Arriving in Haiti

Well...we made it to Haiti. Arrived at the airport at 3:45am for the 6am flight to Miami and from there to Haiti. We each have a carryon plus a backpack which is our clothes, toiletries and snacks for 8 days. Our checked luggage carries all the donations that people have made for this trip. 11 people...37 pieces of luggage total. A mountain of luggage.

The first view of Haiti is of dry, brown mountains all up and down the coast. Walled green yards come into focus as the plane descends towards the airport. We are the last of 3-4 flights that arrive each day when we finally land at 4:30pm. The plane is surprisingly large from Miami to Port-au-Prince...a 747 with nearly 200 people...to Haiti!! This happens two to three times each day. Some business people, some mission folks like us, some natives. Incredible!

We deplane and walk through the tiny airport, down the escalator to the bus which takes us to customs. Customs is in a large warehouse type room with the three customs agents dividing the room in half ....on the other side is the luggage pickup where chaos reigned!! Everyone was trying to get their luggage to carts and there were Haitians there waiting to help load the luggage, hoping to get a tip for helping. People yelling, and pulling... then we walked about 100 yards to the waiting truck belonging to Healing Haiti. Exciting....overwhelming....

The ride to the Guest House is eye-opening. Poverty is indescribable. I will never complain about Minnesota potholes again...You could lose a truck in some of those. A bone-jarring ride through the tent city. Tents snugged up to tents snugged up to still more tents. Children waving hello from the doorways. 24/7/365 camping.

The Guest House is dim and cool with fans blowing on the seating area. The bedrooms are airconditioned (thank the Lord) and we bunk 4-6 to a room. The dogs guard the walled yard but they love your shoes for chew toys.

Dinner is cooked by Fonis and her helper and Jean. Plaintains, Chicken and rice, rice and beans, spinach, cabbage, local beer....DELICIOUS!!

We end the evening talking quietly...anxious about tomorrow with the water trucks. The heat will be about 90 degrees.

Some folks drove into town with our local liaison, Jean, to experience the market. I'm going to bed.

Welcome to Haiti!