Price Check!

A friend of mine took some pictures of groceries in the States and I took some pictures in Haiti to compare prices.  We decided to do a blog on it to show you how much more expensive it is to buy food in Haiti.  Haiti products are on the left all the time and I have converted the Haitian gouds to US dollars.



Apples: 5 dollars but a pound less of apples

Bagels: $2.95

Bailey's: $4.28

Boneless chicken: $5.86.  Chicken is $4.60 for pound while in the States it is $1.99.

Chips, way smaller bag, (Chloe's favourite): $5.26

Diet coke: $30

Salad Dressing: $4.33

Icecream: $11.90

Jam: $5.14

Kitkat bars: $1.67

Romaine Lettuce: $9.88

Powdered milk: $26.19

Peppers: $11.55



Pepsi, (case of 36verses 24 in the US): $34.29

Raisin Bran: $9.79



Popsicles: $10.36

Rice Krispies: $7.26

Laundry Detergent: $35:41

 

You catch a glimpse from these comparisons that, not only is food much more expensive to buy in Haiti, but also the overall cost of living is much higher in Haiti.

Road construction

For the past couple of weeks, ever since the the riots on Delmas 83, there has been a lot more construction happening in our neck of the woods, or should I say on our roads.  A couple of weeks ago the people that lived on and around Delmas 83 decided that they had enough of the waiting and took matters into their own hands.  They had their walls pushed back well over a year ago to start the fixing of the road.  The construction of the road was slow going, sometimes did not happen at all.  So after one night and one day of tire burning and stone throwing the government relented and they put construction crews on full time busy repairing the road with huge machinery and even cement trucks.  Yes even cement trucks.  It has been a blessing for those travelling that road, one we use to take Chloe too and from school every day.  Half of the road is paved now and the other half will soon be done.  Here are some pictures of the big machinery and piles all over the place and traffic build ups.  But there is progress and for that we are thankful.

Notice the pavement halfway up the picture...so happy!

Snuggling on a Saturday morning

We are sorry there has not been a lot of pictures of our children up on the blog in the last couple of weeks.  Here are a couple of them snuggling on the couch early this morning.

New job list

The team has left and we are thankful for the work that has been accomplished.  Alix expressed his thankfulness for the work that was done and told the team that the changes will be greatly appreciated by the community.  We were happy for the time that was spent here, the work that got done, and the conversations/devotions we could have!

We have changed the job list in the office.  We have 'some' work that needs to get finished.  Here is the complete list.

The last day!

Our job list for the last day, and a lot got done today!

 

Work day #3

After a day of touring through Port au Prince and some of the surrounding countryside it was time for work again.  The men were wide eyed and ready to go, (well some of them were on time this morning :) ).  We had some big jobs to accomplish this today and we got right down to business.  The only time we breaked was when we had lunch and opened some special gifts from special people from back in home.  A good day and a lot of fun, a lot of learning and a lot of things accomplished.  Enjoy the pictures!!

Rick's weld and some of our Haitian friends helping out.

 

Joel wanted to help out!

 

Randy was actively involved today!

 

 

The guys doing working.

 

Working hard.

The Crew

I think this is the time that I introduce the crew to you...you are all probably wondering who is who and how they might be related to you.

 

Back row left right: Klaas Spithof, Jake Sinke, Tim Sinke, Conrad VanderHorst
Front row left to right: Tim Vogel, Rick Lof, Wes Driegen, Tony Vandermolen

Klaas comes from Burlington, Ontario. He has been in the construction trade for many, many, many years. Jake comes from Niagara On The Lake and he is a construction consultant for mostly industrial and commercial projects.

Tim Sinke comes Mississuga and does marketing research.

Conrad comes Willaughby, BC and frames houses for a living.

Tim Vogel comes Bowmanville and is also in the construction stage.

Rick Lof comes from Smithville and is the landscraping trade.

Wes comes for Langley BC and also frames houses.

Tony comes from Jordan and also is in the landscraping industry.

Throughout the week the list of jobs they want to accomplish are as follows:

1.   Relay the interlock in the church/school area.

2.   Raise the tent up four feet for more head room and airflow.

3.   Make cubbies for the classrooms.

4.   Put up a railing for the stairs.

5.   Put up a stair case for easier access to the upper playground.

6.   Hang fans in each classroom.

7.   Fix up the kitchen.

8.   Hang curtain rods.

9.   Build two new offices.

10. Put up awnings on the outside of the classrooms.

Day 2

 

 

 

 

First day!

We worked hard all day long accomplishing a lot of things in a short period of time.  We managed to get the sewage pipes unclogged, the stairs walkable, shading for the sitting area, the railing hung, and the offices assemblied.  A good day of learning, of listening, of trying to explain in halted French and English, of laughter, of smells, and many other memories.  Some pictures...