Day 3-4 October 12th and 13th

I apologize in advance for grammar and spelling errors.  It is late and the power is on and off, I wanted to finish before I went to bed. 

The last two days have been a roller coaster emotionally and mentally and we continue in our frustration with the process.  I spent hours in town yesterday at our attorneys office and did not accomplish anything besides their mistakes that I have to go home and fix!  Some issues arose when I questioned steps in the process.  I believe that nothing would have been brought up about what was needed if I didn't ask.  Our attorney told us that the November, 1st deadline didn't mean anything and it remains to be seen after that day if we can still get in under the old laws.  What keeps us going is our handsome son and the thought of him coming to Bowling Green to live with us one day.  We continue to miss out on needed time with him.  As this gets prolonged even more we can't help but think about the precious time we are missing.  I know the time continues to be extended on everything being finalized but the rest of his life will be worth it when he comes home. 

Today was a new day and I woke up had breakfast and before I could finish someone stopped by and told me that Wisbens was at the orphanage asking everyone that passed where I was.  I finished as quick as I could and ran down to see him.  We picked up a set of spider man go fish and crazy 8 cards.  This was the best dollar we spent and after briefly teaching them by mostly pointing and  example we played for the next three hours.  The kids enjoyed it and I again was in awe at what little it takes to entertain these kids.  I was able to text with home and we set up a time to FaceTime with Jen, Maddox, my brother  and sister in law and their kids.  Wisbens was able to meet some members of his family he had not met before and it was a great experience.  I love technology!!  We were able to get Wisbens a couple of spider man shirts before I came and after we FaceTimed with my family I surprised him with the shirts. He was so excited that he would be able to take them with him. 

After lunch I was hanging out with the guys and and I went and got some crayons and coloring books.  It was not long before I had four kids in my lap coloring and many other kids running over to do the same thing.  I love this place and cannot wait to get here and see Wisbens and love the unconditional love the kids have as well.  I was able to hold some of the babies today and love any opportunity I get to give attention. 

After dinner tonight we had movie night because it was rained out last night.  We watched the movie in the chapel tonight in case it rained and it was hot and the mosquitos were unbearable.  I took a can of spray and caught every kid I could and sprayed them down.  The movie of the night was Ice Princess and we watched it in French with English subtitles.  It is definately not a movie for Wisbens and I but we made it through.  I walked him back to the orphanage hugged him and told him I would come see him in the morning before I leave.  I am heading out for the airport in the morning at 7:00 and hope that he is awake before I leave.  We had a few setbacks but overall it was a great trip.  I got to spend time with Wisbens and work with some great kids.  I look forward to returning soon!










 

Day 1 and 2 10-11-12

Yesterday was a long day in the airport and after a few delays I finally made it to New Life.  My flight was delayed and the immediate concern I had was that my ride would still be there when I leave customs.  I have complete faith in New Life and was excited to see the sign waiting for me by the driver there to pick me up.  I had an interesting conversation with him on the ride over about the current status of Haiti as well as the current president.  I saw people in the streets cleaning and sweeping and noticed that the there was less styrofoam.  I read before coming down that the government banned styrofoam in an effort to clean the city up.  I must say that there is a long way to go but I do see progress taking place in the small area of Port Au Prince I traveled.  We also talked about the adoption and how long the process has taken.  He stated that it continues to become increasingly more difficult because of many issue.  He talked about one of the major difficulties with human trafficking and how it has slowed the adoption process down.  We talked about several cases where kids were sold for slavery, sex and their organs.  I didn't forget about how awful the traffic was here and was constantly hitting my imaginary brake as we maneuvered through the jumbled up mess.  After we arrived at New Life I was welcomed by familiar faces and immediately put my bags down to eat. 

After dinner I went down to find Wisbens and as soon as I walked down to where the kids live I was greeted with smiles and hugs.  The kids immediately started yelling for Wisbens to come over and see me.  I turned around and saw he had climbed to the top of the playground with the other kids.  He jumped into my arms and hugged me.  To my knowledge he did not know I was coming and I could tell he was surprised.  He immediately asked about Jen and Maddox and not only wanted to talk to them but wanted to see them!  After evening worship I pulled Wisbens aside and we were able to call Jen and Maddox and talk.  He was shy but excited to talk!  I was able to hang out with the guys before they went to bed and play spider man on my phone.  I do not speak Kreyole but could tell by their faces and the raising of their voices that they were excited.

I was able to sleep last night and woke up this morning to heat and humidity.  It is a continuation of summer for me and will be ready to get back to the cooler weather.  After breakfast I went down to check on Marilyne and when I saw her for the first time I can't tell you how big her smile was.  It was breakfast time for her and because she can not talk made noises and pointed at her bottle.  I am not sure how long she has been doing this but she was able to hold her bottle today and drink by herself.  I love this little girl and excited to see her every time I get arrive. 

Barry who is a close friend going through the adoption process arrived later in the morning.  We were able to discuss the adoption process and share the continued struggles we have.  I have tried for the last two weeks to get in touch with our attorney and have not gotten a response.  We are determined to meet with him tomorrow at 10:00 and will get a taxi to take us to his office in Petionville and will wait all day if needed.  It is urgent that we get our paperwork in by November 1st to be accepted by the IBESR (social services).

I met a group from Georgia who consist of pastors, church members and optometrist who asked for help running an eye clinic today at the orphanage.  The group was scheduled to go to Cite Soleil and something happend with their transportation.  It was truly a blessing for New Life because they able to set the clinic up in the church and began assisting the Haitian staff members.  I was brought to tears numerous times watching the employees put on glasses for the first time and actually be able to see.  They were dancing, smiling, and hugging us because for some of them this was the first time they could see clearly in 50 years.  Everything that was needed to build the glasses were on site and each person who needed glasses left with them today. Wisbens had his eyes checked and the optometrist told me that his eysight is 20/20 and his eyes look healthy!!  I was blessed to be asked to be part of an awesome event today.  I am reminded daily how we continuosly take things for granted and was again humbled. 

Dinner was great tonight.  We had fried chicken, salad, beans and rice, fried plantains, and cobbler.  Sounds like the Haitian version of Cracker Barrel to me. (minus the fried plantains) The night closed wiht worship and Wisben and I were able to call Jen and Maddox again!  Tomorrow is a busy day.  I leave for the attorney's office after breakfast and will camp out for the day if needed.  Please pray for a good meeting. 

Day 5 7-17-12

I woke up this morning to the sound of an ice cream truck only to realize that they don't have ice cream trucks in Haiti. It was a water truck and the music was to let everyone know they were coming and if they missed it may be the only chance for water that day. In the times that I have been I am still humbled by how the Haitians survive on the small amount of resources they have. I will soon be back in the America where we are so blessed with what we have.

After lunch I prepared for my trip to the attorney and made sure all of my paperwork was in order and packed. Wisbens was going with me today and I packed a bag of snacks and water for the trip to Petionville. On the way there didn't ask for my phone to play games but stared out the window at everything that was going on in the city. I could tell he was nervous because he would constantly move in closer to me and put his head on my shoulder.

We arrived at the attorneys office and waited to meet with Alain and Jean Luc. I was escorted to his office and after few of conversation I began producing documents the documents needed to complete our dossier. After a time of questions and looking through needed paperwork I was informed that our file was complete. I immediately pulled off a red neck yoo hoo and praised Jesus. Alain laughed and as a beleiver praised God that we were another step closer. There are many steps to go and I couldn't get a timeline other than 6-1s8 months from the time Wisbens dossier is complete. Jen and I continue to be frustrated with the proces and we know it is out of our control.

After we finished we had to find another driver to get us back to the orphanage because the driver that took us up the mountain to the meeting had and "emergency" and had to leave. We finally made it back to the orphanage and I changed clothes and went down to spend time with the kids before dinner. I took two trash bags of flip flops to one of the Mon Tans and she was so excited to get the shoes. The orphange was greatful for the donation because the kids go through a pair in about two weeks. I was great to see the kids wearing them throughout the day and recognizing pairs that I brought. THANKS to everyone who donated!!! I went to the room where kids with special needs stay and saw my beautiful Marilyne smiling at me before I could pick her up. As I rocked her for the next 20 minutes I prayed for her and kissed her little head. I did receive good news on her this week, she will soon be going to America on a medical visa to have the needed surgery that could possibly save her life and will be adopted in by someone while she is there. This is two years in the making and definately an answered prayer.

