2.26.2010
Preparing for the next trip--March 2nd
Patty is busy preparing for her journey to Haiti on March 2nd. She will be traveling with two others and staying with Marie and the girls at Marie's home. A couple of nights ago there were two 4.7 tremors that has everyone sleeping outside once again. I'm sure we will be getting daily updates once again as soon as Patty arrives in Haiti.
2.07.2010
Return from Haiti--Jim Made it Home
Well, I am home after an unbelievable two weeks in Haiti. I flew out of the Port au Prince airport on a “charter” flight into Santo Domingo on Saturday morning. Charter flight sounds way more luxurious to me than it was. When I had worked my into the airport several days earlier to find out whatever information I could about my options for leaving, I talked with the one “charter” person from Carib Air and she said $275 cash (no credit card electronic thing). I paid her and she asked me if I had a pen so she could give me a receipt. I didn’t have one, but she came up with one in 10 minutes or so and handed me a cash receipt which was to be my “ticket” (no etickets here). I just had to trust that it would work—it was so Haiti.
When I got to the airport on Saturday morning there were several people in front of me being screened by the Haitians who were still in "control" of “security.” Just as I approached the baggage x-ray everything shut down. Apparently there was a shift change and one of the Haitian security personnel took his extension cord with him leaving no power to the x-ray machine. About ten minutes later another Haitian arrived with his extension cord and plugged it into a socket hanging from the ceiling and power was restored and my bags went through the machine—another totally Haitian thing.
The Port au Price airport, which is being run and controlled by the US military, was a busy place. Relief planes from all over the world arriving with supplies, helicopters moving supplies out by air and trucks moving supplies via the roads. It was great to see the world sharing and working together to help the hungry and homeless in Haiti. Speaking with the various relief workers was another great experience—sharing stories of what we all doing and how things were progressing. One Israeli woman that I talked to had also been there two weeks. She told many stories. The one that sticks in my head though is the one about a little boy who had recently died, she did not know how, but suspects that he had recently fallen from a roof or was hit by a car. Nonetheless his body was lying on the street corner for the last three of four days, decaying, dogs eating the flesh—and people going about there business and walking around him—apparently he had no family in the area and no one was going to take the initiative to bury him. A tragedy that is probably not a result of the earthquake—or perhaps it is.
The Carib Air flight was full with twenty passengers consisting of relief workers, CNN crews, Germans, Israelis, Canadians, Swiss, all going to the Dominican Republic to return home, all with several hundred pounds of luggage which was jammed into every available space in the hold, aisle, and in the cabin. I really wasn’t sure we would get off the ground but we did. Then, after landing, I had to get a cab to the “real” airport and that cost me $50 which was hard to part with knowing that across the border it would pay 10 men to work all day with sedge hammers breaking a concrete building into dust. Oh well, I didn’t have a choice. I ended up in Miami Saturday where I spent the night “sleeping” in a chair at the airport. It was OK though because there were no bugs, it was air conditioned, I had a roof over my head, and a pizza joint and an ice cream shop only a few steps away (California Pizza Kitchen and Hagen Das—I couldn’t help myself).
I was somewhat surprised by the news I saw at the Miami airport—I was back in the US. The media headlines, and even deeper within the newspapers and magazines, and on the CNN TV screens—there was nothing mentioned about Haiti. I guess living in Haiti for two short weeks and seeing the tragedies of people lives and hearing their stories and just living with them in their world caused me to believe that the whole world must be as interested as I was. I guess it is just not news anymore. But I also did just see the world at work in bringing much needed supplies to those in the greatest need so I know the world has not forgotten the Haitians. I hope and pray that we do not forget them and that we keep them in our prayers and continue to provide for them until such time as they are able to recover. Several million people living in tents will require massive efforts both now and in the future. Please keep praying.
When I got to the airport on Saturday morning there were several people in front of me being screened by the Haitians who were still in "control" of “security.” Just as I approached the baggage x-ray everything shut down. Apparently there was a shift change and one of the Haitian security personnel took his extension cord with him leaving no power to the x-ray machine. About ten minutes later another Haitian arrived with his extension cord and plugged it into a socket hanging from the ceiling and power was restored and my bags went through the machine—another totally Haitian thing.
The Port au Price airport, which is being run and controlled by the US military, was a busy place. Relief planes from all over the world arriving with supplies, helicopters moving supplies out by air and trucks moving supplies via the roads. It was great to see the world sharing and working together to help the hungry and homeless in Haiti. Speaking with the various relief workers was another great experience—sharing stories of what we all doing and how things were progressing. One Israeli woman that I talked to had also been there two weeks. She told many stories. The one that sticks in my head though is the one about a little boy who had recently died, she did not know how, but suspects that he had recently fallen from a roof or was hit by a car. Nonetheless his body was lying on the street corner for the last three of four days, decaying, dogs eating the flesh—and people going about there business and walking around him—apparently he had no family in the area and no one was going to take the initiative to bury him. A tragedy that is probably not a result of the earthquake—or perhaps it is.
