Tiles

These tiles are being laid by a local artisan in the director's house. They were a gift from Rob, Connie's son-in-law. Don't they look fine?

Haiti Verte

It is opening day for Haiti Verte, kinda like a county fair where folks bring their best produce and such to show. These watermelons from our garden will be in attendance. Our Arts & Crafts guys will be there to impress their peers; our teens will be performing in the gala later on. This is the place to be for the next few days.

TiRoro

TiRoro has been running a low grade temperature for a long time now. He was very thin when he came to us and remains so. The local doctors are baffled so please say a prayer that he recover and start to put on some weight.

Isaac Altidor

Isaac with his godparents, Kaitline Maisonneuve and Jean-Levelt Prosper.

Isaac was baptised this past Sunday. Here he is answering questions just before getting baptised.

Another update

Guess what? There was no manifestation Monday. Yes, the bridge was closed off but this was only a ruse to keep the police and MINUSTAH busy. The real activity Monday was a cocaine run from beyond Port Salut to Les Cayes. Folks were paid to "fake" a manifestation but the authorities were not fooled and the smugglers were caught. Hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of cocaine were confiscated.

Update

Within a couple of hours MINUSTAH (UN Stabilizing Forces) took the situation in hand and the bridge was opened. Lots of verbal violence but none was physical. Let's hope things remain calm.

Another manifestation

At 7:00 AM this morning while I was at Castel-Pere the bridge leading out of town was closed with basketball-sized rocks strewn all over and big truck tires burning. Half our workers could not make it in so things will be slow today. I decided to return to town and made it back via dirt roads and a lot of mud. Will keep you posted if the internet allows.

Breaking ground

Two photos of the guys starting the foundations on two vocational training classrooms. This is made possible by a generous donation from John Dunkle. Thank you very much, John, and may God bless you and yours.

6:45 AM

The younger ones all lined up and ready for formation. Breakfast will follow and then pre-school. Amanda has nicknamed them our little watermelons. See why?

Back in session

Attendance was at 100% today. The children were happy to return to school after two weeks of violence and uncertainty.

Temporary relief

I'm back after two productive and tiring weeks on the east coast. Things are calm here these days and life has returned to normal. The riots, looting and violence are memories but the scars of burnt tires, toppled street-side lottery banks and damaged warehouses remind us that we are living precariously. Schools are functioning, stores are open for business and the people are busy trying to earn enough money to survive. The government has decided to cap prices for food [especially rice] so the people are somewhat satisfied. The question is: for how long? Fuel and construction material costs are ever increasing so tensions remain.
Despite all this, things are moving along as expected at Castel-Pere. Thank you for your extra support lately that will allow us to keep feeding the children three meals a day. An easy way to help us is to see the web site and click on the donate button. Dedicated monthly contributions via credit card are a huge help. Please check out www.freethekids.org and spread the word. Thank you.

Desperation leads to riots

Dear friends,

I have been in North Carolina meeting donors, thanking benefactors and speaking at clubs and churches. It's been busy but fruitful. I've been in touch with my staff down in Les Cayes and the situation remains tense. Various reports from this area indicate that several Haitians were killed and many more injured as the people protested the new increases in food costs. Please continue to pray for the safety of our children and that a solution can be found to appease the Haitians in these troubled times.
Am heading to New Jersey from here and should be back home in a week. Needless to say, your support is essential and greatly appreciated. Help us get the word out by emailing all your contacts and linking them to http://www.freethekids.org/. Thank you and God bless.

Father Marc