Monday, March 9, 2009
We were ready to leave the snows of winter and head south to the sunshine of Haiti. Sunday night Jeanne and I were sitting in our hotel room in Madison and looking at each other we felt as though this wasn't real. We were going to a third world country where the sights, smells and conditions would be unlike anything we had experienced before. My prayer for this team is that Jesus will open our eyes to see, our hearts to feel and our ears to hear every message and blessing he has in store for us.
The flight out of Madison was in the darkness of the early morning. Madison to Chicago was uneventful. Chicago to Miami was again a lovely flight. Jeanne and I read while Dennis and Robbie worked Sudoko puzzles or caught a little shut eye.
Our flight out of Miami was one we won't forget. It wasn't too long into the flight when things didn't feel right to me. There was a surge of power and I could hear and feel the plane slow and then speed up. The ride wasn't what I had experienced in the past.
Soon the captain came on and said our landing gear wouldn't come back up and we couldn't fly to Haiti with the landing gear down. We couldn't land with a plane full of fuel so we flew around, and around, and around Florida until we had just enough fuel.
The captain came back on and said we would do a fly by so the ground crew could look at the landing gear. If all looked good we would land and they would check the landing gear out further.
We did the fly by and up in the air we went again. After flying around a little longer we landed. I half expected to see fire trucks and other emergency vehicles parked on the air strip. Nothing so exciting happened. We got off the plane and were told to checked in at D23. I was waiting for one of the passengers to yell "BINGO!".
I kept wondering what my lesson was here. Perhaps patience, perhaps realizing that God is in control. All my worrying would do no good. I had to accept that God's plan is the best plan.
While we waited for the next flight it gave us further opportunity to get to know the other members of this mission team. There's Lynn (our fearless leader), Luke, Pam and others. I'll remember more names tomorrow, I promise! For the sake of accountability I'm #4. When Lynn does "roll call" (a blast from my military past) I'm quick to shout out my number.
We got into Haiti after 6 pm. It was dark and quiet. Had we arrived on time we would have been met by bands playing hoping for a monetary donation and many men wanting to take your bags in hopes of earning a little money for the day. So naturally when I was pushing my cart with bags on it every time someone grabbed the cart I was saying "no, no!" We finally made it out of the baggage area and started out to the vehicles waiting for us. One poor guy grabs my cart. He's trying to pull my cart in one direction and I'm pushing it in another. I felt like my cart was being hijacked! How was I to know he was working with our driver? Finally our driver yells "No, no - he's helping me!" The battle finally ended and I could relax.
We arrived at Wall's Guest House and found many American missionaries there. A small orange tabby kitten greeted us and being the cat person I had to scoop him up. And yes Mom - I had to stick my face in his.
Everyone went out for a meal on the town. I stayed back as my knees were sore and there were more stairs I'd have to climb. I had a meal at the guest house of spaghetti, a wonderful salad, bread and a custard pudding. It was delicious. I'm sure a few of you remember soda in a glass bottle - right? It's been years since I've enjoyed this. Tonight I enjoyed a cold 7-Up in that green bottle. It was so good! I've always believed nothing tasted better than soda from a glass bottle.
The manager of the guest house showed me where the electrical plug was and he gave me permission to use their internet connection. I'm such a great packer that I managed to have the laptop in one bag and the electrical cord in another! So I apologize that I didn't have something for you this morning.
Tomorrow we head out for Les Cayes. This is where Nora and the Children of Israel orphanage is. The other missionaries that have been to Les Cayes tell me how happy the children are. They say that the people of Haiti are a happy people. For the little that they have (in comparison to us) they are happy with what the Lord has given them.
I will write more tomorrow. I think the computer is probably recharged. I can only hope so. I'll make sure I pack the cord AND laptop in the same bag. Good idea, huh? Lots of photos were taken today so perhaps I can find time to download some of them and get them posted. That will be a lot more interesting than my tired ramblings.
We all send our love. Know we are happy to be here doing the Lord's work and representing the love and care that Peace has for the people of Haiti. My computer says it's 11:14 pm which is probably 10:14 pm Haiti time. I don't believe they do that "spring forward, fall back" thing we all live by.
