November 1, 2008

• Birthday Time

  A week ago ---

  I came home from seeing Elizabeth in Haiti. My flight down on October 22 was really nice.

  

  The layover in Miami was just right - gave me plenty of time to walk the loooong hall to get to the next boarding area, eat a lunch and relax before takeoff. It was an afternoon flight, and a window seat on the east side of the plane gave me a good view without the sun in my eyes. There were lots of different clouds, and enough of those to keep from getting a good view of the water.

  

  Notice (in the picture below) the rainbow circle and the shadow of the airplane in the middle! It made me feel like the plane was in God's "visible" hand!

  

  There were a couple small islands and one larger one that could be seen before the island of Haiti came into view. A lot of pictures were taken over Haiti, hoping to get some of the hurricane damage, but we were not low enough for it to show.

  

  The differences between the first two airports, and the one in Port au Prince were quite a few! I was one of the first to exit the plane -- through the tail section of the plane and went down a rolling cart of stairs to the tarmac!  Now try that in the USA! Of course, the plane had to stop at the far end of the terminal, just so we could walk out all the kinks we may have gotten flying there! The inside of the terminal has been "upgraded" and looks nice with the large tile floor and the open areas. (There is still no air conditioning though!)

  

  Following the arrival of Elizabeth and our driver, Wismith, we went to the grocery store. Elizabeth saw creamy peanut butter and quickly got two jars. She said this is her main staple to get her through. She noticed that all the peanut butter was gone later, it goes in a hurry.

  

  We unloaded at the "Lester Miller" guest house on the Blue Ridge compound, and Elizabeth began to have "Birthday" time! 

  

  She was so happy to see all the "beef" items brought along for our supper meals. We spent the remainder of the day catching up on the news from each other, and fixing sloppy Joe's, potato chips and Haitian Coke for supper. Coke tastes different there!

  We spent most of Elizabeth's birthday cruising around Port au Prince taking pictures. Between being amazed at the lifestyle, driving habits, road conditions, and general selling of merchandise, I was able to get about 400 pictures! Not all of them were excellent, but it does give a picture of the life in Haiti.

  

  First, you load the wheel barrow and roll it to the "dumpster:"  Then you unload it, either by dumping it into the dumpster, or shoveling the trash into the dumpster. Once the trash truck backs up to the full dumpster, you take your shovels again and load the trash truck! Never saw it done quite like this before!

   

  After going to meet the "absent" dentist, who was himself at the doctor, we went to get ice cream. I did not see one fast food store where you drive up or through during my roaming of the city. We climbed two flights of stairs to the store for the ice cream. Got my "Curves" workout before and after eating! (The stairs were circular!)

  Except for the lunch we ate with the Blue Ridge team, we spent all of Friday enjoying the time with each other. Elizabeth was able to use the internet and update her Xanga site and catch up on her email. There were ceiling fans in each room, and a couple floor fans, which made the warmth bearable for me. I had asked the Lord to make it comfortable for our visit, and He did just that, for which I am very grateful.

   

  The dentist was still having health challenges on Saturday morning, so his assistant filled Elizabeth's tooth and needs her to come back to complete fitting of the crown. This may not take place until December, unless it begins to hurt her. She only comes down from Soliette once a month, it takes $60/US to make the round trip, and so she comes down the weekend of the Bible Study.

  She is getting a hose and equipment to connect a propane tank (still needed) and the two burner stove she has so she can make more of her own hot meals. She had been giving the Haitian family money to help pay for her share of the food, but feels that she can do better with her money by cooking for herself.

  Elizabeth was telling someone how she takes her bath. She puts on her swimsuit, a shirt and a skirt, grabs the bar of soap and a towel, and with someone along, heads to the creek. She said that a quick splash to get wet, scrub down, and a few more quick splashes to rinse, gets it all done!  By the end of the "bath", her feet, which have been in the water all this time, are beginning to turn a little blue! I know it is hot in Haiti --- but that is much too cold for me!

  It was a fast, fun trip for both of us, but much too warm for me! I don't plan to return any time in the near future, but will fondly remember my time there.
  
  

  • 7:19 pm
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