VB Finals Part 3 by Anna

Eventually, the rest of the group rejoined us, and we returned to the gym to wait for the awards ceremony, and watch the remaining games. I had removed my watch for the game, and left it in the room, which was locked. However, it was between 10 and 11 P.M. Since last year we didn't eat until 11, this wasn't too bad. At last, all the teams were lined up, and we stood there waiting as the Junior guys finished their match. 

The 3rd, 2nd, then 1st place Minims were called up first, gals then guys. We were up next. After our pictures, we all sat in the back and waited as the rest of the teams filed through. I was sitting when we heard the MVPs being called. This was a new addition since last year, and each was awarded in the same order as the team awards, and they were only selected from the 1st place teams. As they did the Minims, one of my friends said they would call me, so at least I had a bit of warning before being sent alone. The two Minims (M & F) were each given a little trophy and ball. The two Caddettes were each given a slightly larger trophy and knee pads. The Juniors were given even larger trophies and backpacks. The six of us stood awkwardly before the group of iPone wielding people taking pictures, before being released. 

What is interesting is that of the six first place positions, Eben Ezer and Ouanaminthe took four. Ouanaminth is the school we had to beat to come to Port-au-Prince, and they had brought four teams, vs our two (amusing since last year we brought four, while they brought two) Although they were a different school we were cheering for them, since we were all from the Northern district. Out of six positions Fauche, a little podunk place not even on the map, took a third of the spots. :)

We eventually went to our room, and the adults talked to us so long we didn't have time to take showers, despite our sweaty conditions. (much to my annoyance).

 During or after the talking, most of us packed our bags in preparation for the morning. We were all given matching shirts to wear the next day. The Caddette's blue shirts did say National Volleyball Championships. (they also said USA volleyball, and Junior, and 2016, and Indianapolis...) The Minim's shirts were white, and had volleyballs. (they also said regionals, and 2005) But considering most teams didn't have matching volleyball shirts, they were still something, and I will always associate them with Port-au-Prince finals. 

Then Parrola gave three nice blue shirts saying Haiti Volleyball to three of the Caddettes, including me. I have been waiting a long time for a shirt saying Haiti volleyball, so I am happy to have received one before leaving the team. 

Both team's trophies.

Some of the girls continued to talk and joke around, while others attempted to sleep. Eventually, I joined the rest of the girls watching from the top bunks, unable to sleep due to the ruckus. I can get a titch annoyed...and stubborn, when it is 1:20 in the morning, and I am trying to sleep. At my request, the adult lying by the door and the light-switches, flipped them off. They were promptly turned back on by one of the girls. (Note: most of those who had been playing during the majority of the games, were sleeping or trying to, the noisy ones hadn't been playing)

Let's just say I had to get down from my bed, but the lights went off at 1:24 A.M. (some were surprised when I mentioned the time, having retrieved my watch from the locker) We were a very groggy group four/five hours later when we all went and showered. We were ushered out of our room to sit outside, so that the sheets could be counted by those in charge of the facilities. I haven't a clue how long we sat there. I eventually got some water from the cafeteria, and then our busses arrived. 

I doubt I was ever awake for more than a 10min. stretch during the whole ride home. (though occasional neck readjustment was necessary in the bus seats.) We eventually stopped at one of the Sans-souci rest stops, and there we ate the sandwiches provided back in Port. I also had some pateys [fried dough], bought from a street vender, and then we loaded up again, and slept our way to Limbe, arriving around 1 P.M. 

The truck that was supposed to pick us up was still far away, and so we sat and waited for almost two hours. (Note: It only takes 1/2 hour for a truck to get from Limbe to Fauche.) Everyone was given a piece of bread with peanut butter, and half a Tampico [artificial juice-very sweet drink!]. Others bought stuff form the street vendors. (like the really good looking, hot dog on a stick with mayo on it, or the ice cream vendor selling little cups of it for only 10 goudes=less than 20 cents) Sadly, I am not supposed to eat these due to questionable ice and milk sources (for the ice cream) and possibility of spoiled hot dog (which would taste fine, and can happen in America too, so certainly possible on Haitian streets...) I was very close to giving in when the truck arrived, and we traveled the last stretch home. 

VB Finals Part 2 by Anna

I also learned some interesting things about Fauche volleyball, and how such a rural area became involved in volleyball years ago. Apparently over a hundred kids were being trained with a single volleyball. Parolla, now the northern head of The Federation of Haitian Volleyball, happened by, and saw the kids playing. She promised to send volleyballs, and apparently returned with 20 some volleyballs. She has continued to fight for Fauche's teams ever since. 

