Day 1 - June 16 - Wednesday

4:30 AM found us pouring down the stairs to catch the shuttle to the airport. Lots of waiting today. Waiting, fly two hours to Port au Prince - smooth flight. Chase down our luggage in a huge warehouse. Met up with Adam and Jordan - two engineering interns. Satellite connection going down -try later.
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It's later... Wednesday I think, and this trip has flown by. It is very lonely here as I work without the team I have grown to love so much. I would rather be tying rebar with them than unravelling these computer problems by myself. Taking a moment to finish Day 1's report.
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It was hot and humid and the grime in the air stirred up by thousands of feet stuck to our skins as we searched for our baggage. Pieces of our luggage seemed to appear and disappear, but eventually we got it all together and proceeded through Customs. Theodore led us out about 50 feet, then we saw Frer Lamour, who got us loaded on the truck. Kester's language skills were very valuable, as he argued manning and prices with the baggage handlers. Violence swirled around us, as workers and would-be workers slapped and kicked and threatened with swinging water bottles in the broiling street. A young man said something to one of the women in our party, and was slapped silly by a nearby policeman. The man staggered back, and the turmoil faded into the crowd of people as we drove to the Tortug'Air side of the airport.

Frer Lamour helped us get our tickets and check in our luggage -- overage charges shocked us! We should have done the math earlier. The two interns were on an 11 AM flight, which left about 1 PM, and we were scheduled for the 3 PM flight. Waiting, waiting... trying to doze on suitcases until they were checked in, then on the floor, trying to stay out of the way. An hour before our flight time some seats opened up, and some got to sleep more soundly.

I have to comment on an incident there. A friendly lady a little older than I spoke briefly and kindly with me (I run out of Creole quickly). She was awaiting a flight and wondered around the airport. A bit later, paramedics began to converge on a man I had not noticed, but who was passed out in a chair. They worked on him for over half an hour, then faded away. The lady I spoke of earlier drifted over to the man, who was clearly feeling very sick, and spoke with him briefly. He did not look quite as miserable when she left. Christ is all around us here.

Finally it was time to board, and we loaded up. Ooops! Mason and a lady from New Jersey had no seats. No mind - let's go!! No, we have to do things right. A couple of workers appeared with a double seat unit, which was bolted in behind the last row, and then we were off. Ride was a bit bumpy, with convection currents from the hills which had been strenghtening as the day wore on and the air heated more and more. A 45 minute flight, a sharp left bank and level up and we are rolling down the gravel strip at Port de Paix. Thank God for blessing our travel. We are not done yet. Pastor Wilfred takes a truckload of us across the river, while the rest hike half a mile to take a boat across the river, and then load into Pastor Chrisbon's truck. It seems like hours that we jolt and sway across roads much worse than I remember. On the way, I noticed the soccer goals that Kester and John built last year for Eric Thompson's tournament, gleaming PVC white in the early twilight. We take a refreshing stop at Pastor Chrisbon's house in Post Metier, then it's on to Bruce's. We arrive late (and without our bags), so Bruce and Deb feed us and get us bedded down in the team house. Sweet, blessed sleep! Thus endeth the reading for day 1.