Return to Bondeau

Sunday afternoon and I am enjoying the quiet time while the kids are visiting their parents.  I returned to Bondeau last Tuesday, arriving in early evening to a party in honor of my return.  I was so surprised!  The kids had decorated the back patio with colorful paper chains and paper flowers.  They taped their art work to the outside wall.  There was music and dancing and Wonel had bought cold drinks special for the party.  Such a nice party!  The neighborhood kids were here to help celebrate.  I arrived with cookies given to me by the airline flight attendent, coconut and chocolate patties that I bought in the Fort Lauderdale airport, and two small cakes with blue and white frosting that I bought in Leogane.  Everyone was so pleased to have a special treat.  Then, like the strict mama that I am, I ended the party at 9:00 so everyone would get a good nights sleep before school in the morning.

It didn't take me long to get back into the swing of things.  I immediately saw that there are repairs to be made...the outside kitchen is in poor condition.  The children's bedrooms need painting.  But most pressing, and what is becoming clearer and clearer are the number of kids who are hungry.  Carole prepares extra food every day.  I am so grateful to people who have given me money to run Kay Timoun.  I am able to purchase extra food so that we don't have to turn kids away.  It's not like they are taking advantage of a good situation.  I know the families and I know that they are desperately poor.  They simply cannot provide for their children.  It's not that they are lazy and don't work.  They do work in the fields or other manual labor.  They buy and sell vegetables and fruits as they are able.  They do the work that they are qualified to do.  Most do not have even a grammar school education.  They know that their children must be educated if they are to rise above the destitute poverty of the parents.  So, they struggle financially to send their kids to school.  In doing so, they often don't have money to buy adequate food for the family.  It's the vicious cycle of poverty!