First Impressions of Haiti

Well, we made it in one piece to Haiti after experiencing what the pilots called minor turbulance along the way! I call it something else entirely. The landing was less than stellar, but it was a landing at an airport, so that is definitely a plus!  The experience at the airport was just that - an experience! Mere words cannot describe getting off the plane, being herded onto a bus and taken to customs, and then to the insanity of  the "baggage claim" area - a giant room filled with men and luggage scattered everywhere - because by the time you make it through immigration - the baggage is who knows where!

You are immediately accosted by numerous workers wanting to retrieve your bags, put them on the cart and just start walking off with them - as they argue with one another about WHO is going to take them. It is a little unnerving, because these guys did not speak English, and we did not speak Haitian Creole! Pointing to the bandana I had tied around my carry on backpack, did make it so they could find our bags, since I had tied a bandana on all the bags. Yay me! :-)

Once we had finally made it through immigration and retrieved all 5 checked bags, we had to go through customs (all in a large overcrowded building with no air). I made it past the customs guy no problem - he looked at my loaded down cart, looked at me - hesitiated a moment and waved me through. Meanwhile this same guy stops Paul (as my guy is sprinting away with my loaded cart) and asks him what is in one particularly large (76 pounds to be exact) bag. Paul makes up some stuff which happens to be true, the guy hesitates and finally waves him on. Praise God, cause I was not ready to have them go through all our stuff and lose it.

We hurry outside with our carts and see a young man holding a sign that says "Paul and Melody."  I breathe a sigh of relief, however, other men want to carry our stuff, I tell them we have it, they are persistant, our guy and the other guy are arguing....Uh OH! The two guys are racing off with the carts and arguing, and I am doing my best to keep up! Thankfully I spot Michelle in the distance and feel MUCH better about the outcome of this event.

The adventure continues after we make it to the truck...Suffice it to say that driving in Haiti is NOT like driving in the USA. I saw maybe one light. Let's just call it what it is - it's a free for all. No rules. Whoever drives faster and crazier wins. Cutting people off is apparently part of the driving process....It is an amazing experience to say the least. Add the "potholes" to the mix and you feel as if you are in a video game - continually dodging oncoming trucks, potholes, chickens, dogs and goats! Yes, they all share the road! :-)

After we had lunch, we went to the Children of Hope Orphanage and Hospice where we were greeted instantaneaousl with hugs and kisses from the childen, and then from Mama T and Lourdes. The children are precious, and so are these ladies who love them so.

As everyone  knows, a hurricane was approaching Hait as we left, and it was suggested that we postpone the trip. Paul and I talked about it, but it was never a serious consideration for us, as we really believed that Haiti was not going to be hit.

Everyone we know sent up prayers that Haiti be spared more destruction. We just prayed and prayed and prayed. Even today we were under a hurricane warning. We got a little rain. It just shows the mighty hand of God answering the prayers of His children. He always hears and he always answers. He is so good.

This afternoon, Greg took us for a drive around the area. Pictures can not really prepare you for what you are going to see. And smell. The level of poverty here is completely indescribable. Our poor in the US are wealthy compared to what we saw today. Living in squalor doesn't even begin to describe the conditions. Tents, shacks, shantys, overcrowding is an understatement. The smell of the area close to the port was like nothing I have ever smelled.

So when you come to Haiti, your senses are overwhelmed, and you shake your head, and your mouth kind of falls open in disbelief. And you shake your head in disbelief at what you are seeing, thinking it must be a scene out of some horrible movie about what it might be like in the last days. It is NOT something you expect to see in 2012. Not when so many have the means to help - yet do not.

While your senses are overwhelmed by the sadness and destruction that you see, your heart is also filled by people who are still so full of love and hope that it is contagious. Their smile simply warms your soul.