If you’re a light sleeper, or a well rested one after an early to bed night, why not wake up before dawn to a spectacular display of Nature’s mini fireworks – fireflies in fancy flight. One member watched from 4:30 AM to dawn, until 6:15 AM when all, including Karen and teacher Mariah went outside the gate to “see Haiti come alive “. But, alas, too late, Haiti had been well awake before daylight, and the majority of working people, machines, and those on foot, horseback , and donkey had already passed over the bridge on the main route through Pont Deschapelles and the Artibonite Valley. It was still a rewarding experience, but we could enlarge on that greatly with a visit to a Saturday market in the town of Verrettes about 10 kms to the east.

After a delicious breakfast of cereal and fruit, we had a fun busy morning and day with an abundance of new experiences. As was earlier reported, the roof had blown off the school’s kitchen. Everyone was very determined to make sure that students wouldn’t have to go another day without a meal, and all sprang into action. First, all helped to bail out the kitchen from the rain water of the afternoon and night before, and bring the dozen items like the charcoal burners and super large pots and rice and beans, etc, to cook the daily meal for the students. Other chores were being done in the Compound when the word came to help deliver the cooked meals by the school cooks. They had been in the sun over two hours with large charcoal fires and burners with two large pots about a meter wide. This was an unusual situation so the 10 team members brought the food, about two plates at a time, to each of the school classes from preschool to grade 6. The higher classes picked up their own dinner.

Cleaning water from roofless kitchen so kids could be fed

Delivering food to students

Judel and another of Mariah’s students having their meal at school

We ate dinner a little later back in the compound. Early afternoon we went back to the school to carry the many kitchen items out of the roofless kitchen area to store in the nearest classroom until Monday morning when the same thing will need to be done.

About mid afternoon, the goats started to arrive. Before we came down, we had ordered 15 goats to be distributed to needy families in the area. Seven were brought in this afternoon and were kept in the school yard. Donating goats is a part of HATS mercy ministry. A goat can be a very valuable animal for a needy family at a cost of $70 US. After supper, the goats were brought from the school yard to the Compound for the night.

Chauvek with  his gift of a goat

Goat herder, Emma

Some people walk dogs.  In Haiti some walk goats

As usual, we all took time to play with the children and in that way helped out the house mothers as well. How can one describe the magic and warmth of the children’s hours?!

Jonathan, Sandra, Dieunel & Karma

Fun with Brittany

The rain came again late afternoon for an hour, but didn’t linger. It freshened the air and the sun came out again.

At 8PM, we all piled into the HATS truck and motored down to Luckner’s house and Radio Station. We were on the radio for close to an hour gracing this area of the Artibonite Valley with our conversations and, messages and songs. Our program included a birthday message from Emma to her two sons, Matthew and Brendan whose birthdays were both today. It was also announced by us that Karen has a birthday coming up in late May, so Happy Birthday was sang over the air for all three. We then did a medley of hymns, Oh Canada, and Newfoundland songs including Ode to Newfoundland.

The best of Newfoundland on Radio Creole

Jennifer and Alycia

Air time

After our studio program, we met on the radio station deck for presentations to Karen and Luckner. We had a short pre-birthday party for Karen and gave her a few presents. Melissa presented Luckner with some presents on behalf of the team.

Emma had prepared a cake for our party for Karen and in honor of the birthdays of Matthew and Brendan, but the cake had no icing. So our truck ride back to the Compound in the warm night air and full moon was “icing on the cake”.

~Don and Alycia