Day 4 - Bel Ayiti

This is such a different trip for me than the last time.  During my last visit - I NEVER left the Apparent Project house except to go to the metal works market and to the airport.  Now that the Guest House is about a five minute walk from AP, we are out walking in the community all the time.  And we are painting houses, buying from the drink vendors - really soaking in all around us.  It's been awesome!

We all separated today.  Each had different jobs to do.  At first the group went over and quickly put a final coat of paint on Keziah's room so Zoe and Joy could get started on the details.  Then Rick, Jarod, Russell, Mike, Chey and Donna headed back into the community to paint Elimern's house.  She is a single mother of three who works at AP.

 View of yesterday's house from AP  (green in very center)

Elysia and I stayed at AP to help get the sewing ladies started on the quilt for Keziah's room.

Mdm. Bessa is awesome!  Shelley gave her instructions and she went right to work!  With such precision and care.  She is one of the top seamstresses and comes up with all the awesome designs for the purses!

While she got started, I went around chatting with artisans and getting photos.

This is Pierre - He runs the boutique for Shelley and does an awesome job.  There are so many people that come to shop now and he takes great pride in keeping everything neat and organized.  He is a great help to Shelley.  He was excited to know I brought my Calligraphy pens again and is already making a list for me so I can update some of the signs.  I can't wait!

The house was soooo busy today!  People working everywhere!  Cutting, rolling, designing.  So awesome.  I enjoyed seeing many familiar faces!

Shelley invited Elysia and I to ride with her to the grocery store in Petionville.  Of course, I jumped at the chance to see more of Haiti.

Before we left, we headed down to see how the group was doing on Elimern's house.

They had lots of helpers today!  Everyone comes to hang out, see what we're doing and even help!

The little man from yesterday's house was back and he helped the entire time!  The boy in the yellow by Jarod is Watson.  He is 14 and he and Jarod became fast friends.  When they were finished with their jobs, Watson took Jarod up the hill, showed him around a little more and they played soccer together.  He told Jarod he "plays good for an American!"  Ha!

Marc was back helping as well.  He has been our translator while we are here and he's awesome.  Very helpful and fun to be around.

 Richard was back today with friends.

 Loved this picture of Donna standing on the block.  Maybe Rick needed one as well!

Elysia and I headed back up to meet Shelley to go to the store.  But first we stopped to see how the quilt was coming.

She had to cut twenty 12 x 12 inch squares out of four different fabrics.  She already had three finished!

Next stop - The Caribbean SuperMarket!

Apart from the armed guards out front, all the signs being in Creole, the prices being in Gourdes and it being smaller - it was just like our Publix!  Clean, beautiful and full of everything you could need.  Of course I kept asking Shelley to give me the price in the U.S. dollar and some things were pricey - but hey -- Your on an island!  Everything is imported.  I get it. 

I didn't take any photos inside but I did buy Rebo Coffee and Haitian Peanut Butter to take home.  It was so nice getting to see this side of Haiti as well.  Not everything is horrible and things continue to improve since the earthquake.

 We came back and checked on Mdm. Bessa - she is awesome!!!!  Can't wait to see this all finished!

The other group finished Elimern's house!  So colorful!  They did a great job.

After a short break, we headed back over to Shelley's new house to begin painting her living room.

I think Rick misunderstood that it was to go on the walls.

 We are so excited to help with this.  Shelley deals will so much every day and by the end of it, she's tired.  Helping her to get this ready to move in makes me so happy!

Juvenson (L) and Peterson (R) hung out with us.  Tomorrow is Juvenson's 14th birthday.  His parents died in the earthquake and he lives with relatives.  Shelley doesn't think he's ever had a little birthday party so she asked us to bring a few things for him.  Elysia and I picked up a cake at the store and these two are coming over tonight for dinner and a celebration.  We are so excited to do this for him!  Can't wait to show you pics!

Love this pic of Jarod with Jackson, Zebedee and Ember.  They were on the balcony.  Jarod enjoyed hanging out with them while we were working in the house.

Jarod is doing so well.  I am so very proud of him.  He's really stepping up and helping and he is enjoying the kids here so much.  They just flock to him.

This was our view as we walked back to the Guest House for dinner.  Such a beautiful place.

Bel Ayiti - You have my heart!

Until tomorrow........

Day 3  - Paint!

Day 2 - Getting out in the Community

Day 1 - Getting Here