Mothers Day

Sunday began with a marvelous outside service under the mango tree! There is a visiting priest with us with 25 Penn State students. The service was in creole and english. The students sang through most of the service. The student Pierre Louis who is leaving for PAP today to get his visa gave the sermon. It was incredibly moving. We are so well received and cared for here.

There is a waterfall not far from here that everyone insisted we visit. So we rented Motor taxis. Motorcycles with 3 people on them(no helmets) and rode there. The waterfall was quite beautiful. When we got there, there were people trying to insist we tour with them and were quite insistent. Our guide and friend was quite good in dealing with them. In this poor land there is very little ways to make any money. We hiked up to the top of the waterfall where the bat caves are...i slipped a lot...I had sandals on and kept getting stuck in the mud. The little boys took my hand (for some Goudas later) and helped me ...I was stung by a wasp in the cave...good thing i'm not allergic. Then we swam (with our clothes on) in the waterfall....it was so nice to finally be cool.

The ride back was gorgeous as big dark clouds rolled in and the mountains and stark landscape became very defined. As we got close to Hinche it started to pour....huge buckets of water. When we got back to the orphanage the children were playing and laughing and dancing in the mud and rain. We then put on rain slickers and went into town to meet Reina the local midwife for a few beers. A new midwife had shown up without notice and we needed to introduce her...she had been in cite soleil...the worst slum in PAP and had incredible stories.