The water had been removed from the interior courts, and people were busy mopping to clean up the muddy floor. A rumor that we were going to be playing outside circulated, and we went to the outside courts, before returning for breakfast and joyfully filling the inside gym. That morning we played against the team in our threesome pool, and won 2-1. We should have beat 2-0, but we weren't playing very well. One thing that always messes us up is the volleyballs are lighter, so our servers are off, and our spikes go out of bounds. 

In the afternoon, we played our semi finals and once again won 2-1, though they were more closely matched to us. The minims had also won their semi finals, and our teams usually shower before the final match. We showered, and had to put on the same sweaty under-shirt and shorts (Everyone wears under-shirts, and all who have tight shorts wear them underneath the uniforms. I forgot to rinse my second pair the first night.)

Then it got interesting. As we were returning from showers, a shout went up that they had been called. People started saying that if they did't show up they would be eliminated. Chaos ensued, and eventually they were all off (when we arrived the other team hadn't even arrived yet) 

That morning the minims had worn some of the uniforms that were for the Cadettes if they made it to finals.  Fauche had 20 of this style; however, somehow we ended up without enough. Some of ours had been worn by the Minims. Everyone took their number, however mine was no where to be seen. (The week previous I had tried to get the same number as last year, 10, but had ended up with 1) After some searching, I figured out which Minim wore my number, ran to the gymnasium, and asked her where the uniform was. 

She told me it was in her towel, and told me to ask one of the other Cadettes where it was. I ran back, and couldn't find that girl. After some searching we found her towel tossed in one of the lockers. My uniform was rolled into the damp towel, along with her other shower stuff. To say the least I was thrilled. It was grabbed by one of the adults, perfumed, and handed back. I shook it a little to disperse the cloud of perfume surrounding it, before donning my damp uniform. Now we were being told we had been called, and rushed off to the finals. 

That was probably our team's best game ever. Never before have I seen us all playing so well, defending the corners, blocking, spiking, and faking. Our two teams were so evenly matched that the first game went all the way to 31. We wanted to win 2-0, since we knew from the difficulty of the initial set that we would be too tired to play a third well. My only regrets of the match were the two serves I missed, trying to make them more difficult. (and failing to do so miserably) Once again, it was a close match, 26-25. I am pretty sure the Caddette girls were the only group to be so evenly matched, and thus we had the largest group of spectators.

While we were playing our Minim gals won. (If I remember correctly they finished their whole match during our first set) Thus they were there when we finaly won. The whole Eben Ezer crowd (mostly consisting of yelling girls) rejoiced. Somebody came up to me and asked me to come sign something. I protested that I wasn't the captain (who usually goes and signs something after each match) but was assured that they wanted a player to sign.

I was led off (thoroughly confused) to one of the little tables for the score keepers. A pen was handed to me at the unoccupied desk, and I was told to sign my name, category, and zone where my team was from. They (rightfully) think I have horrid handwriting, since I couldn't keep my hand from trembling. Apparently I still had too much adrenaline from the game, since my hand was shaking uncontrollably. When I returned, both Eben Ezer teams had disappeared. I ran into another lone Caddette, and before we could find the rest of the troupe, we were directed to the supper line.

Volleyball National Tournament 2017. By Anna....Part 1

I'm back again! Less than a week after regionals our sleepy group headed off at four in the morning, last Friday. We took the cattle truck to Limbe, where we waited for the Sans Souci bus. Upon arrival we all piled in and napped our way to Port au Prince, arriving somewhere around 9 A.M. The reason for our unreasonable early departure was never discovered, since games didn't start until Saturday.

All 19 girls (eight minims and 11 cadettes) plus six chaperon/coaches (four of which were guys) shared one room with eight bunk beds. All the beds had sheets and pillows, a new addition since the previous year, along with curtains across the glass windows. The lockers were the same as last year, and there were also tumbling mats on the floor for those who didn't find a bunk. Several people shared bunks, so only about five ended up on the floor. 

We snacked, napped, and talked for most of the after-noon, watching as the other teams arrived. To my surprise, I was not the only American present; one of the other team's coaches was an American, whose daughter played. [When Anna talked to us about this-we clued her in that we know them, have visited their home when Anna was very little. The mom/coach had been an ECHO intern a few years after Cory.] The daughter fit in a bit better though, since she was only half foreigner. Late that afternoon we practiced a bit, goofing off and warming up with music, since the technicians were testing the sound speakers out for the next day. Super was spaghetti or rice if I recollect correctly... I got spaghetti, since I had rice for lunch. 

