Simmons Life Haiti...: September 2010

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Widow's house

Around 3:30 this afternoon, Fre Daniel came to me and told about a poor blind widow whose already plastic-wrapped
roof had disintegrated in this last storm, exposing her to the elements. So we packed up some tarp and supplies,
and headed out...

On the trail, looking back into the valley where the mission is located...

One of the nicer houses you will see back here...

Typical of many trails around our area, twisting and winding- and steep! Oops, fre Daniel is growing
impatient with all my photographic attempts, I'd best stow it till we reach the widow's house...

Widow's house

We've arrived!!! The concrete structure to the left is an above ground tomb.
Much better built than the house...

It's hard to see from this angle, but the plastic on the roof is frayed and worn out in many places,
allowing the occupants no choice but to get wet. And they existed through the past 3 days like
that??? I can't even imagine... We've had a TON of rain1

Widow's house

The lady in the rear- wearing white- is our widow. In the foreground is her daughter, and
a small grandchild. Notice their kitchen in the back...

They are certainly very poor, even by local standards. There is next to nothing in their house.
This is the main bed.

Widow's house

Installing several new boards prior to the plastic.

A relative of our widow.

Work in progress...

Widow's house

Finished!!! After dark, and with an hour hike home. But the beauty of the night and the mountains
is enough reward for the effort, not to mention the many thanks of the poor widow and her family,
(OR the heavy sack full of limo's I have/ get to carry home...:)

Mudding!!!

Everyone knows that, after you're finished working on an ATV, you need to
test it out and make sure it's running ok...

...And even if that means driving at high speeds through mud and water on a rainy
evening- hey someone has to do it! Me and dad can make the sacrifice...:)

Rainy day views

It's amazing how green Haiti can be; three days of rain probably doesn't hurt anything...
Looking in the general direction of the church, from the new depot...

Rainy day views

Looking back over the mission compound to the mountain behind. The Horner's house is in the foreground,
note the goat on the porch...:) Just a peak of our house is visible beyond...

Rainy day views

This rainy weather has been going on for 3 or 4 days, the most rain we've seen since we've been here. The river
has been flowing steadily...

Rainy day views

Fog in the hills... These pictures were all taken from the top of the new depot.

Rainy day views

Rainy weather in Aleg... Mountains are in the fog, notice the river flowing in the ordinarily
dry river bed below the mission.

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Alex's goatie, he really enjoys hauling it around from spot to spot finding "yummy grass."

On the right is Duniant's oldest son; Pastor Duniant is from Labisch, about
an hour or so from here. Everyone says they have a wonderful family, and
we're anxious to go meet them. Duniant himself is a really neat man.

Pastor Sujet, Pastor Duniant's oldest son, and Pastor Levy... Doing the
dishes, of all improbable things!! They said they really liked my wife's
cooking, and I said if they meant it they would do the dishes for her...
...They did pretty good, but then Miss Louda and Miss Nadege finally
finished for them; the guys weren't the fastest... :)