update

The week that I got back from vacation, one of the guys who works in the volunteer area invited another volunteer and I up to an event that his organization was throwing. It's called OFUDES and it's a fraternity to advance youth and society. They take kids from a poor area and on days when there is no school, they put on activities and give them a meal. It was so great to see a completely Haitian-run organization because it was such a contrast to all the international NGO's around here that put their name all over everything to take credit for progress. You can see from the pictures that it was in a little cement room with half of a roof, but they put on such a great time for the kids and they talked to them about the importance of washing hands and food, keeping away from violence and how much opportunity staying in school will give them. The other volunteer and I brought lots of crafts for the kids to do and I got to run the face painting station!

Fenel organizing the crafts

coloring books!

she was happy when it was done, i promise!

The wonderful volunteers of OFUDES with Peggy and I

My organization has been working hard to get St. Mary Hospital fully stocked and functioning over the last couple months which has meant a lot of trips down to Cite Soleil. I've written about it more before, but this is one of the poorest areas that has had very little access to healthcare. Here are some of the pictures I've taken at the hospital and right outside it.

from outside of St. Mary Hospital looking at the Port-au-Prince bay

two girls who live near the hospital

A couple Friday's ago we wanted to have an adult drink, but had no glasses that would suffice. So we made do with what we had...

Yesterday, Sister Judy threw a birthday party for one of the kids that is very sick and has been living at the hospital for over two years. She made invitations for him to hand out and we played birthday games and had cake and presents :)

The finals of musical chairs

Singing Happy Birthday to Peterson!

presents!!!

Nadine enjoying her party favor

third world problems

I used to read this website that would list "first world problems"... comments by people complaining about being rich that are completely ridiculous.

Inspired the events of the last week, I'm making a post of all the "third world problem" comments I've heard in the last couple weeks.

"Should I put bug spray on and aggravate my scabies or go without and risk getting malaria?"

"It happened and I thought, wow I hope that was a fart."

"Dani, bring me a friend to marry on the wing of the plane."

Guest Priest: "Wow! Isn't it nice that mass has ended and we don't have a long bulletin to read??"
Long-term volunteer: "We're just thankful that there aren't any dead bodies on the floor."

Coworker after watching his first episode of Judge Judy: "Do you know what they put that guy in jail for? Hurting a dog! I thought to myself, if that was the law in Haiti, everybody would be in jail."

"Just trade all the kids in the orphanage out for healthy ones."

"I haven't taken my malaria pills this week... better order another gin & tonic."

"Did that thing crawl out of the shower drain or come out of the spout?"
"I'm pouring bleach on it regardless"

"Gunshots again tonight?"
"No, that was a canon."

"Give me one of your cats. No, the big one, I want to barbeque him."