Updates and Pictures

A group of the Haitian drivers that Neal has trained to drive and deliver for the Bishop's Storehouse. One of them is getting married today (the 12th) and Neal is going to play and teach them the Boot Scootin' Boogie.

This is Marlene Soufresie or Ma ma as Neal and I'm sure everyone else calls her. She is the mission mom and does all the cooking, cleaning, and laundry. Neal says she keeps his white shirts looking brilliant which I'm sure over there is something that is greatly appreciated. She has been a member of the church for 24 and has only been to the temple in the Dominican Republic (closest temple to them) 4 times. It's amazing how much we all take for granted. I have like 5 or 6 temples within a half hour drive and I definitely don't go enough. I can't imagine what she and the other members would give to have a temple so close. Neal always ends his e-mails with "Haiti is closest to Heaven" and it's so true.

This is Neal's breakfast of MRE Beef Stew. We were able to talk to Neal on the phone the other night and he told me about his new friends the bed bugs. My skin was crawling for hours after he told me. Way to go Neal for staying so positive through it all. Here is the e-mail he wrote about this breakfast experience: 'Croix des Bouquet Bed and Breakfast.
I'm eating in my room this morning with my friends the bed bugs and dust mites. We have come to be closely acquainted. It seems that they love MRE beef stew as much as I do. A piece of green pea fell on the floor and they ran to it like the military helicopters dropping food around here. I thought about attacking them with my bug repellent while they ate, but we don't need any more carnage in Haiti. Actually I couldn't eat the local breakfast today of cold spaghetti with ketchup and mayo. They love spaghetti so much that ma ma blended some of it with pear juice into a warm drink. It tasted similar to the glue paste that we had in school in 2nd grade. Their favorite drink here is hot chocolate. There is always some on the stove. I have been tempted, but I have seen the water that is mixed with it. Steve sent bottled water, Pringles, and a liter of Pepsi from the DR before he flew out. The party never ends here.slept on a cot for the first time. Steve Roberts flew home to Utah so I dubds it."

Jendy Evans. In Neal's words he is the hardest warehouse worker in Haiti. He served his mission in Haiti and was released two days after the earthquake. His home in Goaives was destroyed by an earthquake in 2008 while he was serving. He now lives with a counselor in the Stake Presidency because he has no home to go to. He speaks French and some English and wants to go to college but there is no college to attend at the moment.

This is the view facing North of the "Command Center." It is actually the old mission home and it is now where Neal along with others are staying. It is located in the mountains in what Neal calls the "rich district." They have a generator and a water truck brings them water every week.

View from the East.

South view
West view