Monday, May 10, 2010
Day 2 ~ April 1
Arrived at Port Au Prince airport, shuttled in truck to a smaller airport to fly Tortuga Airlines to St. Luis du Norde. Haven't seen any of the problems from earthquake yet. Not too hot, but getting hotter all the time. Gave all but Sam Dramamine in anticipation of a bumpy flight on that little plane! Ruth is very tired ~ wish I could help her. Boarding soon.
*******************
(later)
Rode a little 19 seater airplane and it was actually quite nice. I was expecting it to be bumpy and hot, but it wasn't at all. What a treat to look out and get such a beautiful view of the mountains and ocean. Hard to wrap my mind around the concept that this same land of unspeakable beauty is also a land of incomprehensible suffering.
What a bizarre ride out to NWHCM! We rode in the back of a small Toyota truck - in US, would consider 6 people back there maxed out, we had at least 11 people, plus tons of luggage. Then, we drove fast and crazy (at least it felt fast), 3rd world style, through deep mud puddles, past pigs in the road, very skinny dogs and garbage and chickens and roosters and baby chicks, a goat or two, many people riding donkeys and ladies balancing tons of stuff on their heads.
After at least a 2 hour drive - so bumpy it felt like the insides of my head were knocking together - we arrived at NWHCM. We drove through a large, black gate with the NWHCM written on the outside, and entered into a huge compound. This place amazes me ~ a clinic, birthing center, schools, a baby orphanage, a special needs orphanage, a nursing home and who knows what else. Short termers sleep in either the girls or guys dorms, each containing about 50 cots, or they can sleep on the roof in tents or just under the stars. The compound sports a large water tower, and has its own water purification system, so all water on campus is good for drinking. Two large, camp style bathrooms provide quite clean showers, sinks and toilets. We eat in a large common area with about 15 picnic tables and space for hanging out and visiting with one another. Meals are served in a buffet style, and there is even a little "snack bar", open in the afternoons, where we can buy popcorn, cokes, chips, candy bars and other luxuries.
We all need to go to sleep soon ~ I'm exhausted from the traveling and know the girls are, too. Wonder what tomorrow will bring.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Day 1 of our first family trip to Haiti
So, it's been a long, long while since I've posted anything to this blog. Then again, the blog is supposed to be about our times in Haiti, and we hadn't been to Haiti since '07 ~ so I guess that explains the long silence!
The entire family got to go to Northwest Haiti March 31 - April 12. What a trip. Internet was quite limited for our time there, so I kept a paper journal. [Paper is that smooth, cotton stuff that comes in sheets. Normally, people use those little rounded sticks with points at the end to make markings on the paper. These markings can be read, just like typing on a computer screen. It's all rather amazing, I know.] The following posts will be transcriptions from that journal.
The entire family got to go to Northwest Haiti March 31 - April 12. What a trip. Internet was quite limited for our time there, so I kept a paper journal. [Paper is that smooth, cotton stuff that comes in sheets. Normally, people use those little rounded sticks with points at the end to make markings on the paper. These markings can be read, just like typing on a computer screen. It's all rather amazing, I know.] The following posts will be transcriptions from that journal.
*********
DAY 1
********
DAY 1
********
March 31 - Wednesday
We made it to the airport in plenty of time, even though we left a whole hour after we'd planned. The dogs went to the Kubica's house ~ they're living in the lap of luxury there! It's so nice to know they'll be well cared for while we're gone. The Platts are taking care of the cats and taking the dogs for walks each day. So glad that's all taken care of!
When loading our bags into the truck, Tim realized we had [er, that means I had] somehow packed two more bags than allowed by the airline. I have no idea how that happened, except perhaps I was just groggier than we realized last night. Quick like a bunny, I had to quickly unload two bags worth of stuff ~ yikes! Trying to decide which donated items were most important (it was ALL good stuff and ALL could have been used) was sort of gut wrenching. Still, unpacking was definitely easier than packing, and I had it done in a jiffy.
