Packing to leave Haiti today. The last couple of days have been really busy with lots of travel over the streets of Port Au Prince. I was able to experience some different things this time around. We got out in the countryside a little up the coast to a beach. We traveled up to Kenscoff beyond the Baptist mission to an orphanage. I thought the road did not go very far beyond the mission but we traveled 30 minutes beyond the orphanage then traveled another 30 minutes on a side road. Beautiful country cooler weather green valleys with lots of terraced farming.
Saw parts of the city I have never seen before ad also was able to walk down the lane outside the compound and buy pop from a vendor.
I realize if i am going to do more I need to learn more of the language. It is my goal to learn French or creole so I can converse better with the people on the street and with Tullis our driver it would be easier.
Not looking forward to leaving but looking to being home

Yesterday was so busy and we were so tired at the end of the day I did not take time to post a blog. We went to Carrefour to see the clinic where Eastgate Christian Church is supporting the Doctor. We got there very quickly because traffic was very light by Haitian standards. Every other time we traveled in that direction traffic around the market was bumper to bumper and the dust was so thick you could cut it with a knife. The dust was bad but we traveled through without much trouble. Then on the west side of Port Au Prince there always seems to be a traffic jam. But on Monday traffic moved at a fair pace. We arrived at the clinic after about a half hour to 45 minute drive very fast. The doctor was there and so was Pastor Ramon. We dropped off the drugs we brought for the clinic and they wrote down what they were and gave then the doctors salary and more money for the clinic to help with the nurse's salary.
Then back to Conaspeh for some lunch and the rest of the crew headed out to visit and orphanage and I stayed and finished up my class on the introduction to the Gospels. I had a great time teaching the students asked some very good questions very practical concerning their ministries. Good experience all around.
The ladies did not have such a good experience down very rough roads long walks and extra stops. We came back exhausted and ate and jumped in the pool. Slept well and ended up getting rested up for another day of shopping and evaluation with the committee.
Starting home tomorrow. Tomorrow night Miami, the Dallas and home.

Sunday a day of worship and rest. We began with a quick breakfast at Walls and then we were off to church. We took off for church at 9 and hunted for the church. We went to one church and we were supposed to meet Patrick at the church. But Patrick was not there then we discovered we were at the wrong church. The church we were supposed to be at was down the road so we found the right church and Patrick and family arrived shortly after we did. We were ushered to the platform and sat behind the pulpit.
I am particularly impressed with the energy of worship in Haiti. The songs we sang in the first service were traditional hymns and even though they were not sung in a fast pace they were sung with energy and enthusiasm.
I was invited to preach this morning and since it was Pentecost Sunday I preached on the Acts 2 text.
I tried to stress to the people this morning how we need to be open to the Spirit of God and how God looks at all of us the same. We have a need to move as a people to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. Just like there was confusion at Pentecost when people spoke in tongues. There is often confusion when the spirit moves in our lives. We need to be willing to explain to people that it is the power of God moving in our life.
After the first service we went to another service at the edge of City Soliel. We were at this church a year ago and their building last year was surrounded by tents. The walls had fallen down and the roof was being held up by poles. Today the walls were back up and the building was great.
At both churches there was a special prayer for Karen for her upcoming surgery.
We then went to Deli Mart and bought some supplies and changed some money.
Then back to Walls for R&R.

We began today on a journey up the mountain to Kenscoff. I had been to Kenscoff before to the Baptist Mission Station there and while it is a journey up a long winding road it is worth the trip. On the way up the mountain we passed the home of the former President Preval and the former home of the notorious Papa Doc Duvalier.
We went to the lookout over the city and while it was overcast at first the sun came out and it got very hot. The pressure by the craft salesmen there is very high. I only bought two stone frogs but some other bought lots of things.
So far I have not spent much money and have not got a lot in my suitcase returning to KC.
When we reached Kenscoff we drove right by the Baptist Mission and went on for about another 45 minutesfurther up the mountain and we reached an orphanage down probrbly the roughest road I have been on in my life. There were thirty five children in the orphanage and they seemed to be one of best cared for group of children we have seen. They had ample beds, clean facilities and the children looked well fed and healthy. Then it was time to return back to the guest house. Long day riding on rough road.

Today in Haiti we took a break and went to the beach. We drove about two hours outside the city along the coast and went to a resort where we swam in the ocean and had lunch.
Francois the school principal and Tullis our driver went with us.
The beach was rocky but the water was warm.
Tullis told us the deposed president for life Baby Doc Duvallier who returned to Haiti just after the last election and was promptly arrested was living just around the bay from where we were swimming.
We had lunch at the beach, several had grilled lobster, I had conch with garlic and butter. The food was excellent.
As we traveled to the beach we stopped at St. Christophe. As we drove a few hundred yard down the road we came to a group of it looked like hundreds of black crosses in the gravel by the side of the road. It was explained to us this was one of the mass graves of those killed in the earthquake. It was a very somber moment as you might expect.
Saw lots of simple houses scattered in the hills along the highway. Lots of banana trees and a few small villages. It was relaxing day away from the city. The resort we swam at could have been in any tropical area.
I have no idea what the distance was out of the city but I saw a part of Haiti I had never seen before. I am beginning to see how beautiful this country really is and what a marvelous diverse world we live in.

Haiti Day three:
Today I must have sweated off 10 pounds it was hot and i spent all day at Conaspeh. It was a good day. I met with Frenaud and he interpreted for me today in my class. It was fun to teach again and to answer questions about the Bible.
I was able to get done and overview of the gospels and next time I will be expanding a little.
The only problem was it was very hot.
The rest of the group went to two orphanages today. Both were needing food desperately. One was going through a river that was the street. The other was through a really rough area.
I learned something today that I am able to do some things here and follow my passion for missions.
More tomorrow.

Thoughts from Haiti

Every time I arrive in Haiti I feel like I am going through sensory overload. The sights and sounds and rush at the airport just hit me that this is a different place. In fact it is like no other place on earth. After a short night in Miami and a flight in to Port Au Prince. There is the chaos at the airport, immigration, getting our luggage (three carts loaded with 10 bags plus our carry ons. Then through immigration and fighting the people all working for tips to support their families. This time we seemed to get through smoother than before. Checking into the guest house and now a time of rest for the afternoon. Not sure what else is happening today if anything but it is nice to be back in Haiti.
Wall's is not very crowded and I have a room to myself. Everything I am back I see a few more improvements.
A house down the steet from the guest house destroyed in the quake 17 months ago is finally being cleared. There are still thousands of people living in tent cities. It seems all they do is just add one more layer to their tent once it begins leaking.
This is my first time here in the rainy season and it is cloudy rather than the bright sunshine. But the heat and the humidity is the same.
I am always fascinated by the people I meet at Walls. Most of them are here on some sort of mission project. (There are very few vacationers in Haiti.) There are three here from New England as a part of a project with college students to give them an immersion experience to see what most people in the world live like. Another group of about 12 high school girls are working at catholic charity doing most of the time what amounts to VBS. Then they just spend time at the orphanage holding children. As I listen to their stories I see firsthand how their lives are being transformed.
At dinner tonight we spent a great deal of time talking about the differences we saw between the last time we were here and that day coming in from the airport. For me a lot of the rubble is gone from the streets. Sidewalks have been cleared off and like I mentioned earlier a house down the street from the guest house has started to be cleared.
One thing I have noticed this time is the electricity keeps going on and off: on a few seconds and off a few seconds. I never noticed that before when I was here the reason I mention it is because I may not be able to get e-mails out because the server is constantly rebooting.