We made it to Haiti!

The 13 of us have settled into our rooms above the old cafeteria here at the Christian School of Vigneir.  When our team dropped to 13 yesterday afternoon, we lost Scott due to an expired passport, I couldn't help but think of the story the Hobbit.  Bilbo Baggins was number 14.  We will miss having Scott but are glad he won't be stuck in Haiti when his passport runs out on Sunday.

Our arrival went smoothly even with the few snags of oversleeping and parking problems at JFK.  The flight even had a movie this time. 

None of our motion sick kids vomited on the van ride from Port-au-Prince and "Ba", our house keeper/security person did a great job of preparing and rearranging our rooms for us here on the second floor.  Success!  We have 4 cement rooms with barred windows.  There are 3 bathrooms and a dining area all with intermittent electricity and running cold water (which feels great).

I had to laugh when a younger member of the team asked why the water we drink is warm and the water he showers in is cold.  

There are always moments of discovery when we travel.  This trip we have 8 team members under 20.  For many this is their first foreign mission experience.  This means great ah-ha moments that will in turn bring even great future trips.  In our first 5 hours here, which included playing with orphans, touring the compound and talking with Haitians, some team members have discovered just how hard it can be to find simple items like rope or a soccer ball.  Rumor has it that there are no suitable (air-filled) balls to be found and jump ropes are equally elusive.  This is when I look forward to seeing the ingenuity of our team and of their Haitian counterparts. 

This evening the kids settled on bubbles, which Michele (experienced mission traveler) had the foresight to pack in her bag.  There were also many flashes of cameras as Hope and Gabe  shutterbugged in the fading light.

Dinner was fabulous, rice and beans with chicken and veggies.  I loved how they put a table for PBJ's off to the side.  Benite, the missionary, knew who was coming his way and must have said something to our chef, Elijah.

Hopefully the end of tonight's blog will mean the beginning of sleep for me.  

Side note:  I am amazed at how many people here are familiar to us/remember us.  Paul, Michele, Nate and I have been here a total of 13 times.  The memories of past trips is a blessing.