Haiti Fri Nov 12, 2010

Bill and I arrived in Haiti early this morning after a very sleepless night at Miami airport. We have had maybe an hour of sleep since leaving Chicago yesterday afternoon. Arrived at New Life 4 Kids about 9:30 AM and chugged coffee for abut 45 minutes (didn’t help, but tasted good). We checked out the entire compound, orphanage, school, church, gardens, fish farm, chicken coops, rabbit cages, etc. Very nice people and lots going on here. Many opportunities to serve.

The shipping container that left Chicago in September arrived at the premises last week Friday and they had to unload the contents before we got here. The “church” is now a “warehouse” filled with our container contents. Missionary Fran was looking through many of the boxes of clothes we sent in an effort to find a “perfect” wedding dress and a decent pair of pants for a couple who are getting married soon. She found them both and was thrilled—although I am not sure they would be considered perfect on our American eyes—they will be beautiful here.

Tomorrow Bill and I and a few of the kids will haul out the component parts for 20 bunk beds shipped on the container and begin assembly. The kids will be so happy to see the new beds. We will also be putting together a hundred or more school desks which were also on the container. We had to move nearly all of the boxes to find the box of screws for the bunkbeds. Beyond that we have no specific plans other than seeing other friends here and helping out wherever we can.

They are taking Cholera precautions here and we are taking Cipro along with our Malaria meds. Everyone entering the compound is required to use antibacterial hand cleaner as they come through the gate. I’m sure it will seem silly to us when we get into a tent city and have kids crawling all over us. Oh well, it is Haiti.

Signing out because my eyes will not stay open long enough to continue.