SoSR retreat in Terye Wouj

We have had another busy past few weeks. Our most exicting news is that we just had a great visit from John Hayden and an awesome group of Vermonters! Maggie Donin & John Smith came over from the DR with John Hayden as well as two teachers from Cambridge Elementary School Mary Fiedler and Michel Piché. We spent the past 4 days with them showing them the various agriculture projects here in Terrier Rouge. We spent two awesome days in the school doing some hands on science learning with the group of students who are also involved with the pen pal program that was set up last year. It was very cool to be apart of the kids getting their hands dirty with art projects and a plant experiment. These kids are used to sitting and repeating as a form of learning so the goal was to expose them to a more hands on and critical thinking approach. All parties seemed to enjoy the experience, espsicially Mary, it was her first time in Haiti and she is so exicted to bring back photos and stories to her students in Cambridge.

We also spent a couple afternoons working along side the kids at Jardin Florans- which is always a fun time. In Haiti there always seems to be some set backs, a few chickens died and some gas was stolen, but these kids and especially the director of the program, Onel, truly never get discouraged. We had a nice visit with the GAFAT group who makes the jams and jellies, everyone got to bring some home... hopefully they will remain intact for the plane ride. Having everyone here was a real boost for Pete and I, it was so nice getting to talk and reflect on our time here with our fellow Seeds of Self Reliance Volunteers across the border, we are missing them all already!

Other happy news- my friend here in Haiti (also named Maggie) who was on bed rest ( she was having some higg blood pressures with really bad swelling) delivered a healthy boy at home Sunday at 4am. I was so happy to hear that all went well and I got to check up on mom and baby at their home on Monday morning. It was such a relief that they all are well after having my friend Clesia loose her baby last year. Also on the health care front we have started to do pap smears at the clinic and launched the program last week, we are the only clinic other than in the city of Cap Haitian, in Northern Haiti that is doing this.

We leave for Port Au Prince on Friday- we are both looking forward to seeing our Vermont Haiti Project family and to have a little break from our routine here in TR and to see a different part of Haiti for a while. We will be spending a few nights up in Kazal with Fenel and Kimball and then Donna will be joining us in Port au Prince. Then we are off to the mountains of Douchity to work on collaborating with a VHP project and hopefully working on getting a garden going and composting toilet, Kathryn (Meredith’s) sister will be joining us for that adventure! We will write again when we are back home in Terrier Rouge.

Fun things to note we went to a Baptism last Saturday and Meredith had a spaghetti and carrot homemade popsicle at the clinic today, only in Haiti!