This past week has been a great transition. Elias left a week ago to go to Santo Domingo hoping to catch an earlier flight home to Kenya than Thursday, so he could attend his brother's funeral on Saturday. Not only did he not get on an earlier flight on Wednesday, but his Thursday flight was cancelled due to the volcano in Iceland. (His flight was from Santo Domingo to Paris, then on to Kenya.) He stayed in Santo Domingo until yesterday, hoping he could get home. It is unknown when he will be able to travel. I am glad he is back here for me, but I am sad he has missed an important time with family and was alone in the process.
Nelson Warambo, the Kenyan whose Logistics position I filled in for, returned on Friday morning. As he arrived I was amazed and thrilled to see how the Haitian staff greeted his return. There were handshakes, hugs, kisses and even someone who wanted to rub his head. I handed him his keys and he smiled and said, "I am not working until Monday!" I was a little taken back. I had written a 4 page briefing about what I had done while he was gone and the status of vehicles and staff. As I scurried about the Logistics chores, he sat and read the briefing. We then talked about it. I scurried off again and when I returned, he had resumed the throne (his chair and computer.) So I simply handed him the keys and returned to my place upstairs.
With Jillian left to carry on the emergency department functions in Elias' absence, I was to be available to help her in any way. At least until Nick Archer, WC Deputy Director, was to arrive on Monday. I did help Jillian with some busy work but also some counsel and encouragement. She was a little disappointed that Nick was coming - it is easy to think that he is coming because she is not trusted. But that is not the case. He is coming because she is new to World Concern and a young, intelligent but fairly inexperienced business woman, with a lot of potential. Nick canceled his trip with Elias' return.
The weekend was very different. I actual did not have to work on Saturday with Nelson back and I slept in until 7 am. Not like my normal 5:00 to 5:15 am. I spent the morning trying to get the computer to see the wireless printer so I could scan documents. It was frustrating. Rogers is another Kenyan who is visiting here helping with the Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) program. (I tell you there is a Kenyan Mafia here! - it is a running joke with Elias.) He and I went to Epidor (our fast food place) for lunch. We were dropped off and another driver was to pick us up. I did not have a phone - I returned the Logistics phone to Nelson. Rogers had a phone but the language barrier was a problem. Eventually we were picked up. While we were eating, Frank Thorpe, Jillian's husband entered to buy croissants for Sunday breakfast. I called out his name and a very surprised Frank spun around and was shocked to see us. Port au Price is a large town and we were quite a ways from the office. Too funny.
When I returned I brought my recliner to the balcony I exercise on. It is mostly protected from the sun in the afternoon and yet is open on two sides. I spent the afternoon reading and napping. I am finally reading "The Shack". I have started it on a couple of occasions and yet have never completed it. I was in a section that was very emotional for me. It has allowed me to think about my own life ( a lot of who I am is like Mack) and my relationship with God and Jesus. It makes me think of my children and what they mean to me and I wonder how much of their upbringing is helpful for their future and how much will they have to work through. The alone time, though I dislike it, has been good for me. I also have been writing a letter to my children and their spouse and spouse to be for over a year. I was able to spend some time on that as well.
Sunday was 6:30 am church with my 4,000 new Haitian brothers and sisters. Rogers and I went and we stopped for Fig-banans (bananas vs plantains, which Haitians call "Banana") and two onions. The rest of the day was like Saturday, except that my daily hour long Skype call to Patty was earlier than normal because of small group and a concert. My workout was after our call and then I set about to make my mom's spaghetti sauce. It took forever to boil the noodles but I feared it would be too spicy for Nelson. It turned out not! I had one helping left over and was about to put it away when I thought of Edmond, the janitor/laborer who lives on the compound, whom I exchange "Chicken and spaghetti, too" greetings each day as he shows me what English words he knows. Though it was about 9:00 pm, he was still up and I handed him a bowl and said, "American Spaghetti." Later he told me it was very good and Jillian told me that Haitians eat spaghetti, usually for breakfast. Oh well, we often eat breakfast foods at night.
Speaking of food, I wanted you to see what I have eaten most lunches since I have come to Haiti.
This is my classic lunch. Top left salad which I do not eat: the cleanliness of fresh produce is questionable. Top right a chicken thigh, baked (and really good.) Between the rice and beans and the lettuce is a cooked fig-banan (banana) - I tried it once. Not good!
My friend Elias says, "we have great variety at lunch; you can have chicken with rice and beans or rice and beans with chicken!" In fact once a week or so we get to have goat. It is actually pretty good - a little bony but tasty.
The goat is in the top left and top right are beans in a sauce. In this case the rice is white with the yukky fig-banan.
While we are on domestic issues and pictures, I wanted you to see me in my Penthouse suite, sporting my cool REI recliner.
I am going to write REI and tell them what a lifesaver their chair has been. Though I have slept really well, I am sure looking forward to sleeping in my bed next Monday night!
TTFN
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