Haiti Day # 1


Greetings all. Arrived back in Haiti this afternoon on a hour's sleep last night. Too many loose ends followed a Haitian Board Meeting before my flight. All is well though.

Ct Limo picked me up at 3:25 AM - Thank you D. - and off to JFK and points south. The
sleepy exterior of an airport was at full buzz inside. We were all assigned a Kiosk upon entering the terminal to punch up our own Boarding passes. Those of us who were challenged in this area walked off down the isle for some one else to process us. I hit all of the correct buttons. I could not figure out why my passes would not appear. While at the counter I discovered there was a glitch in my ticket that needed to be corrected. Politeness with information cleared up the problem. The young lady then asked me if I would mind being moved to an exit door isle. I jumped - More leg room -
YES.

Flight here went smoothly. After a lengthy walk at the Port-au-Prince (PAP) Terminal, Dom sent a colleague of his to collect me. Total stranger approached me saying Norwich Mission House with a sign. I nodded and began to follow him in my sleep depredation state. I thought - that was an easy find. Look for the 6' single Blonde (what all foreigners are called in Haiti) looking for a ride.
Bingo!

Good to see Dom. Immediately got caught up on others here in Haiti and we drove back to our new house which is being rented. As many of you know, our old three story structure pancaked in the earthquake. New house is nice. No grounds as the old one had. And, because it is new, I know where nothing is.

Not much earthquake damaged was seen. Apparently this area covered was spared. As the plane descended at the airport I could see a sea of Royal blue Tents flapping in the gentle humid breeze. The roads seemed more crowded with debris much more abundant. It had been raining thus the streets were all brimming with a downward flow of water several inches deep. Vegetables were still being sold along the streets. Showers being taken at public faucets at the usual spots and the smell of diesel in the air. All seemed normal.

Met a group of young adults from Guilford at the house who were ending their 7 day immersion trip. Additionally, three other young ladies two from France, one from Canada, who are here to work with earthquake children via art therapy. All were extremely excited about being here and drinking in their surroundings.

Our Executive Director, Em is here till Saturday thus I spent time with her this afternoon and Gladys who is our Haitian Accountant. Groups came and went all afternoon as did electrical power for the area. Aside from the 15 guests and myself our Haitian staff members have their families here at the house as well. Some of their homes were destroyed/damaged thus the house is sanctuary. Did I mention their pets? All in all, there are mattresses/air and not seeming in every nook and cranny. 8 rooms or so with multiple accommodations for the the masses. It all works. I hear laughter, processing of days experiences, dogs barking, World Cup play in the background (Haiti is very big on Soccer), fans blowing while the next days are being
planned. Who to see, where to go and how to get there? Our damaged vehicle is limping along while we await new wheels to arrive once papers are cleared. The truck is on the lot with our name on it but- Papers. Most difficult to comprehend at times.

Well off for now, nite nite.

Best from Haiti,
Peter

PS Please pass along to friends who might be interested.

Haiti Day #2

We sat down this AM and counted people who were living here at the new house. 27 Did I mention pets? After breakfast, Dom and I headed off to meet with the Ministry's attorney in PAP. I was seeking to move matters along with final settlement on our house loss with the insurance company.

Usually traffic is a nightmare since the earthquake it has been a quagmire! 45 minutes to travel what usually is 15 minutes. Ughhh. Knowing this we set out early. It became evident that today would not be the new normal. We zipped along on nearly empty streets. After a few blocks we began to question our good fortune. Why? Haiti is soccer country. Haitians are nearly united behind their team. When the team plays, society stops and watches TV. As we drove along, the team was in play. Thank you Brazil. Yes, the country is nearly united behind the Brazilian Team. Their second most favorite might be Argentina, then maybe Haiti. Go figure.

My meeting with our Attorney lasted nearly one hour and I had reasons to be most hopefully of an outcome in our favor. I did discover at the end of our discussion that the Criminal Courts here have stopped functioning because of the earthquake. They are looking for a reopening date sometime in October - maybe. But on the other side this will give us enough time to prepare our presentation.

Afterwards we stopped at a small mini Stop and Shop type of a store called the Eagle. Em was not feeling too well and I wanted to pick up a few items to sooth her system. While there I priced whole Watermelons and they seemed a bit pricey. Between $14 and $20. each. I passed at the temptation. I later found them along the street with the local marchons for $3.

