Nou La! (We're Here!)

Ok! We made it! We are tired and hot but totally knocked out of our socks blessed! We got 21 people from the US to the Methodist Guesthouse in Port Au Prince Haiti with only minor complications. One member of our team who's initials are LP actually booked her flights to Haiti on October 19th! YIKES! Just a simple step over to another counter got her all set and then we found out that the plane was 100% full. God saved that seat just for her! Another team member (who I didn't get approval to use initials) got the shake down from TSA and still managed to get all her stuff back into her bag!

We arrived at the Haiti airport at 3:35 pm (Haiti time) and made it through bag claim and customs without a glich! We were thrilled to see Big with open arms, happy to see us and ready to take charge of getting us and our bags to our waiting vehicles. Again, went very smoothly!
One of my favorite things is to see our Haitian friends waiting eagerly to greet us with their beautiful smiles and genuine hugs. It was great to see Michel, Junior, Jimmy, Nicky, Max, and Gabriel.
The drive to the orphanage was uneventful (meaning we didn't hit anyone or anything). How awesome it is to be greeted with squeals of delight by the kids. There wasn't anyone in our group that didn't have one in their arms! Kim said "what are we supposed to do" as Shakira was clinging to her calling "mama, mama". I told her, she is doing what she is supposed to be doing! We had 17 heavy tubs to carry up the stairs to the house manager's apartment. Clinic bags were unloaded into the clinic. Dr. Eric was whisked away upstairs to check 2 of our kids out right away. Nothing major, but will keep an eye on them. It was fun to see Eric checking out Jonathon as he was just dropped off in July, 2007, when Eric was there last! He has certainly changed.

Archers were reunited with Hermann and Elmise and Teresa Brown had her two (Jeffy and Semendia) in tow! We loaded back up on the vans who kindly took us and our tired butts to the Methodist Guesthouse. We were soon fired back up by Donette's greeting! I could use some of her energy!! Dinner was awesome (salad, fried chicken, mac and cheese, bread, peas & carrots, and chocolate cake). After dinner was our team meeting. As soon as the meeting was done, it was pool time for many of the team members and chillin' time for the rest. It is now nearly 9 pm Haiti time and my roommates are all in bed. Tomorrow will be an early start with breakfast at 7 am followed by worship at Port Au Prince Fellowship. Please pray for a God-glorifying day tomorrow. I have seen some members totally affected already!!
Bonnuit! (Good night!)