The majority of the meals consisted of either  spaghetti, rice, fine oatmeal ( a smooth thick substance eaten with a spoon and accompanied with bread).  Sandwiches were served for breakfast several times, with either peanut butter or a red sauce with some kind of canned fish in it. Vegetables and/or chicken legs were a side dish for a few meals; however they lacked proportion. They also lacked enough water, or plastic cups with which to get said water, when it was present. The occasional juice went quickly.

Note: Last year, the whole Fauche group had...stomach issues after arrival. Some talk at the sinks led to the discovery that the Fauche people were not the only ones suffering. Because of this, we were originally told to avoid the water. However, this only lasted until the first meal, and much to our delight the water tasted fine, and most escaped without consequences. Thank you for the prayers, I apparently didn't catch anything from the shared cups and bottles. (dehydration out-weighed the risk) 

There were six female Cadette teams. They were separated into two pools of three, from which one would be eliminated, and the four continue on to semi-finals and afterwards finals. Since there are only four minim groups, they play three matches against all the other teams, then the two stronger are put against two weaker, and the winners go onto finals. 

During our first match we won the first set, and then lost both the next one (a crushing 25-5) and the third. We were scheduled to play against the other team the same day; however a torrent of rain put a stop to all four games. Although we were playing inside, the water found a way in and flooded the one end of the courts. The whole area became slippery, and games ended for the night. 

Showers during volleyball exertions are always very interesting experiences for this shy/pale person. Thankfully, Fauche is one of the shyer regions, and they aren't surprised at bathing with undergarments in groups. (like some of the other girls) However, my biggest issues with that toilet/bath stall building, are the walls. They are made up of window blocks. They are slanted so that you cannot see anything by just walking by, but allow far to much light through for my taste. For this reason I always avoid the end shower/bathroom stalls, since they are against the breezy walls. 

That night we went to bed around ten, and were awaken at about 5:30 a.m., so that everyone could shower before the rush from other groups. Some remnants of the French have remained in Haitian culture, including performing your 'toilette' in the mornings. If they can they prefer to bathe. I, with my background, am always considered odd for not doing so, though they are slowly becoming accustomed to my peculiar ways. 

The best of the minim players, who had won their three matches the first previous day, were given sleepless shirts saying, "Haiti volleyball" they were in varying shades of pink and white. We were then lectured thoroughly, since if we lost to the other team, we would be eliminated. They had already lost to the first team, who were assured a place in the semifinals. 

Anna's Volleyball Post...part 2.

Team uniform to go to Nationals.

To take a shower you first had to draw water from the cistern, which was deep and wide, with a hole easily fallen through. You had to throw a small container in and haul it up by its cord, pour it into a bucket, repeat. Most people shared a bucket between two people. My friend and I carried the bucket back to the showering place, in the back corner of the property. It had two solid walls facing the buildings, and a third made of window blocks (as in, there were big square holes throughout the whole wall) The fourth wall was nonexistent and faced the back corner, and its small gate. The bathroom/shower facilities are the main disadvantage of going on these excursions. When it was almost dark, they gave us each a plate filled with rice.

Rugs and coarse blankets were spread on the floor, along with a few thin mattresses. There were probably about 20 girls in the room. The guys sleep on the balconies. A few of them were very talkative, and despite knowing that we would be woken at 4 a.m. talked until close to midnight. Luckily, I figured out how to open the windows; although the mosquitoes were a nuisance, the occasional breeze was worth it. Although the others were used to it and slept under sheets, I couldn't stay under the sheet for long.

At about 4:30 we woke up and got ready, though due to a few incidents, we didn't leave untill six something. A very disgruntled group sat/stood on the ride to Ouanaminthe

. I don't remember when we arrived, but we all sat at a few tables in the large school. They had two inside volleyball courts. Eventually, we changed into our uniforms, and watched our minim boys play, since they hadn't played their second game the previous day (for unknown reasons) Sadly they lost, and afterwards we all squeezed into the tables for lunch. (I had to scrunch my shoulders) One banana, and a plate of spaghetti with half a boiled egg.

Afterwords our minim girls started to warm up, and then my team. We lost the first match (played to 25), mainly due to the different ball's weight. In Haiti there are no standard balls, since we were used to a heavier one, our spikes went out of bounds; our serves were off, and our setter kept getting her sets called. By the second game, we were used to it, and won. I finally managed to do some good back row spikes, and also dived, even though I didn't have knee pads. The tie breaker match was only played to 15, and we won 15-12 (I think, the one side of the score thing was broken, not quite sure)

It was one of the best games I have ever played, and I liked being against a worthy opponent. Our Minim gals won part way through our set, which also gave us a boost. The cadet guys played next, lost their first match, won the second, lost the third. It rained the whole way back, and it was extremely crowded beneath the leaky tarp.