Having dropped off supplies for Em, Dom and I drove on to meet with Bishop LaFontant. We talked about securing a new Truck ASAP with his help. Looked at possibly twinning with new parishes he has in the Mts. Paperwork on various Koch Foundation grants were exchanged. Other homeworks were discussed as well. Later Bishop introduced me to the Mayor of PAP and his party who were there also. The owner of the restaurant came over who is an excellent friend of the Bishop to say hello. She looked at me and was mildly amused. We met earlier in the morning at the attorney's office. While in the lobby, greetings were exchanged. Now seeing her hours later I said, "Good to see you again." Bishop chortled. The food here is excellent. I have her card should you be in PAP. I highly recommend Mikaz'.

Afterwards we came back to the new house and Em wanted to return to the old House for a visitation. My first time back since the EQ. Pictures cannot describe. We walked around the hood and spoke with neighbors. Most were outside and wanted to chat. Children were in the road playing soccer. (Earlier team Haiti, otherwise known as Brazil tied the game.) All were happy to talk to us. Most had markings on their property from the government indicating tear down (red lettering), rebuild possible (yellow lettering), safe in live in (green lettering). There is also plenty discussion of eminent domain being used by the government in the future. Life is still uncertain. Six months later. The immediate future still seems a bit uncertain as well.

An hour later we were back at the new home with our pack of 27. Julia, Peggy, and Caroline who are the art therapists had just arrived back from the children hospital along with the twelve from Guilford. Stories were flowing. All wanted to take home children that were priceless thus sadness was taking hold as well.

Stories of day's experiences flowed into the evening as we were all excited to share each others moments of reality, life. discoveries and observations.

Blessing to you all,

Peter


Haiti Day # 3


This morning was sad good-byes to the Guilford group. Their energy was to be missed by all. But Jean-Marie, the gardener and I had a date outside to reestablish a dilapidated area of the compound into a small patio amongst the vegetation for guests to relax. The bougainvillea needed to be trimmed and the razor wire that was intertwined needed to be extracted because over the years it had shifted nearly to the ground and posed a hazzard. While we were working outside, Jean-Bap and Milor were disinfecting the bedrooms and such with clorax water mixture since so many of the kids had a 24 hour bug. Sheets and towels were being hand washed in the back of the house by Marie and Louise who were called to handle the laundry. We were all on task.

An hour later the telephone rang. I thought to myself, how often does that happen? Moments later Milor was handing me the phone saying it was for you. How often does this happen? Hesitantly, I said Hello? Em was on the other line informing me Delta unexpectedly closed down the ticket counter a hour early thus was turning the group away. Additionally, Delta doesn't operation out of PAP on Sunday. She said we are coming back. As I got off the telephone I turned to Jean-Bap our chief and gave him the good news. Kitchen commodities are at at minimal in Haiti. You buy what you are to use that day because at any time there may be no electricity. 15 people were now arriving for lunch, we have no food and must send someone to the market for provisions. The safe is locked so I went to see how many Gourdes I had in my wallet. Fortunately I was fine and provisions would be on the table for he weary travelers. It all happened with out incident.

After lunch I gathered up Jean-Marie & Roland to take the truck back up to the old house to pick up patio furniture which was on top of the roof and about. Jean-Marie was delighted to go with me. After gathering the furniture he ran around collecting samples of plants to try to regrow them at the new house. He was psyched.

Returning home we came thru the market. Our vehicle was zigging and zagging thru crowds of Saturday shoppers coming within inches of their bodies. It was now teaming outside plus we were on the side of a hill. Water was GUSHING down from a higher elevation. The street marchons (shop keepers) were now directing attention to keeping the gutters, to their backs, from clogging because it would mean instant flood from the higher lands if the flow did not continue. Then it happened! We saw watermelons! Stop the car! Jean-Marie and I bounded out of the vehicle and approached a Marchon. J-M held his hand up to indicate that he would negotiate the price. My Creole is next to nill as is his English. Between us, we moved on with two watermelons. 125 gds each.($3. US)

Back at the "plant" the Art Therapists were working with K-6 students trying to unlock stress and pent up fears. 20 students later we had a full house once again. The house now numbered over 50 with parents in attendance as well. Caroline, Aritst from France, seemed especially satisfied with today secession. With one of the children, tears flowed in her drawing from people, pets, trees, homes, the ground. Afterwards she was asked to take her drawing outside to tear it up, She did and afterwards stood there for 20 plus minutes not saying a word. She was left to herself. Late she rejoined the group.

All students are invited to return next week and all signed up immediately. It is difficult to comprehend.

Children should not suffer under any circumstances and yet here ....

Tonight after dinner, (makeshift) mac and cheese - comfort food Yum! We stood outside to view the full moon. It had just rain. It was dusk. Yet there was a bright rainbow hovering over our house with a secondary one to its left. Beautiful - absolutely Beautiful!!! God's little reminder. We all nestled down on our pumped up air mattresses and called it an evening.

Nite nite from PAP.
Peter