Well, January is nearly over. The time has flown by and we have been busy. We have hosted several teams and have been doing some more to make the Guest House a welcoming and comfortable place.
A new white plastic table and 4 chairs have been added to the downstairs veranda. This makes a good place to play games in the evening and to have meetings in the afternoon. Bright tropical motif fabric cushions have been added to the white rocker and the wicker chairs there as well.
Some of the wicker furniture was moved to the upstairs veranda and bright fabric cushions and pillows added. This makes a good place for teams to gather in the evening or for reading and "sunning" in the afternoon. Both places are very colorful and inviting.
Our Botique is set up on the corners of the dining room. We have a variety of local crafts and some of our jams and jellies for sale. Actually it has been very well received and we have over sold our original investment.
A serving table has been added in the dining room so that we can serve buffet style meals and folks can set where they want including going to the veranda. This has been a real time saver and makes mealtime much smoother.
There was a team of 12 here for overnight last night. They had been doing a medical mission north of here in the mountains. They brought down 5 active children. Four of them were on their way to an orphanage in Port au Prince due to the inablity of their families to care for them. The one older boy had suffered a stroke at age 10 so will stay here in Cayes for some therapy and the treatment of a severe burn on his leg.
The sweetest part was that they also had a baby with them to go on the PaP to an orphanage. This baby was 3 months old and weighed only 5.5 pounds. He was smaller than a new born. When the mother brought him to the team he had not eaten in 8 days. She had no milk to nurse him and there was no formula to buy in the store in their village. This is not an isolated case. It happens more times than we would like to believe. It was a tough decision to not keep him here to be sure he would get the care he needed. Feeding was nearly constant due to the small amount he could take at one time. We will continue to pray that he continues to thrive.
A team of 18 will be here next Friday. That will be a real test of our abilities.
Please continue to pray for all of us, the Haitian people, little Johnny, and others who have no "daily bread".
Catch the next edition in a week or so. Virginia and Jack
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Two weeks later
Again, hello from Haiti,
Well, we have been here for two weeks. Len and Sandy Boguski from PA have joined us for the next 2 months. Makes things a little more lively and some help. I went to Port au Prince on Monday and picked them up on Tuesday. It was dark by the time we were about half way here. The alternator of the car was not working properly so the lights kept getting dimmer and dimmer. Finally they went out completely and, of course, it was in an area where there was no cell phone service !! So kept driving by shining a flashlight out the window to see the side of the road and another out the side back window so other cars could see us. Finally called and someone came to rescue us. Changed batteries from the pick up to the car and proceeded on. It started to rain and the windshield wipers did not work!!! Very difficult to see as there was much dust on the window which was fast making mud. Finally washed itself off and we continued. When we were about 10 minutes from home the clouds cleared and that beautiful full moon emerged!!! God does have a sense of humor!! We were safe and thankful !!!
Have a new light in the kitchen so we can actually see what we are cooking !!! Made a double batch of Mango Jam yesterday from mango we had put in the freezer last summer when they were so plentiful. Will make some more today.
Also, we will be planting some seeds today: zuchinni, yellow squash, dill, lettuce and what ever other seeds we have. There are so many ornamental plants in our front yard, but they are in a state of disarray and in ugly pots. Are planning to "spruce up" that area today and in the following days. An old Haitian man who works beside the street in front of our house makes cement pots. Will get a few new ones for the project.
Have a team of 4 women coming on Monday to look over some schools that need assistance. The following Monday there are 9 people coming from Louisiana and Kansas. On Sunday, after church, we will go to the beach at Port Salut. Last week we could not go because of the fuel shortage. There is a man who makes baskets along the way, so we will stop and start stocking our gift shop here at the house.
Well, that's the update for January 17th. You in the north, stay warm as we are trying to stay cool. Virginia and Jack Bell
Well, we have been here for two weeks. Len and Sandy Boguski from PA have joined us for the next 2 months. Makes things a little more lively and some help. I went to Port au Prince on Monday and picked them up on Tuesday. It was dark by the time we were about half way here. The alternator of the car was not working properly so the lights kept getting dimmer and dimmer. Finally they went out completely and, of course, it was in an area where there was no cell phone service !! So kept driving by shining a flashlight out the window to see the side of the road and another out the side back window so other cars could see us. Finally called and someone came to rescue us. Changed batteries from the pick up to the car and proceeded on. It started to rain and the windshield wipers did not work!!! Very difficult to see as there was much dust on the window which was fast making mud. Finally washed itself off and we continued. When we were about 10 minutes from home the clouds cleared and that beautiful full moon emerged!!! God does have a sense of humor!! We were safe and thankful !!!
