Finally!

Well, I'm here. Actually I have been here since Wednesday, Sept 3, but I am just now starting to blog. it's a long story.......

the day I was to fly in to Haiti, Hurricane Hanna was sitting on top of Haiti and had no mind to move, so my flight was cancelled. At the airport I met Nancy, another missionary going to Haiti. this was in Miami. AFter finally meeting up with Gary and Caroline Walker, the people with whom I will be staying and working, we all decided to share a room that night waiting to find out what to do. I had been told that I could not fly out till Saturday....5 days. :( G&C were told not to bother trying to reschedule at that time. SO, we got a room and talked about how bad it was going. We dined at a local Citgo, the best in fine dining. It had a cafeteria style section that served Cuban sandwiches....actually pretty good! that night as we discussed options we called one last time to the airline and.....they had seats on a flight the next day. Someday I want to work for an airline.....or not? so we all made our flights next day and Nancy went on her way to Jerime in the southern pennisula of Haiti and we started off to St. Marc.

the roads are the worst I have ever seen, the ride was very rough. on the way we saw considerable devastation of destroyed crops, roads, bridges, homes. There even was a dead body on the side of the road. the flooding was terrible and the water ran very fast for many days after this initial trip. Once we got to St. Marc, it was dark, we had just enough power from city power to run fans, and we had no food or water. PARTY ON!! there was considerable cleaning to do from 3 months of emptiness in the house and a week of storms. that night was late and busy. The next day we continued to clean, the local staff people showed up and all pitched in to help. It didn't take but a few days to get the mission up and running and no sooner had it been up than people started showing up asking for help. We have done what we can with food and money to help, but the need is overwhelming and resources are limited. One of the workers in the school, Samuel, is a local pastor and influential in the pastoral community. He has taken charge of organizing the relief effort so we have funnelled funds thru him.

The bridge we crossed at Mountrois was damaged by the flooding just literallly hours after we crossed it and was closed. it has cut us off from Port au Prince to the extent that we have had to get rides on the southern side of the bridge to get town. Neither the school books, nor my CLOTHES, BOOKS, or other important things are here yet. Glad I saved some clothes to take with me on the flight!!! I have met many wonderful people and am veeerrrryyyyy slowwwllyyy starting to get some Creole under my belt. The locals are patient though and that helps. SO school has started and my class has 5 students so far. they are Sophonie, a freshman in hs; Pony, a young man still learning English who is not as advanced as others yet; James, also still learning English some but doing better every day; Myberson, who was raised in the States, wants to go to Tulane and play football and is trying to graduate this year; and Kesmy, whom many of you will know. Kesme is on track to graduate this year, he is working very hard and plans on going to Bible college in Chicago afterwards. Kesme lost both arms in an accident years ago and has overcome MUCH to get where he is.

So, that in a nutshell is where I am for now. the WHY'S will wait for another post, as I am typed out. for friends and family, love to all, for other readers who happen across this, hope you return. I think the story will get better as it goes. bye for now.