunday the plan is to visit Hospital Albert Schweitzer. There is a book out called Song of Haiti (an old book) that gives the history of it. I'm looking forward to visiting it and seeing my friend Shaun as well.

One year ago when this Utah team was here, a woman that lived near here or worked here- I'm not clear on that part went into labor- her baby was born - I think in my room/ bed. The very beautiful boy from the pictures taken with in minutes of his birth. He was named Richard after the Dr. that was on the team. Today he came for a visit...a pretty healthy looking one year old to see the nurses and dr. that were present for his birthday. That was a cool story for HHH.

I wanted to mention I had the first comment to my blog site since I started writing it and it came from Portugal! I can't even imagine how he found the site but I think its very cool that he left a comment!

The story of Joseph

Joseph Jean Paul is an artist...maybe not the best artist in Haiti but Joseph was born with only stumps for arms and legs. He came to visit us yesterday~ He shared some of his story with us and demonstrated how he paints. He was cared for in a Baptist Home for handicapped people until he was sent to a school called St. Vincent in Port au Prince. I'll tell you more about St. Vincent in a minute. But here he learned how to feed himself and brush his teeth and to write and type. He eventually was taken to New Jersey for more intensive OT/ PT and fitted for prothesis for lower extremities. While there he was given a color book and crayons and he fell in love with color and his 'profession' of Artiste was started.
I'm not sure how long he lived in the US but he returned to Haiti and to St. Vincents and teaches other disabled students not only art but compassion and humanity. He is a soft spoken and kind man, his smile like sunshine!
He speaks Creole, French and English- he also acts as an interpretor for the prosthetics and orthotics lab at St. Vincents which is run by mostly men that are deaf & mute. He gave me a small painting and donated one to the guest house for others to learn of his story. Joseph most wants to be able to help the children living at St. Vincents, many with disabilities to have a better education to be independant and strong adults in society.
The pictures below show some of Josephs artwork and of him painting yesterday.
St. Vincents is a boarding school in downtown Port au Prince. I have visited several times and a couple years ago my team built walls and added equipment as well as did some wiring for their prosthetics lab. We were able to see the kids in school and play in the courtyard with them. Not all of the children living here have disabilities but many are blind or deaf, some have severe scarring from burns, some have no arms or legs but all are in school and learn to care for themselves. Much of the staff have disabilities themselves. Men with bilateral upper and lower extremity prosthesis' demonstrate the strength and will of the Haitian people given an opportunity, they then give back to others. Thats all that they want...an opportunity to have a better life through education.

The final picture is of a little girl that needs surgery. She can not walk due to the tendons in achilles being too short. She can not flex her ankles. With surgery, she can be fitted with orthotics and learn to walk. She and her mother came from an area near Jeramie. It is very far for them and they have been finding places to stay here in Port au Prince hoping for help with surgery that will cost $1500. It turns out that this current team had paid for 1 extra night that they won't be here, the plan is to ask if they will donate that money to help the little girl obtain her surgery.

So in Haiti, you can find inspiration everyday in the worst of situations and know there is hope, compassion, love beyond our own being.

Bill and Wyclef Party

The staff gave me a very large birthday cake! It was very good, similar to a spice cake with a merangue type frosting. It tasted like my grandmas frosting she called 7 minute frosting. They wrote 'Bon Fet Gail' and they all sang Happy Birthday in creole. It was so very sweet!!! I wish I had it on video and someone did take pictures so I hope they will share them with me.

Ewald wanted to have a little party for me as well so we had cake and champagne with Pascale and Monno too and I had a real day off - no computer, no work- just visiting with friends, watching tv, playing cards, relaxing and more birthday cake.
Today the helicopters were cris-crossing the sky for hours..I assume because Bill Clinton along with Wyclef Jean and Paul Farmer and Mr. Ki-moon(UN president) were to meet with President Preval and the Prime minister, Mrs. Pierre I think her name is and pledge support for international assistance and to urge the country towards faster stabilization. They want to bring greater awareness to the needs of this troubled country. Much of the support that was pledged is slow to arrive and I think because of the economy but when the economy is hurting in other places it trickles down to put places like Haiti in even greater distress.
They visited a school, maybe in Cite Soleil. And will be here another day to talk to people and to visit other areas..I hope it makes much news in the states!
Today the team went on an outreach to Thomazeau. I was going to go but with all of the team, the translators and their supplies there really wasn't any extra space. I would have to ride on top like the goat on the tap tap bus.
They saw about 130 kids and enjoyed the long day of work. I don't really know where Thomazeau is but they have an orphanage and the group all agreed they have really made improvements in the past year. They arrived home about 5 pm in time for a quick jump in the pool and then supper~ American poulet, kabrit, piklees, salad, rice/beans and mushrooms and french fries. Desert was bananas in a sweet sauce covered with toasted coconut and green and red cherries.
I think I will eat one of my peanutbutter cups tonight for a treat!

