Employment in Ferrier

Well finally have enough bars to pull up gmail. My intention was to use Internet Cafe so I could post some pictures. After walking to internet sight guess what, no electricity. So here I am home again. Unemployment in Ferrier is 80% or higher with few opportunities here in Ferrier. Some people are teachers at the schools (apx 9 primary and 4 secondary); there is also a police station but I rarely see a police presence. I have been told that some people go out of town to work. The majority of people sell things in front of their homes (microindustry). In the mornings some women will have cooked rice for sale; others sell charcoal, fruits, vegetables, candies, clothes, raw sugar cane, pretty much whatever they can get hold of. There are a lot of young men with motorcycles that function as taxies. It is amazing how many people they can get on one motorcycle and I am not talking about a big Harley. A few people have gardens but have not seen a lot. Jackson has a garden at his school that helps feed us and the school children. There are two clinics in town; one government clinic and the clinic I help at. The government clinic is staffed with doctors from Cuba and Bereca Clinic by a doctor from Dominica who will only be here 1 more year. Opportunities are few and education so important but so difficult.

Joy for the day.

Barbara

Waste Management

Houses in Ferrier have a small area around them called a lakou (yard) which is pretty much dirt but they take pride in their dirt. Every morning the women are up early painstakingly sweeping their dirt and any trash is swept into the middle or edge of the road. Later in the day the piles of trash are set on fire...problem solved. The big drawback is when their is plastic in the pile the smell is awful. Additional waste management involves digging a deep hole in your back lakou for human waste and trash. Not exactly sure how that is managed and not everyone does that; however, definitely not a good idea to go wandering thru the back lakou at night.
Love to hear your comments.

Love and joy, Barbara

Affirmation

Home from church and although didn't understand much the word kontan was used a lot whih means happy, glad or content. Just love it when God gives me reminders. Actually two so far today. Have a jou kontan. (Happy day)

Enough

Reading scripture from Upper Room this morning from Philippians 4:4-9 and then read a little more thru 13. Good reminder that whatever I have or don't have here it is still enough to be content with. Sometimes eating I think about what I might have at home; food here very much the same day to day but then I think am not hungry and God has provided me with enough to get thru each day so what more should I ask for. Certainly don't expect everyone to run to Haiti to realize how blessed they are but do pray for us all to think about what really is enough and to be content with what God has given us. Love and joy to you all.

Small Victory

....and that is all I ask for. Taking a walk after lunch and some children were calling me over to their house. Toddler had a sore on his head and they wanted medicine; told them I would be right back using Spanish and hoped they understood. Went home and got peroxide and ointment and cleaned and dressed sore and gave them rest of ointment. In my limited creole told them to lave (wash) kat (4) times a jou (day) and use petet (small) amount medicine. Hope it helps and builds trust.

Maten Samde (Saturday morning)

Manje maten jodea espageti, fig, leti e kafe. (Breakfast today spaghetti, banana, lettuce and coffee.) Am sitting downstairs with baby Wol and watching a little mouse run around and darting in and out of a bag of charcoal. Charcoal not like what we have but made from trees. The wood is placed in a hole, covered and then slowly burned to make charcoal. Not good for the environment as no trees equals erosion. I noticed that we have two new chickens but as I watch Nana who is 11 grabs one. She has a knife in her hand and takes the chicken behind the wall; momentary squawking and then silence. Guess we are having chicken for lunch. This city girl has a lot to get used to. His house ia always full of people...some work in the house and others just show up. I never know who is going to be sleeping here. Love and joy until the next post.

Friday Morning in Haiti

At 6:30 this morning the generator was started and I wondered why. Went out to look and they were pumping water into the holding tank on the roof. Funny because as was showering earlier thought what if I get all soaped up and the tank runs out of water. May have been a close call. Few minutes later was looking out porch and they were washing the truck using a water hose. Now I know you think what's the big deal, but remember no plumbing like we are used to. I guess the generator allowed water to be pumped thru the hose. Quite a crowd gathered around to watch the "truck washing".

Update
After the Truck washing event I heard singing and drums beating. Went to investigate and school children were marching down the street carrying the Haitian flag and singing but I had no idea what was going on. When I got to the clinic there were more children in the street singing, beating their drums and carrying flags. I found out they were celebrating the battle of Ver Tiere. Aproximately two hundreed years ago the slaves in Cap Haitian took a stand for freedom against the colonists and began their fight for independence.

