Howdy from Haiti!
I’m sitting here on an outside deck getting ready for supper and thinking about a great day that we were blessed to experience. This is the day that the Lord has made! Austin wasn’t feeling real great this morning, so he stayed back to rest today. (Don’t worry Hansens… he is sitting across from me right now getting ready to eat… and he is going to be fine!)
After devotions this morning, we headed out in the back of the truck to Savane Mole. We decided as a group that we really wanted to hike to the area that is the water source for Savane Mole, so they drove us in the truck until we couldn’t drive any further. Ed decided to stay back with the truck, but Donnie, Karen, Diane, and myself started our hike down the mountain. It was a little steep, but the four of us made it fine.
Once we got to the bottom, we were able to see where the community goes to get their water. You can’t imagine the trip that this community takes to get water. There was a spring that you can fill jugs and then there is a river next to the spring where people were bathing and doing laundry. The sad thing to see is that someone had led a donkey into the creek, so animals obviously use the bathroom in the same water people are bathing and doing laundry in. May be hard for some to believe… but unfortunately true.
The trip back up the mountain was a little tough… well… for all but Karen. She got to ride a donkey up the mountain. Yes… she is getting a ribbing about it this evening, but those of us walking were a little jealous! We have some great pics that I’m sure Karen will share with yah’ll.
After eating lunch in the back of the truck, we headed back into Savane Mole. We had some time to play with the children after they got out of school. As we started our program with the kids, we think we counted over 100 children come into the church. All I know is that kids were everywhere… and we ran out of handouts and crayons… which we have enough for 100. But… there were INCREDIBLY well-behaved. I could not believe how respectful and quiet they were. I taught on the birth of Christ. (After seeing Karen ride the donkey this morning, I had a great visual of Mary riding into Bethlehem!!!) We had taken a generator in the truck, so we showed the kids a movie after our program. Since a lot of the kids had not eaten yet, we had quite a few leave, but a lot returned. It is great to see all these children smile and wave, but incredibly hard to have them come up and ask for food because they are hungry.
We are all doing great and looking forward to heading back to Savane Mole tomorrow to meet with more people in the town.
If Marie Gage is reading this… you are right… bathroom rituals are a part of morning conversations!
We appreciate the replies to the blog each evening. Jody reads them to us right before supper each evening.
Hope all is good. Still have not received my emergency shipment of MOuntain Dew from anyone, but I’m holding together!
Signing out from Haiti!
Bruce Western
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Just a personal note. Doing ok! Heat never lets up! Red pouch is great ED
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Hello from Haiti,
Another great day in Savane. I walked with the others for 45 minutes down the hillside to the river and public tab. Treacherous, but no lava rocks to slip on. Anyway, then I was fortunate enough to be able to ride a donkey back up the hill. Going great and still Coke free! Waiting to hear from you, so how about it?!?! Thanks, Marsha for the comment!
Love, Mom (Karen)
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Tiffany thanks for commenting. Rachel – instruct my wife on how to do this…Tell her I love her, and I miss her and the kids…thanks cya soon. Donnie
