Arrival at Project Gonaives

This morning we arose and had a wonderful breakfast at St Joe's! Fresh fruit, tea, coffee, cheese omelets, banana bread, toast....I have heard that will be my last awesome meal until I return! We packed up the shuttle (there were 6 of us plus luggage and the driver). The ride was fast, slow, bumps, swerving....it was an adventure. Those with motion sickness need not apply, unless they have taken their Dramamine! We arrived had a quick lunch of beans and rice, got settled (put up our mosquito nets) and headed out to the job site. It is hot here, at least for a wimpy Minnesotan during the day, the evenings are comfortable with nice island breezes. There is more than enough dust to go around. We had a short work day today since we got in late, only 2 hours of shoveling mud. The house we were working in has two rooms with about 2.5 feet of mud. We came back and headed to the local watering hole, which also serves as the car repair shop and three other things! We headed back for the nightly meeting and some more beans, rice and some lettuce/beet salad. It was good, spicy. After the meeting I pitched in with some dishes and took a much needed, albeit quick shower.

The accommodations are simple. Bunk beds, bring your own air matress and mosquito nets, 5 minute military showers. We only have a 700 gallon tank and there are close to 38 of us here. Water conservation is essential. Now I am sitting out on the patio enjoying the fresh air.

I am still not quite sure where the mud goes. We wheel it out onto the street and eventually some trucks come and pick it up and take it away. So far it has been said they take it north of here...I hope not back up the hill so that it ends up coming back down in the next hurricane season.

I hope this post finds everyone well.