Tonight is my last night and I went to evening devotions early to begin saying goodbye to the kids. Tonight is a difficult night for me because I know I will have a little time with Wisbens tomorrow and not sure when I will be back to visit. I will leave for the airport at 12:45 and make the best of my time. I have lots of pictures and videos to post and will share when I return.  Thanks again for your prayers and support!!

Day 4 7-16-12

I woke up this morning took a nice cold shower and began to prepare for my day. Although it was one of the most humid and hottest evenings since being here I was able to get some rest. After breakfast I met with some close friends who stopped by New Life to visit before their flight out this afternoon. Kyle is a representative of The Granted Wish, the organization from Canton Ohio who is supporting us in the adoption process. I was able to update him on what's been accomplished so far as well as my meeting with our attorney Tuesday afternoon.

After they left I met with Barry and discussed getting Wisbens ready to go into town to get a passport photo for his file at the attorneys office. I found Wisbens explained to him what we were going to do and went to his room to find appropriate clothes that he could wear. Because of the language barrier with the Mon Ton's (nanny) Guivens assisted me in communicating with her and told her what we needed to do. She immediately started looking for a complete outfit, brushing his hair, and putting deodarant on him. It was great to watch a her work with him and to also see how important it was that he look nice. She could of easily put on a shirt on him and sent him away but took the time to ensure he looked appropriate.  We met with Mario who would assist in the process and began the treacherous drive through the city.

It was a busy day as usual on the streets of Port Au Prince and we were welcomed with the constant sounds of horns and cars racing by. We were met by several dump trucks who insisted we move and Mario's aggressivenes and Kreyole helped us to stay on task. As we were driving Barry educated me on driving in Haiti as well as the defense and offense that must be played to survive. Essentially the more beat up the cars are the more you avoid confrontation with them as their cars are damaged for a reason. As we arrived at the photo shop and parked on the curb, I helped Wisben get out of the vehicle. He was immediately overwhelmed by the fast paced life and noises and grabbed my hand tightly and said my name a few times.  I could tell he was nervous and picked him up and carried him across the street and into the shop. After the pictures were taken we had to wait about 45 minutes. There was a t.v. in the lobby and Wisbens was mesmerized with it as well as the music videos that were playing. As the shop is finishing up I notice a familiar song that began. "Call me maybe" pierced my ears and it is obvious that I could not run from that song even on the streets of Port Au Prince.

We finally arrived back at the orphanage and took time to eat lunch. While we were setting outside a huge storm blew up with 40-50 mile per hour winds. I had time to get to the room and close the windows before the rain started. After the storm blew over I went down to play basketball with the guys. We played a few pickup games Haitian style no rules. I included Wisbens in everything we did and he enjoyed playing but not as much as soccer. The power has been off for a couple of days and New Life has been powered by a generator. When the storm blew through I am not sure if it affected the internet or not but it has been out all day as well. I have not been able to contact Jen or Maddox today and had to borrow someones phone to let them know I was ok.

Tuesday is a big day and I pray that things go well with the attorney and he finds no errors in any of our paperwork. I would also ask that you please pray for safety as we are in the city and we make it back to New Life with no problems.

 I will post pictures if possible as the power and internet continue to be sporadic!! 

Day 3 7-15-12

I woke up this morning to the smell of bacon and it didn't take long to get ready and make my way to the dining room.  After breakfast I changed clothes and went to the chapel to prepare for praise and worship.  When i arrived at the chapel Wisben was saving me a seat and continously motioning for me to set with him.  This was only the second Sunday I had been at New Life and the worship experience was unbelievable as well as getting to share the experience with our son made it even more special.

 After service I changed clothes and had some down time before meeting with Wisbens.  I connected with a guy from Ohio who needed help building new benches and screen doors for part of the orphanage.  I am not a handy man but used the opportunity to connect with people and learn a small amount of carpentry.  I was quickly reminded that I am in Haiti when the table saw we were using shut down and needed basic parts to fix.  The frustrating part is that something that is an easy fix in America is nearly impossible in Haiti.  One reason is there are no Lowes or Home Depot stores within 1000 miles and it is a good thing I brought Duct Tape for a temporaty fix.  Because of the constant use and wear and tear on equipment at the orphanage it is important to have backup.

After lunch I went to visit with Wisbens and took numerous coloring books and crayons to share with the rest of the kids. It wasn't long before there were 10-15 kids sharing 3 books and 2 boxes of crayons.  Coloring is a great way to communicate and connect with the kids (specifically the ones who don't speak English) because there is no language barrier.  We spent the next few hours at a picnic table communicating with crayons and paper and it is one of the few times I have felt really connected to the kids. 

