A Visit to the Island

Monday evening we learned of an opportunity to visit the island of La
Gonave. Several of my trips have been to the island, but three of our
current team had never seen our mission station and hospital in Anse-a-
Galets.

So Tuesday morning we boarded the "Breezy Sea" for the 1 1/2 hour ride
across the Saint Marc channel. The plan was to spend a few hours
visiting then return to the mainland. We toured the hospital, the mission
station, and the new guest house. We also rode to the outskirts of town
where property has been purchased for an orphanage. A block wall has
been erected around the entire property for security. However, as so
often happens to plans in Haiti, our plans were changed. Our return
transportation to the mainland (the Breezy Sea) was still at the wharf at
Croix Luly (on the mainland) because the folks shopping for materials
were delayed by city traffic. By the time they finally returned, it was too
late to return. So not only did we have the opportunity to visit La
Gonave, we also had the opportunity to spend the night there.

Wednesday morning (today) at the appointed time we arrived at the dock
to board the Breezy Sea. The boat was there, but there was no sign of
the crew. A phone call revealed that the crew was looking in town for a
place to by some diesel fuel for the boat. About an hour later they
showed up with three 5-gallon cans of fuel. It was poured into the fuel
tank using a funnel made from a inverted gallon jug with the bottom cut
out. We were soon under way, and no sooner had we cleared the inlet
and headed for the open sea than the wind and waves picked up. Most
of the trip was through 3 to 6 foot swells with a few largers ones just to
keep it interesting.

This afternoon we were back to work. Stairway posts and railing,
painting, screens, plumbing to allow pumping water between the two
cisterns. We even took time to cool off in the water before supper.