Wednesday November 22, 2014

Keith

At 4:30 this morning I found my alarm clock. I think he would look very good on the Bar-BQ but it may not be great for good neighborly relations with the family at the rice machine. So I guess he’ll just keep waking me early.

My alarm clock

I spent most of the day painting. I finished the kitchen at the missionary house after 4 coats changing it from blue to white. I had forgotten how strong smelling oil paint is. It’s good that all the windows and doors are open all day.

Blue kitchen

White kitchen

More white kitchen

While painting I thought the toxic fumes were getting to me, I kept hearing a Salvation Army band! Actually it was a funeral procession going down along the canal in front of the school. The band actually had a pretty good New Orleans marching swing.

Funeral

Band

Procession

School kids came to watch too.

This afternoon I did some tricycle repairs. Seats and wheels all needed work and of course creative repairs are mandatory.

Tricycle repairs

Creative wheel repair

After homework helper time some of the kids gathered in the devotion room for arts and crafts with Msta. Keith.

Arts and crafts

Did you ever fell like you wanted to send a kid to the moon?
I did today and Jofky was the volunteer. At least he had his space helmet.

And that smile saved him once again.

To the moon Jofky

My smiling little buddy

Garbage Day, Tuesday January 21st, 2014

Keith

It is always fun to get off the compound even for an hour. Today is garbage day so Eugene and I loaded up the pick-up truck and headed over to the dump behind the Albert Schweitzer Hospital. I don’t believe they have a hazardous waste site by the look of the needles,  bandages and plaster casts etc. that I saw today….The whole process takes about 45 minutes but last week it took me 3 hours.

·         First the truck would not start.

·         Loose battery cable

·         Get tools to tighten nut on terminal

·         Break nut

·         Go looking for replacement – not an easy task

·         Find one that will do but a bit thin so I need a couple of washers.

·         No washers on compound

·         Find a piece of metal to fashion a couple of washers.

·         Cut metal

·         Go to drill holes and rechargeable batteries for drill are un-charged

·         Charge drill batteries

·         Make washers

·         Install nut and start truck

·         I am about to put all the bits back in my tool /nuts & bolts carrier when my anonymous little helper picks it up before the lid is on

·         We play 552 pickup of the nuts, bolts and bits

·         Finally leave for the dump and back in 45 minutes

It’s not hard finding or doing jobs on the compound.  The hard work is finding the parts to do them. Everything gets done though, eventually; it’s Haitian Time.

The long and dirty road beside the Albert Schweitzer Hospital

Some of the hospital shops

Eugene at the dump

The kids, all except Tifi, Jonathan and Sandra head off to school at 7:30. They came by on their way to say goodbye. They all look clean and keen for the day ahead.

Off to school

My tutoring program has now been expanded to an afternoon homework helper session too. (I wonder who signed me up for that?) Ti-Luc, Moise and Leica came for a 30 minute science tutorial.

Afternoon tutoring

The 3 students were well prepared for their science lesson tomorrow so we added JJ, Djemima and Dieunel and took the bikes along the canal. It was very nice and relaxing. What a great day – I got off the compound twice!

The HATS biker gang

Canal traffic

Canal laundry

Djemima is smart, athletic, charming and helpful

Checking out the crops of peas and sweet potatoes

January 20th, 2014

Keith

Monday morning and a quick check of the Montreal, Yarmouth, Calgary, Kelowna, Springdale and Kabul weather reports gives more reasons to be happy I am here!!

Every morning I am awakened by the &(%$#@  roosters and the sun streaming in through the screened veranda. What a way to start the day.

Sunrise on the palm tree.

From here I have 75 meters walk to the HATS Hilton breakfast nook. Germaine will make anything I want for breakfast but it is hard to beat the fruit salad bowl; Fresh mango, oranges, melon, apple and bananas. Life is good.

