Insane Birthday Week so far...

Briefly - and more details later when things settle down a little - the birthday week thus far:

Sunday night Cross International arrived to pay us a visit. A group of seven visitors also arrived. In the evening, the torrential rain-season-rains started and soaked our property. We had a little welcome party for everyone and made sure our windows were shut tight against the storm.

Monday morning, I forgot it was my birthday but soon someone remembered and I got a few "Happy Birthdays." In the morning, I worked frantically on some project proposals for a couple of hours and then joined Fr. Marc and Cross International in the early afternoon. The Les Cayes prison packs up to 25 prisoners in small 20x10 foot cells. They have to take turns sleeping. This is far and away, however, better conditions than other Haitian prisons. We went to see their sewing program that Cross funds and Espwa helps implement. Most prisoners there are in for 2-5 years for petty crimes.

After the prison we went to a restaurant to get a fruit juice. Nick noticed there was a cake in the window so we ordered that and all the Cross International guys, Marc, Nick and Tiger say me happy birthday.

Soon, we were back in the car and on the way to visit an agriculture supply store that Cross funds. Who should pull up right along side us, but Haitian presidential hopeful, Pastor Chevan and his 3 security guards. We all stuff into the one room hut that the supply store operates out of and listened to a short presentation by some of the employees there. They were so genuinely grateful to Cross for their support - it was quite touching to see.

Out back on the farm, I talked with the artisans about the work they are doing and pieces that I would like them to do. We hung some nice pieces on the wall and I bought some for the dining room. Soon, evening was upon us and Dino was setting up for a party.

Let's just say that it was one of the best birthday celebrations that I have had since I was little and leave it at that.

Yesterday was a completely different sort of day. One of our best dogs was accidentally killed by one of our drivers, one of the baby cats living in our bathroom died (at its own mother's hand -- paw?) and Fr. Bal who teaches carpentry at Espwa got hit in the eye by a planing stone. We visited him today and, God willing, he will be OK. The doctor saw no immediate danger.

In the morning, my English class went really well. Paige, a visitor here, helped me plan a cool lesson and the kids seemed to listen and to learn!!! Then, Paige, Sarah, another one of the visitors here now, and I learned a dance. Sony, the hip-hop dance instructor, wants us to perform it in tomorrow's Spektak but I do not believe we can or should...

Today has been exciting, too. A medical team - the Athens Medical Team, to be exact - arrived to unload some supplies. When they showed up, they ended up seeing a patient or two and recasting some of our boys who have broken arms. They also decided to leave behind a married doctor-nurse team to help our nurses out. Incredible serendipity. Now we have to work on finding a bigger and better space for our growing medical team.

More later and hopefully more pictures.