A Trip to the Mountains

Saturday July 28, 2012

Today was kind of fun.  Ok, not kind of; it was SO fun.  Another adventure for the books, which who would expect anything less while living in the rural mountains of Haiti?  Today, we made a moto trip up to the mountains of Mahotiere.  A place I have heard of often, as I’ve had patients come from this area from before, but have never seen with my own eyes.  All I knew of it was that it was far and way up there.  And it was, WAY up there.  We climbed a legit mountain; we took motos but had to get off and walk as the trail was so steep and also something that was probably made only for donkeys. 

We went because a man who is one of the directors of the “school” there keeps asking if Leah could do a camp there for the kids.  So she decided to just go and have a look, not promising anything as time and supplies are already hard to come by for what we are doing now.

So on we went.  I have always wanted to go there and see.  And it was in the mountains for sure.  It made Passe Catabois look so civilized and easy in comparison.  I’m wondering how they get food, supplies, and water up there and I’m thinking only by donkey is the way.  The land was so beautiful and green as they have a water spring down in one of the valleys.  It felt a little like we were on top of the world; we could even see the ocean to the north and to the west.  We arrived on top of one of the mountain crests and there was a makeshift “building” out of planks and tarps where a group of people and kids were waiting.  Apparently they were waiting for us.  Ha!  We did some formalities and introduced ourselves and sang some songs like a church service and took some pictures.  I don’t know if camp would ever happen here, but you never know.  The people understand that too as they always are content to put the future and decisions in God’s hands (Bondye konnen).  Perhaps someday we could take the workers from Passe Catabois to go up to the mountains and kids they don’t know to replicate camp activities.  A sort of outreach and learning experience for them too.  I also think about health education and community health.  But just brainstorming and thinking for possibilities that could happen in the future.  At any rate, it was another adventure for this Haiti book of mine.