Final injury count: two bruised knees, sore hip, bruised elbow, and badly sun burnt shoulders. That night I slept a delightful 14 hours. The two girls teams head for the finals in Port au Prince, and we leave for it on this Friday, play Sat/Sun, and return on Monday. (I have been assured we will have knee pads) Mean while I am very busy with school, and trying to heal as fast as possible.

Cory went to a parent meeting on Tuesday and heard from the coach how Anna had to stay in the game and could not be allowed to rest because the team would have lost and not been able to go on to nationals. She was the 'back-bone'.

Written during school but posted after Anna left about 3:30 a.m. this morning. Smiling as you can see in the picture above. She should return with the team on Monday; May 1st is a holiday in Haiti, Agricultural Day so no school missed for the team. 

Anna's Volleyball Part 1

Volleyball in Haiti is very different than in America, at least from what I hear, since I have never been on an American team. Never-the-less, it is a fun experience, and I enjoyed being able to see the culture closer. These are some of the things that might interest those from a different  country.

As many foreigners have noted, Haitians dress formally for travel. Most wear jeans and the girls wore Sunday shoes, while the guys wore their better T-shirts. Looking at the group you couldn't tell they were heading for a sports event. We left around 7 A.M. The actual traveling was in the back of a cattle truck... fun fun.  Standing, holding on to a side and or the bar down the middle has given me truck balance. Although there are benches along the two sides, there were more than 40 people (a reasonable number, not too crowded by local standards), and standing is almost easier on our bumpy, jostling road.

We stopped a bit out of Cap Haitian at a white, two-storied house. We changed into our uniforms and left all our bags piled in a room. Continuing into Cap Haitian, we parked in front of the walled-in area with multiple cement courts and a gymnasium containing one basket ball court. Most of them were made for basketball or soccer, but had volleyball nets strung across them for the day.

Perhaps in America it takes many games to reach regionals, but these were our first matches of the season. Other years we had had to beat Port Margot, but I think they quit...they couldn't beat Fauche.

For those of you unfamiliar with how Haitian volleyball is set up, there are several different age groups. Pousins: up to age 10. Minims: 10-15 Cadets: 16-17 Juniors: 18 up to about 20 (I am not sure on when you age out, or where Pousins start, since I have seen some kids trying whose arms were about as long as the ball. We start very young in Fauche) There are also multiple seasons, between schools, and club. Since I took french lessons from one of the teachers, I can play interschoolar.

Pousins don't participate in the interschoolar volleyball season. This year most of our older guys had aged out, and we didn't have enough older girls, so we only had four teams, both guys and girls for Minim and Cadet age groups.

On the first day, all four teams won. My team had to go against two other teams for regionals, and we beat them both 2-0. It was cloudy, with a slight mist/sprinkle most of the time. I foolishly forgot that one can be sunburned while it is raining, and am enjoying the consequences exacted on my shoulders, face, and neck.

We each had two bananas and half a pastry thing for lunch. Since there was not anything for us to do at the white house, we sat and watched some of the older teams from other schools, until they called us back to the truck. At the house everyone hung out, playing volleyball, talking, or running around, making lots of noise in the echoing rooms. Mid afternoon we were each given several hot pateys. (delicious fried wheat dough with a cabbage mix inside)

to be continued......

Week between 'teams'

Sparkly shoe strings + a fake rose in the hair...but smiling because they won!

Last week at this time we were heading home after the medical clinics. Tomorrow we will be running errands in Cap Haitian before heading to the airport to pick up my folks.



In between we: worked on school, visited the gardens, weeded, cleaned, worked on lessons, completed office work, read books, wrote thank-you notes, praticed volleyball, experimented with cooking,  communicated by e-mails and instant-message on Facebook, attended church, and lived life.

This week's winner of the most productive fruit tree is the Malay apple.

So some experimenting occurred.

Winners include: warm oatmeal malay apple crisp dessert with milk, malay apple sauce, and baked oatmeal with malay apples.

Second place goes to Malay apple chutney, mashed peach palm fruit and pickled palm heart.

Losers: pickled Malay apple and pickled mix of Malay apple and palm heart - using the same recipe as pickled beets.

The best Malay apples were saved to share with neighbors and friends. The skin is very tender so they are easily damaged by bugs, birds and rodents.

Baby goat is now tied up as her adventurous, ever expanding, curious appetite lead her to start eating the flowers and nibbling fruit trees.

