Bassin Bleu

We went to Bassin Bleu a few weeks ago.  It is in Jacmel; an hour and a half from base.  Robert, me, Neil, Rebecca, Steve and Evy all piled in a van and braved the curvy mountain road to Bassin Bleu.  If you get car sick at all you would not have enjoyed the ride.

 Bassin Bleu is a community on the outskirts of Jacmel; it has a beautiful waterfall.  When we arrived we had to sign the guest register; then Robert tried to argue about the price to park and enter.  He was enjoying himself, but I was getting really annoyed at all the people arguing with us that had nothing to do with the process.  Neil recognized the guide he used last time, so Joseph came and helped us.  I commented that Joseph that he would not be our guide if he insisted on smoking.  I told the man in charge that I did not appreciate all the commotion and that I would never come back.  That seemed to shut most everyone up for a second.  Joseph threw out his cigarette and apologized.  We paid to get in and Robert felt it was a triumph because we got a cheaper price than the group that came two weeks ago received.

 It is about a ten minute hike through the woods to the waterfall.  You come to a few small swimming holes along the way that are beautiful.  Joseph said, “This not the good one.  Last one best!”  It is worth the wait.  The water is blue because of the limestone is about 75 feet deep.  You climb up the waterfall to get to different jumping spots.  The first spot is about 5 feet high.  This is where I did my backflips.  The second spot is about 15 feet high.  The third spot was 35 feet high.  This is where Robert did his backflip!  The top spot was about 45 to 50 feet high.  Robert jumped from this spot and forgot to tuck in his arms.  They smacked the water quiet loudly and he was bruised from it.  We all leaped from the 35 foot spot.  Robert, Neil and Joseph are the only ones that braved the highest one.  Joseph dove from the 35 foot spot. 

This is a definite must see in Haiti.  It is so much fun.  A beautiful hike through the woods to a picturesque waterfall tucked in the mountains.  The water is so clear and blue because of the limestone.  The limestone is not slick at all; it is better to walk in the water than on the rocks outside of the water because your feet grip better.  We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. 

 

 

Just a few pics to see how much fun we have at Greta!

 

 

 

A picture is worth a thousand words!

Tan pou Kreyol!

Robert, Jessica e mwen ap aprann kreyol.  N'ap etudye kreyol anpil.  N'ap itilze sa pou parle ak tout moun.  Ak timoun yo e tout moun a baz la.  Jodi a mwen te tradui pou Pastor Pierre.  Li parle angle e m'ap tradui pou Jessica a kreyol.  Mwen te ka tradui tout.  Mwen ta chanje mo yo si mwen pa te konnai korije mo li te itilize.  Kounya Pastor Pierre ap vle mwen tradui pou devotion nan maten. Mwen te ri.  Nou gen trente minit chaq maten.  Si mwen tradui pou tout moun li ta pran tout jou.  E demi d' mesaj ta pedi.  N'ap vle parle byen kreyol.  Ak anpil pratik nou ka fe li! 

This is my practice at Creole!  I did this for you Jessica, since no one else can read Creole!

         So I just had the most fun drawing with sidewalk chalk.  Israel started it all.  He started drawing and wanted to show me his design.  I grabbed a piece of chalk and started drawing all kinds of animals.  He would copy each picture I drew and would sometimes add to my pics.  Next thing I know about 5 other kindergartners joined us.  Everyone would copy whatever I drew.  They were just adorable.  They would make sure that I saw each thing they drew.  I got Israel to lay down and I traced his whole body.  He loved it.  I decorated his outline with clothes, hair, eyes, ears, and mouth.  He laughed so much at each thing I added.  Then every kid laid down and wanted to be traced.  It is so much fun hanging out at Greta.  Mesi Jezi!

                                                      This is Israel!

Concert on the Lawn

Me, Robert and Kristen attended a Haitian concert last night.  It was at Lifeline church in Grand Goave.  We arrived around 5:30pm, not really knowing when it started.  In Haiti being on time is really flexible.  American 'on time' and Haitian 'on time' are two totally different things.  Originally we were told it started at 4pm.  Then our Haitian friends said 5pm.  So we left base around 5:15pm.  The concert did not start until 6pm. 

The band started playing and the whole crowd sang along.  It was really just a time of worship.  It was awesome to be apart of so many Haitians worshipping God.  There were at least 300 people there.  The music was great and we would sing along if the song was repetitive.  Robert and I thought the concert was ending since it had been about an hour and a half, but were told that that was just the opening band and the actual group was just beginning.  That shows how many concerts we go to!  There is always an opener.  The opening group is a local Grand Goave band.  

Around 7:30 the main group comes on.  The lead singer has a great voice.  He is a famous Haitian Christian singer.  Even though we did not understand all that was going on, we could feel the Holy Spirit as we worshipped along.  The singer invited all those that had strayed from Christ to the front to recommit their lives to Christ.  Several people went forward.  Worship continued.  The sound system had several problems and finally stopped working.  Worship continued.  The singer invited everyone to move closer so everyone could hear.  It is nice to see people that desire to lift their voices to God. 

We waited for about 20 minutes and decided to head home since it was so late.  We had to get special permission to stay out after dark.  Our Haitian friends that stayed behind, called us when we were almost home to say that the sound system started working about 5 minutes after we left.  I was glad that they were able to continue.  The concert was great!  Pray for the people of Haiti to have a revival.  That they have a true relationship with Christ.

Robert the Barber

So there was a little kid on the beach that was walking around with his shirt pulled over his head.  We were curious and found out it was because someone had given him a bad haircut.  All the other kids were making fun of him, so he always covered it up.  Robert decided to do something about he.  He got his razor, shaving cream and a bucket of hot water.  Went out on the beach and shaved the kids head.  When Robert was done Makim was all smiles.  It was so funny to see Robert the barber at work.  You never know what is going to happen in Haiti!

Greta Home

This past week I went to the Greta Home and Academy.  Penny, the director, needed help with compiling a few excel spreadsheets.  I enjoyed going and look forward to going next week. 

A typical day for the kids: School in the morning until 1pm, followed by lunch and then free time for the rest of the day.  They have a small break in their school day around 10am and we typically play with them for 30 minutes as they eat their snack.  After the kids get done eating lunch, they play on the playground, play soccer, do homework or anything else they find interesting.

 There are always a few that come into the office to visit with us.  Jessica and I used Penny's office this week, so the kids found us together.  They are always calling out for Penny.  She is so good at finding time to develop relationships with the kids.  There is always work to be done, but even Jesus took time to develop relationships.  The little kids are normally the ones that come storm the office.  Just a few come at first and the next thing you know it is a full on assault of little kids.  And you can only laugh at what they are doing and saying.  And when you try to stop them, they just laugh.  It is hard to get mad at those cute faces.  You slowly get work done around all the little hands that are grabbing for everything.  Most of the time, they want to draw pictures or color.  They love to try to touch the computer.  Thank goodness for the touch pad disabling key!  Towards the end of the day we quit a little early to play with the kids.  They are so much fun to be around.  Jess and I are slowly picking up Creole and with God's help hope to be able to speak it soon!