Evening devotion began at 7:00 and I made my way to the chapel to see Wisbens and participate in praise and worship.  After service I walked some of the kids who are in wheelchairs back to their dorm and gave the kids my phone to play spider man.  It was dark in most areas of the orphanage because the power has been out for the past couple days and the generator only serves basic needs.  I also noticed 4-5 goats as well as turkeys roaming the compound and after asking questions found out that they were moved from the vacant lot New Life owns next door because people have recently broken in and tried to steal them.  The kids went to bed at 9:00 and it is time for rest and hopefully connecting with my family.   

Day 2 7-14-12

I woke up this morning ate breakfast and began connecting with Barry, Pastor Seide, and Mario who work for the orphanage to begin working on last minute adoption tasks.  I explained to Mario what I needed to happen with the translation and notary and he said that he could make it happen over the weekend.  I paid him 400 Haitian Dollars (40.00) and anxiously await his arrival on Monday.  Because of the language barrier and the use of a translator, I went over exactly what I needed again to ensure that when he returns it is correct.  Thank you all who prayed for this to happen as it did and much faster than I thought.  Nothing happens fast in Haiti and prayers have been answered!!  Barry also received a call from our attorney during this time who wanted to schedule a meeting on Tuesday afternoon at 2:00.  I did not expect to hear from him on a Saturday morning and again thank God for making this happen. 

After meeting with everyone about the adoption, I went down to hang out with Wisbens. I found a soccer ball and picked it up and that was all it took to get the kids on the field to play.  After playing with them for a few minutes I soon realized that they were way out of my league and I needed to watch from the sidelines.  I watched all ages of kids play and could tell that to them soccer is to what football and baseball is in America.  I have an excellent video of Wisbens playing soccer and scoring goals and will post as soon as the internet allows me.  He hopped around chasing and kicking the ball and using his crutch as his leg.  His will and ability is undeniable and I am proud of his resilience from not only surviving an earthquake but loosing his leg as well.

Wisbens continued to ask about calling Jen and Maddon on the "TV" today and I was able to work it out after dinner to call home. We went to the school house and with electricty and a small amount of wifi made it happen. Wisbens was excited but very shy when talking with Jen and Maddox and that will improve over time as he gets to know them better. We enjoyed every minute of our family time even if we are a couple thousand miles away. 

We finished the night watching Rookie of the Year.  The kids laughed hysterically and sat in awe as though it was a new release.  It was a great ending to a day and made my night to hear all the kids laugh and the joy they recieved from watching a movie.  I am excited to go to church tomorrow with Wisbens and have my church clothes laid out and ready.  One thing that I have learned here is although it is a 4th world country that when you meet with professionals, go to church, school etc. that you dress up for it.  As I set through church tomorrow not understanding a word the pastor says, the experience will be emotional for me to know that the kids at New Life Children's Home will have an opportunity to hear about Jesus and profess him as their Lord and Savior.  The other emotional part will be as Wisbens and I walk into service and find a seat next to each other, that we will one day get to do that weekly in Bowling Green, Kentucky as a complete family!!  I pray that you continue to pray for the adoption process, meeting with our attorney, as well as safety to and from his office.

Day 1 7-13-12

Day 1 started at 2:30 this morning with an early flight to Miami and on to Port Au Prince.  This was my first trip to Haiti by myself and was fortunate enough to connect with a mission team from Illinois who flew in on the same flight.  When the plane landed in Port Au Prince I was again immediately reminded of the devastation, destruction, poverty, and lack of basic resources that we take for granted.  As we taxied to the gate and the doors opened the smell of burning trash and urine took over and I was able to move my mind to the way of life for most Haitians.  I noticed a few more airlines at the airport this trip and see that as a positive as more business and money move into the country through tourism.  I again rode a bus to immigration and customs and after waiting in line and digging through piles of luggage to find my bag it was time to find our ride to the orphanage.  There were numerous United Nations police officers with shotguns and pistols on guard as we walked out of the airport and exited the gate.  It was prevalent that there is still some uneasiness throughout the city and support is needed.

