So...do you want to go back to Haiti?

That was our supper time question. The resounding answer was yes! Reasons why include:

• Relationships. We realized once again  this trip the number of friends we have in Haiti. It was great to see them again and the time with them was too short. 
• To finish. We want to see the vocational school through...and whatever other project comes along next.
• Hope. We were told time after time by our Haitian friends the hope and encouragement they receive when each team comes to visit. 
• To be encouraged. To see the improvements in the country, the smiles and resiliency of the people and the new generation of younger haitians that are rising up to make a difference in their own country
• To be stretched. Nothing like stepping out of your comfort zone to grow ones character and ones faith. 
• To share the experience. Some of us have been here before some the first time. Oh that everyone could share in the life changing experience of a trip to Haiti.

Thanks for all your prayers and support. We look forward to being home. 

Final scores...

I know you've all been wanting to know the final euchre stats (compliments of Derek):  

Derek/Keith - 9W 13L

Old guys - 13W  9L

Still re-analyzing the last game or two and we have not yet reached agreement on which team has the most refined table talk strategy....but overall a great time has been had by all. 

Just hangin' out in Miami airport

Looking forward to being home. 

The boys are playing volleyball...where's Brian?

...scoping out the golf course of course.

Today was a pleasant travel day. We said our goodbyes, had a marvelous flight with MAF, some minor "moments" at the DR/Haiti border, and finished with an air conditioned ride back to where we started - Puerto Plata Village. 

BTW, Golf is $42 for nine holes, $18 for the cart, $18 for the clubs, $10 for the caddy that you have to have. Add in the implied tip for the caddy and it's close to $100 for nine holes. He passed on the opportunity. 

It's a bit surreal to cross the border back into DR.  We have much to process and think about as we reflect on our time together in Haiti. 

Traveling in the DR now. A few pics from the morning.

Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone on the Rogers network.

All packed and ready to go...

A couple of pics and stories as we relax for our last evening in Haiti. 

The big red door. Today the metal door arrived wet paint and all. The mason smashed out 3 holes in each side of the door way to align with the rebar extensions welded into the door frame. After inserting the door the holes were re-filled with cement. Presto - the door is now in place...once dry it should be secure. We have stored our tools inside for the next work team. 

Second pic is a church on a hill. Our driver wanted to show us his church so we drove down the road then off the beaten track for a while and then squeaked through a narrow cactus bounded path. The picture is the view from where we stopped. The tin roof on the other side of the ravine is the church where 150 people meet each sunday. It was quite a walk...but oh what a view. 

Picture 3 - today's lunch. Fresh bread for sandwiches. Selection of toppings included tomatoes, onion, margarine, mayo, mamba (peanut butter), laughing cow cheese...and...of course Spam. Side dishes were fried banana and popcorn. Gotta love haiti - spaghetti for breakfast, popcorn for lunch. 

Supper was rice&beans, beets, and chicken in a sauce with "stuff" in it. 

Wonderful food the whole time here. We will miss the food and certainly miss our friends who prepared such wonderful meals for us. 

Picture 4. Just hangin out. We moved the couch outside to enjoy the evening breeze. Keith is learning more creole. Brian is re-teaching Glen sudoku. Derek is coaching Brian on teaching Sudoku. Brian isn't fully appreciating the coaching. Roger is taking pictures and posting comments to the blog that Brian won't read until he is home. He's a great team leader and a very good sport. 

Tomorrow we fly from Pigion to the haiti/DR border then drive back to POP. Looking forward to the swim tomorrow. 

Roger (for all)

Finished by lunch....

It's been a good morning. The rest of the benches were completed before lunch with time to spare. So what to do? Christen the tables with a game of euchre of course. Who won you ask? The adults of course :-). 

Afternoon will be packing time a "walk around town", and time for some goodbyes. 

A satisfying time here in Lejeune. 

