Finally, a chance to update…
May 6th, 2009Without much difficulty, everyone has arrived. On May 1, despite some airport sprints everyone arrived on time to the sunny tarmac of Toussant Airport in Port au Prince. The only thing missing was most of the luggage! Twenty-six bags failed to accompany us the entire way. That made the trip to the guest house easy though, and we all arrived safely after the drive across the city.
Notre Maison Unplugged
Friday, after arriving, everyone settled into their guesthouse accommodations, unpacked and prepared some equipment and got to know one another. The team hit the ground running on Saturday. It was divide and conquer - members were sent to Wings of Hope, Notre Maison, and a recovery crew to the airport. It was the first visit to a Haitian orphanage for many. The team that went to Notre Maison was joined briefly by the airport crew before heading off to assist the team at Wings of Hope.
The airport crew packed 23 bags onto and into the van and were briefly detained by Haitian police for driving with an unsafe load. After a brief conversation we were given permission to continue on our journey. Late in the afternoon everyone met up in Petionville for some shopping and the airport crew once again dispatched to recover the last of the missing bags.
It was a long, busy, and productive day that set up a lot of ground work for the coming week. Saturday evening the entire team had a relaxing dinner at the Montanna hotel. We were joined by some old friends including Shawn Cleaver. Brendan and Graham were lucky to have their Haitian nanny join us. They both were toddlers here and it was great to see the reunion. She brought photos of the boys enjoying the Haitian surf as young children. Brendan and Graham were able to accompany her back to her house and enjoyed a brief visit in her home.
Sunday morning we loaded up for the long drive to Les Cayes and the trip across the bay to Isle a vache, the home of the wreck of the original Bluenose and Captain Morgan’s port of call. David made the journey directly from the airport in the cab of a crowded pickup after his 36 hour trek from Scotland. The rest of us were happy to see him as it ended our wait on the Les Cayes pier. It was a rough boat ride across the bay and
Loading up for Sister Flora
everyone had a thorough salt water drenching. The night was spent at the beautiful Port Morgan hotel. Monday morning we loaded the boat with a much calmer sea and made the 30 minute sail to Sister Flora’s.
Everyone grabbed the end of a hockey bag and ported the gear up the hill to the facility. Before long the entire team was diving into the work setting up wheelchairs, building therapy equipment, assessing children and building infrastructure. It was a long, sweaty and wonderful day. Even if the odd run-in with cockroaches was a little unsettling!
Tuesday morning everyone we all loaded onto the boat again for the trip back to Les Cayes. Liz, John C-S, Denis, David, Brendan, and Graham went into town to purchase the supplies they needed to continue their work on Isle a vache and the rest boarded the bus for Port au Prince.
Arriving back at the guest house we were soon joined by our last arriving member, John R. John had an adventurous journey from the airport after missing the Healing Hands staff. He hopped in a cab and quickly discovered the cabie had no idea where he was going. After an hour and a couple calls to the guest house he arrived safe, sound and richer for the experience.
That brings us to today, Wednesday. This morning teams were dispatched to Wings of Hope and Mephibosheth House. At Wings we set up or altered nine chairs and enjoyed some Mountain Maid chicken! At Mephibosheth House, the first visit ever, there were 14 intake assessments. Kids there are very well taken care of and happy, but are lacking much in the way of infrastructure and staff are in need of training.
Everyone is getting along very well and there is an amazing team work ethic. Members’ strengths are well complemented and everyone is keen to learn a new task and jump in to assist wherever possible.
The crew on Ilse a vache have decided to extend their visit until Friday on order to complete the work that was started Monday. This trip we are fortunate to have a lot of wheelchairs and two wheelchair techs. Support staff have been recruited and work is frantic to ensure every seat has a bum in it before we board a plane on Saturday or Sunday.