Bel flé san zode

Beautiful flower without a good smell.

The other day we started carrying up tools to Morne Michel, a remote village in the Central Plateau, for our next project. We are trying to do some basic repairs to their school and church. However, the village's location make even the most basic and straightforward projects a logistical nightmare and a physical challenge. On a separate note, it took close to an hour to figure out how to tie a wheelbarrow onto a donkey; I should've taken the Donkey-Wheelbarrow Relations class at Clemson.

This is another picture of us climbing the mountain. We all took turns carrying/pushing the wheelbarrow. Most of the trail up to Morne Michel is like this: steep and rocky and exposed. That being said, the hike has gotten easier and shorter every time I go. 

In order to get gravel up at the school, we have to make it by hand by taking big rocks and turning them into little rocks with a hammer. Above, you see a student working on his rock pile. Many people will probably be shocked at us using "child labor." Allow me to reassure you that (1) the students are on vacation this week, (2) they are being paid and fed for their work, and (3) it discourages a sense of entitlement in the community. We are not descending upon Morne Michel like angels and fixing their problems. We are working directly with the community to accomplish this project. Their school, courtyard, and church will be something that they can be proud of and that can boost their confidence. When it is finished, the students will not only learn the rewards of hard work but also that their problems will not just be solved by white people and their bottomless wallets.

Of course, I'm not above crushing rocks myself. It's actually therapeutic in a sense. You can pick up a big problem and smash it repeatedly with a hammer. That's satisfying.

Here is a picture of the school as you approach it after cresting the final ridge (look for a green building in the middle of the picture). As you can tell, it is about halfway up a mountain which is behind three other mountains behind me when I took the photo. It will be my home for the coming weeks.