A week ago —

I came home from seeing Elizabeth in Haiti. My flight down on October 22 was really nice.

The layover in Miami was just right – gave me plenty of time to walk the loooong hall to get to the next boarding area, eat a lunch and relax before takeoff. It was an afternoon flight, and a window seat on the east side of the plane gave me a good view without the sun in my eyes. There were lots of different clouds, and enough of those to keep from getting a good view of the water.

Notice (in the picture below) the rainbow circle and the shadow of the airplane in the middle! It made me feel like the plane was in God’s “visible” hand!

There were a couple small islands and one larger one that could be seen before the island of Haiti came into view. A lot of pictures were taken over Haiti, hoping to get some of the hurricane damage, but we were not low enough for it to show.

The differences between the first two airports, and the one in Port au Prince were quite a few! I was one of the first to exit the plane — through the tail section of the plane and went down a rolling cart of stairs to the tarmac!  Now try that in the USA! Of course, the plane had to stop at the far end of the terminal, just so we could walk out all the kinks we may have gotten flying there! The inside of the terminal has been “upgraded” and looks nice with the large tile floor and the open areas. (There is still no air conditioning though!)

Following the arrival of Elizabeth and our driver, Wismith, we went to the grocery store. Elizabeth saw creamy peanut butter and quickly got two jars. She said this is her main staple to get her through. She noticed that all the peanut butter was gone later, it goes in a hurry.

We unloaded at the “Lester Miller” guest house on the Blue Ridge compound, and Elizabeth began to have “Birthday” time! 

She was so happy to see all the “beef” items brought along for our supper meals. We spent the remainder of the day catching up on the news from each other, and fixing sloppy Joe’s, potato chips and Haitian Coke for supper. Coke tastes different there!

We spent most of Elizabeth’s birthday cruising around Port au Prince taking pictures. Between being amazed at the lifestyle, driving habits, road conditions, and general selling of merchandise, I was able to get about 400 pictures! Not all of them were excellent, but it does give a picture of the life in Haiti.

First, you load the wheel barrow and roll it to the “dumpster:”  Then you unload it, either by dumping it into the dumpster, or shoveling the trash into the dumpster. Once the trash truck backs up to the full dumpster, you take your shovels again and load the trash truck! Never saw it done quite like this before!

After going to meet the “absent” dentist, who was himself at the doctor, we went to get ice cream. I did not see one fast food store where you drive up or through during my roaming of the city. We climbed two flights of stairs to the store for the ice cream. Got my “Curves” workout before and after eating! (The stairs were circular!)

Except for the lunch we ate with the Blue Ridge team, we spent all of Friday enjoying the time with each other. Elizabeth was able to use the internet and update her Xanga site and catch up on her email. There were ceiling fans in each room, and a couple floor fans, which made the warmth bearable for me. I had asked the Lord to make it comfortable for our visit, and He did just that, for which I am very grateful.

The dentist was still having health challenges on Saturday morning, so his assistant filled Elizabeth’s tooth and needs her to come back to complete fitting of the crown. This may not take place until December, unless it begins to hurt her. She only comes down from Soliette once a month, it takes $60/US to make the round trip, and so she comes down the weekend of the Bible Study.

She is getting a hose and equipment to connect a propane tank (still needed) and the two burner stove she has so she can make more of her own hot meals. She had been giving the Haitian family money to help pay for her share of the food, but feels that she can do better with her money by cooking for herself.

Elizabeth was telling someone how she takes her bath. She puts on her swimsuit, a shirt and a skirt, grabs the bar of soap and a towel, and with someone along, heads to the creek. She said that a quick splash to get wet, scrub down, and a few more quick splashes to rinse, gets it all done!  By the end of the “bath”, her feet, which have been in the water all this time, are beginning to turn a little blue! I know it is hot in Haiti — but that is much too cold for me!

It was a fast, fun trip for both of us, but much too warm for me! I don’t plan to return any time in the near future, but will fondly remember my time there.

