Since we have been here in Haiti, (we got here Nov. 15th), Nicky has been working non-stop because there is so many vehicles to be fixed. He has also been out with a well driller a few days. So on this past Saturday I talked him into not working and going for a drive to see some of the country. He wanted to take us to see the areas where they had drilled wells the past couple of weeks.
We loaded up into one of Global's Ford trucks, we all fit inside the extended cab. Besides the four of us we took Nicky's nephew Marc, another 18 yr old who is down for a month, John, and one of the other missionary kids on the compound, Josh. We were pretty crammed in but it was so much fun. Near the compound there is a part of Titanyen where the Market is held on Tuesday and Fridays. There is road that was built up the mountain for quicker access to some of the more remote areas on our side of Haiti. People still have to walk for miles but at least vehicles have easier access. Global is still drilling wells with their cable tool machine but have been able to work with another organization that has a rotary machine, drills so much faster, like 165 ft in 5 hours, what a blessing. They are trying to drill at least 10 wells in these mountain areas. It definitely is more promising being able to drill quicker but lots of things still go wrong and need to be fixed.
We traveled no more than 10 miles, it only took us about 45 minutes, up this mountain, very steep and curvy, till we got to a level area then continued on down to a valley then back up the mountain to a level area then back down to a valley, this is the continuous cycle while driving in Haiti. All the while there are scattered houses, some are like little villages with a church and of course a witch doctor, but mostly the houses are scattered along the mountain sides. It is amazing how they decide where to build a house because there are not any roads going to each house it may just be a goat path. The areas we traveled through where mostly dry then all of a sudden you round a corner and you see lush green areas where the people have crops growing, beans and potatoes.
We drove by one really green field and saw a man irrigating the crops and wondered where the water was coming from, so we backed up. We turned down this little road and saw about 50 women washing clothes in a small river. We decided to follow this river (creek) to see where it was coming from. We only walked for about 100 yards and came to this tree, what a tree. We found out later that this tree is a mapou tree. This tree was huge. We have really big trees in NC but this tree was so big, about 17 ft. across not around it. The creek was coming out underneath the tree roots. There were vines growing all over and around this tree and the surrounding vegetation it was so cool. Except for the wasp nests all around it. John got stung twice.
We traveled a little further and ate lunch under a big bridge while watching people bathe and wash clothes in the river, then headed back home to get the guys back so they could go to youth group in Port- Au- Prince.
Sunday we all decided to go to the same church. Before we could leave Nicky and John had to change a flat tire in the Ford and take the tire off the rim and patch it so we would have a spare. The night before the gator Kristie drives had a flat the boys pulled it off and patched the tube last night and got it going again. We were to follow Chris and Sheryl Brumley to church this morning but as they were pulling out of their carport a thick black smoke started pouring out of their vehicle. After a few minutes of trying to figure out the problem they decide we all would take a old dodge van to church which is 1 hr away no luck it wouldn't start. So Josh showed us where the church was and to brumleys caught a ride with some of the other missionaries to another church. And you think you have a hard time getting to church on time. We all loaded up again, the same ones that went yesterday, and headed to church. After church we decided to go eat a local bakery. We had hamburgers and pizza and even Blue Bunny ice cream. I really thought that the ice cream would taste so good since we haven't had any in almost 3 months, but you know it didn't seem to be as great as I remember it. Being down here I thought that I would be missing so much and craving all kinds of food but you know I haven't . May be the Lord is preparing me for full time living down here. Pray for us as we work thru communication problems and talk thru issues we think we may see living here in future may come up so we don't get so surprised then. These decisions are major life decisions that will alter our life for ever and we don't want to come down and get burnt out in a few years like many do. Being a missionary is not like you think it would be no time to do much your so busy working it would be much easier to stay home and work and enjoy life in the states. I'm so thankful we were able to spend time with Steve Revis in north west Haiti his life and ministry is hard living where he and very few others are our time with him has made this place seem easier with that experience over the last 11 years. No one knows how the Revis kids grew up in Haiti living here was so hard for them and we know our kids will give up a lot of things to be here, but just like them we will have each other to stay close.
Another team came in today so another busy week.
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