This morning at Nazareth continued much like yesterday. The house that we finished putting earth in for the floors has now been pounded down and they are laying the cement. The other house that we were working in has a long way to go. There is sooooooooo much earth needed. About 3-4 feet. We are picking earth out of the hillside and also a rubbish tip area (not the most pleasant, especially when a disposable nappy sticks on the end of the pick). This house is built on the edge of the hill which is why it needs so much. Some others are doing floors in 2 other houses, as well as sieving sand and block moving and rebar.
There is a gorgeous looking young lad called Juan Carlos, he is one of 9 children. His younger brother Elito, chats away, none of us can understand him but he continues regardless. Lawrence guided me to a young girl Alicia (Elizabeth) who last week had cut part of her big toe off!! It is obviously still sore but not infected suprisingly. She has no shoes but its healing. I put a plaster on it and will look at it when we come again. Rachel is going to bring her some shoes.
This afternoon we went to Pueto Plata to see a school run by a lady called Sandra. We met at 2pm and she took us on a quick tour of the area!!! She had organised 50 children to come and see us at 3pm. It was the shool holidays and they were still coming!! We were going to do some crafts with them and sing the spanish song that we had learnt.
Agua Negros (Black Water) is worse that Los Algodonas was. The poverty is just unbelievable. We started at the pharmacy/clinic which is just 2 rooms with very little in the way of facilities. They are hoping to do it up and provide a toilet. She is also hoping for finance, (I think she has someone who is onto that through another mission organisation) as she hopes to get a much better place. There is a lot of trouble in the area with flooding, raw sewage frquently!! Some of the roads have been built up quite high to help prevent it coming in. She informed us that they have been able to help reduce sickness by half through educating about drinking purified water. They are also educating the women about pregnancy, breastfeeding, weaning etc.
We wandered around the streets, following Sandra who appears to be well respected within the community.
One house we went into has its bed on 4 foot blocks as twice a year the sewage water comes in that high. The oven can't be used as its been ruined by the sewage. We went in the house evn though the owner wasn't there. They arrived back whilst we were in it, but they didn't seem to mind!!!
Another part of the area some houses a few months ago had fallen into the river! The government gave them funds for 2 months then that was it. The whole area smelt, this is by far the worst community. It is down across from the port. We went to the beach which is the children's play area and was full of stinking rubbish. All ages just mixing in very happily together. There was an adult giving some boxing lessons.
Everywhere we went people smiled at us and said "Hola". Some of my neighbours I don't even know.
We arrived back at the scholl at 4pm. Lizzie was 1st through the door and there were screams of delight. It was wonderful and 150 children rather than 50! Sandra got us all to say our names then the children tried to remember them all. Sandra was brilliant with them, she had such control. It was too late to do crafts so we sang songs and then gave them all a drink and some biscuits. Thankfully we just about had enough, we did pray thet it would stretch. Then they all lined up and left, each receiving some crayons, pencils, colouring books from us all.
Sandra's school is downstairs and the church upstairs. Again they have 2 shifts, but they also have a small library and teach adults computers and sewing. It seems a very happy place.
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