Cold, Wet, and Amazing!

Can you believe that it can actually be cold, wet, and dreary in Haiti? It makes us feel right at home! Last week, the kids and I went up to Belot and brought the tarps we had purchased to cover the school.

Ron was sick that day, so he missed the fun! The small village school had suffered a storm which destroyed the temporary cover they had. This brought the rain into the classroom, which proceeded to damage the chalkboards. Plus, they were unable to have school on days that it rained since the school was then open to the elements.

We've been actively trying to gather funds to help this village school of 65 kids.  To simply have some cover over their heads, so they can have school will be a huge blessing!


We "thought" we would help put the tarps up, but we mostly helped gather the bamboo. I never knew bamboo was so heavy! I'm sure it was a sight to see~ the blancs (white people) trying to carry these huge stocks of bamboo up hill in the claylike mud.

It started out ok, but then halfway up the hill, the bamboo got heavier and heavier. Actually, it wasn't so much that they were heavy. It was the fact that they were long and awkward to carry.

We made one trip (about 8 pieces) out of the 25 stocks we needed to carry up the hill. After that one trip (which took a couple of hours), Pastor Reginald said that some people in the village would help get the rest of the bamboo up the hill and we could begin again another day.

But....we may be useless, but at least people in the village see that we're willing to work alongside of them. Or....that's what we tell ourselves!


Joan and I were feeling as old as dirt by the end of the day. Our neck hurt from having the bamboo resting on our shoulders. Even the kids were sore!

Ron went up yesterday with the kids to help frame the roof for the tarps. 

Bamboo to make the Frame

It was an all day event. We had enough tarps to cover the school, but we 

still need funds to purchase tarps to cover the church area. This is the only 

Evangelical church in the village. 

 The kids kept talking about how much it reminds them of Oregon. And Naomi continually talks about driving "up into the clouds". It is really quite amazing! Apparently it is the second highest mountain in Haiti at 6000 foot elevation. 

Frame for the tarp covering the school

  I think we have found our calling here in Haiti up in the mountains in the mud and the rain. 

                                   To us, this is the norm. We were born with webbed feet in Oregon! 

Ron and Pastor Reginald

We praise God for His provisions and we continue to pray 

blessings upon Pastor Reginald and the community of Belot!