Hard to believe it's that many days I have been here (including the day I arrived). Yesterday was super busy but we got a lot accomplished- Praise God!!
In the morning we worked around the house on various items (paperwork, answering e-mails, balancing receipts, etc). Then, around noon we left to do errands. First we visited Amondine and Madame Esther at the hospital. We were able to pay more on her bill and buy more medicine for her. It took FOREVER and there was a period of time when I sat and watched Redgi and Madame Esther just walk from one room to another - back and forth to pay things and get questions answered. We have no further information about her progress/diagnosis because the results of the blood test were not available when we left there. We will call this morning on our way out of here.
After leaving the hospital we went to the mattress place in Delmas and bought 17 mattresses- 13 for Life is Wealth and 4 more for the base. They will not be in stock until Tuesday (Monday is a holiday) so we must come get them then. Once we purchase two more Haitian bunk beds we will have beds at the base for 17 people and 2 extra twin mattresses on the floor (waiting for an American bunk bed to either be built or purchased). It's really looking like a mission base the more and more we do around here. Yay!
We then picked up Mr. Alvarez and Edwin and headed over to Life is Wealth. I was greeted in the usual manner with screaming and dancing and I was very happy to be "home" with the children. We were able to spend only a little personal time with them because they had their Leadership Class, tutoring, and other activities. This week the men running the group gave prizes to all the children who were doing well in their class at school as well as those who looked clean and well dressed. (they have been working on hygiene) There was little trash on the property which was encouraging since we have the trash removal program in place. Today we will spend more time there, meet with Pastor Yves (he was busy yesterday), meet with a man who will possibly build the water building and we will do some interviews on the children. There were about 5-6 new ones I do not know (including some little boys which I am sure makes Robinson and Charles, Jr. happy). Siliene was back which shocked me! She had left about a year ago (summer 2012) to go home to Artibonite but she CHOSE to return from her family. Redgi says, "Who wouldn't want to return to a place where your parents aren't around to yell at you all the time and discipline you. A place where you have lots of friends readily available, food, a bed, and you have no jobs/responsibilities"-----Oh how that broke my heart! I do NOT want to encourage children to leave their homes for the "draw" of an orphanage. So lots to pray about there!
Today is (as I said) Life is Wealth day. We will call the builder one hour before we leave the house and he will meet us in Carrefour (he lives on the way to Gressier) and we will drive him to the orphanage to figure out price for construction of the water building. Then, we will do all our meetings at Life is Wealth and hang out with the children there. It doesn't sound like much but I have a HUGE list of things to go over with Pastor Yves, he wants to meet with me, and we want to give the worm medicine and talk to each child (ALL 60 or so of them)..... LONG day ahead!
Your prayers are heard and appreciated. Traffic yesterday was horrible and we spent a great deal of time just sitting, sitting, sitting plus weaving around others (whose cars had run out of gas or were overheating) the whole time. We have had long days but the nights are cool so sleep is good! God bless- Crystal
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