Saturday Feb 20
Today I woke up on the top of the world, in the mountains of Lakadoni above Duchity, a 2 hour hike to the Peak Macaya. Above the clouds in a beautiful part of Haiti that reminds one of what the island must have looked like once. Most of the trees still stand, it is beautiful almost beyond words. But people there live in extreme poverty still. No electricity or running water. Chldren standing outside the house I stayed in asking to share our meal – a yam or a piece of bread. I met with about 20 community members there to launch a new project for a dry composting toilet and Arborloos there, while my friend Fred Cheron of Foundation Espoir promised to return next week and put a roof on the school/church building where they now sit in the rain, and clean out an old cistern so they will have access to water near by.
Later we came down the mountain and visited a woman who had a stroke 4 months ago. She had a blood pressure of 150/100 and a blood sugar of 405! She had one test strip left to test her blood sugar, but no directions as to what to do with these abnormal numbers, while waiting for another stroke to happen. I gave her some advice, but how long will that be good for? And we complain about access to medical care??
Then I went to work alongside members of OJPDD planting a garden in the mountains, amongst the rocks. But the soil of Duchity is very fertile, and they created a dozen beautfiul seed beds. We are looking for any ways to create both income and food in the area, where so many have returned from Port au Prince without jobs or hope to return to their education.
finally this evening we met with more than 35 members of OJPDD for their monthly meeting. Many questions about how we can help them find some sense of financial security. Tomorrow I will meet with smaller groups to discuss how we can create a work program doing what we do, building toilets and gardens. There is need for people to come teach – health subjects, artisanal training, agronomy, IT. I would love to bring some people here to teach! Let me know if you are interested!
Tomorrow another series of meetings, and more community training. I will do one or 2 days of clinic later this week as well. Staying busy. But now the compa is playing, and I am enjoying a Barbancourt. Life in Duchity goes on, despite the destruction in PAP, the future of Haiti is here in the country-side.
love
gigi
