Haiti Day 1 - Arrival in Port Au Prince

The team met up at 3 a.m. in the church parking lot.  We had had several meetings during the past months, but I could have only told you 2 or 3 people's names that morning.  Our first flight left at 7 am bound for Miami.  During that flight I was privileged to meet KT and Sherry, who were in their first mission trip bound for Nicaragua.  (More on that later- They are now on my Facebook, say hi to them and say a prayer if you feel lead to.)

The team had a short layover in Miami then we boarded a plane for Haiti.  Haiti is in the eastern time zone and we arrived at 6:30 PM local time. 

After an relatively easy time at the airport we found a porter, gathered up our 27 large bags of supplies and headed to load the bus for the nice air-conditioned ride to the mission guest house where we would stay at for the night. Heading north from the capital city up the coast to the mission house is a site that affirms that you are not in Denver anymore. (Oops, this is supposed to be the facts only post!-more on that later!). We arrived at around 7:30 pm and the gracious staff at the house had prepared lasagna, roasted giant carrots and steamed cabbage for dinner.  We had a time of worship and discussion and off to bed for the travel weary team.

We are a team of mostly medical professionals who will be serving patients and orphans on the island of LaGonave, Haiti. The island is home to approximately 120,000 Haitians who mainly make their living as fishermen.  The island experienced an increase in population of approximately 40,000 people after the capital city of Port-Au-Prince was devastated by an earthquake in 2010.  Haitians were hoping to find safety away from the taller concrete buildings of the capital. The resources in Haiti are minimal.

The infrastructure is dismal, the government corrupt. (More on that later!)

I am traveling this time with a group of people from the church we attend who are affiliated with missionaries who have funded and helped with the building of a new hospital and nursing College on the island.  Both of these new facilities are scheduled to open in the fall of 2014. The weather is hot, humid and there is really no reason to shower other than to get the old sweat off so the new sweat can begin.  The mosquitoes are out this year in full force and sleeping was a bit challenging the first night with the smell of sunscreen and Deet hanging off of us.

The people on the team are gracious, kind and adventurous, a great combination so far.  We are beginning to hear one another's stories and I am excited about that. The pictures will have to wait largely until my return due to the wi-fi situation here.  

Thank you all for the prayers and support, please continue to keep myself and the team in your good thoughts as we begin surgeries and meet the orphans tomorrow.

Now everyone, please go have an ICE cold beverage for me!