Beginnings

Our trip began in Chicago with Ray Carter, Johnny Musso, Andy and Adam Code, Chris Greeno and Jim Meyer. We just finished our first full day in this wonderful, yet deeply tortured country of Haiti. After landing yesterday afternoon, negotiating the frenetic experience of the Port-au-Prince airport, and making the long detour around the airport in the back of a large pickup truck, we reached our temporary home in Bon Repos, and Marie’s open arms. The sights, smells, and feelings that we experienced on our ride were not close to predictable. Ruts ruled every road; open tent communities lined every field, people were walking everywhere, yet I couldn’t help but feel a peace and a faith among the waving hands and smiling faces that followed us all the way to Bon Repos.

After settling in to our mosquito covered rooms with freshly made beds and an initiating hug from Marie, we headed down the block on a five minute walk to the orphanage. I now know for sure that God created all children in his image in all parts of the world. Having visited continents from Africa, to Asia, Europe and countries in Central America, I am convinced that a child’s unconditional love is a universal language. It was less than two minutes before all six of the men on our trip (plus Tim and Ethan Gibbons who joined us from the Quad Cities) were enveloped by 31 rambunctious girls, full of laughter, smiles, hugs and dances. Names were exchanged, hands were held, candy was handed out and bugs were slapped, and we began our new and blessed relationships. We capped our night with a full history of Marie’s journey, a celebration of the Blackhawks victory in the Stanley Cup, and our venture under the mosquito nets on a sweaty Haitian evening. Needless to say all slept well and all woke by 5:30 – a full hour and a half after the sun rose. Ouch!

Today was literally unbelievable. We began with a refreshed connection to our new friends at the orphanage, followed by a three hour tour of the devastation in Port-au-Prince. The total destruction can only be captured in person, yet we took countless pictures and stopped numerous times in an attempt to commemorate the disaster. In the city, over half of the buildings looked like pancakes. Rubble, stone, rebar, and garbage are everywhere. The water in the streets, fields and streams is a color of green that has never been named. The mixed smell of exhaust fumes, burning debris, and cooking fires is omnipresent. People sitting on the sides of the street, unemployed and homeless, haunts me as I write this. Yet, the smiles, thumbs up, and friendly Bon Jour connections were comforting and assured me that there is hope, and God is sovereign. I couldn’t stop looking at the smashed buildings and imagining the horror of being trapped inside a fallen structure in stifling heat for days and even weeks. Even the Presidential Palace was demolished with a full tent city directly across the street. Ironically, a full staff was mowing and raking the lawn amidst the chaos.

Finally, we pulled into a local hardware store and spent the next two hours (in close to 100 degree temperature) loading and unloading 100 bags of concrete (94 lbs each) and delivering to the orphanage. Hopefully, we will see the pouring of the new floors in the dormitory tomorrow or Saturday. It felt good to contribute – even in a small way. On to the showers, Gina’s home cooked meal of beef, vegetables, rice, and ice cold beverages. As I type this we are in the midst of great fellowship and sharing. I can’t help but remember Henry Blackaby’s great words, “If you want to experience God, go where he is working”. And, I can assure you He is working here and now. Blessings to all. Andy Code