Our Trip to Haiti 2010 - ourtriptohaiti2010

Safe flight. Baggage claim is utter chaos. Finally collected what we thought were all our bags and headed a few hundred yard through pushing and jockeying "helpers" hoping to earn a dollar. Narrow passage had a fence on one side with hands (young and old) protruding through and voices crying out for help. Loaded the truck but one vehicle had keys locked inside. Twenty Haitians swarmed the truck to help unlock it and get a reward. I sat inside the cab to escape the requests but one old man stayed at the window for at least 10 minutes trying to persuade me... "God give you LIFE, you give me one dollar?" I had already given 10-12 guys some money and quickly realized the potential bottomless pit. I pointed to a guy from a different crew walking by and said, "Look, he's got lots of money". The man left me alone and followed after him (the guy walking by smiled knowingly at me and said, "thanks a lot"!)

Realized we are missing a bag with almost $2k in tools and picked up someone else's bag with his medicine and clothes. Prayed for him and for our bag to be returned (not likely). Headed up the mountain in darkness. NEVER had a ride like this. Road ended and turned into rock and dirt. May have averaged 10mph on rough terrain. Slammed around even in the cab. Those in the back were having quite a time. 

As it was dark last night I had no idea what to expect from Calebasse. I walked outside just in time to witness the sun rising between two mountains and shining on a poor village surrounded on all sides by paradise. Pictures can't come close and I shed a few tears just taking it all in. Huts dot the hillsides mixed in with partially erected cement structures. These are started and worked on as a person saves some money. In this particular village this is rare (building). Most people have a hut of scrap metal, wood, tarps. We were blessed to experience church Haitian style. The service doesn't have much of a time limit and villagers walk up to a few miles to get there. They are dressed in the best clothes they have. Where they store a clean dress of pants and dress shoes in a hut that is not exactly watertight I have no idea. Hundreds of people were there and crying out to God. Their body language and facial expression was that of utter humility, thanksgiving and dependence. It was powerful and we were all blessed even though we understood little. We took the day to get to now the kids at the orphanage. Mark and I took a hike up to a nearby ridge and wee outpaced by a man who had to be almost 80. The children along the way were soooo beautiful and loved to see video from my camera (many having never seen themselves). Devotions with the kids was awesome. Christina is 4 yrs old, a ham and a sweetheart. She introduced herself to the room as "Christina from Florida" and the placed erupted in laughter.

Gorgeous sunrise and head is splitting in two pieces! But excited about working. Christie tucked an anniversary card in my journal (from Ocean Grill where I asked her to marry me). I caught a mouse which had been terrorizing Christie under her bed! One unnamed crew member wouldn't let me squeeze the life out of it so I sent him on a LONG flight over the trees and down the mountain. (Later we saw what was NOT a mouse running around... their rats are BIG) Headed to paint one house where elderly lady had built rock walls all around property by hand to "terrace" her gardens. This was not done up until about 10 years ago when the head of the orphanage taught the villagers the benefit of farming terraced land instead of a steep hillside. Now a large portion of the village is terraced and far more productive (note cabbage photos in album) Had an awesome lunch. About to head out into the filed but God was gracious in that Christie felt it better for us to work at the orphanage... the rain started pouring down and we said a prayer of thanks for being under roof instead of in open, rugged terrain getting all tools soaked! Very productive day. I'm really getting sick, though. They all prayed for me. I'll live, I just need energy.

Woke up feeling like half a person. One of the girls noticed and fixed me some medicine. She boiled water and salt but how she crammed that much salt into one cup I will never know. Gargling the first time I swallowed some and almost lost it! Very thankful for this gesture. We headed out carrying an entire house except the metal roof. Very rough terrain especially off the "main trail". I had a truss section along with a Haitian. These people can carry virtually anything and never miss a step even where the incline is incredibly steep. This is the house built up nect to an existing 10 x 10 hut (look through pictures and see them side by side) The family has 4 adults and at least 8 kids. One cot, dirt floor and about 5' high. It started to rain and they urged us to come inside with our tools while they stood outside! Made it back to base camp and passed out on Christie's bed. After lunch Christie and I finished painting the orphanage porch area where they often eat. We also were able to redo a bathroom and fix some of the main ceiling in the living area. 

Rough night as throat got worse but the medicine they fixed helped (pancakes). My body feels like I went 12 rounds in the boxing ring. Took a quick trip to a scenic overlook of Port Au Prince. Took my breath away. The vendors are persistent. I wanted a necklace but at $10 said no. Guy kept following me around. Tapping on the truck window as we were pulling away. Bought two for $5 and a bracelet for $3. Could not get a sandwich anywhere so we called back to base camp and had tuna waiting. We headed to a house and leveled it, put up rafters and such as it was getting dark. For dinner we had pumpkin soup which is a traditional dish eaten all day on Jan 1st by every person in Haiti (richest to poorest) to celebrate freedom from slavery. Ask me about what happened at prayer time as it is long but incredible story. 

Loaded up one house on the truck and sent it up as far as we could to the site. Part of the crew went with that house and I went with others to finish the other. Got all the doors and windows on, roof done. Started getting a fever and hardly made it back to orphanage. Laid down before lunch to recover. Richard wanted me to stay there and fix some doors and help Dick with cabinets. Glad I did as I was sapped of energy. Dinner was great. Note- they have been cooking by flashlight as the fluorescent bulbs are hard to get and even harder to transport up the mountain without shattering. They came in tonight and the kids were all cheering. Another thing we take for granted... Walmart. We also learned that one of the girls who hoped to study in the US was able to get her passport (in miraculous fashion)

Three journeys in one day today (maybe a mile each)... started by heading west and painting a house the last crew had built. Prayed with the lady and kids. Headed back by orphanage for supplies. Headed east to the house we built yesterday to seal it and pray. Found out owner is about 70+ yrs old and pastors a small mission church. Beautiful time of rejoicing and thanksgiving. Headed back by orphanage to eat and then east again to final house to pray and say goodbye. Elderly lady prayed many times "Merci Senior" (Thank you Yeshua/Jesus) Back to the orphanage the kids are all cooking away. Great "last supper" including goat which was incredible. Packed up as little as possible and left clothes, shoes, tools, supplies which we know will be used to continue this great work.

Loaded up before sunrise. Airport cafe had "turkey and cheese" for $3.50 which was at least a few weeks old. I stripped it down to half-piece of bread and two thin slices of turkey. Someone had a hot ham and cheese and pointed me to a little stand. WOW! Serious food for $3. Forget the fact that it is smothered in ketchup, mustard and mayo... I was one happy guy. Great flight and what a sight for sore eyes to see Miami. Imagine me happy to see that city (can't stand it) Made it to a Duffy's Cafe and consumed a hearty lunch. Waitress was touched and was able to spend time talking to her about her relationship with God (Yahweh) and encourage her to seek Him. Welcomed back home with tears from our oldest daughter! So glad to be home. Hot shower, clean sheets and a great mattress and I was snoozing!