We're Here!

Bienvenu! (That's "Welcome" in French)... And we surely had a warm one this afternoon when we arrived at the airport in Haiti.  The temperature was a balmy 95 degrees, but most of all the people seemed eager to see us and help us in any way they know how!

Visiting Haiti for the first time with Deacon Tim, Jim and Maureen White, I was excited and fully prepared (I thought) to meet all the challenges I was to encounter in this country.  Remember this is only our first day in Haiti, and already we were faced with a variety of challenges that tested our patience, endurances, understanding, faith in God and trust in the people we met today.

Within minutes of getting off the plane I, started to learn more about Haiti and its people (lessons that are not learned by books, Google or hearsays).

Here are the top ten lessons I learned on our first day in Haiti:
1.)  Haiti is a beautiful country.  From the air it looks like a graceful maiden, asleep and floating in the tiny ripples of the water of the gulf.
2.)  Most homes are built closer to the shore, but the hills and mountain slopes are dotted with tiny, colorful houses (the tin roofs are sometimes painted with bright shapes of red and orange).
3.)  Though obviously impoverished, the people seemed happy and content (I didn't see any grumpy Haitians).
4.)  Haitians love to walk and visit by the roadside (they don't seem to realize the danger).
5.)  Motorcycles and bicycles, as well as refurbished school buses and trucks (called tap-taps) are favorite modes of transportation in Haiti.
6.)  Road as narrow and not very well maintained, but they offer the best challenge to even the most skilled driver (Like Fr. Herve).
7.)  There are no traffic lights, lanes, right-of-ways or signal lights in Haiti.
8.)  Most people on the streets are very young to middle-aged adults.  I did not see any elderly, whether ambulatory or using special equipment -- like walkers or wheelchairs.
9.)  Our sister parish in Laborde is a beautiful place nestled quietly in the countryside amid tall trees and green banana plants.
10.)  Fr. Herve (The pastor of our sister parish), together with his staff at the rectory were genuinely gracious, warm and generous with their time and attention for our needs.

Tomorrow, we have another full schedule.  But for now, I must go to bed... it is past midnight and I have to catch some sleep.  We didn't get here until almost 9pm.  I can't wait until tomorrow and the surprises and lessons it will bring.


Shirley Molitor