So….I know I’m overdue but it’s been not the easiest to get
to the internet café. So bare with me! So we are now in Haiti! And only by the grace of God! We were supposed
to leave around 9 Friday morning, but they showed up about 2 hours late. So we
loaded up…and by loaded…I MEAN LOADED. 31 people in a bus made for 25 and a 6×6
trailer filled and loaded on top with 31 packs. So we know how to do things! So
we made our 7 hour drive to Haiti. And if you are thinking that the term drive
is not loaded….let me correct you. We were packed uncomfortably and behind
schedule to begin with. Then we are moving along and we stopped because we
noticed that one of the bags was hanging and not in the way that we packed it.
So we stop and fix it and get a quick bathroom break and pop stop too. So when
we take off, the driver informs Aaron (our BOMB ambassador, logistics and
translator!) that the breaks are acting funny. So we pull off and get that all
fixed but that took about 45 minutes. So we are on our way and rolling. So I am
in this fold away chair thing that has the worst lean to the right and it’s
right next to the door where another translator was standing. So that was very
awkward. But yet another problem is in
the making. The border check in closes at 6 and we are on schedule to get there
at maybe 5:50. So we are just doing all that we can, but then start to notice
that we are VERY low on gas too. So we pull into the border town and the driver
pulls into a gas station to get gas and at this time it is 6:00. So I am just
planning on camping in some field in the DR. So we all pray for good favor at
the border since we are going to be late. And at that time some guy comes up
and jumps on the bus and rides with us. On the way we gather our passports so
that maybe the process might not seem so daunting to the person that has to do
it. So we get there and we have 31 passports ready to go and we pull in and
park. And at that very moment about 4 trucks of people trying to sell things
roils up and like mobs us. Jeremy and I hop out to watch the bags that are just
out and accessible. They didn’t seem that that was their objective but just to
be safe. Well Aaron comes back and has to get some money to pay for “insurance”
to cross. So I go back in with him since now he has American cash. Not much to
it to be honest. Just a bunch of people speaking a language I can’t understand.
So that goes rather smoothly, then we pull up to exchange our pesos for gourds.
So each team has 80,000 pesos. We have 4 teams and we each need that much
because there aren’t many working ATMs in Haiti so we are taking the full
months expenditures with us. So we all together have around 400,000 pesos
combined. Not the average exchange that they are used to. So we are doing this
in a random entrance to the customs building and with a guy wearing a satchel.
Yes…a satchel with all the money that he has to work with. So he laughs and
then calls in the cavalry that arrives on a moped with more satchels. So we decide to only to part of it for time
reasons and simplicity. So we then move onward to the border and CROSS!! We are
in HAITI! So now we are at some Haitian Christian mission compound. So they
provide dinner and we are about to go sleep on the roof underneath the
stairs. So that is how it is here.
We also found out our mission contacts and assignments. We
are staying in a compound in Grande Guave (sp?) and will be doing all kinds of
things. We are, from word of mouth, about 30 feet from the ocean! So that is
legit right there! I have been taking pictures and loving on the DR kids while
we were there. We played some basketball with some guys while the women painted
the girls fingernails. I got a Tigger button this morning from a young girl
that gave the four of us when we went to her parents empanada corner store..which
was DELICIOUS for only 25 pesos. Chicken and queso! YUM. So that is all for now. Many more things to
type about, but I am tired. So good night and I’ll blog when I can!
p.s.—ALLY! How are you? So glad you commented! And some
Harry Potter sounds phenomenal. Hope the rest of your travel day went smoothly!
edit….it’s not the 10th AM and the time is the same as you guys at home, but the sun comes up at 5 and roosters don’t mess around out here! I think it’s funny to listen to them but come on now…it’s 5 AM!!
Some pics! First is P SQUAD in DR and the 4 Haiti teams are about to head out.
Second is my boy Tommy giving a local boy Willy a piggy back ride.
Third is the sunrise here in Haiti.
Fourth is the sunset at the very moment we crossed into Haiti.
Fifth is a shot from the side of the road in the DR as we were determining the brake situation.
Sixth is a cart with assorted fruit on the beach on our beach day.
Seventh is ALL FOR YOU BEV!!! She is being a raptor and we had to bait her out and the she attacked the pastry that was out for her! She is great!
Eighth is a boy at our block dance party.
9 is a few out on the beach.
10….WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT???
K bye! LOVE YOU ALL!!
f
