Last night Andy and I made a lemon meringue pie. I love lemon pie, but they do not have lemons in Haiti; they do have lemon flavored instant pudding. Sometimes you use what you have. We also didn’t have a pie plate- they don’t make pies in Haiti. Andy made a mean looking piecrust. And I actually mean it literally! It kind of melted off the side of the pan (which was a skillet). We were cracking up laughing but in the end in didn’t look too bad. We also got a new (temporary) cook and it was her first evening with us. I’m pretty sure she thought we were a little crazy, however, in the end she said our pie was very good.
We attended our first Special Olympics event on Monday held in Ganthier, about an hour east of Port au Prince. With much excitement, we invited 3 of our spinal cord injured friends to attend with us. Andy and I went to Rebo’s (coffee shop) and purchased deli sandwiches and juice for a ‘picnic’ lunch.
Upon arrival, our first mission was to determine accessibility and searched for a toilet… over a cement barrier, up 3 steps, 100 yards up a rubbled pathway, lift the wheelchair up a 2 foot step, down a narrow walkway to discover the ‘toilets . Funded with money from our own tax dollars. The picture says it all.
After the usual opening speeches, we expected the games to begin….but while we waited we visited with Madam Lucille Charles (a nurse and lawyer and the President of the Haitian Nurses Association) and with Mr Jean Sanon Chevalier (President of the Special Olympics and Paralympiques and former / original Haitian board member of HHH.
Unfortunately, it was not very well organized and few events – a pick up game of wheelchair basketball, a ping pong game and a couple of amputee foot races later our friends we ready to leave. As there were well over 100 disabled children and young adults in attendance all I could think about was planning next years Olympics! Our picnic didn’t happen either.
This young man had very good balance- We thought he could use a challenge of an obstacle course to show off his skills. 
Yep, these are the w/chair accessible toilets. 
A very high step to reach the toilet area...
after traversing this path.
Today we had another adventure. We took a charter flight to Cap Haitian to deliver wheelchairs and return with several of our SCI (spinal cord injured) recipients that went up last week for a jewelry making class. We were able to tour the rehab center at Haiti Hospital Appeal. Tomorrow is move in day with about 20 patients receiving comprehensive rehabilitative care. The first in-patient center in Haiti! Congratulation to Haiti Hospital Appeal, to Carwyn and Reninca Hill and all involved in making this happen.
Andy, Fiona and I ride in the back of the truck with a load of wheelchairs being delivered to the new rehab center.
The Citadelle from the air.
A very happy Jorel joins our adventure.
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