Empty! That is what Tom said about the house today when we arrived at our place. I asked him what he meant – and he told me that there was no one at home! (Yesterday he was too tired to notice I guess) He wanted to know how far away Haiti is, have I ever been there, how does one get there, how does one get on the airplane, etc. In other words — he is missing his friend Elizabeth!

His father is still recovering from a ruptured appendix a couple weeks ago. It has taken quite a while for Tom to realize that his dad is still not well.

Just wanted to share with you – in case you have not heard – the “Cement Fund” total came to $2400 when Elizabeth left for Haiti!!  She earned the $800 goal she set before coming home with various jobs. We are excited about the new floor that will be poured. Now we are waiting on paperwork and the Every Child Board to let us know when the work will start!

Do I only say that when things go the way I want – or get the answers from Him that suit me? I have been reminded in the last month to be willing to say that, regardless of the way things first look.
We have had a very busy month. It started out with the front porch being refurbished.

Merle and the one we hired to do the porch had a lot of work to be done under what we usually see.

Notice the rocks that hold up the house! The main part of the house is over 100 years old, and when you look under the house, you can see lots of these. The rafters are young trees without the bark!

After a “false start” with the wrong type of flooring, we got this tongue and groove. It would have been so pretty to just seal this, but we have waterproofed it and going to paint it a very pale grey.

This was followed by a trip to Va. Beach to celebrate Princess Anne High 1968 – 40th Reunion. That was a barrel of fun. We had one of the phys ed teachers from our senior year show us around the school. Part of it had been refurbished or replaced after the fire several years ago. There had been talk of tearing the building down, but plans are changing about that now. We met Saturday evening at a local golf clubhouse, only to find there was no electric! It finally came on about 9:30 PM, but we still had a good time visiting. I was so surprised to find how many were looking forward to seeing me, and mentioned how I had affected their life. It again reminded me how people are observing you whether you are aware of it or not. and how long those impressions last.

We arrived on Friday afternoon and found the area full of smoke. The Dismal Swamp was burning, and the smoke would come and go, most of the time like a light fog.



This is the way it looked out our hotel room. The smoke would not stay, and if you went very far, you would drive out of it, just to drive back and find it all gone! You could almost “taste” it at times.

We also went by the school that Merle and I attended in Kempsville as young children. It is now a Korean school, and has had additions to the building, creating a large school. We drove around and took a picture of the “big ditch” where Molly lost her shoe while we were playing next to the “big tree”!  NOTHING seems “big” anymore!

My next goal was to finish the scrapbook for my Dad. Mother had saved a lot of his fire department items and newspaper clippings for all these years. We thought it would be good to have them in a scrapbook, and I had the privilege to put it together. This had to be done before we went to Lori’s wedding on July 19!

This is the first page, a picture of a plaque hanging in their home, and one of the other pages with Daddy’s motto song and a picture Mama took of him years ago in his turnout gear. It became a rather thick book, every two pages had to have a spacer put into it so it would lay flat.

Merle’s youngest brother was taken to the hospital and spent over a week trying to adjust all his meds and get him on the mend again. He is home, but is not back to normal. The ones at home are spending a lot of time helping him with the adjustments.

Elizabeth came home on July 14. I took her best friend and Tom with me to get her at the Atlanta airport. We got about half way, and the car QUIT!  I called Merle – he was on the way to the hospital. . The tow truck took us to McDonald’s and the car to a shop Merle’s boss owns. Merle came to get us and complete the trip to the airport. I drove after Merle arrived, except for about one hour on the way home, then Elizabeth drove. Tom was a complete surprise to Elizabeth! I thought she was going to cry when she saw him, and for the next hour, he talked to her non-stop! (He spent the night with us, and woke Elizabeth running his fingers across her cheek saying – I got you – then went back to sleep!) We arrived home at 1:30 AM – and Merle only had about 3/4 hour sleep before he had to be in the truck on the way for work! 

Elizabeth went to work on Tuesday afternoon and earned $25 toward the $800 she needs for cement. She had other things to do the next two days, then worked cleaning a house and doing a baby-sitting job – earning $200 more!!  Take a look at her site later this week to see her updated story about the cement funds!  It is quite amazing to me, xanga.com/diamond_dust1 is her site.