Today was the first time I had the opportunity to ride in a Tap Tap (Haitian Taxi).  After loading our luggage 16 people climbed into the back and squeezed in to make sure everyone fit.  The driver locked us in from the inside for our safety and to ensure no one tried to catch a ride. After arriving at New Life Children's Home and dropping my bags off at the room, I immediately ran down to see my boy!!  As I walked through the orphanage I saw plenty of familiar faces (Jeremy, Pable, Son Son, Juniors, and Guivens).  The kids ran up to say hi and immediately took off to find Wisbens!! It was an awesome feeling that these guys even knew that I was there to see my son!! It wasn't long after they all ran off to find him that he peered around the corner, waved at me and came over to hug me.  I reminded him of our last conversation as I left in January and that I would be back to see him soon.  I talked with him about coming home to Kentucky to live with his new family and he smiled and said that he wanted to come home with me.  I told Wisbens that Maddox sent him a school picture and he wanted me to imediately go get it for him.  I look forward to the day that I can pick him up and take him home to Kentucky to begin his life with his new family. He has definately grown since my last trip and his English continues to improve.  We talked about Jen and Maddox and he remembered them from prior conversations as well as the picture album I brought him.   He also said that he wanted to talk to Jen and Maddox on the television.  I had to question him a few times to understand exactly what he meant.  I finally realized that he wanted to Skype with Jen and Maddox and had the biggest smile as he asked. (We will have to introduce him to technology at a slow pace).

I had the opportunity to catch up with my friend Barry who is also in the process of adoption about my plan over the next few days.  He assisted me in setting up appointments to take Wisben to get his picture taken to go on file at the attorney's office as well as getting one last document translated before we meet with the attorney on Tuesday or Wednesday.  I have still been unable to connect with our attorney about a meeting and tried numerous times with no response. We have a lot to do over the next few days and I am hopeful that I can complete everything that needs to be done.

In closing I would like for you to please pray for these meetings as well as our potential trip into town for pictures and the final translation.  I pray that we can get all of these tasks accomplished and one more step closer to bringing Wisbens home! 

 

Day 3 1-25-12

I awoke this morning had breakfast (Haitian toast and mango) and prepared to go the the mountains to visit the Baptist Mission and spend time at an orphange with the kids. We drove through Croix de Bouquet a city outside of Port Au Prince and stopped at a metal works. When I got out of the vehicle to the sound of constant banging and indivuduals wanting to sell us something. As I walked through the alleys and tents/houses I realized what the banging was for. The individuals were cutting, hammering and forming scrap pieces of metal to unbelievable pieces of artwork. It was definately an experience to witness what they were doing and to be able to support them as well.

After leaving Crox de Bouquet we headed towards Petitionville and up the mountains to the Baptist Mission. This was my first trip to the mission and I was excited to see the mountains and the greenery as well as have some american food. While at the mission we were bombarded by the Haitians wanting to sell us jewelery, pictures. Our driver served as our body guard and has to step in a few times to protect us from the Haitian people. It was important not to go anywhere alone and to make sure we always had someone with us. I was not used to seeing the green grass, gardens and feeling the cooler temperatures. The lack of resources has been one of Haiti's downfalls because they have farmed the land stripped it of all resources and have not replaced anything destroyed. The roads going up the mountain were windy and seemed to have only one lane with not guard rail. There were numerous times that our driver slammed on the brakes and would constantly honk his horn at pedestrians and drivers.

After leaving the Baptist Mission we began to climb the mountain to our final destination at the orphanage. We had to park and walk because it was on the side of the mountain and the vehicle would not make it down the winding road. As we began walking down the street I overheard individuals saying U.S.,U.S, as though they were telling the rest of the village we were there. I thought about the purpose and wondered if it was because they didn't see many Americans in their town or as and opportunity to sell items or potentially take our money. We made it to the orphanage and took in loaves of bread, peanut butter and tampico to drink. When the gate opened the kids came running to us giving us hugs and thanking us for visiting. The orphange looked and smelled as clean as it possibly could and the joy and smiles on the their faces helped me to know that they were being taken care of. The kids sang numerous songs and were excited when we joined in with them. After visiting with them we provided them with the food we brought them and it am still amazed at how appreciative they were and how fast they ate. It seemed as though they were taken care of but the looks on their faces when we made them peanut butter sandwiches made the trip worthwhile. The orphanage was small and on a hill and I questioned the things that they do not get to do that we take for granted daily. After eating the kids sang another song we prayed for them and began our trip back down the mountain to Port Au Prince.