I spent most of my day writing reports, sending email and answering email and talking to a man from Pap / Jacmel. He is the brother of Noel, one of our drivers. Maxxo has a Foundation called FOAMAVENDH - It means foundation for the improvement of the future of the Children of Haiti.
This is based in a small village outside of Jacmel called Casse and was destroyed several times since 1994 by hurricanes. He wants so badly to help the children here and the people of the area have given him 1/4 of an acre of land to build a clinic so they can have medical care. He also wants to build a safe shelter for the children to go to before the next hurricane. Since the last hurricane the river the children had to cross has become three small rivers. He said if saw the conditions they lived in I would cry.
I will try to visit before I leave Haiti. And I will try to get a team to do an outreach clinic.
Speaking of teams, mine is ready to start planning for next year. They want to come Feb 21- Mar 7. Bon bagay.

Happy Birthday Day....

Well the team from Utah arrived about 123o with 23 people and many many bags of luggage. They spent a couple hours organizing some of their stuff in preparation of the week ahead and the spent some time relaxing and enjoying the pool.
One of the gals brought me peanutbutter cups and a candy bar and they sang happy birthday to me! Then my family called and I enjoyed 'reading' some e-cards this evening. I've heard rumor of a birthday cake...

The party last night was fun but also Funny.. They told me the party was at 6...but no one began arriving before 6:45 and then only a few...by 7:45 quite a few more - A troubador band was playing and finally at 8:40 the food- Pork, goat, bbq chicken, piklis, banan, pasta salad was served. By 9 the food was gone, the beer was gone, the rum was gone and by 9:30 most of the guests were gone. By 10...all was quiet! crazy!

The pictures of the rain are difficult to really get a feeling of how much rain was coming down...but in about 5 minutes it had filled up the 1-2 inch cracks between the bricks and above.
The clothes we spread out all over the place to dry...I fortunately did not have to wash them in a river and don't have a river bank of rocks to lay them on but we found every chair, table, cardboard to lay them out on. .

Time for dinner...

Rain and Haitian laundry day at Gail's house

Sushi night

All things are a go for the team coming on Saturday. Gals in the guesthouse are gearing up for the arrival sprucing up the place...
For awhile I think they were a little worried. I had checked the storage area and found all of the clothes for the orphanages had gotten soaked from the rain. We had them out everywhere like a villiage laundry day along the river bank. But then i t started to rain again and we had to hurry and move it all in the house...we had clothes hanging everywhere!!! spread out. Then today Solay- the Sun- came out so they went back out to dry in the sun. Finally this afternoon we were able to pack them all up again.

So last night I went out for Sushi in Haiti. The daughter of the El Rancho Hotel - the one with the casino and bar in the pool and the disco- started wednesday night sushi night. It was really good!!! salmon with mango and cucumber...It was very expensive so I guess it won't be a regular wednesday night date. I met some of Haiti's young adult 'elite' - A documentary film maker working on a project he hopes will make it to Sundance and other film fests internationally. Another club owner and several others that I did not catch their profession- maybe a music promoter. It was interesting to say the least and fun.

Tomorrow is the going away party so we'll be doing the goat thing again...I hope they don't cry too much tonight. I'll have to play my music loudly! But everyone is looking forward to the party but not saying good bye to Mr. Cadet. He has been a major part of Healing Hands for Haiti for 6 years I think. I know I will miss him - he is very supportive and loves his country very much! I anticipate he will make returns and build his frequent flyer miles quickly. He even said he might join team Portland next year.

Well off to collect some sun while it is shining before dinner.
Have a good evening...Go Blazers!!

Its Monday....

Monday here is just like Monday there...back to work...
I had a quiet weekend, rested mostly. Still have my cold but it is better. Symptoms come and go like the clouds over the mountains today...I expect it will rain again tonight, its breezy and power/ internet a little sporatic.
I'm taking advantage while I am connected. Even if there isn't any excitement...
The weekend was quiet, I spent a little time by the pool but mostly rested- practiced my creole- maybe my last blog will be all in creole. (not very likely but it is getting little better.)
I'm even hoping supper is a little early tonight so I guess I will go see....