$800 is what we need – now who will give 100 — 50 — or even 25 to start it out???

This is the goal for a large slab of cement at the school where Elizabeth is helping in Haiti. The dust gets so bad, that the children (and Elizabeth) are getting infections from it  — and when it rains – oh my!  What mud the school floor becomes then!

Someone has been generous and has provided the funds for Elizabeth’s ticket to come to the USA from July 14 to August 11 and raise the money to put the new cement floor down before school begins this fall. We believe that God has provided a way for this to be done, and are claiming that the total will be reached before she goes back to Haiti on August 11.

Although she will be willing to take donations – her plans are to work for pay to raise as much as she can. If you have work (local to us) and would like to use her, please message us!!

If you would be interested in sending a few dollars for a permanent floor – message me and I will be glad to give you the address in return. Feel free to email this to anyone who you feel would be interested in praying about this project. That is the most important thing to be done with this endeavor.

We have been amazed and blessed to see how our Heavenly Father is providing for Elizabeth’s support and now for the start of a new permanent building. We know that you are praying for her as she serves there, and we are so grateful. Prayer is the first thing – not the last or least – as we so often forget. God loves hearing from us, and doing things to bring glory to His Son.

If you are not familiar with the school, feel free to visit  www.Xanga.com/Every_Child_School_of_Soliette_Haiti  or www.Xanga.com/Diamond_dust1 to see pictures and catch up on the news.

Tom and I arrived at the school sale around 8:30 AM. Breakfast items were on the tables, ready for you to choose. Wonderful donuts (bought a whole dozen for Tom’s parents), and sausage or gravy biscuits, coffee or your choice of drinks!

There were a lot of baked goods available, but you could see lots of them already being taken out the door. Some people must already know that you must come early to get a good choice. There has been a saying – You snooze – you loose!

The sale always begins with the school children singing a few songs and then prayer. The auctioneer keeps the sale moving fairly fast, and you must get your bid in or it is SOLD!

Tom saw the playhouse next to the tent, and played in it for an hour or more. He came to me, “May I please have a snowcone?” He chose the orange flavor, eating some, go play, and then do it again!

We ate lunch with Merle and some friends before going home to the air conditioner and a nap! It was over 100!

I was ready to return Tom to his parents at 3 PM, when he announced that he wanted to spend the night at our place! He had to ask permission, and stayed with us through Sunday afternoon late.
When we went to Abbeville to meet someone about the scrapbook I am doing, and Merle invited Jacob’s to come eat supper with us. Tom thought he had it made when he got to see our grandson. We had a nice time, but we were all ready to get to bed. (Our grandson caught his first fish that evening!)

Tom has begun his rides with Freddy in the combine again – the first day he rode 2 1/2 hours before his parents came to get him! Yesterday he rode another hour – after he went “yard sale-ing” for a jack hammer he had seen the last time he had been there. It was already gone, so he chose a couple small items. He loves to go to Merle’s sister’s yard sales, the only one I attend. I’ll post a few pictures – they won’t need any captions!

Tom’s parents – Heidi and Joe Trull

We had gone to cottage meetings last night, and came back home to get the snack ready for the others. When I turned on the water – NONE! Just as I was going out to tell Merle, another couple came in the back, and she was saying, “Wonder where that water is coming from”. Her husband found one of the pipes to the washer was split and gushing water. I opened up the kitchen faucet again to relieve the pressure, and had water! Then ran and cut the breaker to the pump. Merle came in from showing the semi truck big horn to the children and helped fix it.
The rest of the evening was relaxing and enjoyable. Was told that if I go to Merl’s Countertops, two leafs could be made for my table!! That is sooo exciting to me! It has been years since we had a good dining room table. Now my table cloths will fit properly too.
Mother reminded me of an old cook’s trick the other day. If you find that something has scorched or burnt while being cooked, IMMEDIATELY take the pot/pan to the sink and set it in cold water. Let it sit in the cold water until cooled (I have sometimes changed the water to keep it cool). Usually there will be none or very little of the bad taste left. She did this on a piece of deer meat that she had in a portable crock pot. (She had forgotten to add some water and it went dry) She said that the only place that did not turn out ok was the area that was on the very bottom.

