Haiti.... for the weekend

It was 9:00 AM.  Our feet were walking the tarmac in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.  We were here, together, for the first time in 14 years.  The sounds of Carribbean music filled the jetway as we walked to customs.  The heat met us as we journeyed through the airport.  "Welcome Back," it seemed to say.  As we rounded the corner we were met by our drivers from the orphanage.  We were assisted quickly and hurried to what would be our "armor" against Haiti traffic.  :)  As we drove the city, I saw us in all the people.  People just like you and I who were just trying to "live".  But as many of you know, resources in a third world country make "living" more difficult as we define it.  Smiles and songs were everywhere.  Hurried workers and school age kids were making their ways around traffic and down alleys.  Many were already making the long trip to a water source or the trek to find some type of work for the day.  Life was happening.  It was hard, but resources were within and hour or two walking distance. 

A honk of the horn and the gate opened to "New Life Children's Home".  We entered what seemed to be an oasis in the midst of the hard, dirty city.  We were treated like royalty and escorted to our room.  We quickly dropped our bags, stretched our legs and visited our "baby"... the helicopter. :)  Next was a visit with the lady behind the orphanage.  What a great time of hearing her vision and where God could use us in partnership with them at the orphanage.  We left encouraged, excited, and thinking.  We met a few others around the orphanage.  Watched the kids come in from school and enjoyed the privilege of being at New Life.  We walked the grounds and noted many projects.  It was good to see work in action.

Now was the time to find out what we could do on our weekend in Haiti.  We cleaned up the helicopter.  John did some maintenance and prepared it for the trip the next day.  People far away from the city needed food.  The orphanage had the food, but no immediate means of getting this food to the mountains.  We had a helicopter....without fuel.  We calculated the trip!  We calculated the fuel costs!  We had just enough from our support check to buy the fuel for one trip out to the mountains and back.  YAY!  So we loaded up the helicopter.

We could take 400lb of food.  So that is what we did.  Then we took off.

Taking off.

Flying over the City of Port-au-Prince

Shorline of Pestel

Close up of Pestel as we head toward the mountains.

We saw a lot of the city, a lot of the ocean, and a lot of the shoreline.  The last two pictures were from an area called Pestel.  We flew up to the mountains right behind this village.  The area was Jean Beline.

We landed and unloaded the little bit of food we had. 

It wasn't enough. :(

We flew back.  It was an eye opener.  We couldn't take more because there was no more money.  I write that to our shame.  We have an obligation, an opportunity to get resources into a country, into the areas away from the city.  We need to share our work with more people.  There is a terrible feeling when you see a need but are restricted because of the lack of money to carry food and medicine to the areas. 

We spent the next day enjoying the orphanage and being loved on by those there.  We got to see the children, swing the children, allow some to help us in the goat pin where the helicopter stays.

We worshipped with them.  We praised our Lord with them.  We were connected as only our God could do.

We came home knowing that we must tell more people of our work with Samaritan Air.  We must offer others the opportunity to join with us and help us carry the load to the remote areas of Haiti.

Thank you to each and everyone of you who accompanied us on this trip and all our trips up to this point.  Your partnerships have allowed us to do what we have so far.  But we know we can do more.  Continue to pray for us to be faithful to share our work, to share the need of the dying people in Haiti who need food, who need basic medical supplies, who need Jesus to walk into their village and bring physical "life" to them so they may live and live well.

John flies back to Haiti next Friday, May 10 to return to the area we took food.  Some pastors want to see the area, see the people and try to help.

Pray for him and the Pastors.