We got up very early to meet Russ to work on the pavilion. The bad news is that due to the fact that we had to order materials, the pavilion will not be complete by the time we leave.
On our commute out, Danny read a little of the book Chasing Daylight. It's very good. Danny chose to read chapter 3 on Uncertainty. Everyone enjoyed more of a devotional time today as we have only been having prayer time during our drive.
Alonda and Emily got back to work on painting and she started to cry. She said after hearing the devotional and song in the car that she knew exactly what God wanted her to do with the rest of her life. Emily felt honored to be there in that moment with her as she had this revelation after all our talks this trip.
Kendra and Carter went to hire some of Mike's workers for the day to really get things finished up quickly. A woman that knows Pastor Jeff Johnson gave him $50 to invest in Haiti. We decided to use a little of it in this way. Only 350 ($8.75 US) for the day per person - that's 100 more than Edward got, but these guys were the hardest workers we've seen and being Mike's workers, knew to negotiate.
About 6 people from the families that were promised shelters today came out to volunteer and help us finish up. We had about 35 Haitians on site at this point between the latrines, well drillers, and volunteers. Three boys came up and asked our names, then asked us for money. Alonda got really mad (this happens to us all the time here) and said no, you give me money. This little boy actually pulled out some goudes to hand to her. She tried to tell him he didn't need more if he already had some.
Not long after people started working, we began to receive water requests. Oops. We didn't bring enough for everyone and the volunteers who took over the painting were almost out of paint. This meant Alonda and Emily got to go on their first, very own adventure with Floyd. They took Max, a Haitian worker from Dr. Brutus' HELP hospital - he does the accounting. He spoke basically no English.... Only a few words, so Carter gave him the instructions and they were off toward downtown Croix-des-Bouquets. Emily said she loves driving here because there are no rules, no lines on the road, using your horn often is encouraged, no stop lights at busy 4 way intersections - it was great fun for such a bad driver.
They stopped at a few hardware stores, no paint. Finally about half way down the road back to the house they found one. They also got more cement, then went to the supermarket for cups and ice for our volunteers. Kendra began filtering water from the well but it was very cloudy and was taking awhile. Emily and Alonda got back after being gone for over an hour and a half. Wow.
Lunch time included Alonda and Emily making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for everyone - a long process. Then, Kendra and Emily went out to get even more paint.
Back at the site we finished up for the day. Dr Brutus and Miss Kuta (the head nurse) came by to see our progress. They both speak English well and have continued to support and get to know all of us better.
After work we went back to the house to shower and have dinner with our new Chilean friends, but their mission for today got extended into the evening and they wouldn't have permission to leave the base. The Americans of the group decided pizza sounded amazing because of all the rice and beans we've eaten. Carter told us there is a Domino's in Haiti! The group ventured out to find that Domino's was closed. We don't just mean closed for the evening, the only thing left of it is the sign and an open cement structure. Rain began to fall soon afterwards and everyone outside was frantically looking for cover. Carter told us that Pizza Garden was just a little ways up the mountain. It took us almost an hour to park because the parking lot for the restaurant was actually a dead end side straight that people had just decided to park however they wanted to in. We didn’t know this until we got all the way to the end and other cars had come in behind us and blocked us in. It was crazy but after a lot of frustration we were able to get out and park on a side street. This is the rich part of Haiti, so it felt like another world. It cost thirty American dollars for a large pizza. It was delicious though and a nice treat. The atmosphere felt like a club, a little bizarre for a pizza place.
We went straight home afterwards and got to bed. We are praying we can wrap up everything we need to by tomorrow to leave early Sunday morning.
On our commute out, Danny read a little of the book Chasing Daylight. It's very good. Danny chose to read chapter 3 on Uncertainty. Everyone enjoyed more of a devotional time today as we have only been having prayer time during our drive.
Alonda and Emily got back to work on painting and she started to cry. She said after hearing the devotional and song in the car that she knew exactly what God wanted her to do with the rest of her life. Emily felt honored to be there in that moment with her as she had this revelation after all our talks this trip.
Kendra and Carter went to hire some of Mike's workers for the day to really get things finished up quickly. A woman that knows Pastor Jeff Johnson gave him $50 to invest in Haiti. We decided to use a little of it in this way. Only 350 ($8.75 US) for the day per person - that's 100 more than Edward got, but these guys were the hardest workers we've seen and being Mike's workers, knew to negotiate.
About 6 people from the families that were promised shelters today came out to volunteer and help us finish up. We had about 35 Haitians on site at this point between the latrines, well drillers, and volunteers. Three boys came up and asked our names, then asked us for money. Alonda got really mad (this happens to us all the time here) and said no, you give me money. This little boy actually pulled out some goudes to hand to her. She tried to tell him he didn't need more if he already had some.
Not long after people started working, we began to receive water requests. Oops. We didn't bring enough for everyone and the volunteers who took over the painting were almost out of paint. This meant Alonda and Emily got to go on their first, very own adventure with Floyd. They took Max, a Haitian worker from Dr. Brutus' HELP hospital - he does the accounting. He spoke basically no English.... Only a few words, so Carter gave him the instructions and they were off toward downtown Croix-des-Bouquets. Emily said she loves driving here because there are no rules, no lines on the road, using your horn often is encouraged, no stop lights at busy 4 way intersections - it was great fun for such a bad driver.
They stopped at a few hardware stores, no paint. Finally about half way down the road back to the house they found one. They also got more cement, then went to the supermarket for cups and ice for our volunteers. Kendra began filtering water from the well but it was very cloudy and was taking awhile. Emily and Alonda got back after being gone for over an hour and a half. Wow.
Lunch time included Alonda and Emily making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for everyone - a long process. Then, Kendra and Emily went out to get even more paint.
Back at the site we finished up for the day. Dr Brutus and Miss Kuta (the head nurse) came by to see our progress. They both speak English well and have continued to support and get to know all of us better.
After work we went back to the house to shower and have dinner with our new Chilean friends, but their mission for today got extended into the evening and they wouldn't have permission to leave the base. The Americans of the group decided pizza sounded amazing because of all the rice and beans we've eaten. Carter told us there is a Domino's in Haiti! The group ventured out to find that Domino's was closed. We don't just mean closed for the evening, the only thing left of it is the sign and an open cement structure. Rain began to fall soon afterwards and everyone outside was frantically looking for cover. Carter told us that Pizza Garden was just a little ways up the mountain. It took us almost an hour to park because the parking lot for the restaurant was actually a dead end side straight that people had just decided to park however they wanted to in. We didn’t know this until we got all the way to the end and other cars had come in behind us and blocked us in. It was crazy but after a lot of frustration we were able to get out and park on a side street. This is the rich part of Haiti, so it felt like another world. It cost thirty American dollars for a large pizza. It was delicious though and a nice treat. The atmosphere felt like a club, a little bizarre for a pizza place.
We went straight home afterwards and got to bed. We are praying we can wrap up everything we need to by tomorrow to leave early Sunday morning.
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