Ile a Vache

We traveled to the island of Ile a Vache. It is a one and one half hour boat ride from Les Cayes.

We piled 18 people plus a captain in two small boats and set off early this morning. The weather was perfect. We encountered a sprinkling of rain for a few minutes but the trip was otherwise perfect. One cannot describe the beauty and serenity of the island. A few folks met us at the disembarcation site and we started a treck up the bank, inland. As we traversed we collected many inquiring inhabitents, mostly children. We passed several quaint residences. Some had thatched walls and roofs. Some had cement walls,but the really well to do have cement walls and a metal roof. The children were charmaing as they always are in Haiti. They are so inquisitive and eager to see visitors. Blanc or "white" people are very rare and a mystery. The kids just grab onto your hands and want to be near you. One young boy latched on to me and held onto my hand the entire time I was on the island. His name is Catile Sénat.
Only 100 children are sponsored to attend school. Only one child per family is permitted to attend school. The parents must choose which child can attend. In most cases the parents will select a different child each year permitting a family with 5 children to allow each child to go to school every 5 years. We visited the new school that was built one year ago. The children sang a song for us. We in turn sang "This Little Gospel Light" for them.
We then continued on the rugged path to the Lutheran Church. For the St. Mark contingent reading this, their church was very similar to our picnic area out back. For other readers it is an open area covered by a roof with open sides. The pews are simple benches. Dogs, chickens and any other free roaming animals roam in and out!
As we made our way back to our boats most of the village followed. I would guess more than 100 kids accompanied us. When we got to the beach all the little boys and a few girls stripped naked and ran into the ocean for a swimming party! Our kids, clothes in tact went in along with them. It was a rare sight to behold.
So as not to insult, because we did not have food to share with the whole island, we waited until we boarded the boats and cruised a distsance before we ate our lunch.
This was truely a once in a lifetime experience for most of us. Ile a Vache is the most unique place I have ever been. I know I am not alone in feeling it was an unforgetable experience.