I was told the blog needed closure. I was also told that some people had been expecting a blog saying we had all gotten home safe and sound, etc. So I figured I might as well give our trip to Haiti a few last comments.
Thankfully, we did all arrive safe and sound at the Toronto Airport - and on schedule too! Stepping outside into wind, rain, and COLD all added up to a fair bit of a shock for the team, but luckily, both rides that came to pick us up were heated vehicles. The ride home did feel a little like it had all been a dream...city lights, cars, billboards advertising the latest thing we just had to buy...it almost seemed like we had never left home. Like it hadn't been just yesterday that I was willing the rats to go away and let me sleep, or looking forward to the fact that waking up at 7:30am would be a sleep in. But I know in all our minds, we still knew we had been in Haiti for the past 11 days, and even if some of the moments hadn't been quite enjoyable, we wouldn't trade those memories for anything.
Walking inside our own homes was a bit of a shock too. Seeing everything we had...and many people we had missed. I don't think any of the team members went to bed as soon as they got home, but instead stayed up later, regalling family members with the sights and stories they had experienced. At least until they got too tired, and then simply continued after everyone had gotten some sleep the next day.
I think we all adjusted fairly well back into Canadian culture fairly well, though for some of us, we were forced to adjust whether we were ready to or not. For example, Cam still went to school on the Friday we got home. The youth had a party that Friday evening, and we were all back at church on the Sunday morning. But I must say, seeing all the smiling faces back at church was a definite treat. You never really know what you've missed so much until you see it again, and realize what it felt like to be without it.
So thank you to everyone who supported us, who prayed for us, who sent emails to us...even to you who read the blog. It was fun to write, and I'm glad we could keep everyone updated with the incredible expereiences we had. For those of you who still haven't heard enough about our trip to Haiti, we're doing a special service just about Haiti on Sunday, April 5th! Be there.
:)