It was an hour and half drive back to Port Au Prince and the traffic was at a complete stand still throghout the trip. My mind started to relax as we got closer to the orphange because I knew we were safe and if the car broke down we could at least walk back to the orphanage. I still do not understand the driving situation in Haiti. There are horns constantly blowing becasue cars a pull out in front of each other and the tap-taps (taxi's) are continously stopping without warning. I have noticed in the time that I spent here that there are also a lot of pedesterians in the street because the sidewalks are filled with vendors and junk cars that no longer work. Today I witnessed an accident where a lady was walking across the street and was ran over by a car who did not stop. We were all amazed not only that someone was just ran over but the person that hit her kept going. We slowed to check on her and before we could stop the lady was on her feet and walking back about fifteen feet two get her shoe that was ripped off when she was hit.

The orphange has a new kid that has been here a few months and I was asked to check in on him this evening and gather information on how he is transitioning and his thoughts and feelings about being at new life. His English was limited but I was able to use a translator to assist. It was a great opportunity to be able to work with him and to assist in removing any barries he may have to the transition.

Tonight is my last night and after dinner I was able to bring Wisbens back to my room and skype with Jen and Maddox. It was a great experience and I feel that he connected well with them and the phone call was successful. I look forward to many more of those calls before we bring him home. After evening devotions I was able spend time with the kids and begin the closure process of telling them goodbye! I plan to get up in the morning to see Wisbens and the rest of the kids off before leaving for the airport before lunch. It has been a quick trip but I am ready to get back home and see my family have time to adjust to American life before retuning to school on Monday. I appreciate everyone's support and will try to get my final post in before getting home tomorrow night after 11:00.

Day 2 1-24-12

I woke up this morning had breakfast and ironed my clothes to meet with the attorney. I began looking for my bag that I packed anti malarial pills, medication for potential stomach problems (parasites) and mosquito spray. After looking everywhere I realized that I had packed it in Miami and it was probably taken out of my bag at the airport. I am guessing that someone needed that more than I did and will borrow spray at the orphanage and be careful what I eat for the rest of my stay.

Today was an overwhelming and eventful day filled with a lot of meetings throughout Port Au Prince. Breakfast consisted of hot dogs and hard boiled eggs (together), grits, nutella and the most important part of the meal mango!! We left the orphanage around 8:3o with a translator and headed to our first of many stops. The purpose for traveling today was to meet with our attorney and get an update on the adoption process. We also made numerous stops along the way at government organizations to get needed documentation signed to give the attorney. We were lost numerous times and at one time picked a Haitin up to give us directions. This is not recomended and was a little nervoust about the process. After what seemed like an hour we eventually arrived at our destination and ended up at the first building we stopped at when we began the trip. I learned a lot of things today the biggest one was the differences between how America handles business and the way Haitians do business. Our translator was "connected" with the officials in the government and could make things happen but need us as Americans to actually get anything done.

As I traveled throughout Port Au Prince and the outlying cities it was obvious that the clean up efforts were still behind. If you did not see pictures of before and after the earthquake it would be difficult to tell the difference because the country as a whole is extremely poor. There were times today when we stopped that Haitians ran to the vehicle selling drinks, shoes, phone chargers and food. The most uncomfortable part of the day would be when the vehicle came to a complete stop and indiviuals knocking on my window with their hands out wanting money. We made another stop downtown close to the presidential palace and I cannot explain the emotions and feelings that I have from seeing the constant struggle to survive daily. Everytime I am here I am constantly reminded about how blessed we are to live in a country where even the hungry get to eat something!

We eventually made it to the attorney and found out that he had called in sick today! I was immediately crushed by the news because of the distance traveled and the lack of oportunity to meet again soon. His assistant was there to meet with me and answered many unaswered questions we had about the process. I now have a clear idea on what needs to happen next and a to do list for when I return.

After meeting with the attorney we began the long drive home through rush hour traffic where cars drive four lanes wide on a two lane street. We drove through Cite Soleil one of the most dangerous and poorest areas of Haiti. There were a lot of street vendors and selling items and the market was busy with people buying produce. I rolled the window down to take pictures and the smell of rotten fruit, vegetables and sewer overwhelmed the car. The pictures posted later will give you an idea of what it looks like.