The last few bunches of peach palm are ripening so it will be at least four months until the next harvest. A few trees look fat where blooms could emerge any time now.

The gardens are growing well, days are sunny now and a few light rains keep the area well watered.

Steamed Malay apple

Stovetop baked oatmeal with Malay apple

February fruits, first row left to right: Jujube (bird ate one to the pit) loquat,
'Ross' canister/egg fruit, cupusau seed and jam. 2nd row: Biriba, sapodilla,
3rd row: Malay apple, peach palm. Birds are eating the mulberries.

Teaching, gardening, and more...

Of all the weekends in the year..this is one I wish we were able to be in the USA.

Mango tree by clothes line

Although we celebrated Eli's birthday in July, it would be great to sit and celebrate with him, hear in person about his trip to Germany, see his pictures, help him with the move back to Calvin, help him shop and just hang out.

So very thankful that both sides of the family can surround him with love and support..but miss being an active part of it.

My teaching for an hour in the adult literacy class appears to be a weekly event now. Good reports from the first two weeks and more suggested topics. Hard to simplify complicated subjects like the immune system and heart disease.

peach palm fruits

Clinic chats went well this week with great questions [on Monday a young man kept the conversation jumping for two hours!] Lots of chaya branches and information given out.

Tuesday's garden walk showed that despite another cow visit, apparently nothing was damaged and the plants continue to grow well in our hot steamy weather. The neighbor that was given some money to keep an eye on the garden reported that it was a big cow someone let in and he chased it out.

Non-'normal' events this week:

• cutting down of grafted (local variety) mango tree which also served to hold one end of our clothes line.



'Nam Dok Mai' X (mango 'Blanc'?) cross

• Why-because it was providing too much shade on the nursery and not producing enough  mangoes to justify its location
• Visiting the notary's office. More adoption paperwork as the addition of a new attorney to the team necessitated adding her to the power-of-attorney list.
• Watching the Fauche volleyball tournament. They divided the older three teams, ages about 13 to 18 years, and formed three teams each for the gals and guys. Saturday the youngest teams  played. Anna's team came in first with her finally trying more spikes. The winning point for her team was earned by one of her spikes.
• Getting an order and pre-payment for 40 fruit trees from a gentleman who lives near the big Caracol industrial park, and is a cousin of Pastor Nicoderm. It is fenced in, 1 1/2 acres and should be a good place to also do some trial plantings of the mango cross seedlings, eggfruit, and maybe peach palm, etc.
• Getting the lawnmower welded in Port Margot.
• Getting a better understanding of our visa paperwork..see the Grafting Treasure blog for more information. 
• Sharing more peach palm fruit with new people. The rental garden owner was impressed. Trying to pollinate flowering palms to increase the harvest.

Beach Volleyball...

Often I don't go along because I know that there will not be enough space in the truck for everyone, but Anna wanted me to go so I said yes.

We tried to avoid any issues by requesting a list of the players going. We understood 4 guys, 3 gals, maybe 1-2 coaches...and 'a few little ones'.  No list showed up the night before...should have known better.

We should also have guessed that the 6 a.m start would end up being closer to 7.

Room for one more?

Plan A was to take in 2 propane tanks to be filled but knowing we would have lots of people, we loaded only one.... but still drama when it came time to go.

"There's room...there's NOT room..." The outcome: 4 older guys given money for motorcycle taxis, 7 in the cab and 7 more in the back, and at least one left behind.


We will INSIST on a list next time or give out tickets or something.

Picture is of a truck leaving the beach after volleyball, shows you a bit of the "normal" we're up against..."always room for one more". Those not yet on the truck still trying. The driver looked completely care-free.

It took us about 3 hours to get to the 'Little Miami' beach...as we stopped for propane, stopped at the volleyball director's house, stopped to wait for someone to lead us to the beach. No worries...the games didn't start for another 3 hours.


They raked the sand, dug up the sand, brought in more sand, raked again the sand in the court. Children ran around playing, practicing, talking and having fun. Lunch of spicy spaghetti was served to the teams and support people.

Games started around 1 p.m. VERY thankful for a cloudy day and cool wind from the sea.

Supporting Fauche's guys team #2.

Chatted for a bit with a gentleman working with Child Evangelism Fellowship out of Port-au-Prince doing some teacher training.

They had a group which met for 1 hour discussing children's clubs and dealing with children with attention deficit disorder and other disruptive issues.  There were also groups of children that had lessons and watched volleyball.

At first Anna was told that the second teams would not be playing...which meant she would not be playing.

