We had packed the night before, as well as stocked up on breakfast breads, so we were feeling pretty ready. We called a cab, and by 4:15am we were already at the airport. We were the only ones at the airport. We checked in, went through security, found our gate, with 2 hours to spare, and not another tourist in site. We took the opportunity to frolic through a deserted terminal.
We arrived in Port-au-Prince at 3:30pm, where we were funneled through an old hanger (converted into "Immigration", and then "Baggage Claim"). We then walked out into the blistering sun, where we were soon met by Trisha. Trisha and Ray own a missionary orphanage in the small town of Verrettes, two and a half hours north of Port-au-Prince. Except it's less of a business, and more a family. We'll be staying with them for the next 6-7 weeks, with Abra helping Trisha out with the kids, while I do the best I can helping Ray construct a bigger house a half-hour down the road.
And the fun started right there. On our way back to Verrettes, Trisha eases us in with stories of how she and Ray ended up in the middle of Haiti with 13 HIV+ kids under their roof. She then goes into how she's had to bribe officials after being pulled out with an expired license. And finishes with stories about the kids: like the one who recently tried to set the house on fire, and another who can't manage to wake himself up at night to go to the bathroom. She and Ray have been here for 6 years, and have found quite a life for themselves, giving everything they have, and more.
About 30 minutes from home, the car's headlights dim to uselessness, and we end up with my hand out the window holding a flashlight to maneuver through the narrow, pedestrian populated roads. Did I mention it's dark by now, there are no streetlights, and the houses don't even have electricity. About 15 minutes later, the rain had lowered visibility to about zero, and we pull over to squeegee. But once we're ready to go again, the battery is too dead to get the car out of PARK. Trisha uses the last few minutes on her phone to call Ray, who drives down to meet us with their second car: a dump truck. We end up pushing the van back to the house with Trisha in the driver seat. "When it rains, it pours," Trisha explains. That night Abra and I take showers outside in the rainstorm. It's a perfect introduction to Haiti, and to the next month and a half of our lives.
The next morning, Abra and I wake up at 7:30am and start off by helping Trisha set up breakfast for the 13 kids. Roughly, the ages are:
Mason (2 years old, boy)
Michael (2 years old, boy, aka "Babo")
Romise (2 years old, girl)
Marrisa Rae (2.5 years old, girl)
Darlensky (4 years old, boy)
Rosy (5 years old, boy)
Louvensky (5 years old, boy, aka "Lulu")
William (5 years old, boy)
Christian (6 years old, boy)
Elda (6 years old, girl)
Gessica (7 years old, girl)
Nadia (8 years old, girl)
Roodline (16 years old, girl)
After breakfast, Abra stuck around the house with Trisha, while I went with the 'boys' (Ray, and a few guys who work for him: Vladimyr and Fenan), and we head out to the new property. It's a huge swath of land, mostly flat, with a clear-water river running along one side. In the middle there's the outer wall of the complex being built. Within that wall, the walls of the first floor are already up. He walks me around the property, telling me all the visions he has for the various parts. You can see construction progress at their website www.haiticomfort.org.
We head back to the house, for Friday night pizza night. Delicious!
The kids are in bed by 8:30pm. Lucky for us, they are set up with internet, and a couple hours later we're in bed too. Abra's on the top bunk, sharing a room with Elda, while I'm sleeping in a room with 2 cribs for the twin boys.
The next day, and Abra and I are slowly starting to learn the routines of meals, meds distribution, showers and bedtime. I've taken to teaching math, while Abra has helped with drawing and reading. Ray takes me for my first 'work day' to a local school he's helping at. It's Saturday, and not really a 'work day', but we thought we'd give them an hour to move some sand. Ray tries to help out the local community whenever possible, and had just built them an administration building. I laugh, because it really wasn't any work, but in an 80F day, and not used to physical labor, I dumped a gallon of sweet and got blisters across my hands. I keep telling Ray he got the wrong brother, that my brother, Seth, would be better fit for this. I'll have to toughen up.
Saturday is movie day for the kids, and they sit contently for hours watching Sesame Street and Indian in the Cupboard. A pleasant relief for Trisha and Abra, while Ray prepares spaghetti dinner and I write this blog. I'm almost recovered from my sunburn. Things are on the upturn. For now, no rain.
Time to help with dinner! Take care.
Posted by Hans
Woww!! Sounds incredible
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