We have cottage meetings tomorrow night. It will be a fairly large group, and we have invited them to come for a snack after our visit with a neighbor. He used to be at the garbage collection site, but is not able to work anymore. Merle had visited him a couple times, and those two can carry on a loooong conversation!
One of the people going with us is planning to bring his tape measure and check out the table I got for the dining room. Wonder if it will be able to stretch as far as I want it to.
My sister, Melvene, is coming in the morning to help me get ready. The high stuff that needs dusted used to be done by Elizabeth. It will give me some time with my sister again.

After eating at Cracker Barrel, we drove over to Freedom Weekend Aloft. I had told my sisters that I would sit in the car and wait on the  balloons, but Melvene arranged for us to park near the handicapped area. After walking about 1/4 mile into the park area, my hip wanted to catch, and I would stop and rest. Melvene said she was going to get a wheel chair for me to ride! Between Helen and I, we had the cash, and Melvene said that if we pay – she will do the pushing! It did make it much nicer and faster.
 

As we went through the walk area, we met up with a couple that Melvene used to pick up for school – years ago! During the last year, they have gotten married. The tall fellow behind them in the picture was also one of the students Melvene carried on the bus. We had to have our picture taken with Gecko!

It was getting close to 8 PM, and we still had not seen any balloons take off. Then we saw two lifting up! The only two for the evening. Once they were in the air, they let the others know that the wind was not favorable to fly.

We listened to part of a concert, and then found a spot to wait for the fireworks. Melvene had us sit where we were right under them. Helen and I have never been that close to them before. While we waited, we ate cotton candy that Helen bought. It has been quite a few years since I have had that to eat. Tried to share it with a small boy nearby, but he did not like it!
The fireworks were wonderful! They are something that we truly enjoy, and remind us how fast good times come to an end, and only memories are left!  We went home full of memories of the past couple days. I found Tom at my place, and he was determined that he was sleeping in Elizabeth’s bed this time! (Usually, he kicks Merle into it!)

—-til next time!

When we had finished at the Ross store, it was late enough for lunch. A Panera Bread store was close by, and we all enjoy eating there. It was nice and breezy, so we ate outside near the water  fountain.                                                                     
  

Then there was more “shopping”. This time both Helen and Melvene tried on – but not so many at this store! It is a unique store, in the fact that nothing is over $8.97.(Might be $7.98- I can’t remember. Know it was under $9.00)  Most of the items are not sold anywhere else, and often are copies of things worn by actors and actresses in movies. The owner wanted to make nice affordable clothes for those who do not have a lot to spend. He grew up making choices between two needs, because there was not enough money to go around.

 The next store won’t have any pictures posted, although I think they took more there than anywhere else! We stopped at David’s Bridal to check on a slip for the bride-to-be. I mentioned that if I would try on any dress today, it might be one in here. They found a wedding gown and veil – and we had a blast!!   NOOOOO – not one picture on the internet! (One day I will have the scrapbook for this weekend done, and then you may come and look.)
    The next stop was Krispy Kreme – although the hot light was not on. We usually make the rule to stop only if it is on – they are extra good then. Helen remembers helping her brother late at night working on cars – then heading to KK for hot donuts before going home to bed.
    We find all kinds of ways to “shop”. Our sister in Georgia needed some blue for a wedding coming up, so Melvene took pictures and sent them to a cell phone there. They took a look and made a decision. Where there is a will, there is usually a way – works for us!

We had planned to go to Freedom Weekend Aloft and watch the balloons and the fireworks before heading home. A couple Goodwill stores found us looking for the bride’s slip, none to be found. We went to Simpsonville to eat at Cracker Barrel. We were seated near a window to see the balloons lift in case we were too late for them. The meal was good and we relaxed from our busy day before leaving. We needed all that “fuel” for the next leg of our day!!