3/30/10

Part 2: Cap-Haitien Airport, Turks and Caicos, Ft. Pierce (FL)
















Cool to see supplies coming in




Our ride.





























You may find this surprising, but I was more comfortable on this flight than any commercial flight I had been on. The seats reclined further, more legroom, the door to the cockpit was open and we could go say hello to the pilots, we were quite free to move about the cabin, and we even had snacks. Could the ride the previous day on the truck and the fact that we'd been traveling in minimal comfort for the previous 3 days have added into the feeling that I was so comfortable? Well, I'm sure it did.

When we arrived in Turks and Caicos, the local community brought snacks, sandwiches, and drinks because they knew aid-workers were filtering in and out of the airport and airport lounge. They encouraged us to eat and we were very grateful! What a blessing.

Landing in Fort Pierce was great, but I missed Haiti by then. I was glad to be back but would have been just as glad to be back in Haiti again. This is where my photo-blog for this journey will end...but I did go back!

3/26/10

Anse à Galets to Montrouis to Cap-Haitien

The journey home started around 7am Sunday morning on January 17. As we prepared to leave Anse à Galets, Haiti, we heard sounds of singing voices coming from the churches nearby. It is an amazingly beautiful thing to wake up to in the morning. We had to say goodbye to our new friends, and when I said goodbye to Moise, he said "no goodbye" with a sad face on. It was hard to leave him, the Alexander's, Irvine's and the other Wesleyan missionaries that had been so welcoming. This is the very same feeling I felt with regard to leaving Haiti altogether. A people that had been some welcoming, warm, and kind, and a people that needed so much help made it a very difficult place to leave.

The boat-ride from Anse à Galets to Montrouis was somewhere around 2 hours and the truck ride from Montrouis to Cap-Haitien was over 8 hours. A long journey. Having several Haitians catching a ride to a couple places along the way, one pit stop along the way, some beautiful views from the mountains, a little rain, breathing fumes and dust, and some more exciting driving made for an interesting trip to say the least.


Anse à Galets, Haiti











Anse à Galets, Haiti


The truck.
30 people.
Luggage.
Diesel fumes.
Dust.
8+ hour journey.
Just as much fun as it sounds!
But a blessing to be on the journey home.

3/25/10

Butch and Tricia Alexander and Dan and Joy Irvine were a huge blessing to our team and they let us stay with them on the Wesleyan compound on the island of La Ganove. They are amazing people and are truly serving God with their whole lives down in Haiti. It was great for me to learn so much in such a short period of time from these missionaries and to be able to be encouraged and helped immensely!

Caribe Atlantic Area Missionaries


Moise is the little boy in these photos - what an amazing little guy he is. He is now in the states and has been adopted by Dan and Joy's daughter, which was a huge a blessing from God that all the details came through. He made our Saturday on La Ganove quite the amazing and fun time that it was!









3/23/10

Updates!

I just returned back from my second trip to Haiti this past weekend and have more photos to share and more stories of course. I will add a few more from the trip back in January before adding the new ones. Enjoy.

Last Day On the Compound and Trip to La Ganove

Friday, January 15, 2010
Petit-Goave, Haiti




Saw this on either Man vs. Wild or Survivorman - building a teepee is fairly simple so long as you have a fabric belt or something similar. Grab three branches, strap the belt around, flip the middle branch over and around and back through the other two branches and you have the structure of a teepee. Awesome. We added on to the basic frame so more people could fit underneath.












Me and my buddy Blanc - our translator. This guy is amazing.





Butch Alexander and Dan Irvine came to our rescue, picked us up by boat, and spoiled us with great food and cold water!






A boat coming from Port Au Prince - clearly bringing people out of the city for refuge.


Fishing village on a small island






Battleship way off in the distance