we coming bearing a pump

On Friday morning, about 9am, some United Nations MINUSTAH personnel arrived with a truck and a pump. After a visit with an official earlier this week, they determined that they could provide Pwoje Espwa with additional humanitarian aid (they still bring a potable water tank once every two weeks). The septic tank in question has not been emptied since its construction just over two years ago. This would be no small task.
Those cement covers have been closed for a couple of weeks now. MINUSTAH set to work removing the covers and inspecting the... mess. Victor, the American fellow in the straw hat (above left and below right), dug a large hole with Espwa's new back ho on Thursday. He walked out to the fields with an engineering lieutenant (below left) to show him where to deposit the waste.

After hours, MINUSTAH had still not finished. The hole was nearly full and by 4pm they decided to call it a day and return to finish the following morning. The men worked tirelessly in what one can imagine were fairly hot and smelly conditions. In their free moments they played with the children who stood around in irrepressible crowds to watch the action.

Most of these guys have families at home. They seem to welcome the opportunity to hang out at our place and talk to the little ones. And it was actually quite entertaining to see these Uruguayans trying to communicate with out staff and kids. Only one of them spoke French and none spoke Creole at all. The lieutenant (pictured above) gladly hoisted this girl into his arms -- he said she reminded him of his five-year-old waiting at home for him in Uruguay.

Next week Espwa and the Uruguayan MINUSTAH base are scheduled to play a friendly game of soccer. Updates to come on this event...