Dear Friends and Family,

I’m going to make this a short one since I’m going to town tomorrow and I don’t have a lot of time to write this. Everything is going pretty well here. In general the county has settled down politically although I heard there were demonstrations in P-au-P this morning. We still don’t have any idea what the long term prognosis this government is, but what it sounds like from the international community, Aristide is starting to come into line with what they want. I hope things stay calm at least for the time being as I have a trip to P-au-P scheduled for next week.

I am pretty excited right now because I just put in air conditioning in my house. Okay, it’s not really air conditioning, let me explain. As some of you may know my roof is made of corrugated sheet iron. When the sun hits the roof it heats it up. The roof then radiates that heat – right on top of your head if you’re sitting inside. So while it provides shade it doesn’t prevent the heat from entering the house.To remedy this problem I had a particle board ceiling put up in my kitchen and dining room, where I don all of my writing and paperwork. It makes the rooms at least 5 degrees cooler and probably more. So although it’s not exactly air conditioning, it certainly feels like it. I’m so excited that I can sit and work comfortably during the day.

Well, I think I’ll stop here. I have more time to write but I’m reading a good book about the Lewis and Clark Expedition and I haven’t had a chance to read at all today. I hope you are all weel and enjoying the warmer weather. Take care.

Mason