This year marks the 200th anniversary of Haiti's independence from France ? the world's only successful slave revolt. The Act of Independence that ended slavery was signed Jan. 1, 1804, in Gona?ves. However, what was supposed to be a celebratory year for Haitians ended up highlighting the sad reality that Haiti is one of the world's poorest nations.

Imagine a town surrounded by water?the ocean reaching out to touch its black sand beaches on the west, its rocky shore on the north, and its white sand beaches in the east, and a river winding down past the houses becoming a delta as it meets the sea. Imagine a town that often floods in the rainy season, a town that can get its water from public spigots, natural springs, or ground water wells. This is Borgne, a place imbued with water. But, none of it is fit to drink.

We are coming up to our fifth anniversary, a significant landmark for projects like ours! As we look back there are important milestones and learning experiences to cherish.

It was our second day in Borgne. The midwife arrived on our doorstep with an invitation. "Come quickly, we can see the baby?s head?"

The children in Fond la Grange school were so attentive when their teacher was explaining what was going to happen. They were going to ?become? the planets of the solar system and step distances from the sun.

During the month of June I traveled to Borgne for the fourth time as an anthropology student and a volunteer of H.O.P.E.

This May, I joined Rose-Marie and a small group of people in Borgne for two weeks. Rose-Marie invited me because of my interest in anthropology.

My arrival in Haiti followed a tumultuous series of changes in my life.