I'm excited again to be going now, but was really doubting this whole trip all day yesterday. I was trying to finish packing ~ had been packing for 4 days straight ~ and totally losing all perspective. I was pretty much freaking out and being so grumpy with everybody unlucky enough to cross my path! It was one of those days, I'm sure, when Tim wondered who this woman was to whom he was married.
Monday night at Boy Scouts, Stephen badly sprained his ankle. It was hugely swollen - HUGE - people heard about it and tons of folks started praying for him. By Tuesday afternoon it was getting better, much to my surprise. This morning he woke up and didn't even remember that he'd sprained it at first. He came walking down the hall to the kitchen and we all asked, "How's your ankle?"
"My ankle? Huh?......(*long pause*) Oh yeah! My ankle! Wow, it's all better! Cool! It doesn't hurt at all. Guess I don't need to take those crutches to Haiti after all."
On the plane, just a minute ago, I asked Stephen, "So, does your ankle really feel better?"
"Yeah, mom, it really does. Pretty amazing, huh?"
Yep, I'd say that's pretty amazing. But God is just cool like that. Somehow, this whole ankle deal reassures me of all my doubts about the trip being a mistake. I can't believe just 12 hours ago I was so full of doubts and questions ~ now that we're on the plane, I can't imagine NOT going - I'm so excited for the younger 3 to see Haiti for the first time, and to see what God will do with our time there, and to see how much He loves the people there, and how sweet they are. I can hardly wait to get there. Thank you, Father, for getting me through my Sea of Doubt and getting us all on our way!
We made it to the airport in plenty of time, even though we left a whole hour after we'd planned. The dogs went to the Kubica's house ~ they're living in the lap of luxury there! It's so nice to know they'll be well cared for while we're gone. The Platts are taking care of the cats and taking the dogs for walks each day. So glad that's all taken care of!
When loading our bags into the truck, Tim realized we had [er, that means I had] somehow packed two more bags than allowed by the airline. I have no idea how that happened, except perhaps I was just groggier than we realized last night. Quick like a bunny, I had to quickly unload two bags worth of stuff ~ yikes! Trying to decide which donated items were most important (it was ALL good stuff and ALL could have been used) was sort of gut wrenching. Still, unpacking was definitely easier than packing, and I had it done in a jiffy.
I'm excited again to be going now, but was really doubting this whole trip all day yesterday. I was trying to finish packing ~ had been packing for 4 days straight ~ and totally losing all perspective. I was pretty much freaking out and being so grumpy with everybody unlucky enough to cross my path! It was one of those days, I'm sure, when Tim wondered who this woman was to whom he was married.
Monday night at Boy Scouts, Stephen badly sprained his ankle. It was hugely swollen - HUGE - people heard about it and tons of folks started praying for him. By Tuesday afternoon it was getting better, much to my surprise. This morning he woke up and didn't even remember that he'd sprained it at first. He came walking down the hall to the kitchen and we all asked, "How's your ankle?"
"My ankle? Huh?......(*long pause*) Oh yeah! My ankle! Wow, it's all better! Cool! It doesn't hurt at all. Guess I don't need to take those crutches to Haiti after all."
On the plane, just a minute ago, I asked Stephen, "So, does your ankle really feel better?"
"Yeah, mom, it really does. Pretty amazing, huh?"
Yep, I'd say that's pretty amazing. But God is just cool like that. Somehow, this whole ankle deal reassures me of all my doubts about the trip being a mistake. I can't believe just 12 hours ago I was so full of doubts and questions ~ now that we're on the plane, I can't imagine NOT going - I'm so excited for the younger 3 to see Haiti for the first time, and to see what God will do with our time there, and to see how much He loves the people there, and how sweet they are. I can hardly wait to get there. Thank you, Father, for getting me through my Sea of Doubt and getting us all on our way!
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
PRAYER REQUEST
This is from Jody Castillo's blog posted May 15. Please pray for the mission and this frightening situation!
Stressful Day - Problems with Government
May 15, 2008 at 1:40 am ·
I had just finished a long day of booking tickets and such. So I decided to come upstairs to take a break. My eyes were hurting from staring at the computer screen. Just as soon as I had lifted my feet off the ground - Elveus came in with some disturbing news.
