Week and trip update

On Monday Cory worked to get the Toyota stuck brake drum off and after much pounding with hammers the brake freed up. So on Tuesday afternoon we decided to drive to the further internet bench to make sure everything still worked after months of not running. But it wouldn’t shift, no clutch. So Cory turned started it in first gear and started up the drive way but the back tire started to spin on the steeper part of the drive. 

Pole for satellite dish.

This is now a problem as Cory planned to head down to Port-au-Prince early on Wed. and would not be able to pass around it. So Cory called Leon and asked to get some men to help. So 11 men with two big ropes pulled and pushed to take the weight off the gears, after one broken rope and lots trying. The clutch then popped loose and could get it out of first gear. The Land Cruiser was working. 

Sorry no photos but I had the phone and was gone for internet. The guys drove and picked me up. While sitting on the neighbor’s bench for the internet, a mongoose walked out of the bushes not 4 feet from me. We were both surprised, as it turned and ran away.

New pond.

Wed. morning before 5 a.m. Cory and Leon headed down the mountain and returned around 8:15 p.m. Thankfully for the middle part of the day, Judain our friend and driver for the mission joined them as he knows the back roads and safe areas much better than Cory. With him driving Cory could have a bit of a break. During their long day they accomplished: bank & payroll transfers, filled propane tank, picked up mail, picked up large donated internet dish, cement, hardware, groceries. Cory also found out that the paperwork for the truck which we through was all up to date is not and the first ticket he payed the officer did not give him a receipt which would have prevented the second ticket for the same thing. 

So work has started on getting the new-to-us dish set up as well as sealing the new pond for irrigation water. Watering of plants, weeding, planting, Fritz and I continue to work on school. 

All around us the local folks work daily to prepare the land for spring planting. Both a good harvest last year and the high price of corn here will motivate people to clear and plant even more land than last year. Heavy hoes and soil make this back breaking work for the villagers who also walk an hour and more than 1,000 feet of elevation each way between their homes and gardens. 

Thank you for the prayers.