An Accident Waiting to Happen

This past week was a bit eventful for Kevin....

As we finished school one day, probably around 4 p.m., Josiah asked Kevin if he would go with him to the Brumley's pond (really just a large hole dug to collect rain water - I think to help with preventing flooding on the lower side of the property where our shop is). Kevin agreed even though he was pretty tired. I was proud of him for that.

The mission: Collect pond water for a Science experiment.

The objective: View microorganism under a microscope.

So, they set off. Jar in one hand and machete in the other hand (of course). Never leave home without one - this could be Josiah's motto. He loves a good knife or tool of almost any kind. They hopped on the four wheeler that has been lent to us by the mission and away they go.

Just a short while after they left, they returned. Pond water in hand along with the borrowed microscope from Josh Brumley (thanks Josh). We had a visitor when they returned home and after about a ten minute conversation, the visitor left. As soon as he left, Kevin says, "Ouch, I am in pain." Of course I ask what the problem was.

Now these are moments that you wish you didn't have to miss, but this is what Kevin and Josiah proceed to tell me...

When they were heading to the pond, a wasp (now this is just one wasp that we know of) came out of nowhere and headed for Kevin. Kevin began to swing the machete around trying to get it away from him. Wish I could have seen this dance. After fighting off the horrid wasp that seemed to be determined to rid Kevin of this area, he obtained the pond water (that by the way didn't have a single moving organism in it).

As Kevin peeled off his shirt to reveal red sting areas, we counted five stings. One to the right wrist, two on the back, one on the left front shoulder, and one on the right ear. Of course we did what we always do for stings...grab the toothpaste (how many of you have ever tried this one for a sting?). For most stings, toothpaste works well. Not for the black wasp with red wings here in Haiti. They say these are the wasps that kill tarantulas and they have a myth in Haiti that says, if you get stung by one of these you will die in 24 hours. PTL - Kevin lived to tell about it. He also lived to share how much pain he was in. I think he had pain in the sting areas for about a day, then they started itching.

I guess if you get stung by the same wasp 5 times in a day, you don't die...

Friday, September 24th...

Kevin...power washing the pool deck. As he is working hard trying to maintain the facilities here in Haiti, tragedy hits...well, not really tragedy, but trouble. Moving along, walking backwards, washing the pool deck and minding his own business. When out of the blue....BAM. One foot slips off the pool deck and into the pool.

Now we have a rule here that says "one must shower before entering the pool." One strike against Kevin right there. No shower and down he falls. His whole body, minus one leg, falls into the pool. The other leg decides to stay on the pool deck a little longer that Kevin would have liked. This proved to be painful.

He is still sore from the accident. I think he was bruised from his groin to his foot, on the leg that waited a bit before joining him in the pool.

He hops out of the water, quickly looking around to see who might have seen the comical event, shuts off the power washer and attempts to get on the four wheeler to come home for medical care.

The four wheeler is a kick start, so with wet flip-flops, his foot slips off the thingie that you kick start the four wheeler with and cuts his ankle open.

Did I mention that before all of these events took place, Kevin hit his other ankle with the power washer wheel and scraped it.

I think we need a bubble to keep him in for a bit.

Pray for Kevin's safety...he needs an extra portion of protection right now.