February 21 (Day 4)

"I am woman hear me roar with numbers too big to ignore" ...what a difference a day (and a voice) makes.  After a simple prayer and breakfast of some sort of red disc-like meat, we serpentined through the already crowded streets. It was 8am when we arrived at the site.  I was instructed to get into a cart attached to a motorcycle to go fetch cinder blocks.  Two Haitian men, Simone, Cara, Gavin, and I took a 4 minute drive to the block yard. We loaded 36 blocks (that's all we could fit) in a matter of minutes.  I knew this was my time to prove that I could handle what they were serving. No problem. I was beckoned to fetch block over 12 more times today.  I also sifted sand and gravel to be used for mortar... a job I thought would be easy. My back was aching. We used such archaic methods of doing various tasks throughout the morning.

Deb...block by block

Cara and Deb cutting wire for rebar cages

It's admirable how these people figure out how to make do with essentially nothing. We dug a foundation by hand. No bobcats or bulldozers.  We mixed and made concrete and mortar right on the street. No wheelbarrows. No chalk lines. No power tools because there is no electricity.  As time passed through the day, I went from thinking, "This is ridiculous." to "Where there's a will, there's a way." These people know how to survive.

We finished today at 3:00. Our guide, Junior, suggested we walk through the market and make our way to a rum distillery. Everyone agreed. Covered in drying cement and sweat, we were on our way.

The market was a crowded place at this time of day. It seems that mostly women were selling goods. Items were thrown on makeshift tables or on the dirt floors. You could buy various baggies of spices, knitted hats, lollipops, a pair of shoes (not necessarily matching), belts, soap and so many other miscellaneous, unidentifiable items. I saw individual chicken parts for sale, unrefrigerated and unwrapped. Flies got the first taste.  Beside the chicken sat tripe, liver, and beef. I wondered if the goat I had eaten the night before came from this type of market.

Rum Distillery (zoom in on barrels and piping)

I was ready to visit the rum distillery. We walked for 10 minutes more, down a dirt road into what looked like was once a huge field. Now, sans grass or any vegetation. In the distance was a large rickety building. The walls were corrugated tin. The roof? Not sure....random pieces of building materials. Once inside, you could smell a sweet syrupy aroma heavy in the hot air. Junior explained how this particular "rum" was made. There were huge vats of bubbling, thick brown liquid all around. Pipes were suspended by ropes or wire directly above us. The liquid made its way through the pipes to a huge kettle above a massive fire place. It's final destination was a drum stored in a hole just below where we stood. Junior took a small plastic bucket that was strewn to the side on the floor. He proceeded to go down into the hole, fill the bucket with the now clear liquid. He took a small sip then offered it to us. Lucky me. I was first because I was closest. I was still trying to get past the dirty bucket in which the liquid was placed. I took the tiniest of sips. My immediate reaction created laughter amongst the group. Any germs that may have been in that bucket would've never survived the liquid's wrath. Yikes!

We made it home in time to have that refreshing cold shower, say a prayer and have dinner. Tonight more beans and rice and beef stew. I stuck with the beans and rice.

It's been our habit to sit around the patio after dinner, have a few beers and talk about the day. We then play some sort of game. As I sat looking at everyone and feeling like I knew them pretty well, I suggested a game that could be fun. I had been noticing everyone's clothing styles. I suggested that we all go get two pieces of clothing that we haven't worn yet and throw them in a big pile. When instructed, each person would have to grab an item of clothing and put it on. The rest of us would have to guess whose it was. It turned into a fashion show. It's amazing what people will do for a laugh.

A friend recently wrote, " I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted, and behold, service was joy." It's true. Today was joy. THIS experience? Joy.

Esther rocking my skirt

Connor channeling Simone