Based on this information the top two gals, both spikers, were placed on the first game.

However, in time, the second teams were informed that they would be playing. Anna's partner is close to 6 feet tall and also a blocker like Anna.

Of the four gals who played only Anna appreciated the loose, long uniform shorts. We thanked her coach for not picking short-shorts.

Considering they only reviewed the beach volleyball rules the day before...and that some of the referees were learning them the day of the matches, we think everyone did very well.

Younger players

After playing Anna continued to watch the additional games and wishes to have both of the winning  Fauche team guys teach her-one to serve jump serves [shorter] and the taller one to help her improve her spikes. (note from Anna; the taller one happens to be my coach, so...)

In the semi-finals both for the gals and guys the 1st and 2nd Fauche teams played each other. Both 1st teams went on to win the finals.

So what about the 7 younger players who went with us...they ran around, had fun, practiced a bit, and ate.

Music and announcements...loud!

Guess we didn't have to feel as bad as we did not bringing the one we left behind!

Supper served spicy beans and rice with vegetable sauce and chicken drumsticks.

Shaved 30 minutes off our return trip with only one stop, attempting to beat the rain clouds home which we did with just a few sprinkles on the folks in the back of the truck.

Sound system for the day, conveniently portable in the wheelbarrow.

The Santa-Maria Beach Volleyball Championship was and "end of summer vacation activity" sponsored by the Innocent Children Foundation, theme being Matt 28:19. Go to all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father.

Beach Volleyball

Yesterday we rose early in the morning and headed down, expecting three other girls, four boys, Jean Pierre, and a few others. 

However when we arrived we found four guys, three gals, in addition to seven little kids. 

We already had a propane tank in the back, and couldn't fit an additional 14 people, on top of my parents, me, and the tank.
 In the end the four guys went by motor cycle, while the fourteen of us headed out.

We eventually arrived at a small sandy beach. 

Although their was a small crowd, we did not commence to play any time soon.

 I and the other older girls played some to one side, sat around, and explored. 

After about three hours our first team finally played a game. 

Our first ladies team, containing our two best spikers,  played first. 

The second teams of both the guys and gals divisions were informed that we weren't going to be able to play. 

Thankfully it was very cloudy, so we didn't have any problem with the sun... most of the time.

After the first teams had played and some time had passed we were told we would play. 

Since they had put our two best spikers on one team, my team was left with the two blockers. 

We won our first match, although not because we were playing our top game. 

The court was shorter than usual, and we had been informed that we could't play a serve with a set.

 I had only played this way for a short game during the previous day's practice, and since my teammate hadn't been informed of the practice she missed it. 

Our next game was against our own team. Since this was a small group of teams, the game against our 1st team was the semi final. 

We had a good game, but lost to our first team, due to giving them many easy points by playing their serves with sets. 

When you are not accustomed to playing without sets then you must play the high serves with an overhand bump. 

Either that or back up quickly, which is very hard in sand when you are used to  nice hard, rough cement. 

Though the other team had some trouble with this, they were both short(er) and didn't have quite as much trouble as us two very tall people. (both about 6 foot) Afterwords they (the 1st team) went on and beat the other team in the finale. 

Our second guy's team did the same, and also lost to our 1st guy's team. 

The 1st went on to win the finally. 

After they finished we piled back into the truck and headed home, racing in front of the rain. 

Those in the back were sprinkled on several times, sadly I was confined to the cab. :( 

We arrived home at about 6:30, tired, and thankful to be home. 

I took a shower and we watched part of a movie before going to bed.

Anna's Ouanaminthe Volleyball Report. Part 2

That is when we were woken up and told to get up and ready. READY FOR WHAT? We eventually got a volleyball from Jean Pierre, and we played down in the inside gym for several hours before actually getting prepared to play a match. While getting ready we were rushed by the leaders, who told us that the vehicle had already come twice, so we now had to walk to the courts. When my team arrived, there was nobody there! We were the first. I got several cat naps in before others began to arrive. We eventually played the third team, and although we won one set, we still lost the match (due to continuing internal issues)

For the semifinal, as feared, we were put against the strongest team, called Magic. We surprised everybody by playing as a team, having finally worked out our issues, but we still lost. We headed back to the school for the finals. I enjoyed it when the Magic lost the final to Ouanaminth, since they annoyed me in various ways. (including their name, and the fact they beat us)

Our guys played a very hard game, going up to a score of 30, but they still won.

After supper and the awards we talked and played until being confined again. This time I tried sleeping by the feet of some of the shorter people. If one of them moved a foot, I could just place it where I wanted, although it took me a while to figure that out. Even so, my sun burnt shoulder and the heat still kept me awake, and I fell asleep in the wee hours of the morning.

