I wanted to fill in "the rest of the story" for you. The last day at St. Joseph's we saw the patients from St. Nicholas - all 240 of them for medical treatment and 17 for dental treatment. So, my "fear" that our sending our nurse monthly to the communities would mean that we would have fewer patients did not come true.

When we left St. Joseph's, we discovered that the road had been graded. There is no longer a gigantic rock in the middle of the hairpin turn! It's a miracle, as Pere Kerwin declared!

On Thursday, we organized, inventoried, and re-packed the left over meds for the next trip. Then, we set off on our traditional visit to the Nursing School, and trek out to the beach. There is such progress throughout the town since our last trip. There are new gutters with a drainage systems being installed and new roads with interlocking pavers. There are many new homes and commercial buildings being constructed to replace those that were destroyed by the earthquake. There's a new park being built where the old market had previously stood in the center of town. Most amazing, however, is the new Obama Beach Club complete with jet skiis, a stage and dance floor, bar and restaurant, and small hotel. This is just down the beach from the landing for the boats coming over from La Gonave with charcoal and livestock. What a contrast!

Friday, we headed across the island to Jacmel. We laugh about the magazine we get at the airport, "Magic Haiti", but the beach at Jacmel is really magical. The water is a gorgeous aquamarine, the mountains in the distance are stunning, the palm trees shading the tables and chairs are inviting, and the boats and fishermen are picturesque. If only everyone could see this part of Haiti, tourism would flourish and poverty would be eliminated.

We sadly headed to the airport bright and early Saturday morning, but are looking forward to returning in the fall.