Hiking...

Sometimes things that we take for granted, things that happen often in our lives, are interesting to others simply because those very things are quite different from their everyday experiences. When coupled with an interest in the people whose lives are represented by these experiences, we find pleasure in perusing things that, to the actors on the stage of life from whence these scenes originate, are dull and ordinary; or at least, as we mentioned before, taken for granted.

Come along on a hike with pastor Sujet, Alex, and I in the mountains here in Allegre. We're going to see a widow lady whose house is being rebuilt after earthquake damage last year. It has been shelved for several months, due to staff being occupied with the cholera epidemic. And Michael Horner, who oversaw this project, is no longer down here.

What we found, surprised us...

On the way... I never cease to marvel at the beauty of this country...

There is so much potential in such a fruitful country...

There was a meeting going on up at the church, regarding the upcoming
school year. It will begin the first of October...

The bean crop- one of the staples of agriculture here- is coming on
beautifully! The plants are blossoming now....

Definitely the cutest hiker in the bunch.. :-) He's getting so strong it
amazes us sometimes, hiking up the mountains tirelessly...

The mountainside...

All the green foliage of the bean plants adds greatly to the
beauty of the landscape... Here is a glimpse up close...

Heading up the winding trail to reach the top of the ridge at the right
of the picture...



Looking back the trail we just passed... Hard to even see a trail, the
tropical vegetation closes in behind...



Anybody know what that is? Looks like some kind of cactus
growing on the limb of this tree, I'm not sure what it is.

Well, we're almost at the house. Don't want to overload you with too many pictures and info at once. More tomorrow...?

Splat Frogs...

Alex has a great fascination for "splat frogs", who possess the unique
ability to run up the side of houses. Occasionally, especially when
alarmed by the activities of overly energetic young gentlemen,
they will leap off said house walls and make a very satisfying "splat"
as they encounter the concrete. Hence their name, according
to Alex. (I'm sure in Latin it's more along the lines of El
Splaticus Froggus Hommus.) Right now he has a container
of splat frog eggs hatching, in order to preserve the joy of
watching splatters for future generations.

...And, we're back!!!!!

The Typical American Tourist.
Hi everyone, sorry things have been so quiet on the "Southern Front"
lately. We were in the states from the beginning of May till around the
first of June- I'll throw a few vacation pics on later- and came back to
get a Cholera Treatment Center going here in Allegre at the mission.
The cholera epidemic that has been plaguing Haiti for 10 months finally
reached our remote zone in the end of May, but thankfully it has
slowed down again and possibly we have seen the worst of it. For
more info on this, please visit our clinic blog, which will have a
link to the cholera info. haiticliniclife.blogspot.com
ANYHOW, here's a pic of Alex with one of his two goaties.
He's quite fond of them, and enjoys feeding and watering
them daily.

Here's Wilbur, the daddy pig.

The litter of seven little piggies; most of them are sold already but I believe
Alex still has one little feller down there. He was pretty sad to see
 the others go, but he took it in stride.

And momma pig- Madame Wilbur, naturally... :-)

Petting Zoo...

Alex helping to carry gravel up from the riverbed for a project around
the mission here. He loves to help out when people are working
wherever he can... (shhh- don't tell him it's work and you're
not supposed to like it; where ignorance is bliss...)

One of the little neighbor boys knocked this poor
birdy out of a tree with a rock. ?! . Yeah- they're
that good at throwing down here, they
have lots of time to practice- on each other
occasionally... :(

After reprimanding the scoundrels who perpetrated
this act of malice, my wife took a few pics with the
little blondy, who was quite pleased with the catch
and (I think) can hardly wait to grow up so he can
knock a bird out of a tree... :) Actually he felt sorry
for the little critter, it was still alive... The nationals
said it's some kind of hummingbird... Maybe one
of you knows what it is...? Drop us a comment...

Chubbers, doing what he does best...

...Which is- looking cute, of course!!!!!

Whoa, looking like a big boy there Claudsie!!!

Soda

"Oh alright, bah-bahs have their place..."

"Hey forget bottles! Gimme the soda!!"

Family

Soon after we arrived here

With some buddies

Happy chubs

"Who says I'm not a happy little guy?"

Alex n Claudsie playing

"Now, do you remember which color of tractor is best, Claudsie???"