At 4 a.m., I was waken up by Jean Pierre's packing. Since he had a flashlight, and I don't like light at night, I couldn't sleep well, therefore, drifted on and off for a few minutes until he told us to get up and prepare to go since supposedly the vehicle was coming any time now (remember this is before 5AM).

We got up and ready and then we all lay back down haphazardly. Quite a few of us wore shoes, so we lay with all our heads more or less toward the center, legs on the floor. The vehicle didn't come until 6-7ish (I can't quite remember; it is all a fuzz).

Then five of the guys had to go on their own, since the van was too small. I got to sit in the front middle...my most hated spot. My knees were squeezed, and I couldn't nap since then I would lean on the driver. I cannot tell you how long the ride was, as I spent it trying unsuccessfully to find a way to sleep. I remember multiple times thinking " wake up! " during my dreams. It was bad.

We finally arrived at the station in Cap H. where we got off and sat waiting. Eventually, I and several other girls got into a small van and were driven a short distance to a gas station. There we continued to wait for all the others to be ferried over, plus wait for the five guys to arrive and be ferried. When we finally were all together again, the Fauche people piled into a tap-tap and headed home. (The first tap-tap ride I can remember taking, though I remember riding on  both a bus and motorcycle)

I arrived home at about 10:36 AM. Although we didn't win, I had a good time and learned lots. I also now have new goals for volleyball, so I am happy I went. Even if I was very tired when I got home.

Anna's Ouanaminthe Volleyball Report. Part 1

Hey! I (Anna) am writing today's blog about the Ouanaminthe tournament that I participated in on Friday-Sunday. Two Fauche teams attended, my girl's team and the older guy's team. The older guys won, and although my team lost, I learned lots and enjoyed the experience... most of the time.

We left Fauche at some time around 4 in the morning, our small group piling onto a flat bed truck. We left with Jean Pierre's family, three of the older guys, a leader, and 8 of us girls. I shall not bore you with the details of the truck ride, suffice to say even some of my Haitian friends (who were sitting on the truck bed with me) were saying that they were sore by the end of the ride. At Cap H. several other volleyball players heading for the tournament joined us, and I was soon to find out that they were playing on our team. Since the tournament was an inter-club activity and not inter-school, players from different teams who were near each other were mixed. (at least that is how I understood it)

Once we arrived at an foreign-run University, we sat under a mango tree waiting for a while before being shown where we were to stay. The rooms were classrooms with all the chairs piled up at one end. Where I slept there were four thin mattresses. (about half the usual thickness) Mrs. Jean Pierre, her young son, and all the girls from both Fauche and Cap H. slept in that room, which also stored all the suitcases of uniforms, snacks (bread, peanut butter, and cassava), and bagged water.

After some time of rest, including snacks and card games, we put on our uniforms and walked to the courts. We had to walk for several minutes, crossing multiple streets before arriving at our destination.

There were two courts, with bleachers on the bottom and left sides. Fortunately, the bleachers were shaded by multiple trees, since the sun was very hot. I even brought home proof, since on the second day, I missed a spot with sunblock.



This is after several days of aloe treatment.

When we started to play we found that the volleyballs were far lighter than those we usually play with, so our serves/spikes were all going out of bounds.   We also experienced some difficulty when one of the Cap H. girls was played, since she didn't know how we played and vice versa. The combined effect was anger, and we lost the match. We remained cantankerous and discombobulated during the second match and lost again. I must confess that I was very upset, and grumpy. With only four ladies teams, no matter what, we were going to play in semifinals. Knowing they put the weakest against the strongest team, we didn't want to lose all of our matches.

Even though guy's teams had also playing while we played, it was soon dark, therefore we didn't play against the third team on Friday. In fact, it became dark in the middle of one of the guys' matches, so the second set was played back at the school, in the inside gym. We all returned to the school, where we watched the next set before eating supper on fold up tables in the same gym.

After supper, we showered and then goofed off in the hall in front of our room, which connected to the balcony above the indoor volleyball court. Our room's lights did not work, but some of the lights in the hall did, plus the ones in the gym. At about 11 p.m. or so all the girls were confined to our dimly lit room, although some light did enter through the windows high on the walls facing the hall.

We talked for a while before lying down, even though there was lots of noise from the hall. The guys still hanging out in the hall, circulating around the single working outlet in the hall, as some of them with phones plugged into it. Although only three came with us, more joined us at Ouanaminthe, most of whom I knew or recognized.