Day to Day Life

I think my favorite part of the day is morning; listening to and watching the village come to life. Every morning is a little different and yet the same. Today for the first time I was aware of the church bell ringing at 4 am; don't know if it rings every morning so early or not. The lady across the street has her rice in her pot over the fire and a good crowd around to purchase. You have to bring your own bowl with you, no styrofoam takeout containers. The lady next door is stirring a pot of beans over her fire; must going to be lunch as I can hear the beans rattling against the pot so not done yet. Children are headed for school all neat an clean in their uniforms; some are riding bicycles and pumping another child. The air not so smokey today...nice. So if I look off to the right I can see the mountains. Chickens run around everywhere and am sure they lay eggs but wonder how you find them. All of the animals pretty much run loose...pigs, donkeys, goats, chickens and dogs. I haven't seen it yet but was told they tie up their cats. Hmmm. If anyone tells you that the rooster crows at the break of dawn, not so. The rooster crows whenever he wants including ALL NIGHT. The other night even the donkeys were upset and did a lot of braying. Not exactly music to my ears at 2 am. Wol is still so cranky and am a little upset the doctor would not even look at his ears just said he was teething. This is the fourth day of really cranky baby. They seem happy if I come down and take him for a bit and he is getting used to me so will come to me. Potatoes, carrots and papaya for breakfast today, a little strange but glad to have fruit and vegetable. Am learning to drink coffee black as no sugar usually available but is OK. Love you all and enjoy hearing from you. Have a blessed day and be a blessing to someone else.

Barbara

House Pets

OK, I know I am going to totally gross you all out but telling this story will help me deal with and learn to laugh at my new life. Sunday night I woke up and felt something crawl across my arm. I knew right away what it was and had to tell myself to get a grip, so I brushed "it" off my arm. A few minutes later got my flashlight so I could get up for a minute and sure enough there was a big cockroach inside my mosquito net. Got up and got him out and then found a few more of his friends in the hall. Just part of living in a house that is open to the outdoors.
When we first got here there were two tarantulas in the downstairs shower. Needless to say I refuse to use the downstairs bathroom; that is where I draw the line. We also have different lizards coming in and out which I don't mind. Wonder if they eat roaches or tarantulas? Probably not. We have had chickens running around on the ground floor but they are gone. I wonder where they went? Oh right, we had chicken for dinner a couple of times. So just a little update on our pets. Enjoy. Love and joy.

Funny money

I haven't shared with you about money in Haiti which is a gourde (pronounced goud). There are 40 gourdes to one US dollar but when they price items they use Haitian dollars; however, there is no such currency. So there are 8 nonexistent Haitian dollars to 1 US dollar; therefore, to figure what to pay you have to multiply the Haitian dollar by 5 to find out how many gourdes to pay. So confusing.
Yesterday evening my hostess, Ildie, put her little grandson in my lap. He was so tired and really fighting it so I was holding him and singing and praying please don't pee on me....no diapers. Most little kids run around with bare bottoms. Sunday seems to be party day with people congregating around the houses. Down the street there is a little bar with music playing and lights on due to a generator. They are the only lights on the street other than our house. The stars are incredibly bright due to lack of competing light. As I was journaling the moon was coming up and so beautiful and I thought how wonderful we were all looking at the same moon. Love and joy to you all.

Barbara

Sunday in Haiti

Jodia se Dmanch (today is Sunday) The church bells start ringing early in Ferrier, 5 am, and keep ringing every hour. I guess they are reminding everyone whose day it is. Around 6 a two men were going down the street loudly proclaiming something. The only word I understeed was Jodia se (today is); maybe they were proclaiming the Lord's day. Around 7:30 am a little lady walked by with a shallow basket on her head filled with raw chicken pieces for sale. Yesterday a lady was pushing an old wheelbarrow with raw beef for sale which our hostess bought some of. Just imagine hot sun overhead, flies and dust. No FDA here. Church again today, can't undersand the words but feel what is important...Gods presence and joy. The only words I understood were bonjou senior and mesi senior. Senior is Lord and Bondye is God. What more do I need than to say good morning Lord and thankyou Lord. Blessings to you all. Barbara

Saturday Morning in Ferrier

Well it's Saturday morning in Ferrier and things still start early but a different pace; although the loud lady across the street is still loud. The lady in the next house is sitting out front selling hot bowls of rice and men, women and children are at the well getting water. Some of the boys have set up an area to play soccer; their goals are made from old lumber and rice bags. Another little boy is rolling a bicycle tire down the street with a stick. After breakfast walked down to the church where twelve orphans live with the pastor; played ball with them although I think interrupted chores. The girls were at the well getting five gallon buckets of water and the pushing them to the house two at a time in a wheelbarrow. These are not big girls so is hard work but just part of their daily life. A couple of other girls were sitting on a bench ouside studying. I believe the pastor does have some electricity from solar panels but no running water or indoor bathroom. I can't even imagine twelve children and no indoor plumbing. Later today will play jump rope with the kids, they get pretty intense. Have found no one to teach me the word for share or take turns; maybe no such word. Continue in prayer for Haiti. Love and joy.