Have a new light in the kitchen so we can actually see what we are cooking !!! Made a double batch of Mango Jam yesterday from mango we had put in the freezer last summer when they were so plentiful. Will make some more today.
Also, we will be planting some seeds today: zuchinni, yellow squash, dill, lettuce and what ever other seeds we have. There are so many ornamental plants in our front yard, but they are in a state of disarray and in ugly pots. Are planning to "spruce up" that area today and in the following days. An old Haitian man who works beside the street in front of our house makes cement pots. Will get a few new ones for the project.
Have a team of 4 women coming on Monday to look over some schools that need assistance. The following Monday there are 9 people coming from Louisiana and Kansas. On Sunday, after church, we will go to the beach at Port Salut. Last week we could not go because of the fuel shortage. There is a man who makes baskets along the way, so we will stop and start stocking our gift shop here at the house.
Well, that's the update for January 17th. You in the north, stay warm as we are trying to stay cool. Virginia and Jack Bell
Friday, January 2, 2009
Hello to all,
We have arrived in Haiti. Yesterday was an intense travel day. We left Miami - late by about 1 hour. Made up a little time on the way to Port au Prince, but still late getting in. There was a welcoming committee - the staff from the Guest House in Port au Prince where we worked. What a great reunion with them , especially our god-daughter, Jessica. The time was too short as our driver from Cayes was waiting and wanted to get on the road as soon as possible.
The trip was about 4 hours. Some parts of the road were very good, and some parts were terribe - many potholes and a detour on a road that was so rough and dusty that is was almost impassible. It was around a place where the hurricanes had completely washed the road away.
It was dark before we arrived which is extremely difficult driving in Haiti. So many people walking along the side of the road, so many bicycles, cars without adequate lighting, more pot holes and such. Finally we could see the "gates of the city" and were thankful to have arrived safely.
The Pumpkin Soup was ready. That is the traditional New Year's dish. It was hot and spicy and lots of it !!! We were hungry after only stopping for a plate of fried plantain and a few pieces of fried pork as we left Port au Prince.
Today is quiet as most people here enjoy a few days of "holiday" with family and friends at the New Year. That is good as we are both a little travel weary. I did not remember there being so many "different" noises in the night. Birds singing, roosters crowing, pigs snorting, cars and horns and a few firecrackers !!! Morning came much too quickly !!
Until later, Jack and Virginia Bell Stay well and warm in 2009 !!!
We have arrived in Haiti. Yesterday was an intense travel day. We left Miami - late by about 1 hour. Made up a little time on the way to Port au Prince, but still late getting in. There was a welcoming committee - the staff from the Guest House in Port au Prince where we worked. What a great reunion with them , especially our god-daughter, Jessica. The time was too short as our driver from Cayes was waiting and wanted to get on the road as soon as possible.
The trip was about 4 hours. Some parts of the road were very good, and some parts were terribe - many potholes and a detour on a road that was so rough and dusty that is was almost impassible. It was around a place where the hurricanes had completely washed the road away.
It was dark before we arrived which is extremely difficult driving in Haiti. So many people walking along the side of the road, so many bicycles, cars without adequate lighting, more pot holes and such. Finally we could see the "gates of the city" and were thankful to have arrived safely.
The Pumpkin Soup was ready. That is the traditional New Year's dish. It was hot and spicy and lots of it !!! We were hungry after only stopping for a plate of fried plantain and a few pieces of fried pork as we left Port au Prince.
Today is quiet as most people here enjoy a few days of "holiday" with family and friends at the New Year. That is good as we are both a little travel weary. I did not remember there being so many "different" noises in the night. Birds singing, roosters crowing, pigs snorting, cars and horns and a few firecrackers !!! Morning came much too quickly !!
Until later, Jack and Virginia Bell Stay well and warm in 2009 !!!
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