At Home

Although the flight out of Port-au-Prince was delayed about an hour due to slow processing at the ticket counter, our connection was not affected because we had a 3-hour layover scheduled in Miami.  Otherwise the return trip was without incident and I was home about 9 pm.

Hopefully within the next week or so there will be a report of the trip distributed in the Penn-Jersey District Missions newsletter.  If you haven't yet signed up for it, please do so at (http://eepurl.com/19miX).

The Last Leg

The trip across the channel was very nice.  It's good to have some time to slow down and enjoy the water and the breeze.  However, needs are always present.  A couple hours were spent rewiring a bathroom light in the Ti Kay (little house) at the Ortlip Center.

It was quite a trip: trusses built and set at Croix Hillaire, cabinets taken down in the old hospital and moved to the new hospital.  Wiring errors corrected in a newly built apartment on the La Gonave mission station.
Rewiring a light fixture at the Ortlip Center.

Tomorrow we head home. Thanks for all you prayers and support.

Last Day on the Island

The day began with removal of the doors from the large work table so it would be easier to move.  After hanging around for a while waiting for the truck to arrive, we went looking for other assignments.

The rest of the morning and most of the afternoon were spent troubleshooting the wiring in one of the relatively new apartments.  Several of the duplex outlets were wired with reverse polarity; another outlet had loose connections that disabled the other daisy chained outlets.  A completely dead ceiling light led to the discovery that two adjacent light switches were mis-wired.  One switch was wired with the hot lead from two different cables; the other switch was wired with the switched lamp feed from those same two cables.

A late afternoon visit to the hospital revealed that the cabinets and piece parts had been moved to the new hospital.  Unfortunately, we will not be around to witness the move of the large table.

More Disassembly

We found another collection of cabinets destined for the new hospital.  These could not be taken down as a unit so they were disassembled piece by piece.  Because of this work it is now possible to move a large, heavy work table (34.5" x 94").  Hopefully we'll have some husky manpower tomorrow.

A Day in the Operating Room

Most of the day was spent in the main operating room of the old hospital dismounting a couple wall cabinet for reuse in the new hospital.  Surprisingly we were able to get them down without too much damage; they will need new backs and new hanging strips but otherwise are in reasonable good shape.

Unfortunately, the prognosis is not so good for another wall of floor to ceiling cabinets that were build in place.  They run wall to wall so have no sides.  After the doors come off, the rest must be disassembled piece by piece.  Some other team will have that opportunity.

We can now claim experience in medical equipment maintenance and repair.  At the request of some visiting nurses we adjusted the foot pad heights on a wheelchair so they would not interfere with the swivel wheels.

A Weekend Break

Yesterday was an early start at 6:00 am in order to get to the airport for the passenger transfer by 8:15.  The group that had been on La Gonave headed home, and we headed to the Ortlip Ministry Center to get on the boat to La Gonave.  We arrived at Ortlip a little after 9 am, but the boat didn't arrive until 12:30.  We finally departed for La Gonave about 3:00 after additional fuel was purchased for the trip (It's good to have enough fuel).

It was good to see the folks on La Gonave again and even better that they seemed happy to see  me as well.

Today was a welcome day of rest; we had a very good service with the missionaries this morning.  This afternoon we briefly surveyed some of the potential projects for the next few days.  No doubt we will be busy.

Unfortunately, one of our group returning yesterday took seriously ill and had to be hospitalized in Miami.  The initial diagnosis was pneumonia.  More tests are being done; she is being well care for. Prayers are appreciated for her and the familiy.

Phase One Last Day

Purlins finished; braces set; end of story.  Well, not quite.  We ran out of money before the steel could be bought for the roof so Wilson and his crew will install the steel when funds allow (need about $2200).  Pastor Duverssaint, his wife, and several church leaders held a reception for us.  They were very generous with their thanks and positive comments about us and our work.   The gave us signed copies of the New Testament in three languages (German, French, English).  Our work at Croix Hilaire is done so tomorrow we'll head to Port then on to the Ortlip Center.

Due to unexpected injuries at home, one of our team will be returning to the States tomorrow with the team that had been on La Gonave this past week.  Two of us will continue to the Ortlip Center to find out what might in store for us for the next few days.

A few reflections on this part of the trip.  As rebuild/reconstruction trips go, this one has been the most rewarding for us largely due to the Pastoral leadership and engagement of the local congregation.  Not only did the Pastor warmly welcome us, he also worked with us daily.  His wife prepared delicious Haitian meals each day for lunch.  Many of the local congregation labored along side us, and we had a great time learning to communicate in spite of language differences.

