Haiti #1

I tried to think of a catchy title for this first blog post about our recent trip to Haiti, obviously I failed. each day was so cram packed with highs, lows and action that to sum the experience up in a catchy phrase eludes me.

I am honestly having a hard time putting into words the trip so bear with me and I will do the best I can.

Overwhelm number one was a hugely positive blessing!

Eight suitcases/bags of clothing, shoes, medicines and diapers donated by our church, community and homeschool friends!! We managed to get each bag to weigh in right at 50 lbs. I wish you all could have been there when the packages were unpacked! The new church shoes were especially welcomed.Thank-you so much all those who contributed, I felt like you were all there a little bit with us!

Getting to Haiti was our second overwhelm.. starting from a conference at Myrtle Beach we headed out late Sunday morning for Virginia. Getting out of the hotel took longer than expected and although traffic was steady we forgot how VA traffic really is!Thankfully we have another huge blessing in the shape of our Virginia family and Cindy had delicious pasta, bread and desserts waiting for us when we finally pulled in. Play time with the much loved cousins was too short ... but we have found that three weeks straight would still be several years too short! The family went to bed and we all crashed on the floor and sofa, watched "The Sound of Music" for three hours and then dragged weary bodies into the van for the trip to the airport...

Suitcases tweaked so each was within weight and we were really on our way.. Miss H complained of a sore throat as we boarded the plane.. by the time we got to the Miami USO it was a raging throat and we were concerned it might be strep. Steve took her too the clinic in the airport while I watched the child at the USO.. having a pot of soup accidentally tipped all over me, changing clothes and washing and drying the outfit I was in all before we had to head to our gate. Steve and H returned with septacol spray and sore throat lozenges. The spray turned out to be an essential blessing later in our trip as it had an antiseptic and anesthetic quality...

Through the security gates again.. we were fast becoming almost competent in removing and regaining shoes, bags and belts...and then we were on our way..