Another month ???

It is hard to believe that February has come and gone. January seemed to drag along and seemingly would never end. February flew by so fast we hardly knew it was here. But much has been accomplished.

Several teams have made this their home over the past weeks. It is enjoyable to read the Guest Book and note the positive comments. All have seemed to be comfortable and feel at home. Even those here the night when 20 had to make do with the 2 bathrooms!! That night we had to slide Sandy and Len out to Jean Michael's house to make room for all.

Much work has been done on an orphanage about 1/2 hour out called Bigghouse. There are 80 orphans, mostly due to the economy, who are housed and provided education. One morning we made over 100 peanut butter (mumba) and jelly sandwiches, packed cookies and packets of juice and took there for a special treat for the children. What a great time!!! Sandy and Len and others have made that special place a target for their efforts. Another team ,with a doctor and physican assistant, did a physical on each of the children. Found some scabies, evidence of parasites and malaria, and overall malnutrition. Food high in protien is needed. New beds are being built and mattress provided. Sheets and mattress covers are on their way from the States. Food production is being planned. This could be a model project for others to look at. Do we ever make a difference?? Sometimes for a few.

Our motto has become - A little bit of something is better than all of nothing !!!!

Here at the Guest House - Hospitality Center - progress has been made. We have beds for 20, as you read earlier. Some of the new twin beds have been made into bunks. Jack and Len engineered that and have made ladders so getting to the top is relatively easy. The front room windows are screened along with the doors. Makes for a more pleasant area as well as fewer mosquitoes.

Some new outdoor furniture allows some people to eat on the veranda when there are large groups here. Colorful cushions add to the homey and tropical look. A new small table and chairs in the front room office allow more comfort for meetings and more eating space. We can now serve meals in buffet style with the addition of a fiberglass folding table at one end of the dining room.

A small Botique in the dining room allows our guests to do some shopping for locally made art work. It has been popular and gives some of the local artisans another outlet for their work. Our chef, Jocelyn, also does beautiful embroidery work. We have his work on display and for sale. The work of a local basket maker, Pierre Paul Pierre, is very popular. The jams and jellies made from locally grown fruit and processed in our kitchen are favorites for taking home with guests as reminders of the "bounty in the midst of scarcity" of this area of Haiti.

No wonder February flew by!! We were all too busy to notice the passage of time.

We look forward to the next few weeks which will bring us many more new friends and some former friends returning. I will try to get an update posted before this next month is over.

Virginia, Jack, Len, Sandy and Sarah - The Guest House Staff




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