Lydia has been a real blessing here.... helping with extra domestic duties such as hanging laundry, scrubbing floors, meal prep, dishes....and just being someone familiar from home. She has also helped at Clinic with taking blood pressures and such. This has been nice for our nurses with their busy days the first week we were here- as well as good (but stretching) for Lydia to get a crash course into Haitian culture and language. She had been with us before when we came here two years ago to help build the house for Don's but this is a lot more of a real Haitian experience for her. Not knowing the language is one of those natural frustrations in a foreign culture... So Lydia is thankful for every little bit she picks up on. I'm not sure how we will get along without her servant heart around here. Janelle (the expert house help young lady here) is very good at doing a lot of work to keep the houses running smoothly, but with my extra little ones we've really been glad for Lydia :)

The other day we took a family walk mid-morning. We stopped at a local man's house whom we know and watched him and his helper working a wood laithe. It was amazing watching how he made very primitive tools turn out beautiful bed heads, chairs and tables. No motors or electricity were used.

I've had some days where I could do school with the boys and other days where an extra project took it's place. As parents with young ones in the midst of such a busy place we have to keep our pulse on their hearts to know when they just need to spend time with Daddy and Mommy. Tabitha has had some fairly rough nights being up more than usual. We did notice she popped a tooth through successfully and then she slept very well, so hopefully that will continue. Being up a lot with our little one makes for days with a little more fuzziness around the edges....

                   

                     Tabitha couldn't figure out how to keep
                            this slippery mango seed in her hands
                   so she finally managed to hold tight
                         this way.

Theodore helping Daddy prepare  to
make cement for the gazebo steps
where they plan to group the young
people or children who come for
Bible classes or such.

We have been very anxious for rain. Some of the dear people are very concerned their bean crops will fail if we don't see some soon. We have been very grateful to see a few small showers lately, but we sure need more.  Your prayers are appreciated!

      

Kindra Stohl sharing her Green Heron
chick pet with my very pleased boys.
We've enjoyed feeding and playing
with it.

Our boys examining a large Katydid
with a beautiful iridescent blue belly.
It stayed in our house as a pet for a
couple days until we gave it freedom.

My dear Sweetheart winning my heart all over again by picking Moringa leaves so that I can tincture them.  This is a very healthful tree that I had planted when I lived here.  The leaves have all the essential vitamins and minerals humans need.