A Haiti Adventure

This is Haiti; one never knows what lies ahead.  Progress has come with uncharacteristic ease so far.  Just after we passed through Grand Goave on the way back to the guest house this afternoon, Judain pulled the truck to the side of the road; Wilson got out and announced that the truck had a flat tire.  It took only 50 minutes to get the truck jacked up and the tire changed.

It was another very good day at the church.  The remaining 10 trusses were set, and about half of the purlins were put in place.

Moving Right Along

Writing posts reminds me a little of writing monthly progress reports when I was still gainfully employed.  The length of the report was inversely proportional to the amount accomplished.  When the accomplishments were many, the report merely listed them, and that was it.  When little was accomplished, the report would expound on the ideas identified, the test performed, the analysis of failures, and plans for the next month.

Posts for this trip have been brief because much has been accomplished.  So, at the end of this work day - all positioning blocks for the trusses on the headers were placed; and 11 of 21 trusses were set in place.

Those alert among you will recall that we built 22 trusses.  Unfortunately, when we were raising the third truss, our coordination lapsed and two gussets snapped.  Without realizing it, we had made adequate preparations.

A Slightly Slower Pace

The pace was a bit slower today with a couple unplanned breaks thanks to a shortage of screws.  However, the inventory was replenished and the day ended with significant progress.  All 22 trusses are completely assembled, and the rough cut 2x6 header boards are in place.  Less than 3 days of work to layout, cut and assemble twenty-two 36' trusses.  Tomorrow is truss raising day.

The Pastor's wife has been providing top-notch Haitian cuisine each work day for lunch.

Two More Good Days

Yesterday was a welcome day of worship and rest. We attended the morning service at a children's home not far from the guest house. After the service, we toured the facilities and visited with the children.  The rest of the day was allocated to resting and relaxing.

Today was another very good day of work.  The first 11 trusses were completely assembled.  All of the gussets are now cut.  A purchase of lumber was made for the remaining trusses, the 2x6 rough cut header, and enough 2x4s for 6 runs of purlins.  All the pieces needed for the remaining 11 trusses have been cut.

A Good Day of Work

The first day of work is in the books, and we're feeling quite satisfied with  the progress in spite of the heat; even Wilson was hot.  The 1 hour 20 minute ride from the guest house to the  work site included 2 stops for water and ice.  Although the ride was long, the accommodations at the guest house awaiting us at the end of the long, hot work day makes the ride worthwhile.

We were warmly greeted by the Pastor and several others who were awaiting our arrival.  After unloading the lumber and surveying the work area, we laid out the boards for the truss design.  Those boards were then used as patterns for cutting the pieces for subsequent trusses.  The Pastor's wife prepared lunch for us, and several other folks helped with handling the material.

By the end of the work day one truss was completely assembled and a second needed only gussets applied to the second side.  About half of the needed gussets for the entire job were cut.

Tomorrow we rest and anticipate a very productive coming week.

To the Work

Today was the parting of the ways.  Five left the Ortlip Center this morning bound for La Gonave on the Breezy Sea.  None of the five are planning Internet connectivity so we're not likely to have regular updates.

Three of us headed to the guest house where we'll be staying in Leogane.  The route took us first to the airport to claim the forgotten bag then to rendezvous with a taxi driver who would take the suitcase to Ortlip so it could get to its owner on the next channel crossing.  The next stop was at MSC to purchase the lumber we needed for half of the trusses; the particular store we chose did not carry lumber.  Hungry stomachs took us to a pizza and burger place.  Another rendezvous delivered parcels to Carl & Maya.  Finally at the MSC in Tabarre we loaded the Canter and headed through Port-au-Prince to Leogane.

We arrived at the  Family Health Ministries guesthouse just in time for dinner.  It was very good to finally be able to stand up and walk around.

Tomorrow we're off to Croix Hilaire to unload the lumber and get to work.

Arrived Safely

We're here; actually we arrived yesterday afternoon. On time flights; one bag may have been left at Port-au-Prince airport. We're checking on it.  We all spent the night at the Ortlip Center.  It was good to meet Dunstin & Nancy Stephens and renew friendships with Dan, Judain and Wilson.

Today we go our separate ways.  Five head across the channel to La Gonave for the week.  Three head to the southern part of the country to build some trusses for the church at Croix Hilaire.

Hopefully there will be Internet access throughout the week.