Great to be here

Wow. That's really all I can say, but I will try my best to describe our day. We started out by waking up at 5:30am, practically a sleep in compared to yesterday. We then headed to the Haitian airport for our MAF flight. The experience when we arrived was probably more like what the team was expecting to happen yesterday, with many Haitian men all wanting to help us with our luggage. When we got inside, going through the metal detector was an adventure, with all of us trying to keep up with our luggage that had already made it through. I had to go through the metal detector four times. But in the end it worked out fine and after having both ourselves and all the luggage weighed, we were ready to head onto the planes.

The MAF flight was an amazing experience that we all took lots of pictures for (I know I got several videos as well)! I even got to be the "copilot" for the ride.

When we arrived in Hinche we all found to our happiness that the temperature was not insanely hot, but actually quite comfortable. When both planes had arrived our driver, Ishmael, took us to Pastor Giordani's.

We unpacked every single suitcase we had brought, sorting it into piles of tools, school things, and clothing. By the time we finished it was only around 11am. Our first lunch in Haiti was spamwiches with Sprite, woo! After lunch Ishmael came back to drive us to the worksite, and I found out that no exaggeration had been made in describing the poor conditions of the road.

I think it was extremely encouraging for the past team members to see the school they had helped to build. It looked tremendously better than their old school, and like Anne Good had shown earlier, the view was amazing. A new development was that the empty field that had been there before had been replaced by 75 banana trees, lemon and orange bushes (I was told bushes, but I think they're trees), and okra.

After looking through the school, Gaston took us on a "20 minute" walk. In other words Roger told him we had about 20 minutes, and when we got back it was an hour and fifteen minuites later. None of us minded though, as it gave us a great chance to see the people and the land ( not to mention a chance to take pictures - I'm up to 150)!

When we got back to the site, Cam and both Bruces played a bit of soccer with the children, while Poppy and Roger talked with the Haitian people, and James and I just took in all the action. The whole time the weather was fairly overcast and there was a bit of a breeze, so I don't think the temperature ever passed 26 degrees. It was glorious, perhaps God's way of giving us a welcome.

When we got back "home" dinner was waiting for us, a feast of rice, beans, meat sauce, pasta salad, potato salad, and peas and corn. After cleaning up, we had showers and journal time, where I experienced my first cold bucket shower.

I think that about brings you up to speed, and I know I for one will be ready for bed soon. Goodness knows I'll need the time to digest everything I've seen and heard today!