Barbara

Finally got to the "internet cafe" to update you on my adventure.  As you know we were to leave Waco at 0625 but guess what, ice on the wings and the deicer didn't work so were delayed by one hour.  By the time we got to Dallas our plane was gone, next plane full, third attempt a charm.  We did so much walking up and down terminal C that we were worn out.  Made it to Tampa on time and then on to Miami.  Bo and I met up with the rest of the group in Miami and then on to Santigo, Dominican Republic.  LONG  day.  We arrived in Santiago around 8 pm really worn out but Thursday's anxiety gone.
Slept at Los Jardenes in Santiago and had good nights sleep and a shower.  Next morning up early for a van ride to DaJabon which ended up being about 3 1/2 hours.  Had a major "traffic jam" with many, many cows in the road who were in no hurry to go anywhere fast.  Oh well, new world.  The border between Dominican and Haiti is quite a sight.  There is a river with people bathing, washing their clothes and just playing; trash everywhere.  When you cross the border you are in Ouanamin, Haiti.  We arrived in Ferrier  around 3 pm and had lunch which consisted of fish (the whole fish), a piece of tomato and cucumber and a little  bit of lettuce.,  They also had some kind of very spicy salad made with a pasta.

It gets dark early in Haiti and by 6:30 I was ready for bed.  For supper we had  a cup of ovaltine and  bread.  The bread here us more like a roll and very dense maybe made from rice flour.

Not much sleep Saturday due to all the different noises.  Roosters crowed all night, dogs barked and people  talking...not bad, just different. For any of you that think church lasts too long they started at 0830 and ended at 1040.  The last hymn was "Trust and Obey" so while they sang in Creole, I sang in English.  Their songs will be hard for me to learn as no hymnals.  Even though I did not understand the language I most surely felt God there with me.  Tonight as I sat outside and listened to the village life I am truly amazed at the joy in such poverty.  Makes you so aware of what is really important.
.  .
On Monday morning woke up around 0430 to one man walking down the road chanting and another singing. I have no idea what was going on but it sounded mournful to me.  Spaghetti for breakfast today which is a staple in Haiti.  It has a spicy taste to it...not much sauce.  For lunch today we had beef and I kind of wondered how they store it as I saw them cutting it up on Sun.  Best not to over think things in Haiti; just enjoy what you get.  So far no GI symptoms so not going to complain.

Each morning is really a gift as I watch these people get ready for their day.  Such a country of contrast.  You will see a woman riding a mule with 2 100 lb bags of rice and she is talking on a cell phone.  On the roads you see people walking, riding motorcycles a few cars//trucks and people riding mules and horses.  Children are up in the morning and bathing each other outside while meals are being cooked over charcoal by the front door.  Many children are not in school because their parents cannot afford it and many people walk aimlessly around because their are no jobs.  Unemployment is around 80%.
Mission Waco left today so beginning of my real adventure.  Will post pictures soon.  With love to you all, Barbara

Heard from Barbara

I am taking the liberty of posting this for Barbara. I recieved this in an email to me. I am posting on her blog where others can see.   Dwyane

From Barbara,

Well, the rest of the group is gone but feeling good about decision. Went into town yesterday and got my bank account opened which was quite an experience. Later went to a beach and spent about an hour and had a nice time.  The water is very clear and the sand is very coarse and dark in color.  Found lots of coral and some pretty shells.  Fun until a tarantula scurried out of some tree limbs.  Let out a squeal before I could stop my self.  Life is very, very different but relaxed.  The people are very dramatic and loud so sometimes difficult to know if happy or mad. Still have not gotten to use computer but hopefully soon.  It is so sweet in the morning before it even gets light to hear the village come to life. People are talking, children are laughing, dogs baring and roosters crowing. The woman across the road is very loud and always yelling at someone.  As it gets light you see children outside bathing each other gettin ready for school.  There is a well across the street so is a busy spot.  What a reminder of what we take for granted.  There is water run off around the well so pigs, dogs and chickens also congregate.  As a result runoff  contaminated with ecoli and they set there buckets in it and take contamination home with them.  Children do a lot of water hauling so have no real concept of no getting their dirty hands in the clean water.  Haiti definitely not for the germaphobic.  In Haiti the biggest thing on the road has the right of way therfore pedestrian beware.  Hope to be able to start blog soon.

Talk to you soon, Barbara

Well, here we go.  In less than 12 hours I will be on a plane and headed for Haiti and a new life.  So many thoughts going thru my head today...excited for all the possibilities....nervous due to so many new experiences...sad leaving so many people I love.  I am so thankful for all of the people that have loved, supported and encouraged me and for Dwyane Warnecke who has spent a lot of time helping me learn how to put pictures on my blog.  So thank you all for making this possible.