Total Assault

Port-au-Prince was nothing less than a total assault. Every sense was overwhelmed.

Heat and humidity, thick and fresh, greeted us when we first disembarked the plane. Fourteen of us entered the chaos of the customs building (shack is really a more accurate description) filled with excitement. We were greeted by Officer Price, who came from Haiti Arise to serve as security for our team.

Time passed, bags were slowly gathered and stacked, nerves took over and anxiety stepped in. Stale air, crowded with humanity, and being approached at every angle by someone who wanted to help with our luggage quelled our excitement somewhat. To add to the stress, we were informed that nothing less than a tip of $20 for the three men who helped us would suffice.

Eventually, shy just one bin (out of 28 pieces of luggage, total), we trekked through the front doors to be met by Chris and Marc Eddy from Haiti Arise. The outdoor breeze was refreshing, but the exhaust fumes it brought was not.

We drove for about three hours, dodging potholes, speed bumps, and other vehicles as if we were dropped straight into a game of Frogger. The crazy ride was both exhilarating and terrifying. We made it through with only one small fender bender…

Along the way, the sensual assault continued. At one moment the smell of rotting refuse and standing sewage was strong enough to elicit the gag reflex. The next, the smoke of burning trash choked out our chatter.

Children, so beautiful in their clean school uniforms with freshly bow-wrapped hair teemed in the streets. Some small ones walking hand-in-hand with Mommy or Grandma. Many walking in groups of two or three on their own.

The heartache brought on by the vision of acres of miniscule tent homes was soothed by the picture of dump trucks, shovels, wheelbarrows, and Haitian men hauling away the garbage lining the streets.

My meagre words cannot possibly do justice to this experience, so we’ll upload a post chalk full of photos later. Suffice it to say that it was more beautiful, more terrible, and more overwhelming than most of us expected.

Want to ask me which phase of culture shock/stress I’m in tonight?

A couple highlights…

Team leaders running late and forgetting the keys that would gain us access to the bins. (Yes, I am the half responsible for the oversight.) But team members with the skills necessary to break in and retrieve the imprisoned supplies.

Team members (Jim & Dolores) meeting up with a Haitian friend outside of the airport, giving him a care package, a hug, and prayers.

The fender bender. Well, the guys all found it pretty exciting. The girl sitting in the back right corner of the van, who saw a massive construction truck scraping up against the thin, metal fender that separated her from the huge truck – not quite as excited. (Yep, me again.)

Getting our “Welcome to Haiti” tour of Grand-Goave and encountering a number of children gathering water to bring home to their parents…Those children falling instantly in love with two beautiful young ladies (Alex and Lydia), holding their hands and skipping down the lane.

My most profound moment…

As we drove through the mass of humanity that makes up PAP, I was snapping photos of anything I thought our friends and prayer partners might be interested in. There were three handsome little boys walking along in their school uniforms. As I lifted the camera to my eye, I noticed them scowling at me and shaking their heads “no.” Before I clicked the shutter, their backs were turned.

In that moment, I felt terribly thoughtless, inconsiderate, selfish, and more. Here I was snapping photos of children living in devastating circumstances, completely violating their right to privacy. Showing myself for the true westerner I am…

Don’t worry, I did eventually stop beating myself up and began to snap more pictures. However, I paid close attention to the people around me and tried not to click the shutter when I got the “no” vibe from people.

Things I learned…

Siham speaks French with excellence and is a blessing for our team!

The children of Grand-Goave are nothing like the children of PAP when it comes to taking their picture. (Probably because these children are used to foreigners coming to their community.)

Although I claim I can eat mystery meat with confidence, the reality is that I can’t get it much past my lips. I’m not sure if it would be a help or hindrance to inquire of the amazing kitchen ladies.

Things change, and what you expect to happen probably won’t. For example, if you promise your children you will Skype them, you will probably not be allowed to use Skype and you will probably get in touch so much later than you intended that your children will need to be pulled out of bed.

There’s nothing like living with a group of people (even if only for 24 hours so far), to make you comfortable discussing personal issues such as bowel movements.

And that, my friends, is the thought I’ll leave you with today. ;)