2 in La Gonave: Return to Lataniers

Our last Friday in Haiti found us once again on the quad, heading up to Lataniers, the far-flung village around the island from Anse-a-Galets, to visit the school children whom G.A.S. (see blog post for November 11, 2012) sponsors in that very poor community. We accompanied three members of the G.A.S. steering committee and Andrea and Lorin. fellow Global Partner missionaries who were interested in seeing that part of the island. We were told we would need to leave about 6:00 a.m., for the trip is long and the day would be full.

Packing up, ready to go!

1st stop - the Anse-a-Galets market - to pick up the beans, oil and rice we were taking for the G.A.S. families. The day awakened as we waited for Wilnor to purchase our items. Our market was gearing up. There was an unmistakable energy in the air. Chatting between merchants, the smell of coffee and and sounds of groups of school children moving past and family motos and moto taxies shuttling folks here and there.

Finally, we were set with the cooler on the front with ice and water bottles; two huge sacks of rice balanced on the front wheel cover; beans and bottles of oil stuffed into the trunk box, all bungie corded on with a wish and a prayer that the constant bumping and wind wouldn't dislodge things before we could catch them once we were on the road! Then Larry and I settled ourselves among everything else! Too funny! And, when we reached 30 or 35 mph, things got interesting and necessitated several stops to reposition!

Rice in place; now for the beans and oil ,,,,,

But, we made it - and in record time! Not quite 20 miles in 2 1/2 hours instead of the 3 hours it took us the first time up! And, we were greeted with much graciousness and welcome - kisses on both cheeks and big smiles!

The official object of the visit was to meet with the 17 children and their parents that G.A.S. has sponsored in this first year of their ministry, for the children (or parents) to write letters of appreciation to the sponsors, and to deliver the food staples. Later, the notes were to be translated into English and Larry and I would take the letters home and mail them to the sponsors in the States.

The Wesleyan church where the gathering took place.

Lovin' on some cute kids!

If the child was too young to compose and write the letter, the parent would.

The principal helping one family.

Met ( creole for "teacher") Louis, G.A.S. board member, helping one student with her letter.

Fre Larry entertaining with motions and song, waiting for all to finish.

What transpired was our deepening appreciation for G.A.S. We realized that they were not only teaching the importance of expressing appreciation. They are wanting to impact these children not only through academics and, potentially, a more hopeful future because of it, but they were all about developing the character of the kids as well.

The G.A.S. sponsored children, with their families' sacks of beans, rice and oil.

It was a full and rewarding day of encouraging kids and their families, smiling til our cheeks hurt, noting injuries and organizing medical help, playing hand slap games, singing silly songs in creole and English, dancing, taking lots of pictures of grinning kids, embracing and kissing cheeks, and making memories galore!

And, on the way home, we were surprised by friends of one of our party. Several young men scaled coconut palm trees and cut green coconuts to open for us. We drank the sweet water through a sliced hole and then used one end as a spoon and scooped the delicious mush. Delicious!