Thoughts and such by Steve.

The sound of the Atlantic ocean gentle lapping against our rocky beach as I am typing is a sound that will be greatly missed; but the sound of several people snoring simultaneously is something that I will be glad to leave in Haiti. I am writing on my bed leading against the cinderblock will. The dorm room has two bunk beds and several single beds, the bare trusses, from which two overhead fans hang (one not so straight) hold up the corrugated tin roof that that was painted this week. The wall that is angled towards the ocean has an enormous screen window allowing a gentle breeze in. After hauling many buckets of gravel up to the second story of the library/school complex by rope Jared and I set out to build a tool shelf which we may finish tomorrow because I quit early and went swimming. For some reason I feel more prestigious when I ware water shoes while swimming, I like it. For supper we had chicken, rice and processed cheese casoral accompanied by a green bean salad chopped almonds and delightfully delicious lemonade. After supper Mark and Pam (our leaders) shared the testimony in the cabana and Dave Petno (an American) sang an ancient sounding hymn as part of the sendoff of their team back to state side. After I had my first third world shopping experience as a bunch of peddlers were invited inside the compound to sell their wares. I tried playing hard ball with the sellers but I was too soft and will have to toughen up my bartering.

Some other points of interest include the kitchen crew having to use gasoline to run a generator to provide electricity to start a propane stove. Another novel thing is the way Uncle Stan and Andrew fixed an ancient Lincoln arc welder with attached generator. They used parts from an old diesel van, from two deceased welders, barb wire and a fishing rod. To the immense excitement of the Haitians Stan and Andrew were successful in getting the ole' red thing going. Christy and a couple girls went to the M.P. school down the road and were such a hit with the kids that Christy came away with bruises.

The situation in Haiti is bleak and that was highlighted when we went to Lahatt yesterday. I felt as if I had walked into a National Geographic magazine, especially when a Red Cross jeep pulled up at the school there. I’m use to seeing those on the news, not in real life. Fifty percent of the population is under 15. The head pastor of M.P. and his staff are a bright light in this over cast country providing education and more importantly the hope of salvation to these beautiful people who call this treeless land home.

I should let myself slip into sweet oblivion because supper is a 6:45 am and I need to be well rested to go swimming and lay in the hammock and work.

Sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bight.