The gals pushed three of the mattresses together but left the fourth for Mrs. Jean Pierre and her son. Three average width mattresses. We fit 10 girls on them but even so, one of the girls had to sleep on a sheet on the floor. I am a light sleeper, and am also spoiled with a fan. No fan. I 'slept'  toward the middle of the three mattresses. People kept on entering the room. Eventually, everybody settled down, and I drifted off for a few minutes, but then woke back up. One of the guys in the hall was playing loud music on his phone, plus they continued to talk.

I am pretty sure everybody else around me fell asleep. At one point, I had an elbow in my neck from the left, and then suddenly the person on my right moved so that their left arm lay across my throat, plus a leg was across me. The person one over to the left, flipped her leg across the girl between us and all the way over until her foot rested on me.

I soon found out that I could move the limbs, and their owners didn't seem to wake up! I slept in short spurts. The guys remained up at 1:30 a.m. as was I. I was hot, and very tempted to go out and see if the leaders wouldn't let me sit in the hall for a while, since the stuffy room, where I was afraid of waking people, was getting to me. But those of you who know me, know that I am competitive, and like to be able to say " Yeah? Well, I survived.... " So that got me though it and I finally managed to sleep between 1:30 and 5ish.

End of school year...

Anna's anticipation continues to grow by leaps and bounds!

Guys cleaning up to help pay for their trip to Port.

Her mind [her description] is like having your music play list on scramble!

Since our children were small they prefer to sit by strangers on planes because of all the time spent with our family means we already know their stories so they enjoyed torturing sharing with their seat mates.

Already Anna asked a couple times if the three of us were seated together or not..knowing that my ticket was purchased later but Cory didn't look until a few days ago.

The reason he looked....friends of ours will be on our flight from Cap Haitian to FL. Anna's beyond excited to be able to visit with friends while waiting to board the plane and to sit by a friend on the plane is even better than a stranger!

Her school work now consists of a couple of corrections and a project that need to be finished. They are not enough to change her grades up, or thankfully even for mom to need to correct! She did very well. 

Sharing trees

Anna brings laughter to most chores and tasks, so I'm thankful for her help this week with cleaning, organizing, and today she even joined me in weeding some of the potted nursery plants/trees.

Port Margot Baptist church

She plans to learn some German in June during Eli's visit, read up on French grammar, and complete a class in SAT math. We will start our next school year likely in July..books already exchanged and next years sitting on her shelf.

Hot and steamy days...yesterday we enjoyed rain on and off which our area needed.

I finished laminating some medical illustrations this week from the book Where there is no Doctor, to help me with my educational chats down at clinic. Overall these continue to go well and people respond with gratitude.

Cory planted a starfruit and eggfruit, along with several chaya plants at one of the Port Margot Baptist Churches where we have helped with Kids Clubs. They were interested in planting more but part of the property isn't walled in yet and is used as pasture so that will have to wait.

 The literal translation of the church name is Baptist Church of Pentecost which doesn't sound like a likely name to Cory, who grew up Baptist.

Cory traveled to the bank today, dropped off some trees at the Cowman International school, and purchased propane, as we prepare to head to New York.

[The guys volleyball team came in 4th. Only six of the team were able to go and therefore had to play every minute of every game. Good experience anyway.]

Mosquito traps, chocolate nursery and volleyball credit.

Cory recently visited three of the gardens. All doing well.

Reading a recent article about controlling mosquitoes prompted a new project, since with the good rains, we are suffering from a large mosquito population.

Three different tools and lots of muscle were used to cut up old tires into pieces. The hack saw and machete worked best.

Next the pieces were placed around the perimeter of the campus.

Water that had been in the discarded tires with larvae was filtered and mixed with additional water to fill the new "traps".

After the larva are filtered out, a pheromone remains in the water that lets mother mosquitos know it is a "safe" place to lay their eggs.

Now the traps will need to have the water filtered  once or twice a week, destroying the immature mosquitos, and re-setting the trap. Any container that holds water could be used.

Cory visited the location where the big chocolate tree nursery is being built.

This USAID sponsored project plans to start thousands of cacao trees to be distributed around the area to small farmers.

Chocolate prices are good so many gardeners are planting cacao trees for the export market.

 Last year the new trees that were planted did not have real good survival due to the drought.

We should also give credit to the Haitian government for the volleyball tournament they sponsored at no cost to the players, including room, board and transport.

The olympic sports complex was built as an encouragement to Haiti's youth after the earthquake.

 It looks like many youth teams enjoy these modern facilities throughout the year.

The away teams for tournaments use the dorms and Port au Prince teams return home each night.