Work tables and shelving done...tomorrow some benches

Seemed challenging to get going this am after the Sunday break....and then there were battery challenges (overheating) along the way but at the end of the day we completed the last table. We also completed the shelving in the storage room and build a prototype bench. We're "board" of building tables so Glen and Roger decided to use the rest of the wood to build some benches to go along with the work tables. They can also double as saw horses, project supports, etc etc. So that will be tomorrow's endeavour...to build 9 more benches (total 10) to go along side the 16 work tables. tomorrow we should have pics of the team with the completed work. For today just a few random shots. 

Just sayin'

A full and rich day

A late blog entry for this Sunday. It has been a full day. We visited the Church in Hinche, the church in Sapote, and all four of the homes that last year's team built. Quite a day.  A few highlights to share as they come to mind:

* very encouraging to see the infrastructure improvements in the country. Road conditions are much improved. 

* great to reunite with friends in Sapote. Warms our hearts and feeds our souls to visit them and see the beautiful work God is doing there. 

* many questions about how other team members are doing (Poppy, Cameron, James, etc etc)

* today was a Baby dedication for Jean Anil (principal at the Sapote school)

* three of the four families were home when we went to visit. All were SO thankful for the homes they were blessed with a year ago. 

* we took time to visit each family, present a gift, and pray with them

* the one lady was excited for us to pray for her. Last year she asked the team to pray for a job for her so that she could support her family - the next week she found a job :-). 

* also great to drive on some haitian backroads (we don't want the new team members to think the new graded roads are the norm)

* we found some 3" #8 screws in Hinche (left over from sapote project 4 years ago) ...enough to finish, other 4-5 work benches before we go

* love hearing the haitians sing 

Some pics. 

Two more work days to go then two travel days home. Certainly a "time is flying by yet seems like forever" kind of trip. 

May God Bless you and keep you, may He be gracious onto you, may His face shine upon you, and give you peace. 

Leaving our mark

Glen brought some wood burning toys so when the wood was all used up for today he set the boys loose to "sign" our work

Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone this was.

Now that was fun.

Today we asked our cooks to have a seat while we prepared a pancake breakfast for them with some pure Canadian Maple syrup. What a blast. It was an honour to serve them and I must say they laughed a lot - we all laughed a lot. 

Off to work now while the rest of you have a leisurely saturday. 

Oh, and pray for Brian as he recovers from the news of the Bruin's loss last night :-D 

...and the FOOD!

Something we haven't talked about enough yet is the food. AMAZING. So why a picture of people instead food? Well, two reasons...1) we are always too busy enjoying the marvelous feasts to stop and take any pictures and 2) these 2 lovely women serve us more than just a meal they provide us with laughs and smiles that make each meal even better. 

We are blessed to have Roslen and Mdme Janvier as part of our "team". 

Too bad for Derek it's spades...

Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone on the Rogers network.

A good days work....

To say this was a good day at the job site would be an extreme understatement. The team is working like a well oiled machine pumping out the work benches and starting into shelving for the storage room. Thanks to Brian's back surgery yesterday he has joined in full force and is working with remarkable Leaf Like finesse and dexterity. 

At our current pace we will be out of materials by end of Saturday. We have ordered more lumber to arrive Monday. 

Did we say it was hot today? Even working in the shade of the building interior we needed to chug back the gatorade. 

Having a great time...wish y'all were here. 

Careful what you ask for...

So last evening we had electricity. We promptly turned on the light in the living room and started into euchre. Within 20 minutes the bugs were swarming, Brian was flying around the room swatting at them all with a welding glove, the fumes from the generator wafter in, and the game degenerated. 

We turned off the generator and continued our game in peace to the reflective glow of our KW Surplus bargain LED lantern. Brian returned to his chair and all was well. 

Electricity yes...but not really what we were hoping for. 

But today....now today we have water. Not enough to power the shower...but enough of a steady flow in the kitchen sink to wash a face at the end of the day. 

All is well. 

Friday is backwards day...

Great to see Brian working. 

Pics for today

Downloaded some photo resizing sw with sarah's research (work colleague) . 

A great day. 

Glen says..."I need myself an impact driver"

Derek says... "five tables" 

Brian says...."go Bruins go"

Keith says..."I'm expecting another excellent surgery tomorrow"

Roger says...."felt like old home week"