Blog of March 2011
Sunday, February 27
What a week. The car did not worked, we changed the heads of the motor, and two mechanics from the garage came at the house to do the work. On Wednesday, the car was working and we did go to Fort-Jacques, but when we came back the car was doing funning noises and we hardly made it home. On that same day, John Bickel, co-director of the orphanage, was force to break rapidly because a lady backed up from her entrance without looking. One of the volunteers at the back of the truck was kneeling and he flew through the back window of the truck. His glasses crushed into the skin of his face and he has a broken nose. They went to the hospital and after a light operation to take out the broken glasses they kept him at the hospital to make sure that he was fine. His eyes have not been touched thank you Lord, only around the eyes. He is now home after two more days of waiting before taking the plane back to the States.
Do you remember the accident Georges had with a motorcycle, well we never heard from the insurance about it. We are still waiting.
In the morning, before going up to F-J, we stop at the hardware store and while I was waiting for Georges, I took some pictures about cars and people at the Carrefour (See photos March 2011)
Thursday morning, Georges went to the garage to have the car fixed and we got it Friday at 1:00pm. We went up to Fort-Jacques, but we came back home after 20 minutes on the road. The car did not want to go up the mountain. So, on Saturday, the mechanic came at our house to change the plugs. It is less expensive than to have it done at the garage.
Finally, today Sunday, we went to Thomassin for the Sunday Service and the car run well. We went for lunch at a Kenscoff restaurant "Floriville". This is our third time there and there was always somebody who paid for us. This time it is a volunteer at GLA who paid for everyone at our table. We were very happy and our time together went very well. The food is always excellent (See photos March 2011).
Tomorrow Monday, We will be going to Fort-Jacques and we pray that the car run as well as today. Tuesday night, I am invited to Erin's Shower she will marry Paul Trimble. She will be the future daughter-in-law of Pastor Joel and Yvonne Trimble (See photos March 2011). I will be going with Tara, who is Paul's cousin. She rented a car so we can go together and she would not have to drive all by herself at night.
Friday, March 4
I also found this blog on Internet that shows how expensive it could be here.
"Back when we lived in Texas, Heather would often make posts like this or this that showed off her mad couponing skills. She'd list all the groceries she bought and then amaze readers by revealing the minuscule amount that she paid for said groceries. It was like a game for her to see how many groceries she could buy for the smallest amount of money. And she was good at it.
But this post is pretty much the opposite of that.
The fact is that groceries in this country are really expensive.
One of our favorite things to do is take visitors to our local grocery store. We let them walk around and look at the limited selection of food. They look at the prices but they don't understand them because they're all prices in gourdes. And they we tell them that the exchange rate is 40 gourdes to 1 dollar. And so they start to do the math in their heads.
And then they say things like, "Really? 6 bucks for a bag of Doritos? Are you kidding me?" Nope not kidding."
If you want to read more of the blog, click on the following: http://www.mosaicvillage.com/archives/384
This is Carnaval time in Port-au-Prince and many businesses and schools were closed in Port-au-Prince. How many of you would love to have a few days off to go to the Carnaval. As we like to be at home, we did not attend. We were also very tired as here everything requires a lot of energy. Regarding the other celebrations, we are staying away from them as much as possible, except when we ran into them. (Later on, I learned that the Carnaval is a Voudou Feast).
It is 31 C (89F) right now, and it is very difficult to endure the heat even with the wind. The mountains are covered with clouds. I hope that we will have rain so the dust cloud will go away.
Thursday, March 10
Today, we are staying at home. Georges has a bad cold, there quite a few people with who we work who has it. Georges is always the first one to catch it and after that he shares it with me. What a gentleman!
So, last week and this week I worked in the depot where all the medical items are. I did not know that there were so many syringes, catheters, IV, tubes, pads, gauze, etc., etc., etc. With the medication it is the same thing. Fortunately, I have a nurse who helps me to do the inventory. Even for her, there are a lot of items that she had never seen. It depends in which department you work in. I hope to finish the inventory tomorrow. After that I will be able to start in the warehouse. It should take me 2 to 3 weeks to do it, depending on how many volunteers we will get.
Actually, we are short on volunteers; we have only 6 long terms left. It is very quiet. Talking about volunteers, we have Miss Vicky who has been there for over a year. She takes care of a 5 months old baby who weights around 6 pounds, not even 2.5 kg. (See photos march 2011). In three months he did a lot of progress because of Miss Vicky's care, but he still has a long way to go to be normal.
Georges and John keep building the laundry house. It is taking more time than usual because there is no volunteer at this time. (See photos march 2011). But they are happy to do it even if the material is not arriving on time.
Sunday, March 13
Today we wanted to go to church in Thomassin because it is Yvonne's birthday (Pastor Joel's wife). We were both sick, Georges with a bad cold and I had a fever. So we stayed home and Georges slept most of the day.
Wednesday, March 16
We have been in Haiti for 9 months now. I have the impression that it is 19 months. There are so many things happening and with four girls at home, there is always comings and goings.
Today, I finally finished the inventory of the depot. Friday I will start the warehouse with the food and items for the house. This is a big job and some of the boxes are heavy. I keep in shape, but often I need someone to move the very heavy ones.
Sunday, March 20
Today is Election Day. For now the day is quiet and we walked to the Quisqueya Chapel (5 minutes from home). We met Pastor Bobby Boyer (American) and his wife Maggie (Haitian). We offered him to have Monique Lépine at his church so she can give her testimony. Wow! The pastor had read her testimony in a magazine and he did not know how to contact her. He wanted her to talk at his church. So he was so happy that we ask him if he could have her at his church. There is only God who can do things like this. She will be speaking on Sunday, April 10 and I will try to take pictures.
Monique will also talk at the orphanage where we work on Wednesday, April 6. We are so happy that she can come in Haiti. We will be able to meet Richard Ouellette who is the organizer of her tour in this country.
Lundi March 28
Last week, we had a surprise; John from GLA lends us his almost brand new pick-up truck. We go up on Monday with our car and we go down at our place with his pick-up. On Friday, we go down with our car for the week-end. We are so happy and the truck has air conditioning.
Last Saturday, I went to a prayer meeting at Quisqueya Chapel. I felt so good after. I went back home with more energy and my mind felt better. I will go back every Saturday if I can. It was also the first time that I was going out of the house alone. I must say that there are a lot of white people who have been doing that in our neighbourhood.
This morning when we arrived at Fort-Jacques it was calm as usual. But when I entered the warehouse, I saw that someone had entered it (we do not know how). The numbered boxes where mixed up, many boxes were gone and many bins were opened. They took the top of the items in most of the boxes and left the rest maybe thinking that we will not see it.
The inventory was 2/3 finished and I must start it all over again. The people that did it did not know that I had most of the inventory on Excel. They probably thought that we will not see it. At night and during the week-end there is no one except the two security guards. Patrick and Holly are in the States for vacation.
Georges and John have almost finished the laundry house that will be used as lodging for construction teams who will come to help. (See photos march 2011). This house that you see will probably be used as a model for our house, but on bigger level.
Here is my thought for the month of March, and it is on that subject that our pastor Joel Trimble preached last Sunday.
"How do we hear God's voice and be led by His Spirit if I am driven by my deep desire for personal honour and not losing my own face? Are my words and actions merely a means to manipulate and protect an image I want others to have of me? Becoming aware of this ego-centric dynamic has been liberating and life-changing as I catch myself in it and intentionally stop to ask God what are His thoughts and desires in the situation and how He can be glorified instead." From Steve, China Harvest
Much love!
Jocelyne and Georges
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