The End

July 17/18
Up at 5:30am.  Left at 6:15am.  Up the mountain to meet JB's sister Shnieda to have her keep food and a few toys for all his sisters.To Pastor Abne's church in a garden of palms trees- completely tropical.  It was the anniversary of their church so they rented a sound system and had a party.  We told him we could only stop by.  The music started off rough and JB had a hard time.  During the greeting time, the Pastor came over and Johnbern asked him if he could give him a gift.  The Pastor agreed, so JB spoke and then played a song for Haiti.  He is so talented!  The people loved it, then we went to leave and the Pastor chased us out with two styrofoam containers of food for lunch.  I just love his attitude and openness.  We've really bonded with him over the last week.  He keeps telling us how sad he is that we are leaving.

Straight to the border.  I was a little nervous to go into the buildings and talk as I usually wait in the car while Kendra goes in.  Saw our new police officer friend, Jimmy.

Haitian side was a piece of cake.  Dominican side was tough, but at the last check point they were very friendly.

Long drive to Santo Domingo.  Stayed with JB's friend.

Next day we drove around SD, had breakfast, drove to Boca Chica to swim in the ocean!  Yes!  Clear, warm ocean water - incredible.

Went to see Columbus' house, Hard Rock Cafe and the touristy area of the city.  Saw the park, walked around the shops.  Dinner at Pasta and Pasta with his friend Patrice and Patrice's girlfriend. 

To visit their old roommate, then the house where his drums have been stored since April.  Back to Patrice's to sit outside with his neighbors.  Bed late.

Woke up early to pack van, breakfast at a sandwich shop, dropped Patrice off at school, then got Joquin (guy driving the van back to Jarabacoa) from the bus station.

To cybercafe to exchange photos and then to the airport.  JB helped me take my bag in.  We hugged and cried.  After spending so much time together the last 7 months, I feel like he has become such a great friend.  We've had each other's backs during this completely insane experience.

Last Full Workday

Up, started to pack.  Left before 8am.  Drove all the way into town to print pictures for Yonel and Wilnise (parents of the new baby).  They asked me to take some pictures and print them to keep for the future.  It took awhile to drive into town and we waited over an hour for 12 pictures to print.  The place was actually a photo studio...so I had to take a picture.

Johnbern and Laurel

Yonel and baby Elby.

Back toward Croix-des-Bouquets to stop at Marassa Market.  Changed money and got ice cream to eat at 10:30am.  Sang Britney Spears, Michael Jackson, and Backstreet Boys songs.  Even JB new the beat and words!

Drove downtown CdB because Laurel and I really wanted to buy Haitian honey at a grocery store (it's delicious!).  We stopped and JB asked for directions - an off duty police officer was hanging with his friends and was bored enough to help.  He got in Floyd and away we drove to the market.

The market is down a very narrow road - it was crazy!  Laurel took a good video of it (see below).  The guys got out to buy the honey so they didn't charge the "blan" or gringos a fortune. We waited for what felt like an hour so I called Johnbern and he said the lady was washing the bottles.  I thought he meant the outside, but I soon found out he meant the inside as they brought us honey in old pop bottles.  We thought they were confused so Laurel opened one to see a dead bee in the honey, sitting at the top.  Wow were we surprised.  The police officer liked us so much he wanted to take us home to his wife to introduce us.

Straight out to land to take care of business.  Passed out final supplies and tools.  Took care of extra house.  Sat down with the Pastor since the President wasn't around.  It was nice to talk to him only. 

The three of us moved under the pavilion to talk to the people.  Johnbern started first by telling them that we were leaving and we weren't sure if or when we or someone else would be coming back.  He started to cry as he shared his heart.  People were more upset than I thought they would be about us leaving.  Laurel spoke next about all God has provided for the them - all the possibilities they have and how this shouldn't be a sad time, but a happy time as this is the beginning of new things for them.  I wanted to share, but I decided to hold in my tears instead until Madame Dutes asked me to speak.  I instantly started to cry but started from the beginning about how each home was made with a lot of love, about the group that came and how there are people all over the United States praying for them.

A few people shared deeply moving things about us.  They were even the ones to suggest a group photo!  Even with the language barrier, I could feel the love.  The Pastor wanted to talk, but he got choked up, so he waited a minute and prayed for us.

Some of the families.

We took a few pictures and Molive Mesifort pulled me aside without Johnbern to exchange phone numbers while she pointed to her stomach.  She is the one who is about 3 months pregnant and I was there when she found out.  Molive was upset because her husband is abusive and they are in the middle of separating.  We thought she had taken an abortion pill, but JB and I talked to her and she explained she hadn't.

I sat on the top of Floyd (the van) while Johnbern drove around so we could get a video.

The people of the village helped Johnbern check the oil, we hugged everyone and away we drove.  A few people wanted a ride to the main road, so we had Johnbern tell them we needed to jam to our 2 favorite songs - Call on Jesus by Nicole C Mullen and Stomp by Kirk Franklin.  We all sang and danced as JB drove us to the entrance of LaTremblay 5.

Stopped to see Pastor Abne' to give him the money for the first 2 months.  He is such an inspiration.  I can't understand him, but I see God in him.  Amazing.

