Sunday, September 23, 2007

So today, I got to start the day off with a tap tap ride, because Roland and I had to go back to the Orphanage for junior church. It was ok though because I like mingling with the people, plus it was early so it was neither as crowded nor as many stops as normal. We had a little time to kill when we got back to the Orphanage, so I dropped my stuff of in my room and walked around talking with the children about where I had been, what was going on, and when I was coming back. We started church at about 915 and like all other weeks the children were already singing and seated when Roland and I got into the chapel. Today was an easy day, even though my count was 145 kids. We started out with some songs, then I read a few verses, we told the visitors about Noah (from last week), and I told the children about Sonel and we prayed for him. After all that I let the children sing special music for about 30 minutes. Once we were all sweating, I called it a morning and gave them each two pieces of candy, and sent them on their way. We hit a bit of good luck today, in that Soni had to go to the mission to take them some food so we did not have to tap tap back. So while we were waiting for Soni to be done in church we went downtown to find Tang for Mike and Teresa, and a clock for Sonel’s house so that his family would know when to re position him and how long he has been in his wheelchair. Shopping in Port-au-Paix on a Sunday turned out to be WAY more difficult than I thought it would be because instead of opening later on a Sunday like in the states, businesses just do not open at all. So 45 minutes and three strikes into our journey we found Tang, not orange like we were looking for, but Tang none the less. So now it was about 1145 and we were going to walk back to the Orphanage, have lunch and head out with Soni, when I remembered that we did not get a clock yet. So we turned around and began, what turned into, a long hour and a half process. This process encompassed about half a dozen denials, 3 redirections, and A LOT of walking, and a break for cold drinks. It was all good though, because it lead us to this bulk depot where the owner did not have any clocks but had a cousin with a shop that did sell clocks and he called him and asked If he would open real quick and see us one. He said yes and we quickly headed over there and checked out his stash. He had 3 different styles, none of which were digital, but one was a tire and had wrenches for the hands and it was kind of cool and not a bad price, so we got it. While we were browsing at these clocks Soni called and told us that he was done picking up the food and waiting in the town square for us, so we high tailed it over there and caught the truck to the Orphanage. At the Orphanage we moved in double time because we had little time to work with, so we stuffed our faces, grabbed what we needed for St. Louis, loaded up two air conditioners that Heather and Janeil needed and started the trip to the mission. We got there to find almost everyone taking a much needed Sunday afternoon nap. The only American awake was Erin and that was because she was trying to calm one of the Heavens waiting room boys. As soon as he was better she joined the napping club, which meant I got a little bit of actual quite alone time. At about 345, people began to emerge from there slumber and we all got ready to go to Sonel’s. Today we took him; the clock, an English to Creole picture dictionary and the leftover candy from this morning for him and his cousins. We also took him a couple of new visitors, which he loves because more people want to meet him and know him. Mike told another story today and we played with the ball and the clock and the radio. Ne Ne, Heather’s two year old daughter, went with us today and was an absolute riot passing out candy and taking pictures. We were there for about 90 minutes and got back tired and sweaty and ready for dinner. Mike and Teresa decided to eat in their house today, so Erin and Melissa made the rest of us, biscuits and gravy, eggs, and fruit cocktail. It was REALLY good, and clean up was AWESOME because I got to do the dishes again and it made me feel like I was at church camp. After dinner nobody lasted very long before they called it a night, so I sat down to do my computer thing and chatted with Vogley about some English words and what they meant. He is really a good learning and wants to know all that he can to do his job the best that he can. At about 915 or so pretty much everyone disappeared and I find myself in the dining hall alone and it is once again quite. Now it is 1030 and my eyes hurt and I am ready for bed, long day of building exercise equipment tomorrow, so I am going to bed. Peace.