Haiti Trip Is 'Labor of Love"
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Fruit and vegetables (in addition to goatmeat) made up daily meals.
This 15-year-old boy carried a four foot, 150 lb toolbox on his head up the mountain. Wackerle gave him a souvenier hat for that incredible feat of strength. Then they posed for this memory-capturing photo.
(Editor's Note: This is the 3rd four-part series relating the experiences of Randy Wackerle during a recent trip to Haiti. Wackerle, a retired Bangor John Glenn teacher, accompanied a 'work team', headed by Bay City's Dean Pashak and his wife Connie on a mission of work and love to this poorest of poor Latin American countries. Wackerle was kind enough to share his thoughts and experiences.)
By Randy Wackerle
Tuesday, January 18, 2005 - In Haiti we say "If it ain'tbroke don't fix it! If it's broke don't fix it either"
The Haitian worker, Luma, one morning put on the wrong pair of shoes. The owner of the shoes recognized that Luma was wearing them and jokingly asked him if they were for sale. Luma said he would take two dollar for them. So the original owner bought his own shoes back for two dollars.
This funny story was handed down from the previous year. Hey Luma! I left my shoes down there. Check with Linnea and she will fix youup for free. We had corn flakes for breakfast and I noticed the price on the box at $18.40. If you want sugar coated expect to pay $32.
We can sheet a 20 x 30 roof in about 30 minutes. Only work a half-day counting travel time.
We visit several interesting places in the afternoon. First stop is the SEED program. A Haitian educated at Texas A&M has returned to his grandfather's 15 acres and started an agricultural school. He was trying to purchase another 20 acres next to his property. The going price of $265,000 seemed steep to me.
The next stop was Asile Dorcas, an old folks home, where we listened to hymns, and sang some hymns. We watched a one-tooth performance by a 103-year-old woman. She sang five verses by memory with a heart-warming voice. The last stop was the German Domestic Center. The finest hand embroidery in the world is made here and the buildings were the nicest I'd seen in Haiti.
A twenty-eight year old German girl named Olga gave us a tour of the beautiful buildings. Chris and I bought cute cards for our sweeties back home. Back at the compound, vendors were lined up to show us their wares. One night during the week, they are allowed to sell items. I bought some carvings, and a couple of bracelets. The crippled shoe shine man laid by our gate waiting for business. One dollar will get your pair of shoes shined. When I left for home I left my work shoes not to be shined, but for him to wear and keep.
God bless the shoeshine man!
Wednesday, January 19, 2005 - "You know you're in Haiti when you see a small truck hauling 28 people"
This turns out to be the trip of all trips. Dean says this project will be the standard to measure all other projects by. The journey into the mountains for the Remogie School was supposed to take 4 hours. We reached our destination after nine hours on the road and several flat tires. The first flat tire was fixed in a small village.
I decided to stretch and walk up the street a short distance. Two women with a man in the middle approached me. He held up two fingers and pointed at the girls. I told Dean the man in the middle gave me the peace sign. Dean corrected me. Dean said, "You just got propositioned for two dollar."
We averaged about 20 miles in four hours. But there's more! We now had to haul 100 2 x 4s, 40 sheets of steel, a generator, two heavy tool boxes, a dozen cots with sheets and pillows, extension cords, water, ice, and carry-on packs up the mountain by foot. I figure we walked a half-mile on the switchbacks at a height of 500 feet from the riverbed where we left the vehicles parked.
A Haitian with a full box of nails on his head led the way. I followed with three carry-on bags wrapped around my shoulders. Behind me, Ron carried a full gas can and his carry-on. Half way up, Ron asked if this was tougher than paddleball. I was breathing too hard too respond! At the top Joe was out of breath and on his back. Kevin was holding him and thought Joe was done for. Kevin figured it was a good time to say a prayer.
Meanwhile, someone asked if Rod had made it to the top. I grabbed a bottle of Gatorade and headed back down to assist Rod. I found him sitting on a rock and he said he his heart was beating louder than a drum. I told him it sounded more like a full piece orchestra. Beside Rod was this worried Haitian. He wouldn't leave Rod alone the entire way.
We made it to the top and I took Rod's picture to celebrate the climb. We were passed on the way up by young children carrying three 16 feet 2 x 4s on their head. I still can't believe the 15 year old that carried a four foot 150 lb toolbox on his head. I gave him my hat for that incredible feat of strength. His wide grin with my hat gave off some awesome energy. I would bet, if I was a betting man, that not one player on the Super bowl New England Patriots team could match what thiskid did!
Food was prepared for us, but we had no time to eat. Daylight would disappear in 90 minutes. Around 6pm the dark settled around us. We gathered around the cold food in the dark shed with just a lantern for light. Ron calls on me for the prayer. Now you need to know that I have never prayed out loud before. Silent prayer has always been my comfort zone. After the prayer Chris gave me a hug, and said it's just a little talk with the Lord! Cowboy gave my shoulder a gentle squeeze. That meant a lot to me. Thank you God!
After cold goat meat, most headed for the cots. Chris and Harvey headed for the roof with flashlights to set out tomorrow's work. Lying on the cots, we heard nails being hammered. Chris and Harvey are building trusses in the moonlight. One by one, the entire crew (except Ed because of a migraine) is now working under flashlights and moonlight. We are experiencing another miracle. All the trusses are built before 9pm. Chris had inspired the whole crew with his work ethic and enthusiasm. Kevin, after supper, felt a need to wander outside near the gate and drop to his knees for a prayer to help us finish the mountain project. Shortly after, the winds died down and the moon seemed to shine extra bright. Thank you God, again!
Thursday, January 20, 2005 - "You know you're in Haiti when you eat goat meat for all three meals"
We were heading down the mountain about 10am Thursday morning. It only took 30 minutes to sheet the school roof. I was pulling sheets up as fast as I could. Maybe a little too fast! A steel sheet was shoved into my forearm. When the corner was removed it pulled some meat out of my arm. I pushed it back in with my thumb.
Chris yelled over from the other side of the roof. "Look at my shoe." There was a chameleon climbing up his leg. I think that was his prize for winning the hammer-nailing contest with Lima from the night before. Ed then pointed to a cat walking nearby and said that was the first cat he has ever seen anywhere in Haiti.
I was nailing with six or seven little Indians watching me when I suddenly hit my thumb. I said "uh oh" and all seven echoed "uh oh" and then laughed.
I couldn't help but notice how close to the edge of the mountain we walked on the footpath. We could see farmers, stuck like Velcro to the side of the mountain, working their patches of ground. Dean had tried to explain to me (before we left for Haiti) how farmers get killed falling out of their gardens. Now I see! At the bottom of the mountain we found the hole in the tire, plug it, and head back. Seven hours and we are back at the compound. Piece of cake!!
Next Time - The Fourth and Final Chapter. (Editor's Comment: Yes, you're right! We said it was only going to be a three-part series. But the MyBayCity.com article length is limited to 10,200 characters for each article. Hence . . . four installments)
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