What's In A Name?

Marko, Tarek, Kisha, William, Naomie, Katie, Leila, Jean-Luc, Marven, Laura, Fahed, Tayna, Anabelle and Parker.

These are all the names of the children in Parker's second grade class! I love that he goes to school with kids from all over the world, not just Haiti. In many ways He is getting a gift having this experience in his life. Many things are hard here, lots of adjustments have been made and lots of things have been given up. School here has helped make the transition easier and good in so many ways. Some one recently said, Parker is the kind of kid that can live anywhere. So far, they are right! I hope he will live many places.

Cows, Water Trucks and Pigs

I can't say that I have ever considered myself as being a person who would have enough interesting things happening to actually write a blog. That was, of course, until we moved to Haiti. Now, it is like making a list of things and prioritizing them. Some are so funny, some are sad, others are just plain unbelievable. In the three months we have lived here I have done my best to add a variety of different things to share, so you will have a good feel for Haiti.

When we started coming to Haiti, eight years ago and finally met John and Beth, we knew we loved Beth for many reasons. Let's just say Lisa and I knew we had a kindred spirit. It was a confirmation when we finally heard the story about her running over the cow in the middle of the road. Sorry, another blog. The other part to this story is, and I am not really sure why, all these kinds of things happen when Lisa and I are together. We also have this thing happening that everyone calls me Lisa and her Sheila. Anyway, back to the story!

The theme to this story would be - Driving in Haiti. It is, in a lot of ways, like playing a video game. Only this one is in real life on roads that are really more like creek beds than an actual roads. Instead of Pac Man coming at you, it is a tap-tap or any number of things that will end your high score career.

I haven't exactly forgotten to mention this, but I did happen to get in an accident with a water truck in John's truck about a month after arriving in Haiti while merging onto Delma. Yes, Lisa was with me and no we didn't stop. It is only important that you know that two white woman in the middle of Delma who can only speak the language well enough to do basic clinic kind of stuff is not a good thing. So, in a split second decision, I said, we aren't stopping! And we made our way up Delma with my knees shaking making driving a stick even harder! The part I really hate is, since the accident, I have been with Dan and Junior, and they have done the very same thing I did and made a clean get a way! My grandfather has always said, an inch is as good as a mile, I just didn't know we needed to measure every ten seconds or less. Let's skip the part about having to tell John.

You now know Beth's drama, my drama and now for Lisa's drama! I can only say, I am happy to report I wasn't with her. Not that it mattered all that much because when the story finally came out it started out that "Sheila hit a pig!" Wait! Wait, a minute! I didn't have anything to do with this. Lisa was on her way to the church and I was at the church with Beth since Lisa had borrowed her car in order to get the bride to the church in the nicest car. Yes, you know the one! The one in the laugh attack blog. Ok, yes, you heard me right, Lisa hit a pig on the way to the church with the bride in the car. It is still hard for me not to start laughing every time I think about it. Because all I can think is, oh my gosh, we had to buy chickens and a rooster can you imagine how much a pig will cost. The bride started crying, Renald jumped out of the truck, thankfully returning with the good news that the pig didn't have an owner and the neighbors would be happy to share the pig!

All ended well, the bride was only an hour late. By Haitian culture standards, that is a good thing. But, from now on anytime the words, cow, water truck or pig come up in conversation everyone starts to laugh if we are in the room. Oh, let's not forget the bacon jokes that have already started and the collective gasp heard in church today as everyone held their breath when John used the scripture about the pigs going over the cliff!

"Tell Me About You"

Her name is Vanette. She is twenty-eight. She is from Pestel. She now lives in Tabarre. She is married with two children. Chrisoline, seven years and Mischael, two months. She used to be a machant, but doesn't have the money to buy things any more. She would like to work because she has a lot of problems.

On the second day of class, I asked each lady to tell me something about themselves. Truthfully, they said very little, some more than others. I am guessing no one really asks them these kinds of questions, except nosey white women like me. They all live in a very small community that is just trying to live day to day.

Sarah, the midwife from Canada gave them the idea for the bags. I think she had seen it in Africa. It was not unlike the many projects we have seen in Africa. So, week after week, we have been saving our bags from the store, while Vanette, along with a few others, have been coming in with bigger and better bags. About two weeks ago, Lisa asked if she could use her favorite bag as a pattern and make another bag for her. Today was like my birthday, Christmas and every other reason to get a gift when Vanette walked in with her newest creation! Wow, it was beyond what I could imagine!

Everyone has heard "teach a man to fish". Well, give a woman a few used bags and a crochet hook and look what you get!

We are taking orders if you are interested in giving her the chance to empower herself! Bravo Vanette!

Right In The Middle Of Dinner

Cooking here has been a real learning process, or should I say challenge. I can't say I was a great cook in the States, but I did have the ability to do a few things right, often doing things by opening a can, dumping and hoping it turned out O.K. - I considered the crock pot one of my best friends! You have to make due with what you have here, or don't have as the case may be most of the time. My kitchen is stocked with only the basic stuff. Most days I don't feel like eating dinner and you can forget the drive thru at Mickey D's to make the kids happy. I would be happy with pop corn cooked the old fashion way with EVOO. It is a bummer that I don't really have a good pop corn pot, so popcorn tends to burn most of the time, well, every time. Yet, another lesson in the purchase of third world pots and pans.

Today was no different, always an adventure. I was in a hurry to get ready for Rosemine and Baby to come over M,W,F at 6:30 for our language lessons. I had promised Parker pancakes, we would now settle for french toast, eggs and bacon. It was close! I had a good start on dinner when I noticed nothing was happening on the stove. Out of gas! Right in the middle of cooking dinner, no less! It was now 6:00, the guard was here and needed his security stuff, his water and his dinner! I needed gas to finish our dinner.

I am thankful we had another tank and I could finish with no problem, since my yard man was here! Dan the yard man! I am sure Dan never thought he would have days like these, cooking tanks, gas tanks, generator tanks and water tanks!

Ladies, Meet Everyone...Everyone, Meet The Ladies!

Day Two - Bravo!!

Today was so much fun! I really had fun with the ladies and I think they are happy to be learning! I have been praying for this day for a long time. I admit, I did start to cry, I excused myself, went to the bathroom, closed the door just for a few minutes to thank the Lord for being so sweet to me. I still can't seem to get it in my head that this is our house and we live here and are doing this!

Pinch me!

Don't get me wrong, we have so much on our plate I could consider freaking out! We a joke that the guys are really just yard men. Really they run around all day long getting everything done for five houses, prenatal classes for twenty ladies, childhood development for twenty ladies, sewing for fifteen ladies Monday to Friday, literacy classes and embroidery classes. Us girls, we hold down the fort so to speak with all the different programs. This isn't even including everything that needs to happen for the adoptions. That is a whole different story for another day!

Many nights we lay down thinking, I am pretty sure I just got up about fifteen minutes ago! But, it is good! It is all good!

Starting Sewing School

"More Tears Are Shed Over Answered Prayers Than Unanswered Ones"
- Truman Capote

Have Annie, Will Travel

We arrived in Haiti on November 26, 2007. It was a life changing day for us and was marked in my mind by the birth of Annie Grace. She was born to a women who has attend our woman's program, who was in very poor health herself and couldn't take care of another child. This mom is also the birth mom of an adopted child of our friends Tara and Troy who are here in Haiti. Annie Grace, however, will be going to live with Tara's sister. She will live with them until her adoption can be complete.

Tara and Troy have a lot to do with a really big team, their family, home school and so on. They needed help since Annie's nanny is on vacation and Jes, who is here helping John and Beth, had to go back to the States for her grandfathers funeral. So, I said, I would help. No problem, Annie is kind of special to us. Tara went over all the details and provided me with a detailed list of what I should expect. On my way out the door Tara said, oh, do you want the portable crib? Yes, I said!

Friday was here and it was time for Troy to drop off Annie on his airport run. I went and got Annie at the baby house after we finished some shopping. No portable crib, not to worry. I didn't think about the fact I was at the baby house I could just ask for one to borrow for a few days. I was in a hurry. I would think of something. I am a mother and have taken care of many children. I am sure when Tara asked if I would watch Annie she wasn't thinking I wouldn't put her in a suitcase. She fits perfectly! This is the life of two mom's with a lot on their plate.