Day 2; February 4, 2011

February 4, 2011   Day 2

 

We left Petionville this morning, went through Pourte Au Prince on our way to Petite Groave. The people of the city were up and about going here and there on foot, cars and motorcycles. You see damage about the city but cleanup has progressed to a large extent. Closer to the shore the damage had been greater and the government has yet not diverted water coming down from the mountains. In some areas it runs down the streets and just moves thru the areas including the markets that line the streets.

Tap Taps are open air truck taxis that carry people throughout the city. The Tap Taps are colorful.

Moving out of the city the people seem more connected. We see “teams” of people working together, men & women with shovels moving debris side by side. Traveling is quieter outside the city; we passed various schools with some of the children dressed alike in their school uniforms.  The blue ocean is on our right while mountainous ridges rise up on our left with houses & tents both along the road and ascending into the hills and ridges. The people are surviving; they are going about their work and trade. They are improvising their shelters and seemingly integrating their past ways.

We arrive and are welcomed at the guest house by Pastor Maude. There is more room there, more open. We go right away to Fond Deux  where the church we are helping to build is located. The walls are up; the supporting walls for the roof ridge are being worked on. We met the other team working there and the construction workers. Children mill around the worksite.  Older Children returning from school pass all in uniforms walking home.  Some of groups of girls have cloth like ribbons in their hair.  There are so many children. We leave the site and return to Petite Groave.