Several years ago the mission was given the government building which sits right in the middle of our property. It housed the Miriam Center and the Nutritional Program for years. Right now it houses the baby orphanage on the roof top and the lower level is soon to be our brand new Birthing Center where we will deliver babies and do surgeries on a daily basis.
We had renovated the building and just begun making final preparations for the birthing center to open by this fall. Today I had a visit from the judge, mayor, and medical director for the Northwest. Even though that building had been given to us years and years ago - they say that the building is theirs and they want it back. They had an architect and an engineer looking at it today - as if they're just going to take it tomorrow.
Obviously my mind went racing as I thought about all the money we had invested into the building - but more importantly the children in the baby orphanage who live on top. I spent hours talking to the men and explaining to them that we had a paper that said that building was ours. Well they said the man who gave us the paper didn't have the authority to do it. I don't know what all this means but I found myself in tears.
I called Janeil who was busy in the states loading up a container that we're shipping to Haiti. We were both pretty frustrated and upset. The group of men said we could either give the building back or build them a new building somewhere else. A new building somewhere else - meaning we buy them property and we spend thousands and thousands of dollars for the building. It's basically all about money - as it always is here in Haiti.
The government can do whatever they want to do - decide that papers aren't legal or even make-up new papers to suit their needs. Everyone I talked to here says it's a very serious problem. This group of men had plans drawn up for the building and aren't wasting any time. There were many other things shared at this meeting - but I just don't have the heart to depress you any further…… as it has certainly depressed me. The corruption of the government has never been more clear to me than now.
I have set up a meeting for June 3rd at 4:00 p.m. While I normally wouldn't share this kind of news…I feel like it's important for God's people to start praying. The meeting will be with some of our directors and staff and the mayor, judge, senator, health administrator, and other Haitian medical directors.
Please join us in prayer as we fight to keep our building and the programs it houses.
Stressful Day - Problems with Government
May 15, 2008 at 1:40 am ·
I had just finished a long day of booking tickets and such. So I decided to come upstairs to take a break. My eyes were hurting from staring at the computer screen. Just as soon as I had lifted my feet off the ground - Elveus came in with some disturbing news.
Several years ago the mission was given the government building which sits right in the middle of our property. It housed the Miriam Center and the Nutritional Program for years. Right now it houses the baby orphanage on the roof top and the lower level is soon to be our brand new Birthing Center where we will deliver babies and do surgeries on a daily basis.
We had renovated the building and just begun making final preparations for the birthing center to open by this fall. Today I had a visit from the judge, mayor, and medical director for the Northwest. Even though that building had been given to us years and years ago - they say that the building is theirs and they want it back. They had an architect and an engineer looking at it today - as if they're just going to take it tomorrow.
Obviously my mind went racing as I thought about all the money we had invested into the building - but more importantly the children in the baby orphanage who live on top. I spent hours talking to the men and explaining to them that we had a paper that said that building was ours. Well they said the man who gave us the paper didn't have the authority to do it. I don't know what all this means but I found myself in tears.
I called Janeil who was busy in the states loading up a container that we're shipping to Haiti. We were both pretty frustrated and upset. The group of men said we could either give the building back or build them a new building somewhere else. A new building somewhere else - meaning we buy them property and we spend thousands and thousands of dollars for the building. It's basically all about money - as it always is here in Haiti.
The government can do whatever they want to do - decide that papers aren't legal or even make-up new papers to suit their needs. Everyone I talked to here says it's a very serious problem. This group of men had plans drawn up for the building and aren't wasting any time. There were many other things shared at this meeting - but I just don't have the heart to depress you any further…… as it has certainly depressed me. The corruption of the government has never been more clear to me than now.
I have set up a meeting for June 3rd at 4:00 p.m. While I normally wouldn't share this kind of news…I feel like it's important for God's people to start praying. The meeting will be with some of our directors and staff and the mayor, judge, senator, health administrator, and other Haitian medical directors.
Please join us in prayer as we fight to keep our building and the programs it houses.
Friday, May 16, 2008
Everyone got out safely!
Tim and I received an update and the 80 folks who were in Haiti all got home safe and sound! Hurray!
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