Guest House garden

Jean-Renald (first white t-shirt on the left) is in charge of this group.  They've prepared the soil and planted tomatoes, spinach, peppers, cukes and such.  Jean-Renald is a full-time student who could not afford to go to school.  We agreed to pay for his schooling in exchange for his help in agriculture.  He has a positive attitude and works very well with our young teens.

Toukay

At first I thought the boys were playing marbles but I was mistaken.  They are playing Toukay which consists in moving little rocks in a certain order.  I don't quite get it but it keeps them busy for hours at a time and the price is certainly right.

First batch

The boys prepared their first batch of alternative charcoal.  Not bad for a first effort.  Here they are drying in the sun.

MaTante's Birthday

 Berthony was the Master of Ceremonies

 Fanfan read a moving tribute

And Matante was honored on the occasion of her birthday!

May you be blessed with joy and health, Denise.  You have been such a blessing to us all and we are very grateful for you.

Evens Valcourt

This is Evens (nicknamed Loulou).  He works in our clinic helping in the pharmacy and lending a hand when it is needed.  He's a graduate of ours but is still in school.  Evens was in a bad car accident when he was just a kid.  His skull was fractured and he had terrible headaches and dizzy spells for years.  He's finally healed (we hope) but now has problems with his stomach and/or intestines.  Sounds to me like a bleeding ulcer but we want to make sure which means he has to go to PaP and get an endoscopic test.  That'll cost around $200.  With those results we should be able to figure out the treatment he'll need.  Please keep him in your prayers.

Easter Vigil

 Blessing of the fire: Bosiko, Woodlin, me and Deacon Peter

Paige holding her latest god-daughter.  There were 32 baptisms at the vigil.  Camera problems prevented me from posting more photos which is too bad as some of the little people were way beyond cute.

Chabon Demo

 Top:  Mr. Andre (also known as Tonton Noel or Santa) instructs his team on the alternative charcoal making process.  The scrap paper, cardboard and sawdust are thoroughly doused in water.

 The resulting paste is then transferred into another 55 gallon drum where it is mixed with what looks like a huge eggbeater.  It is then put on large metal disks that are perforated on top of the original drums to recover as much water as possible.  The paste is them stuffed into 4 inch PVC tubes (also perforated) with plastic separators every four inches or so.  The tubes are put on a hydraulic press operated by hand.  Makes about 100 4 inch round briquettes which are placed on the drying screens below.  Nifty, huh?