First off, I need to explain there is a learning curve for posting blogs.!! The clear, corrected post did not make it…..the unedited one did. Sorry! Where is Pat Kuras when you need him!

After 6am Mass, we walked to the river & watched students take off their shoes to cross the river for school. They told us there were days when the hurricane came & they couldn’t get to school for a week. Later in the morning we went to the 8th &9th grade class to take photos of the students. This is to start the initiative of a penpal exchange; we have approximately 50 students & hope to have St Stephen parish students get involved. Several students were making paper hats & decorations for Carnival tomorrow. Pretty clool ones. There is a palpable excitement in the air for this Mardi Gras type festival all over Cerca La Source

We went to the market …….organized chaos!  with many merchants & wares. We saw the Haitian mud cakes for sale. The clay earthen pies to ward off hunger pains. The mid week market was busy in anticipation of Carnival. Fr B had a cow purchased for the festival. He only purchases a cow twice a year. This will provide food for all the students & people of the parish tomorrow at the Carnival party. We witnessed the slaughter, the skinning, chopping & cooking. Every aspect of the cow is utilize……I mean everything.

We met with many friends of Jeri, Matt, BethAnn, Marion etc. We will tell you all about it. However I did meet with Mericlude Emmanuela about her Le Femme group. They gather women to create crafts, sew clothes & participate in village projects. I have had an interview with her since she is one of the oldest & longest member of the village at 49y/o. I will share this with after I return.

Hank is recording our journey by his photographs we hope to post some soon. He is only at 400 pics so far! Larry is busy getting information from the Agronomist that works with World Vision. It was a good discussion that we had along with FrB.

Stay tuned to hear about Carnival tomorrow…..Larry & Hank will contribute a post then.