It was a dark and stormy night ...

No, on the contrary - clear, with twinkling diamond-like stars on a deep blue velvet sky.  The competitors began gathering by the depot at the arranged time, precisely at 8:07.  Three groups with three, three and four members.  It ranks up there with the one of most bizarre middle school field trips ever – and I have never seen such enthusiasm among the students and others as they put on their latex gloves and synchronized their timers.  

I could almost hear engines revving….  

“Go!” happened at precisely 8:30 p.m. The hunt was on.   

It was the First Periodic Great Wesleyan Mission Station Cockroach Hunt!  Yes, you read that right.  This was a blazing competition to see which group was the most successful in corralling the most huge Haiti bugs. 

Teacher Sarah Barnes was all set, game face, decked out in all black and face paint.

One contestant wore tights and sneakers, determined that no roach would touch any skin of hers!

Glow sticks, flashlights, timers and containers in hand, the groups dispersed into the dark.  You could hear squeals, shouts and giggles from time to time – and the occasional foot stomping.  However, there were more points if cockroaches were brought back alive.

Fifteen minutes later, time was called and bags and jars were proudly displayed.  Final count totaled 47.  The winners - 26 bagged bugs.

The last I saw of them, they were headed to the chicken coop by the school. 

Those birds just didn’t know the feast that was heading their way!

              

Saturday morning walk about

We needed a broom - "yon bale".  So a couple of the visiting graduate students from the IWU nursing school joined me in search of one.  Two pretty gals.

First stop - money exchange.  Frè Bonnair's friend on the street bordering the square was my banker.  "He is a good man; he goes to my church."  Sounded good to me.  Still a bit strange to go up to a man on the street, with a straw hat on pulled down on his forehead and blackish dark glasses on,  with a wad of money in his hand or in his backpack, and exchange dollars for Haitiän goudes!  Our own living and breathing ATM machine!

Well, we attracted a lot of attention  on the way down to the market.  Seems everyone wanted to practice their English with these young ladies!  By the time we reached the market, we had a right good size following in tow.  Along the way, I heard - "Madam Larry!" called out from the street.  Wilnor Jean Louis, our friend, was tooling along on his moto and recognized me.  Great to see him; we made a date for Larry and me to get together with him next week.  Wilnor and his wife Brinette along with some friends founded the grassroots registered non-profit G.A.S., an initiative which gets street kids into schools in a couple of villages on the island.   Several families in SC and NC participate in the program, providing support for children who otherwise would not have the privilege of education.  (Message me if you would like to know more about the program, would like to sponsor a child, etc.)

Reaching the market, we went to the "housewares department", wooden tables set up under a tin and tarp covering where a variety of household supplies were laid out.  After moving down the row, and actually making my desires understood :) we found the broom, also some plastic boxes, tin cups and a washcloth, to wipe the perspiration trickling down my face by that time.  Successful shopping!

We also learned from one Haitian young man that his was an important family.  He was working hard to be understood - and to impress.  It seems that his grandfather was the founder of Haiti - George Washington.  I am assuming something was lost in the translation!

Returning back to the compound in a timely manner, a quick stop at the hospital was on the agenda.  Census is pretty low today but we were able to visit a man whose skin on his arm was disintegrating. Diagnosis is not firm, but seems that some injury or infection has become quite aggressive and seems to be eating his skin.  Very painful.  "Silver and gold have I none - but such as I have give I thee"  The words of the scripture song played through my head.  We prayed with him and God was with us.

Then, as we were leaving, we noticed a boy - possibly 10 or 11 - who had fallen into a cook fire and was burned over the front of his body.  Because in the IWU group was a burn nurse, and because the Haitian doctor received the offer of her services quickly and appreciably, we hurried back to the guest house and spoke to the one who had the experience with such a case.  She went immediately to the boy.  Shall follow up at lunch.  Prayer was in our hearts for this one and his family.

Good start to a hot ole Haitian Saturday.

Settling in

Well, I was a little nervous about taking off in that MAF airplane and flying into a front that had been settled in over Port au Prince for days.  It had rained all night and the wind had picked up and the rain seemed to be quite happy to stay put.  And that plane was so wee and the load was so heavy!  ( 1,000 pounds of people and gear and fuel. )   But, as we were buckling up for the flight, MAF pilot David assured us with the confidence of a seasoned pilot that the trip across the channel would be fine!  And, he was right.  We made it with a turbulence that only caused my breath to catch a couple of times.  Thank you, Lord!

Soon the reunions began.  The driver of the truck that came to collect us and our gear and the MAF rep at the LAG airstrip, the gate keepers and workers at the mission station, the cooks and manager in the guest house, the missionaries new and remembered, and one of Marty’s former students who is now working for hospital maintenance – all greeting us with a “Madam Larry!” or “Mister Larry!” as they welcomed us with gusto!  And each Haitian, with a rush of creole that had my brain working overtime to understand and respond! 

We have settled into our new little Haiti abode – a comfortable and “spacious” new one-room apartment built to house the visiting profs who teach at the nursing school.   The diffuser is chugging away with citronella oil, having been charged with keeping the mosquitoes at bay.  The music from a neighboring event is blaring sufficiently to warrant ear plugs.  Dogs barking on cue when the music began. 

And we are expecting the morning wake-up call from the resident roosters.  :) 

Tonight, we will grit our teeth and step into the cold shower.  It will be a quick one!  Then, Lord willing, sleep. 

Ah, Haiti!

Tomorrow, the adventure continues.  (Pictures coming soon.)

Unbelievable!

It has been quite chilly here in Port au Prince since we arrived yesterday in a torrent of rain.  Rainy season - flooded streets, slippery tile floors, damp sheets.  Nevertheless a nice "ease-in" to summer here.  Summer will return soon.

Standing in the rain outside the airport, I thought back to how the arrival had been on our first trip to Haiti back in spring of 2011.  Dan and Joy Irvine had met us at the end of the outdoor exit ramp, two light-skinned faces in a sea of noisy dark ones attached to bodies with arms reaching out to touch us, grabbing at our bags, each assuring us he was the one we needed to help and tip.  When we reached the Irvines, Dan had said, "welcome to the crazy!"  I think that is what he said - it was all a fast-moving loud, blurry kaleidoscope at the time, and I was quite overwhelmed. Dan was grinning.

Yesterday, it was kinda like coming home to the familiar.  We knew how to relate to the great number of potential helpers when retrieving our luggage.  I knew where to stand with the carts while Larry worked up a sweat gathering our bags off the carousel.  We knew how to dodge proffered assistance while working our way out.  We knew who to look for - while recognizing the faces of airport workers who had been there each time we had flown in in the past.  We found those who were meeting us with no trouble in the masses, recognizing and calling them by name and they, us; the smiles which break the typical, stoic facial expressions into a grin that would bring sunshine into any stormy day, familiar handshake, hug and cheek touching cheek welcomes.  We stood in the rain while all our gear was loaded and headed out into the horn-honking maelstrom that is traffic in Port au Prince.  It was all delightfully familiar - crazy as it seems - like coming home.

And, the lovely, typically Haitian fragrance hovering around Larry and me - DEET!

"The road goes ever on and on...."  The adventure continues!