Feb. 1st

We are enjoying the team. Thursday was a nice day-some clouds but about 80 degrees and no rain. In the morning, Dad and Gene worked on a wood frame to put a screen on our front door. Currently we have a wooden door and a metal security door. The wooden door shuts with a key outside or from the inside. We have to keep the wooden door closed to keep out the bugs. We are looking forward to everyone being able to go in and out independantly-reducing the trips to unlock the door.

Another improvement to the door area yesterday is now we have a working outside light! Ron with the assistance of a young Haitian man was able to get the light working. When visitors train and work side by side with the Haitian staff the impact is long term. Long after the team members return home those they have trained continue to use their new knowledge or improved skills to the benefit of the compound, their families and the local people.

Gerda is working with the cooks. We enjoyed pumpkin soup with homemade noodles for lunch. We were joined by Pastor Denord, the district superintendent who stopped in to see the team. He told the team that that just their presence was a blessing. For supper we enjoyed tuna noodle casserole and Haitian bread.

In the morning the women went with Kris to the big storage buidling to sort donated medical supplies. We loaded the truck with expired medications-will dispose of the medications and send the empty bottles to the LaGonave hospital. Part of the morning was spent getting a spot cleaned for the sorted materials. After that we sorted until lunchtime. This pile is about 1/3 of the total to sort.

After lunch Cory took Gerda and Sadie to the market. They bought some cloth for the guest house curtains, went to the bank and picked up the kids. Today Ron went with Cory and John Pierre to Cap Haitian to shop for supplies. It is Cory's day to drive so they will also transport the 3 other kids back and forth to school.

Dad and Gene have started a large storage unit for the living room. There is a dresser that was in the house when we moved in but most of the drawers can not be used as the wood is paper thin due to insect damage. The unit they are making will replace the dresser.