The Carib Air flight was full with twenty passengers consisting of relief workers, CNN crews, Germans, Israelis, Canadians, Swiss, all going to the Dominican Republic to return home, all with several hundred pounds of luggage which was jammed into every available space in the hold, aisle, and in the cabin. I really wasn’t sure we would get off the ground but we did. Then, after landing, I had to get a cab to the “real” airport and that cost me $50 which was hard to part with knowing that across the border it would pay 10 men to work all day with sedge hammers breaking a concrete building into dust. Oh well, I didn’t have a choice. I ended up in Miami Saturday where I spent the night “sleeping” in a chair at the airport. It was OK though because there were no bugs, it was air conditioned, I had a roof over my head, and a pizza joint and an ice cream shop only a few steps away (California Pizza Kitchen and Hagen Das—I couldn’t help myself).
I was somewhat surprised by the news I saw at the Miami airport—I was back in the US. The media headlines, and even deeper within the newspapers and magazines, and on the CNN TV screens—there was nothing mentioned about Haiti. I guess living in Haiti for two short weeks and seeing the tragedies of people lives and hearing their stories and just living with them in their world caused me to believe that the whole world must be as interested as I was. I guess it is just not news anymore. But I also did just see the world at work in bringing much needed supplies to those in the greatest need so I know the world has not forgotten the Haitians. I hope and pray that we do not forget them and that we keep them in our prayers and continue to provide for them until such time as they are able to recover. Several million people living in tents will require massive efforts both now and in the future. Please keep praying.
2.05.2010
Jim's Day in Haiti Fri Feb 5th
I spent my last day in Haiti with Marie, the girls, and looking over the worksite. Marie was not feeling well all day with “heartburn” which I thought may be something more serious. I called Debbie who is a nurse and she came over and came up with the same conclusion as Marie so I felt better. Marie says “today I rest, tomorrow I rest, but then look out I’ll be back.” I hope that is exactly what happens. She is 73 or 74 years old and running like crazy. She has four families living in her house and 30 orphans, two helpers, and she is running three work crews at the demolition site, one doing interior concrete work (4 guys), one rebuilding the outhouses (4 guys), and the destruction crew which was 22 guys today. I get tired even writing about it. I hope to have half the energy at her age.
I many ways I am sad to leave and feel like maybe I should stay another week. But I know it will be good to be home with my family—I miss them. My work here is for the most part accomplished. Shawn and I were able to bring the good news from the US that there are so many people who have been praying and working on behalf of Haiti, Marie, the girls, etc. We provide the assurance to the people here that they are loved by others and that we are standing with them in this extremely difficult time. We were able to bring funds from the relief donations we received and were able to see those funds in action to help many, many, people in this neighborhood. We were able to assure Marie that we can and will rebuild the orphanage and the church. We brought our love, the love of all those who are aware of the desperate needs here and have shown their love through prayer, donations, and working for the cause. There are so many people that have been involved that it overwhelms me. We were able to show Christ’s love to all those we encountered and Christ’s love was clearly shining through them to us as well.
It has been an awesome journey and Shawn and I have had a great time participating in it. We were never in fear of anyone or anything; we were at peace with all those we encountered. It has truly been a blessing. Thank all of you for following along and we look forward to your following the story as it unfolds and participating in whatever way you feel led
I many ways I am sad to leave and feel like maybe I should stay another week. But I know it will be good to be home with my family—I miss them. My work here is for the most part accomplished. Shawn and I were able to bring the good news from the US that there are so many people who have been praying and working on behalf of Haiti, Marie, the girls, etc. We provide the assurance to the people here that they are loved by others and that we are standing with them in this extremely difficult time. We were able to bring funds from the relief donations we received and were able to see those funds in action to help many, many, people in this neighborhood. We were able to assure Marie that we can and will rebuild the orphanage and the church. We brought our love, the love of all those who are aware of the desperate needs here and have shown their love through prayer, donations, and working for the cause. There are so many people that have been involved that it overwhelms me. We were able to show Christ’s love to all those we encountered and Christ’s love was clearly shining through them to us as well.
It has been an awesome journey and Shawn and I have had a great time participating in it. We were never in fear of anyone or anything; we were at peace with all those we encountered. It has truly been a blessing. Thank all of you for following along and we look forward to your following the story as it unfolds and participating in whatever way you feel led
2.04.2010
Jim's Day in Haiti, Thur Feb 4
Today was a little bit of everything. Marie’s house with the girls, destruction site, Marie’s house, destruction site, Port au Prince looking for a few items which we never found, airport to pick up a TV camera crew of two from Canada, traffic jams everywhere, home about an hour after dark. It was a busy day but I feel like I didn’t really accomplish anything.