Breakfast bowl

Then my student arrives at 7:00AM and I tutor him in his French homework, geography and history. Today he got a lot of laughs as I tried to pronounce le mécanicien and les abeilles and a couple of others. It’s OK Ti-Luc, I am just filling in until the real teacher; Joan arrives on the next trip.

Yesterday at church we met in the primary classes but things are changing. In November I reported that the Brentview Baptist Church in Calgary, Canada has committed $15,000 CDN to build a church on property owned by HATS behind the school. The funds will be matched by monies raised by HATS. The church at a later date will include an apartment for a mission pastor. The 3 classrooms of the school that are now being used are too small. The new church facility will also be used for school morning devotions and parent /teacher interviews etc.

Site of new church circa November.

Under the watchful eyes of Luckner, the project manager and Karen, the boss lady, construction has started.

The 2 Luckners

The footings are in place; the foundation laid and is now being filled in. The re-bar will go up 2 stories and a pastor apartment will be added at a later date.

Footings and re-bar

Karen standing with some of the other church pillars!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cement mixing is done by hand

Cement footing poured and now this will be filled in with rock to provide the foundation

Loading the rocks

Unloading the rocks

The mason

Sunday January 19th, 2014

Keith

Man it is hot and humid today. This is the first time in 2 weeks with some scattered clouds and humidity like this. Good thing it’s Sunday so no working. Yea!!!

We had a good 2 hour church service this morning.
The ladies had their people singing and dancing just like in Psalm 150.

4. praise Him with tambourine and dancing, praise Him with the strings and flute,

5. praise Him with the clash of cymbals, praise Him with resounding cymbals.

6. Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD.

Kids all cleaned up for church

Excited for church

Truly it was an international service, just pick your language.

JEZI RENMEN TOUT Tl MOUN YO

Jezi renmen tout timoun yo

Tout timoun yo nan le monn

Rouj e jaune, nwa e blan

Li renmen yo tout ansanm

Jezi renmen tout timoun yo nan le monn

JÈSUS AIME TOUS LES ENFANTS

Jésus aime tous les enfants,

Toutes les enfants de la terre

Rouges et jaunes, noirs et blancs,

Il les aime constamment

Jésus aime tous les enfants de la terre

JESUS LOVES THE LITTLE CHILDREN

Jesus loves the little children

All the children of the world,

Red and yellow, black and white

They are precious in His sight

Jesus loves the little children of the world.

PS – Cell phones ring in every church service in the world; from Canada to Belize to Panama to Haiti to Zimbabwe. Is that really necessary!!??

What would Sunday be without a trip in the truck and a stop at Luckner’s store for a treat? Casino cookies taste the best with a soft drink at Papa’s house. He is still not feeling 100% so we were disappointed not to see him.

Sunday afternoon outing

The kids love those treats and hanging out with friends

JJ – Future Director of HATS. What leadership potential

Return to the ranch for an afternoon of last minute homework that wasn’t completed and a short walk along the canal. Back to school and work tomorrow.

Saturday, January 18th, 2014

Keith

I have always loved Saturdays, no school, no work, no schedule. I still love them.

Maybe that’s why retirement is so much fun…..

Today was a good Saturday. It was fairly quiet. The kids did their chores this morning, cleaning up their dorms and around the yard. Then they did a little homework to get ready for Monday. Some play time in the yard and a video. What would Saturdays be without friends and cartoons?

Moise helping Judel with his homework

Leica studying

Josie studying

Ti-Luc practicing his spelling

The little ones playing

I am not sure what these 2 were up to but I don’t think it was anything good

Ti-Luc chillaxing

Friends and cartoons

If all else fails put a video on – “Parenting 101”

TV concentration

And of course this is Canadian territory so once it cooled below 33C (91F for the Texans) a street hockey game broke out. Red team won 10-9. Sportsmanship is still a work in progress – stay tuned!

Opening face-off

I had some down time too, reading and Skype with my family.
Karen is still recovering from her “sleepover” in the tents with the kids.