Working in Paradise

So I got a few days behind on my updates. I made some great progress on my work here. Without giving too much detail I want to document and share the process I came up with. If this will bore you to tears, go ahead and skip the next paragraph. You won't offend me.

We decided to set up a document scanner here. Every receipt/hand written note for a purchase will be scanned and categorized using the organization's chart of accounts. NeatWorks is the software used to maintain the scanned images and data pertained to each receipt. The database files will be stored on DropBox, an online data storage application, so it can be accessed anywhere. To do this, I also had to use a program called Junction. Can't really tell you what it does other than allow me to sync NeatWorks on DropBox. You can google it like I did! The bookkeeper in the US will also have NeatWorks and DropBox on her computer and will be able to access the same scanned documents the orphanage will create. On a routine basis the bookkeeper will export the receipt info from NeatWorks into Quickbooks. This process will keep all the data in one central location and stop duplicate data entry for the US bookkeeper. It may sound pretty simple but it was a lot of thought and conversations to get to that point. Without access to an IT professional or servers, accounting systems can be tricky, especially if you are trying to automate processes.

OK I'm done with the nerd talk. Now to the fun stuff. Tuesday we had the opportunity to drive over to the other orphanage site operated by Hands and Feet in Grand Goave (pronounced gwauv). Currently there are about 30 kids living at a school compound. Some temporary housing was built for them after the earthquake while a new site is being built just 5 minutes away. The site was incredible. It is up on a mountain overlooking the ocean. It's a million dollar view! Once finished, this will be a thousand times better than their current conditions. Here's a pic of the view from their new site.


Today (Wednesday), after a full day's work, we headed down to the beach about 6 miles away. It was paradise! Really! I just wouldn't have thought Haiti would have such a beautiful beach. There was a little restaurant on the beach where we sat and had a Coke from a glass bottle. There's nothing like it! Check me out just chillin' out.

As I type this I'm sitting in a handmade wooden rocking chair out on the porch area of the main building. There's a light rain and a gentle breeze with the temperature around 72. The sound of Haitian orphans singing worship songs in Creole fills the compound as they practice for church this weekend. It is good to be here.