Health

The past 4 weeks have marked a different stage in my preparation for Haiti. My mind is not full of conflicting thoughts and I'm trying to prepare items for sale at the auction.

I took photos last year of the thousands of black-eyed and brown-eyed Susans that were planted on my front 6 acres along with other forbs and warm-season grasses. The close-ups of the various patterns, colors and sizes and groupings of these flowers fascinated me in this, their first season of flowering. I fear they won't carpet the field next year as the grasses begin to take over. So I took about 100 photos.

I put the photos into PhotoShop and massaged them in various ways to achieve pleasing patterns. I took my cue for that from Larry Graham, who taught me photography over 40 years ago. He donated a nice photo for the auction at my request. Like he had done on other photos, I also drew on some of mine, and in one case actually cut out one photo and taped it over another photo. I then scanned those images in and re-worked them in PhotoShop. I printed out 4x6's and selected about 15 for larger sizes.

I had those printed and began the long process of matting them and framing some. This is an expensive process. I've bought clear acrylic for some, for about $80. Angela helped by selecting a bunch of frames and posterboard, foamboard, and other supplies from Hobby Lobby that were on sale. Combined with her discount that came to about $80 also. Then I bought a mat cutting system, more mats, another frame and a few other supplies for about $100.

The team members at our last meeting made suggestions as to whether I should frame them all, and sort of what to do with this large amount of photos. That helped me put it into perspective. (That's my biggest fault: not having a perspective that fits the norm.) But, nevertheless, I sent some more photos (4) out for poster-size images. Two of these images, framed, cost about $75 each. I doubt that they will sell at the auction. I'll see what the group thinks in another week. I still have to make frames for the large one, and for two watercolors that Susan, from the choir, donated.

Ron Voss wrote back to the email that I sent on Christmas day. He responded that he received 4 emails that day. I'm in great company with the other three being John Barber, one of Ball State's best teachers ever, the Henri Nouwen Society and former Haiti President, Jean-Bertrand Aristide! Ron is back from Haiti, where his mission for over a month was traveling to various outposts of his former "welcome house" building picnic tables for use in churches, etc. I have to find out where he got his design and materials!

Pam noted that Father John does not want us to do projects in Haiti, nor to travel to any tourist areas. Perhaps some limited shopping in Cap Haitien. He wants us to concentrate on simply being with the people of Plaisance. Again, I would suggest from my experiences with Haitians for a full year in the Bahamas and with my two two- to three-week work sessions in the neighboring Dominican Republic, the best way to "be with" the people is to participate in their work. In sharing effort, energy, emotions, and sweat, we communicate our shared humanity and validate the human-ness of the people of Haiti who know that they are considered by most of the world to be at the bottom ranks of humanity.

Today marks the start of the 6th week of being sick! Flu? Whatever, it's just about gone, and I finally called the Doctor last week and he prescribed amoxycillin. I'm almost done with that and feeling much better. But still, it lingers.

Jim