We Have Arrived!!

   

After a very long day spent at airports and sitting on planes, we finally arrived  at Haiti around 5:00 this evening (EST).  I had my first glimpse of Haiti and I was overwhelmed by the sights and sounds of Port au Prince and the people! 
The flight from Miami to Port au Prince was 1 ½ hours and when we arrived, we had to take our carryons and get on a bus which took us to go get our luggage…standing room only on the bus and it was around 93 degrees out and we were packed in like sardines J.  However, even though I was very tired from traveling most of the day, I felt energized by the excitement of seeing the Haitian people and just soaking in the sights and sounds. 
Claiming our luggage was an adventure in itself…we had 32 cases that we had to find and pull off the luggage-go-round and it was very hot and sticky in this very small room and packed with a lot of people.  We managed to find all our luggage and then as we left the airport, we were swarmed by Haitian men who wanted to help us with our luggage and do whatever they could for us (and expect some payment in return).  It was pretty intense, but our driver from Healing Haiti thwarted all their attempts and got us to our truck in one piece. 
 We then loaded up the luggage and crawled in the back of the truck and stood or sat while the truck made its way through the city going 5 mph because the roads are unpaved and very bumpy.  I was enthralled by everything I saw around me … people selling their wares on the street, pigs rummaging through garbage along the streets, kids playing kickball in a sandy lot and crazy traffic! 
I am looking forward to our day tomorrow where we will be delivering water to people who do not have access to clean drinking water .  I have no idea  what God has planned for me tomorrow…but I am excited to just let things happen and go with the flow!

Colleen C 

7/30/12