Day 1. Saturday, July 24

The day started early this morning (like 4:30 am early) after a 3-4 hour "nap". This was a result of our delayed flight out of ATL, which shortened our layover. But it was still great to have a little sleep. We got on the plane before 7 and had an interesting flight over. There were more sharp turns than usual, and the Haitian man next to me explained that this was because of the need to avoid Cuban airspace. Oh.

We landed near the shore and got off in a flurry of jet engines, the welcoming band, and clamors for our attention. We found our YWAM companions, and packed our luggage and part of our group in the back of a truck. The rest of us climbed in a van where our driver promptly dropped the key in an impossible place to get. Great start. :) We got to socialize with a group from Oregon until Vogly (our Haitian driver who is also on staff here at YWAM) fished out the key and got us on our way.

Some impressions:

The tent cities actually are as they appear on TV. Very crowded with a surprising kind of organization. They crowd once soccer fields, public parks, and national landmarks (the conch man I have a picture of is now surrounded by tents).

Traffic is similar to other developing countries: no rules except every man for himself. People walk in the street with buckets, baskets, bundles, or even stacks of books (not kidding) on their head. The colorful buses I read about are abundant, and some taxis are decorated as well.

We entered our base (a walled orphanage with an armed guard called New Life Children's Home). The orphanage is renting land to YWAM, so they have buildings around a field, and YWAM has set up headquarters in our own tent city. Everyone (there are about 60 other students here at this current time) lives in tents in less-organized rows and shares 3 bathrooms. Showers are bucket showers (new experience for me, and are great waker-uppers, I've discovered). This is definitely a new experience, but its so much fun being around so many other people who are devoted to a similar purpose. Can't wait to get to know these people better.

We had an orientation with a YWAM staff and the base director (a Haitian named Peterson who has an amazing vision for his country and his people). Summary of his message: As God uses all things for good, He is using the tragedy of the earthquake to force Haiti to be rebuilt upon a stronger foundation (not just infrastructure, but the people's beliefs). Apparently, the people of Haiti promised their land to the Devil in a voodoo ceremony in 1804, and the nation was said to be cursed for 200 years because of this deal.

Plans for the week include VBSs in the tent cities and orphanages (the one we're in and others). We will attend a local church tomorrow and worship services in the tent cities Tuesday and Thursday.

Keep the prayers coming and let me know if you have any questions I can try to get the answers to!

Love from Haiti!

(As I finish this post, I can hear the children singing a song as they prepare for bed... the best music I could ask for).