To Victory Compassion base to unload all of the car and get it washed inside and out.  In the little park in Font Parisen there was a man with a power washer - good enough!  Laurel, Johnbern, and I sat in the park and dreamed of what it could be.  All the kids came up and we talked with them and relaxed.  This area has such potential.

Back to Victory Compassion - packed a little in the van.  Dinner of turkey, potatoes, and garlic bread. A beautiful last supper with the VC folks.  In the middle of dinner, Pastor Rod got up and gave me a send off speech.  I was overwhelmed with joy.  He said I enriched their lives simply by being in it.  I truly feel like part of their family now and feel so blessed that I am welcome back anytime.  They had everyone give me "three cheers" and then Mary made chocolate cake!

Played 2 games of Dominos with the Dominicans.  Finished packing up the tent with Johnbern and Laurel.

Tents at Victory Compassion.  I stayed in the one on the right.
We stayed here full-time after we left Juju's house.

Kitchen

Inside the sleeping quarters/workroom (my tent).

Stayed the night in Mary's trailer, Laurel came over for the sleepover as well.  We stayed up until 1am!  I've loved spending time with her.  We are on the same page but still learned a lot from one another.  At one point she told me she actually felt guilty for having so much fun with us as most of her days haven't been in town adventures like ours.

I am so grateful we stumbled across this group of people.  They have enriched my experience in Haiti and I really feel like because of them we were able to do more.  Victory Compassion's team took us in and their compound was definitely our safe place.  I can see how God is using them in Haiti and I feel honored to have been able to experience it too.

The Random Days Between

The Paraguayans spent the whole day at our site.  The workload is to prepare a better fence for security around the village and doing another around the agriculture land.  They are also helping to move five temporary shelters to make room for our ACTED plywood homes.

The UN Paraguayan's truck knocked a power line down.
We were in the middle of the caravan, so we waited.

They moved shelters first.

On their breaks, the Paraguayans took turns taking pictures with
the new baby, mom and grandma.

The kids helped me put dirt and gravel at the bottom of the shelters.

We passed out medicines prescribed by Dr Suarez.

There are four men carrying from the inside.

The fence was four feet tall and had three strands of barbwire across the top.

On another day, we got the agricultural land going.

Laurel 

The guys working hard!

Day 28

Devotions with Victory Compassion were good this morning. I enjoyed mingling with the group over breakfast too.

Out on the road Johnbern, Laurel and I went. We headed to downtown to buy rice, beans and other items at a depot so that the people could add it to the donated clothes Kendra brought to start a small store.

On the way we stopped at a gas station with a Western Union inside so Johnbern could send his apartment rent to Jarabacoa. $50 US a month for a big place. Johnbern got spaghetti for breakfast and Laurel got a hot sandwich. Laurel was a little nervous to go in because of a story she heard from Miguel from the Dominican team from Barahona about a bank. Banks in Haiti are dangerous! While JB was in line, Laurel and I sat on the restaurant side to disassociate ourselves. We didn't want them thinking JB was taking out money for us, etc. Apparently we were so caught up in our conversation that we didn't even see the group of 5 guys who walked in and b-lined it to our table. Johnbern called us over to go outside to get away from them.

Downtown was crazy this morning on Jean Jacques Boulevard (a famous market area in PAP). I felt fine there but because of all the people and how just one thing happening can make things turn south quickly, he made Laurel and I stay in Floyd (the van). It was his first time in a market like that so he came back laughing with a story to tell. Today he shared a lot with Laurel about his past life experiences.

We get a little concerned about taking pictures in crowded places, so this is Laurel's attempt from the van...trying to be secretive...

Drove back toward Croix-des-Bouquets and the village. Dropped JB off for band practice. Met the Hoffmans at our village. One of the ministries they do is to show a movie about Jesus. It is set in Haiti and goes back and forth between real people and animation. Even with it being in creole, I could still understand the bible stories they were telling through the animation. Everyone who was around sat with us in the new house - eyes glued to the sheet projecting the video. It was about 50 minutes long.

After the movie we gave the President and Pastor the donated clothes and food we bought with the explanation that they needed to pay back 2,000 goudes or $50 and we would give that to someone to start a small business, then they pay it back and someone else can use it. Immediately they started discussing as a group what should be done, so Laurel and I left to go pick up Johnbern from practice.

Everyone had asked where JB was earlier, so when he arrived he agreed that he actually missed the people since we hadn't seen them since Friday. It was perfect. He explained everything about the store to them. Joked with them. We told them Haiti had the best honey, they told us they would make us homemade peanut butter if we brought the supplies. Yum!

Laurel played with the kids - that's where her heart is. Johnbern and I lounged in the back of a pick-up truck with the men of the village. They made jokes and talked about job hunting.  I didn't understand hardly anything, but it was fun to feel included.

Back to VC before dark. A fun day today! Pastor Rod is back from being gone about 2 weeks. He adds a different energy to the group and to the teams that come. Dinner, then had birthday brownies for Brian. We sang Happy Birthday in English, then the Dominicans sang it to him in Spanish, then the interpreters sang it in Creole. It was amazing!

Later, Brian sang with his guitar, then Eduard D did a rap.  They were both really good and very fun!  Everyone enjoyed just hanging around and doing something different tonight.

Sherry and John Zimmer