Day 3 plus pictures!

Laura's quick summation of day 3:

It's 8:30pm here in Haiti, and I am sitting on the front porch with the other night-owls.  It's quiet, aside for the crickets, some laughing and very distant music, and an occasional dog walking by or barking/fighting in the distance.  A man is walking somewhere nearby and singing in Creole.  I was greeted by a small lizard scurrying across the wall in the bathroom this morning -- cute little green guy who wasn't at all scary, once I pulled my vision together enough to assess exactly what was running across the wall at breakneck speed. 

We had the opportunity today to learn more about MPP and the fantastic work they do with and for the Haitian peasants.  We saw everything from tire gardens, to irrigation systems, to a composting toilet, and even the MPP radio station connecting the peasants and giving them a voice in the Central Plateau.  Then, we assisted with assembling/fixing a tire garden by moving some dirt filled tires, deconstructing the wooden structures, and preparing materials for the assembly of the new frame for the tires.  I know I felt less than helpful in what I was able to do to actually assist - and this is where my true amazement comes in.  In all the innovative, resourceful, and incredible things MPP is doing, the resources and tools they have are so very limited.  For example, the saw we had was not only incredibly dull, but the blade kept falling out of it and had to be repeatedly reattached.  And yet, the work got done.  There is so much physical labor that must go into everything, and it is all on such a different time-table than what I am used to in our society of power tools and i-everythings. 

And yet -- because Haiti seems to be this land of contradictions -- we went to MPP headquarters office and were so graciously and warmly introduced to everyone.  To name a few, we heard about how they make solar panels, met their accountant, and learned about the MPP credit union.  If you were to take a snapshot of the people at their desks, you might see an accountant using Excel and Quickbooks, or any other person in an office with a laptop or desktop computer...and yet it is also, still, worlds apart. 

I am so amazed by this organization, its mission, and its people.  The dedication to its mission, and to this beautiful country is incredibly inspiring.

A few pictures today!  Photo credit goes to Kevin and Rob: