Gauvreau en Haiti

Week of August 1st

A medical team from Times Square Church, New York, arrived on Sunday. Georges and myself assisted them on Monday and Tuesday. Georges gave water to the dentist, One, and to the other assistants; and he did some security to keep the little children out of the tent. They want to see everything and often they come too close and the dentist and the doctor could not work properly. I have learned to do screening with Dee. It was very interesting. (PHOTOS)

Wednesday, Georges and myself went to GLA at Fort-Jacques, to help separate the donation that arrived last Friday. Thursday, Georges went back to help finish the work. While going to Fort-Jacques, Georges had had a car accident when a tap-tap backed up in our car. We thank God for His protection and that Georges asked someone to built a solid bumper in steel, because the accident could have had some consequences and we would have been without a car. We only have a little whole in the front wings. During that week, the temperature was extremely hot that even the Haitians said that it was very hot.

Week of August 8th

This week we are going to GLA to help, because they will not have a team of volunteers and a container will be delivered. The team that was supposed to come cancelled at the last minute.

We had a great time at Fort-Jacques. First, the weather is cooler in the mountain than Port-au-Prince. Second, we made a lot of room in the warehouse for the coming of another container. All the clothes and shoes and diapers were sent to another orphanage that is really in need. (PHOTO) Thirdly, Georges helped to unload the truck while Jocelyne babysat 3 little girls (2, 4 and 6 years old) in the home of Holly and Patrick, so the parents were able to help to unload. Jocelyne prefers to be a grand-mother.

We had the visit of Pierre Dugal and Francine Pagé, at our apartment. We had a good time together but too short. They came for only 2 hours; they had more work to do for the sponsorship.

Saturday and Sunday, we tried to rest as much as we can. But, I must do the laundry and Georges repaired the car’s seats so we can be well seated on the bumpy roads.

Week of August 15th

I have done the distribution of all the clothing that I have received from the orphanage. All the clothing was to be given out to make room for another container. I choose clothing for Haitian students that we know. They were so happy to receive new and used clothes and shoes. Some of these students must past the last school year (13^th grade) by doing a very important test. They must be well dressed to go to the exam at the end of August. This will permit them, if they succeed, to apply for university. The government accept, each year, a number of students and pay their fees. If not, they must pay themselves. You can see that it is a very important test for all who have no money to study further.

On August 16, we have been two months in Haiti. The time flew. This is why we must take care of God’s things. The time that we have on earth is very short.

The orphanage received another container. Praise God that there is a team from Minnesota and they do a marvellous job of sorting and putting away. (PHOTO)

Saturday August 21, we are taking some rest. We were supposed to go to the Baptist Mission in Kenscoff in the mountain, but our inverter blew up. At the store they gave us another one in exchange but even this one blew up. We had their technician at home the check the electric box and he fixed it correctly. So we bought another inverter but this one was not working. So the technician came back, he told us that the inverter was broken. So Georges went back to the store and they reimbursed him, $795US, and Georges had to go somewhere else to buy one because they had none left in the store. It took 2 days to find one. Now, it is working well.

Week of August 22

Georges brought the car to the garage and it stayed for two days. We took some rest on Tuesday and Wednesday. The car had a transmission problem and when Georges picked it up, he went right back to the dealer because the gas tank was leaking badly. We did not pay for that repair. At Land Rover, that belongs to

TATA from India, they charge nothing if they do not find the problem or if they cause the problem. We like it very much.

Thursday, we finally had a modem for Internet. The speed will be faster than our USB key, but it will not be high speed. The high speed costs $200US per month. The low speed costs $60US per month.

I am writing this from the orphanage, and we are waiting for some bed’s kit to arrive that we can put them up (they were supposed to be already there). Here in Haiti we must always be ready to wait when there is some schedule changes. At 11:00am, we received the bunk-beds but we have not bolt and screw. The boxes were torn and probably the bag of screws and bolts felt. At 1:00pm, Georges went to Fort-Jacques to get the other kit. Hopefully, we will have all the pieces.

Yes, we have all the pieces and we put up the bunk-beds for the chief nurse and the teacher at one of the American colleges. We install good mattresses so they can sleep better. They are very happy.

Friday, this morning I read this text in ”The Purpose Driven Life” by Rick Warren. It is my third time reading the book.

“We are often challenged to do “big things” for the Lord, but in fact, God loves when we are doing small things for Him with love and obedience. Even if the others do not see it, God sees them and considers them as an act of adoration.”

This is a quote, from a friend on Facebook, that is so true especially since we live in Haiti: “The happiest people don't have the best of everything, they just make the best of everything they have.”

Much love!

Jocelyne et Georges