Dorise sent this report to NH yesterday. Sadly, we have just learned that her mother succumbed to a stroke on Saturday evening. Dorise is preparing to leave Haiti to be with her family in France. We will relay more information as it arrives and, while keeping Dorise and her family in our hearts, will keep our hopes and wishes for the school on Ile-a-Vache high.
Mardi March 18
A big big work day at the site of the school. More digging by hand, moving rocks and dirt in buckets. The women who are the carriers of those heavy buckets talk, sing and argue all at the same time. Mostly everybody is hungry, me included. Sometimes the work seems chaotic and I am not sure anyone knows the complete plan other than to flatten the hill on the work site.
In the evening I have women and children come to visit and to read and do crafts. We only have candlelight. So many young women can’t read and the word is out, so what started as private tutoring is filling a room every night. Often there is some kind of singing going on outside at midnight as I send everybody home. But nobody except me seems to be tired and the full moon is coming on.
Everybody, at all times knows of my whereabouts and can track me down. This morning very early I went to do some laundry at the well. It is a mile hike through the bushes along a maze of little trails. I zig-zagged my way up there and got lost, going beyond the water. A little boy, Jonathan, followed me to call me back. He stayed while I did the washing and then lead me straight back avoiding all the twists and turns. While the clothes were drying two girls from the neighborhood came to do some crafts with wool. Then it was back to the school to work.
The Easter celebration is coming up and there is mounting excitement. The island is turning upside down.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment