10/31/07
I have received confirmation from Rachel that the team has made it safely back to Canada. Danielle will be staying in Haiti at least for the near future, and I, Paul, will be returning home to Canada on November 9.
This will be the last team trip blog, and I want to thank all of you for your support of this team and this project. It is a blessing to be working in partnership with each of you... including those I have not yet met.
Feel free to check out my personal blog if you would like to continue to follow my trip here in Haiti. My blog began as a log of my travels to Haiti in the spring of this year (before I was involved full time with HFL), and, though I have not posted on it over the last few months, I have realized lately that it is a great communication tool and will be revamping it over the next few days. You can find the link on the sidebar of this page.
Here is a snapshot of the Cranbrook team's last couple days in Haiti.
As you know from our previous posts, our medical clinics finished on Saturday. It was a tough clinic. On top of being 6 days without a break, the team was also dealing with some really big medical illnesses. Doc Bob termed it as the toughest clinic that he has done to date in Haiti. This left the team pretty tuckered out, and everyone was ready for a break. Here is a shot I decided really needed to be on this blog... Steve (HAM carpenter teacher) and Michelle... trying on reading glasses and acting a little... well... you fill in the blanks...
On Sunday morning we spent time worshipping and participating in the church service here at HaitiARISE Ministries. In the afternoon/evening we rested, some of us napped, a few of us went for a walk through Grand Goave... we all relaxed and chilled out.
Here are a couple shots of our friends in Grand Goave from those who went for a walk on Sunday through town.
We headed down to the beach around noon, and on the drive there the weather worsened... to the point that after twenty minutes at the beach we decided to pack up and go back to Grand Goave. Here is a shot of Doc Bob with an avocado... ready for some beach R&R... The rain was coming down in sheets.
Suffice it to say that we spent a large chunk of the day in the van... it was definately an adventure... here's a shot of us on the way home...
We spent the night talking about our experiences and packing up. On Tuesday we woke up to reports of the airport being closed and roads being unpassable between us and the airport. After going through nearly $20USD in phone cards making international calls to the airline company, we finally were told that the airline was still operating... which meant we had to attempt to get to the airport. We loaded up and started driving... here is what the rivers looked like.
Unfortunately... I took a lot of video... but not a lot of pictures... there were many homes flooded and water streaming across many parts of the road. After twenty minutes of driving in the van I called back to Grand Goave and asked Marc from HAM to follow us in his four wheel drive pickup just in case we needed extra help getting through to the airport. Fortunately we made it through, and though the departure terminal at the airport was full of backlogged American Airlines customers from delayed flights the Air Canada ticket counter did not have a lineup, and the team was able to check right in. This is where I left them... until hearing from Rachel that they made it back safely to Calgary.
I had to post this pick of the drive back to Grand Goave... not only was the water higher on the road (2 feet deep at some places)... but we ended up with a flat. The guys in the van were a little shocked when I said 'Hallelujah!!!' (translates: 'praise the Lord'), a little loudly... they did agree with me once I explained that it is better we had a flat now rather than with the team on the way to the airport.
The last two weeks have been packed with experiences. You have shared in some of the stories of our time here and I pray that you have glimpsed a little of what you have supported. I know I speak for all of us when I say that we have been blessed by your partnership. Please take the time to find out more from the team members you know and feel free to contact me for any reason using my email address or the HFL contact page. I leave you with this shot... a photo summary of our trip.
May you be blessed!
Paul DenHaan
HFL Team Leader
2 Comments:
Paul -- my name is Kim Masten -- if you are still in Haiti as I am assuming your blog suggests, I will see you very soon. I am coming down for 5 months on the 19th. I look forwardto getting to know you and the rest of the team better!!
Sad to see the last blog....that means it's over. However, I will see you all again, and in Haiti! It was an amazing experience, each of you is equally as amazing in your own ways. Miss you all- take care!
Rachel
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