Trip to Port-au-Prince

Cory and the truck made a trip to Port-au-Prince this week along with Pastor Jonas, who lives just down the road from us. The truck needed it's 3,000 mile oil change and maintenance check at the dealer to keep the warranty active.

The first day they drove as far as the boat dock and took a speed boat to LaGonave. He picked up some seeds, checked the date palms and talked to various people. He was able to pick up some more Creole tracts that Kris has been giving out at the clinic. Jeantiny has been landscaping part of the hospital yard and did a good job. The local bank saw his work and hired him to do their small yard as a side job. He is still leading the garden crew in maintaining the gardens and processing moringa leaf powder. They still can't make enough leaf powder for the hospital and local demand.

The second day they headed back across the sea and into Port-au-Prince to do some shopping. He was able to get a new inverter and turn the other one in for repairs. The night was spent at a mission guest house.

Friday morning they were first in line at the dealer. There aren't any 15 minute oil change places around for competition so 2 1/2 hours later the truck was returned. Jonas noticed when it was returned that one tire had picked up a piece of wire. They could feel the air leaking when the wire was removed so the truck went back in the garage. After waiting over 90 minutes the truck was returned again with the spare on and the news that they couldn't fix the flat one. They talked to the car dealer again and he apologised, said he didn't realize the wire had been picked up in the garage and he thought they would have been able to fix it so Cory was to see another person to get some money for the repair but after waiting another 5 or 10 minutes they decided to leave due to the late time and long trip ahead. Fortunately the tire repair place was nearby and had good equipment so the tire was patched and they were on their way home in less than half an hour and just $3 for the tire repair. The dealership's "parts only" cost for the oil, filter and air filter came to $81.

Back to the boat dock for a few items that we left back in August for lack of space.

They arrived back in Fauche at 8 o'clock at night in a light rain. About 150 miles covered in 8 hours with a short break to load at the dock.

Kris and the kids did OK without dad. We spent part of the time homeschooling. With the additional time that the kids are normally on the road they were able to read and play. We looked into a taxi driver to drive the kids to the carpool location but he wouldn't agree to a resonable price.