“My truck is like a Billy Goat, it can go anywhere in 1st gear”
Wise Words of Wisdom from Troy Livesay, on the road to Cazale.
Hello to all of those in blogger-ville both new and old. It is my honor to be the second guest blogger on the Livesay Blog (my wife being the first).
First of all I would like to give props to this family for what they are doing here. It’s pretty amazing. Actually, it is Godly amazing. Getting anything done in the developing world takes about twice as long as you think it will. Then add on another 50% for no particular reason, add in about a 25% uncertainty factor, the wrong part/book/cord/etc times two or three day long trips into Port Au Prince and you got it about right. Oh, and I forgot a fudge factor of two more days. Despite all of that, this family is doing amazing things and really making a godly difference in this local community.
My wife and I have had the privilege to get a small peek into the workings at Lifeline and the Livesay family. We’ve gone to church, gone to a local hospital, helped where we can, and seen a few patients with Britt.
I’d also like to clarify that Britt, with Paige’s help, is doing about 95% of the medical work here. Since we will not be here, Sharon and I are trying to get her to not need us when we are gone. And frankly we are learning as much from her as I hope she is learning from us.
As I usually check the blog 4-6 times a day, and am well aware of the insight and humor displayed daily by the Livesay clan, I feel that I have big shoes to fill. And what insight can I, having been here all of 4 days, add to this blog? Well here are some thoughts off the top of my head, in no particular order:
Good, sturdy tires are a really big deal – Never leave home without a spare and a patch kit.
Water doesn’t come from a faucet – It comes from a very complicated and sophisticated pump/pipe/cistern system created by Lifeline and Troy.
Electricity is a privilege, not a right. Electricity 24 hours a day is a miracle. And don’t even get me started about the decadence of AC…
Not all major international airports can have planes land at night, because that would require runway lights and electricity. See above for my thoughts on electricity.
Two hours to go 35 miles is actually pretty fast.
The Livesay’s would really benefit from a helicopter.
(Photo taken from the air, coming into the PAP airport. It's not much to see.)