The work crew continued with the destruction of the church/orphanage and they are still making progress one hammer blow at a time. I am still amazed at their determination. It is hard, hot work, and they are there every morning at 7:00 AM with hammers in their hands. There is another crew finishing the inside of the temporary orphanage building…smoothing out the concrete ceiling and walls, getting it ready to paint. Another crew began rebuilding the outhouses out of salvaged block from the wall that fell. There are so many projects going and Marie is directing traffic and doing a good job of it.
As we drove around we still see tent cities everywhere and the government is telling everyone to sleep outside for fear of another earthquake…and they are, millions of the Haitian people sleeping in their makeshift tents for over three weeks now. We see more military vehicles and US troops on the ground now as well. The airport looks like a military base with US Army barracks/tents all around the airfield. Then the Haitian tent cities start were the airfield ends. Other countries are here as well. China, Canada, many others, helping people in whatever ways they can.
Debbie, the missionary that I am staying with at Hope House, got a call from someone who knew someone who had given them her phone number. Debbie is Canadian and the TV crew from her home town news station is here and arrived in PAP airport late this afternoon. Debbie agreed to put them up for the night or two or more. They came from a different area of Haiti Jackmel and are filming several of the Canadian mission organizations work efforts. I will be sharing a room with them for a few days. Good guys with quite an adventure behind them and more in front of them as the face the destruction of PAP. They came in from Jamaica by a Canadian Navy ship, helicopters and pontoon boats…quite a story in itself.
I went to the airport with Debbie to pick them up and inquired about my leaving and how that may work on Saturday. They say first come first serve…but the first guy in line at 8 AM has not entered the airport yet. The military wants to get out of the civilian transportation business as their main job was rescue and injured and has become people (like me) who are looking for a way home. I found out that they are chartering flight out each day to the DR, Santo Domingo, so I bought a ticket for Saturday morning back to the DR and I will find my way back from there, which should be relatively easy. So I may be home by late Saturday or sometime Sunday. Pizza and a shower and about 12 hours of sleep and I will be good.
Tomorrow will be difficult because I will be saying goodbye to the girls and Marie and that is never easy. I am glad I came and would not have changed anything.
The work crew continued with the destruction of the church/orphanage and they are still making progress one hammer blow at a time. I am still amazed at their determination. It is hard, hot work, and they are there every morning at 7:00 AM with hammers in their hands. There is another crew finishing the inside of the temporary orphanage building…smoothing out the concrete ceiling and walls, getting it ready to paint. Another crew began rebuilding the outhouses out of salvaged block from the wall that fell. There are so many projects going and Marie is directing traffic and doing a good job of it.
As we drove around we still see tent cities everywhere and the government is telling everyone to sleep outside for fear of another earthquake…and they are, millions of the Haitian people sleeping in their makeshift tents for over three weeks now. We see more military vehicles and US troops on the ground now as well. The airport looks like a military base with US Army barracks/tents all around the airfield. Then the Haitian tent cities start were the airfield ends. Other countries are here as well. China, Canada, many others, helping people in whatever ways they can.
Debbie, the missionary that I am staying with at Hope House, got a call from someone who knew someone who had given them her phone number. Debbie is Canadian and the TV crew from her home town news station is here and arrived in PAP airport late this afternoon. Debbie agreed to put them up for the night or two or more. They came from a different area of Haiti Jackmel and are filming several of the Canadian mission organizations work efforts. I will be sharing a room with them for a few days. Good guys with quite an adventure behind them and more in front of them as the face the destruction of PAP. They came in from Jamaica by a Canadian Navy ship, helicopters and pontoon boats…quite a story in itself.
I went to the airport with Debbie to pick them up and inquired about my leaving and how that may work on Saturday. They say first come first serve…but the first guy in line at 8 AM has not entered the airport yet. The military wants to get out of the civilian transportation business as their main job was rescue and injured and has become people (like me) who are looking for a way home. I found out that they are chartering flight out each day to the DR, Santo Domingo, so I bought a ticket for Saturday morning back to the DR and I will find my way back from there, which should be relatively easy. So I may be home by late Saturday or sometime Sunday. Pizza and a shower and about 12 hours of sleep and I will be good.
Tomorrow will be difficult because I will be saying goodbye to the girls and Marie and that is never easy. I am glad I came and would not have changed anything.
Photo of the Hero!!
Jeanna had the girls crawling on their bellies because they could not walk with the quake shaking the building. She had them crawl down the stairs on their bellies too. fast. She was the last one out of the building. It was her quick thinking that saved them.
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