After arriving back at the orphanage and sanitizing our hands and shoes, I was met by Pastor Seide and Wisbens dad. I spent time talking with him about Wisbens and asked questions about the last ten years of his life, his likes and dislikes, and any medical concerns the family has experienced. It was a good conversation and I look forward to sharing more about our meeting when I return.

We had dinner at 5:00 and had turkey (I think) pasta with chicken and salad. After dinner I walked down to hang out with the kids an catch up on their day. I was immediately met by Wisbens and 4 other boys asking for my phone to play spider man. I had the opportunity to talk with the kids about how they are currently doing and check in on their status. The night ended with a skype session with Jen and Maddox (I miss you!!) and the discussion of possibly talking to Wisbens tomorrow about the adoption. If I do not talk to him this visit we are still going to skype Jen and Maddox for them to officially meet.

Day 1 Pictures

Monday 1-23-12

As I was flying into Port Au Prince this morning and begining to land it was clear that there was still a sea of blue tarps that were being used as houses and damaged buildings from that earthquake that seem to be frozen in time. As we taxied down the runway to the sight where we would soon exit the plane there were obvious signs of cleanup and rebuilding. As the doors opened to the plane I was once again met with the feeling of heat and the smells that were present two years ago when I made my first trip. The smell of garbage, sewer, and trash burning is a smell that I am never ready for but used to now after traveling her several times. After exiting the plane I boarded a bus and headed to customs to wait in line and then retrieve my bag that is piled on top of other passengers bags. After finding my bag I headed out to the parking area and looked for my transportation to the orphanage. This is a much different experience than I have ever expereinced in America because Haitians are literally fighting for tips and the opportunity to carry you bags to an unknown destination. After meeting with our driver it was clear that there was not enough room in the truck and I took advantage of the opportunity to ride in the back experience the ride from a different perspective. There was a sense of relief to know we had made it when the truck turned down the alley and I saw the New Life Children's Home sign.

We drove through the gate and before getting our bags had to wash and sanitize our hands because of Cholera and other diseases that are prevalent in Haiti. After dropping my bags off in the room I went to meet with the orphange director to discuss my plans for the week as well as the current status of the orphanage and Haiti as a whole. Miriam talked with me about the work that is currently going on in the mountains and the ongoing effects of Cholera. New Life continues to travel to the mountains and assist in treating those who are sick and dying and have recently brought kids back to the orphanage because they would not have survived any longer in the tribe. I also recieved updates on current issues at the orphanage as well as the adoption process and ways that I will be able to assist this week. I followed up with her on kids that I have worked with in the past and and recieved updates on emotions and behaviors. I also talked with Miriam about the adoption and where we are at in the process. She offered positive feedback and I have a list of things that need to be completed before I leave.

After meeting with Miriam I ate lunch and headed down to where the kids stay to hang out and love on the kids with special needs. This is especially a good time for them because the rest of the orphanage is at school and they get even more attention than usual. I could not wait to see Marilee a five year old girl who likes like she could be two and see if her health has progressed any since my first visit. I was able to immediately find her smiling face and pick her up and hold her. She continues to struggle with breathing and needs surgery to fix her trachea, yet she has gained a minimal amount of weight and grown. I will post pictures from today and the first time I was here to see her progress.

The kids finally made it home from school two hours late because of a flat tire on the bus. It was great to see their smiling faces and to be welcomed with hugs. The way the kids have welcomed me and remembered me from previous trips makes me feel as though I never left. I saw Wisbens for the first time and he immediately came up to me and hugged me and seemed excited that I was there. Because their bus was late the schedule changed tonight and there was not a lot of time to spend with the kids before they went to bed. I look forward to catching up with them tomorrow afternoon.

While eating dinner tonight the power completely shut down at the orphanage and a backup generator started up. This is a common occurance in Haiti as the power is not as advanced as it is in America and sometimes cannot handle the extra load. It is important at night to have a light source in case the power goes off you can see. As I write this, I am listening for the typical sounds that take place in Haiti at night and for some reason it is quiet. The sounds that I commonly hear are yelling to what seems like protest, music, and sometimes firework sounds that are probably gunshots and roosters crowing at all hours.

I look forward to a quick ice cold shower in the morning and an busy eventful day. Thanks in advance to Ms. Calvert and her classes for preparing the goody bags for the kids. I will post pictures when the kids recieve them.