The Almond Family in Haiti: Wozye

We spent our second day in the village today. It is so good to be back. Immediately, we were greeted and kissed and hugged and referred to as my sister, my brother. Everyone wanted to know how the kids are There has been some progress in the village. The road is paved which definitely makes it safer and helps with commerce, etc. There are also several hotels that have popped up on the roadsides. I haven't seen any tourists yet, but am hopeful that this beautiful beautiful country can begin to attract them. There is also still a lot of hunger and disease and poverty that is truly unimaginable. I forgot how bad it is here. I remember watching foreigners come through the first village we lived in Haiti, crying. I remember thinking how rude that was. I am ten years older now, than when we first came to Haiti, and found myself tearing up several times in the past two days. It is a hard hard life here.

In addition to lots of visiting and the market and some trips down the coast, we had a goat project meeting today. Around 75 people came to the meeting, to get an update, see Corey and learn about what new is happening. One woman (pictured below) is blind and travelled several miles on foot, alone, to thank Corey for the gifts that her 3 goats have brought her children and her family. After the meeting started, people started getting up carrying plastic bags with gifts- lots of gifts. They brought eggs, coconuts, and mangoes to thank us for the work of the Goat Project and their new microlending project. I took a photo, below, as these gifts really belong to the many many people who have donated to this village in the past. The people in Wozye are so grateful and so so glad that they have not been forgotten.

It was a beautiful day. I feel so blessed to witness the generosity, joy, and kindness of these people.