Haiti Day 1

Before I start writing a single thing, know that this is the hardest and best thing I have ever posted about on my blog. I only wish I had more talent to write in detail about what truly happened. The following posts are probably the most difficult, joyous, and intimate posts, so bare with me.

On Saturday morning, I awoke with 40 minutes of sleep. I was planning to sleep for an entire hour, but Greg called me at 1:40 am. I was so excited, I just got up after I answered his call. I jumped in my last hot shower for a week and rinsed off from the wedding that had ended 3 hours before. 

Ryan is the BEST husband! I mean it! He stayed awake all night waiting to drop me and Sara off at Athens Church at 3 am! THE BEST! 

We dropped by Sara's house, and made our way to the church. At 3 am, we unloaded our luggage, I hugged and kissed Ryan goodbye, and climbed into Kathy's car with Terri and Sara. We were on our way. Haiti was really happening. 

We got to the airport around 5, maybe a bit before, and checked our bags. Mine weighed 49.5 lbs. This is a common occurrence withy luggage! PHEW!!

We first flew to Miami, then hopped on another flight that connected us to Haiti. Our first flight was barely remembered. I WAS EXHAUSTED and fell asleep next to Chris and Brooks. 

The flight that we caught from Miami to Haiti SPOILED us! It was cheaper to fly business instead of regular class. We ate lunch, reclined, and caught an episode of something. I was too busy catching up with Kathy and dosing in and out of sleep to remember. I was able to catch pics of our DREAM TEAM as Amy calls us!

 {Sara and Kelly}

 {Maggie and Garrison}

 {Brit and Amy}

 {Chris and Brooks}

 {Joseph}

 {Jenna}

 {Caroline and Matthew}

 {Jordan and Nathan (we learned quickly that he fell asleep as soon as he got still)}

 {Kathy and ME}

 {Terri and Alex}

 Soon enough, we landed and began the Customs process. Can I say it is completely different from the American customs as far as the heat, building, heat, and people go. There are men greeting you while playing music. There are men trying to take your luggage without your permission. There are huge fans blowing inside of a warehouse that is their Customs. Your luggage is sitting in a group waiting for you to claim it without anyone verifying it. People are yelling. Vendors are trying to sell anything you will buy or in our case will not buy! We waited in line only to find out that we didn't get a form that was necessary to be admitted in the line. Amy ran back and got a stack and we frantically filled them out, so we would be admitted! We were!

Kyle was telling us a bit of info before we headed towards the camp. Follow his journey at Kyle in Haiti.

Sweet Kathy! She and I were plane buddies for 3 out of 4 rides. I love her!

Throwing our luggage through the window!

Streets of Port Au Prince

The untouched land in Haiti is no lie...it's beautiful!

One of the most dangerous places. Tent City. Massacres occur here. We didn't stop and check it out.

Needless to say, we made it through Haitian customs and made our way to the La Piste camp right beside Port Au Prince. Red Cross organized it, but it will soon be knocked down in January of 2013. Several displaced and disabled Haitians have been living there since the earthquake in 2010. Immediately arriving the heat hit, the language barrier hit, and God's LOVE was there!

La Piste. A temporary housing community.

While we were visiting their community, we had a prayer walk. I have never done ANYTHING like this. You basically walk around the village and say prayers over it. You could pray aloud or pray quietly. I decided to pray quietly. Kids would run out of houses and just grab your hand while you were walking by. One little girl came out and grabbed on to my hand. I put her on my back and began praying just for her. I thanked God for her life, her loving spirit, and her family. I prayed safety, health, and opportunities over her. And then the most awesome thing happened. She began kissing the back of my head and tears began to fall out of my eyes. God spoke to me through those five kisses from this innocent child. I prayed and asked others to pray for a change of heart. My heart was already changing and we had been there less than an hour. God is power and can show it in large ways. Haiti is a beautiful place full of hope, full of sadness, full of God's potential.

(the little girl in front of me in white is my piggy-back rider)

The man in the front lined us up by signing that Blancs (white people) get in a line and Haitians join in. Then he took my camera and had Mary take a photo. It was our first group shot with Team B.

Lots of the kiddos would call out, "HEY YOU!" in their sweet Creole accent and then when attention was given would point to the camera and demand "PHOTO". Once you would snap the picture they would reach for your camera and look at themselves. It may have been the only time that day or week they see their beautiful face.

Since many of the Haitians were deaf in the community we had awesome translators. Mary was one of the ladies that walked around with us in La Piste. This man pictured wanted to know our names. We signed them and then he wanted to know what our name sign was. We didn't have one yet and he would get on to us! Hilarious!

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