Which Way Am I Going?

   

          It has been crazy up and down the last 3-4 days.  You know the story of the young handicapped girl that I saw on the street and how I gave my card to her cousin.  Somebody at the home contacted me, and I explained how to find the school.  Today, every time someone came to the school, I hoped it was her family.  Not so.  No one came to enroll her.  Then, on my way home, I passed this girl and her cousin.   Again.  I stopped.  Waited for them to catch up.  Asked them about school.  The best I can figure out is that the family lives too far away to bring her to school every day and that this cousin doesn’t have the authority to make decisions for the girl.  I told them that I would be at the school at 10:00 on Thursday and to come find me if they can.  We’ll see.

            One day up . . . next day down.

Jean Michel and I

            You may have also read my post on Facebook about the phone call on Saturday from a friend of my cousin Mary Ruth.  She lives in central Illinois and could be one of the smartest people I know.  Her friend Jean Michel called because he is part of a project that is working on a number of things, but a primary goal is eliminate malnutrition in Haiti by 2025 through the use of the Moringa tree, also known as the Miracle Tree.  If you’ve never heard of the Moringa tree, it is chock full of every kind of vitamin that a child could need as well as tons of protein and fiber.  We can get tasty biscuits delivered each week at 5 gdes per biscuit (about 8 cents U.S.).  Then we could purchase a large bag of Moringa powder already mixed with powdered milk for about $60 U.S. that would last us a couple of months. 

            I was psyched for many reasons:

           

1.      How Mary Ruth’s friend found me totally blew me away

2.     We had access to highly nutritious food at a good price.  This type of nutrition could do some serious help for our weaker children.

3.     Because I trust Mary Ruth, I trust the people that she connects with.  Jean Michel and his program are legit.  It’s research based. It’s safe. It’s balance.

I was so disappointed that Gertrude’s response was so “blah.”  After Jean Michel left, she had questions about the food’s safely—did it have too many vitamins?  Could too many vitamins make her children sick?  How was it packaged?  Did the place meet safety guidelines? 

            I get in the U.S. where so much food is fortified that kids could get too much vitamin A or vitamin C or something.  But, this is Haiti! Our kids get little to no vitamins or minerals in their food.  I don’t think the Moringa products will give them “too much.”  And, this is a country in which people think nothing of giving kids expired medicines or non-prescribed prescription medications.  Suddenly there are concerns about safety of products????

            I don’t know why exactly, but I took Gertrude’s “blah” response very personally.  I felt as if she was saying “blah” to my contribution or my connections.  I know that that’s not right or true, but it’s how I felt. 

Our teachers

            One hour up . . . next hour down.

            Last week Thursday we hired the last of our teaching staff.  I was pretty psyched.  Today was the first day that I worked at the school with the teachers and other administrators present.  I was ready to go.  And, then we had our first discussion.  I got words and phrases, but I didn’t even get the general sense of the conversation.  I listened, and I then I tried to summarize.  They looked at me, laughed a bit, and said, “No.”  So much for my improving language skills.

            I felt like crying.  I felt in over my head.  I felt as if I were in the wrong place.  I wondered what the heck I was doing.

            I couldn’t understand the conversation, but I didn’t figure out that they needed rulers.  So, I went and got rulers.  I figured out they needed erasers and pencil sharpeners, so I went and got those supplies.

            I still believe that we hired good people.  Intelligent people.  Creative people.  And, the administrators stepped in and “took charge” when they needed to.  I just wish I could understand what they’re talking about!!

            One day up . . . next day down.

  Other random pieces of information:

            **We have the beginnings of a                        small . . . . v—e—r—j—y                          small playground.  A slide, a                      thing with seats that you push                    in circles, and two swings that                    still need to be hung (or hanged                  . . . I can't remember which                         right now).

            **We have six newly built tables for the pre-school.  But, no chairs.  And, the tables need to                    be shortened.

**We also have a (mostly) wheelchair accessible ramp.  I think the "boss" is coming back tomorrow to do some touch ups!

Our ramp

Typical ramp