Catch Up
It has been a while since I have updated this blog. I still have a few entries left from last years trip (including the one below) that I will transcribe over the next couple of weeks. As many of you know I have been making an annual trip to Haiti for the last 5 to 6 years. What many of you may not be aware of is that while I am not in Haiti I continue to communicate with my Haitian brothers and sisters.
Additionally, thanks to some generous donors, it has been possible to provide some support to the Easy English Club as well as help out an individual. For the Easy English Club, it was possible to provide them with a tablet. This tablet was made in Haiti so it helped support a Haitian owned business and the idea was to enable the club to rent it out to club members in the hopes that it would generate some level or revenue (however small) for the club.
As I begin to prepare for my next trip in Haiti in April / March of next year I will soon be sending out requests for financial support for the trip. If you are able, please support this trip, in any amount, so that I am able to continue to provide what little aid I am able with our Haitian family and let them now they are not forgotten.
Early Morning, a Flat Time, and Mountains Beyond Mountains
(transcribed from an entry written April 8th 2014)
My flight out of Port-au-Prince was at 9AM. This meant that the plan was to leave the United Christian International (UCI) site at 3:30AM as it a 3 1/2 to 4 hour drive to the airport in Port-au-Prince. It is better to have extra time than not. So it was early to bed, which meant I was unable to say a proper goodbye to everyone. I was, however, gifted with a mission trip t-shirt from the Canadian group complete will a maple leaf. I will wear it proudly.
Sleep was not easy. I often get anxious before travel and the coming day meant travel on roads in the dark that are barely passable, in places, in the light of day. I was originally meant to be driven by Alfred, but was informed that plans had changed as Alfred had to drive his sister to the hospital and she was not doing well. Please pray for Alfred's sister, Alfred, and their family.
I had set my alarm for 3AM, packed everything in one bag, and then was off to sleep. By 2:45AM I figured it wasn't worth the charade any more, so I quietly got dressed and headed out to the common room to wait. I figured that getting ready would chew up enough time that it would soon be time to go ... nope, only took 10 minutes ... drat.
The common room quite dark and my flashlight had gone missing the previous week so all I had was my iPhone in flashlight mode and anyone with an iPhone understands how quickly that chews up battery. As I had a long day ahead and was concerned about battery I sat quietly in the dark listening to the night.
30 minutes can seem like a long time sitting in the early morning dark when you are prepared and ready to travel. It was also hot in the common room, so I wondered outside to where it was cooler, but still quite dark.
Turns out that a very dark outside Haiti, in an unfamiliar place can be a little scary. Where those dogs I saw running between the trees or something else? They really looked like bobcats? Does Haiti have bobcats? Someone said Haiti has only non-poisonous snakes. Was that a mango falling? Stop! Wow, the starts are really quite amazing. Drat, it is only 3:05. Back into the common room and the protection of the screen door. (This outside then inside process was repeated several times).
3:30, no sign of anyone.
4:00, still nothing, starting to get that anxious traveller feeling. Trying to remember that it is "island time", God is in control, and it will all work out. Quick prayer. Calm.
Somewhere between 4:00 and 4:30 Jean Jean came out and let me know that Alfred was just about here and there is plenty of time. Alfred? I hope his sister is OK. Felt a little bit guilty for taking him away from his family. Quick prayer. Calm.
A quick goodbye to Jean Jean and Kristie (hope they went back to sleep) and we were off. To be honest, I felt better with Alfred because I had been told that he is the beast and on a dark, sketchy road you want the best.
The drive, while bumpy, went fine and true enough Alfred seemed to know the location of every pot hole, mud hole, rock and how to avoid them. Way to go Alfred!
I was surprised how many people, animals, and spools of cable (NatCom) were on the road at this hour. The people stayed on the side of the road, the goats and dogs moved out of the way. The spools of cable pretty much stayed put in the middle of the road, but Alfred expertly maneuvered around them.
We cleared the river (yes we had to drive through a river) and miles of dirt road in record time and were finally on the paved portion of the road. Nothing could stop us now and I would surely make the flight with ease.
Pop! Psst!
A shared look, an uh-oh, and we pulled to the side. I quickly asked "Got a space?" Alfred indicated he did and we hopped out to change the blown tire. About 30 minutes into the 3.5 hour drive and now we had to go the rest of the way with no spare.
Got it God. Depend on you. You have control. Quick prayer, an inside laugh, "got to love Haiti", and calm.
The rest of the trip to the airport when without incident although my iPhone battery was now about 50% as I used it as a flashlight as we, well as Alfred, changed the tire.
Alfred pulled into the airport a quick "non, mercy" to the guy who wanted to carry my one bag 10 feet for a tip. A quick "mercy" and "au revoir" to Alfred and I was off.
Through ticketing, immigration, first security check point, upstairs, second security check point, sit. Still almost an hour before boarding ... drat ... coffee.
Mountains Beyond Mountains
There was a book titled "Mountains Beyond Mountains" written about Paul Farmer and his work through Partners in Health. The phrase "mountains beyond mountains" is from, as I recall, an old Haitian saying and refers to the fact that there will always be more problems, so solve today's problems and don't be too frustrated when tomorrow's problems appear (sound familiar).
This phrase kept coming to my mind as we drove from Caimen to Port-au-Prince. First because physically there always seemed to be more mountains to cross before we could get to Port-au-Prince. Second, because I kept creating and becoming burdened by problems that really didn't exist if I would just rely on God and give God space to do what he does instead of keep thinking that I was in control. This is a persistent problem of mine and its root is pride.
God, thank you for Alfred, his skill, his humor, and his easy going style. Please watch over his family and especially his sister. Thank you for my time in Caimen, for Jean Jean, Kristie, Tona, and Kari. Thank you for the groups from Iowa and Canada. Please bless them all. Bless Kari as her birthday is Wednesday. May it be joyful and may it be in community. Thank you for safe travel and for bringing me back to my family. Forgive my pride. Amen.
