We’re back!!!!!!!
We arrived home in Haiti on Sunday. What a joy, everyone has been expressing their happiness at our return and it’s very heartwarming. The guards at WHH offices have been visiting, smiling and nodding as they speak very little English and my Creole is rusty. I did understand that they were happy God sent us back.
Hurt my back, went to the chiropractor on Saturday to have it fixed and then fell on the ice before we left and after moving suitcases and sitting in the plane, my back has been giving me grief. A team from NY arrived three hours after we did so David unpacked, repacked and away he went. I stayed behind to give my back a rest. The team is doing construction (9 men) so I don’t feel too bad since I’m not up to swinging a pick or a hammer David was like a racehorse at the starting gate, he couldn’t wait to get moving! He loves to be busy, I imagine our retirement (whenever that might be) will not be relaxed and lazy…
As we traveled from the airport I was struck with the thought that the streets looked cleaner, there appears to be less litter and rebuilding is really taking off.. It’s such a wonderful sight! I didn’t realize until we returned how much I had missed it. I ventured out for a short walk to stretch my back today. It’s “down” to 88 and was really beautiful, slight breeze and I didn’t start sweating for at least 10 minutes. I love walking here, the streets are where everything is happening. More shops on the curbs and sidewalks then in actual buildings. Watching the man selling sugarcane out of his wheelbarrow, his motions are so fluid as he cuts, shaves the bark and packages the cane and collects his money. The walking pharmacy in a bucket, how long must it take to build that wire cage and then attach each one of those bubble wrap packages? Kids in their uniforms on the way to school. The smells…. Chicken frying, vegetables, shoe polish, pigs, freshly made bread. My confusion standing in the store thinking I divide what by what to come up with the price?? So happy to be home..
Laughing, David shared with me how the team of nine men, David and numerous Haitians traveled up the mountains in Jacmel to the site of the school they are going to build to find 4 shovels and two wheelbarrows. Hmm, what’s wrong with this picture? We’ve been told that Haitian workers are suppose to come to work with their own tools but when they don’t bring them what happens? Needless to say, David and a few team members went back down the mountain to buy supplies. These guys have spent the last three days with picks, hammers and whatever just breaking up rock. I hear they are extremely tired each night but they are really getting a lot of work done! If their day jobs don’t work out they can always find work as extras for a prison/chain gang movie I’m looking forward to spending time with them Friday when they return to Port au Prince. David is going to be splitting his time running up and down the mountain between the school and a mother/child clinic in Leogane. When I say mountain, let’s see, imagine a 1 ½ lane road that winds all over, no guardrails, crazy big tap taps (buses) coming at you, not to mention parts of the mountain that occasionally fall onto the road, it would make one heck of a Disney ride. David loves it! He’ll be quite busy and it looks like we won’t be seeing much of each other after next week.
This team leaves on Saturday and another arrives from Michigan. They will be doing kids camps, VBS and light construction at the school site in the mountains in Jacmel. (Maybe I hope they aren’t reading this…) I love kids camps, they are always different and to watch the faces of the children (and the team members). They are so excited to listen, learn and play. Can’t wait!
Those rotten ants!!! They couldn’t even wait for me to unpack my weapons before they attacked. Within a short time, my hands and feet were a mess. But…. then I got down to business! I sprayed everything and everywhere…. and I haven’t been bitten since YEAH… of course now I’ll be going somewhere else and will need to do the same thing AGAIN! It’s working, until they develop an immunity.
The election results are to be announced today or tomorrow and the run-off election is scheduled for March 20th. Please continue to pray for Gods’ ultimate authority over this matter.
We have been working hard on fund raising and our budget but are still coming up short on our funding for the year. For those of you that have pledged monthly amounts to our work, if you can no longer meet those pledges please let us know. It would be very helpful to us in knowing where we stand and the amount of funds we still need to raise. If you are able and feel led to make a financial contribution you can check our website www.thewattersfamily.blogspot.com for information or you may send your contribution to
World Hope International
Attn: Contributions Lockbox
P O Box 17151
Baltimore, MD 21297-1151
Please remember to enter our name and constituent number 28163 on the memo line of your check. You may also donate by credit/debit card and if you have questions please call 1-888-466-4673 and ask for donor services. The quickest way to donate directly to our account is on-line at
https://giving.wesupport.org/gift2/designation.php?GUID=0A797C5B-2B8A-4686-AB22-A52383315A6B&id=7327 Thank you!
Thank you for all your prayers and emails. We are so fortunate to have so many wonderful people “watching” our backs and lifting us up. We’re excited about what God has in store for us this year. We will keep updating our blog and Facebook pages with info and pictures.
Blessings,
Beth and David
P.S. Please feel free to contact World Hope about volunteering on a short term trip to Haiti, we’d love to see you and ……..I promise I’ll leave the lantern on for you
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