a little help for some friends

Yesterday, a Uruguayan unit of the military branch of MINUSTAH went to visit St. Flora's orphanage on Ile-a-Vache. We asked them to help us help her by providing some "expertise" and "budget estimates." All morning, as we trooped around the property in the glaring sun, a little train of followers kept us company.
Among many things, the engineer was amazed at the antiquity of a the hand pump being used on the only operational well on the property. The "pump" has little rusted buckets attached to a leather belt, which reaches down 18.5 meters. The buckets splash water into a trough when someone winds the handle. Saying that Sr. Flora operates on a shoe-string is an understatement. Hopefully, with this added expertise, a project proposal that is in the works will bring much needed aid to Sr. Flora's 55 kids.

soccer game

On a soggy Saturday afternoon, MINUSTAH played Espwa in soccer. The UN won, 2-1.
Only a couple of our kids could be caught singing the “MINUSTAH vole cabri (steals goat)” song – a thing that became popular during carnival. Since the UN has been helping us out a lot, I am hoping this attitude dissipates, at least in our ranks.

Some of the kids started a spontaneous drummer circle in front of the big UN truck that transported the winning team to our property. They were in the minority, though, because most everyone watched the game with rapt attention. They will finish the septic tank this week and are testing more of our wells on Wednesday. As always, we are grateful to them and enjoy the rec time too.

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...

rain and other fun things

At about 2:30 AM, I woke up. The electricity had run out. Thus, the fan was off and a slick gleam had formed on my face. My legs were tangled in my thin and, by now, sweaty sheets. Mosquitoes buzzed around my ears and shoulders. Within a few minutes, the distinct sound of approaching rain reached my ears. Soon it was falling hard around the quad. It was a peaceful sound, mainly because it either drowned out or silenced any other but also because it meant water for our desperately thirsty land. The clang of mangoes dropping onto tins roofs still sounded sporadically.

I gave in to my insomnia, turned on a flash light and dove into the magical adventures of Wart, Kay and Robin of the Wood. T. H. White kept me company through the early morning hours.

This morning, the skies look pregnant – as though it may rain again at any moment. This is very good for the growing season, our dry fields, and the rice paddies of our neighbors. This majorly stinks for the utterly awful road leading out to our farm. How I desperately wish for a 4-wheel-drive vehicle. The roads, covered in slick, glistening mud, may as well be covered with oil.

Later today or tomorrow, MINUSTAH will come out with their pump truck and empty our septic system. They visited on Monday with one of their superiors from Port-au-Prince. We are all set to launch into this next project with them but there are several hitches: for one, our back ho is missing a piece and we can’t dig a hole in which to deposit the waste. But the United Nations is working to help us, which is wonderful. We hope to be able to repay them somehow.

Regarding the fundraiser I had while back in the States, we’re up to nearly $5,000. I am so grateful to everyone who helped, came and contributed. Your generosity is overwhelming. Next time, with better planning and better weather, we could double this.

The work here continues. On Monday, I learned how to run a back ho and helped dig a trench (pictures to come – I swear). Our quad kitty had kittens a few weeks ago. They become noisier and more precocious as the days go by. Some kid discovered how to make whistles from thin metal and kindly distributed them to many of our little ones. Never a dull – never a quiet moment.