Christmas

Christmas arrived and it was a gorgeous day. I thought I would start by sending some emails but the internet was down so I contented myself with thanking God for my many blessings and people in my life that have meant so much to me and wishing for them to have a wonderful day and holiday season.
Then I joined the visiting family and Nadege in going to the orphanage that she is responsible for. She had presents for the girls there and we could go along to play some. It was so fun. The clothes and toys end up being communal but for a moment the girls got little things of their own and already they were sharing with each other.

Came home and called home for a few minutes…so good to hear those voices.
Then off to Saut d’Eau (pronounced SO DOH) meaning “jumping water” which is a waterfall about an hour and a half from where we stay in Port-au Prince. Nadege and I were in the back of the truck where she promptly fell asleep (we’d brought pillows for the bouncing) and I listened to music and took in the scenery through the grill. We passed one of Paul Farmer’s (Mountains Beyond Mountains) teaching hospitals in Mirebelais and kept going.

When we arrived in Saut d’Eau we found that the prices had gone up since the last time that Leon had been…it was $5 Haitian for Haitians and $5 US for Americans ($5 Hatian is about $.63). Leon was able to get a lower rate promising that now that he knows he will pay the other price in the future…it took some doing but he did it. It is a beautiful place. And the water does seem to come from nowhere off this cliff and it flows down among banana trees. As the water seemingly comes from ‘nowhere,’ it is a big place for voodoo offerings—candles, food offerings, alcohol, animal offerings, and bathing in the waters to ask the spirits for good luck. Leon says it is very, very busy in June and July and probably around the new year as well (good luck for the new year). The trees are now covered in tin to try and keep the flames off of them so they will live. There are pairs of underwear all over the place since after sacrificing you are to bathe naked in the falling waters…