Log #6- Haiti1 trip: "Sensory Impact"

March 11

March 10

Log Entry #4: Airports and First City View March 9

#2 Tues Mar 3:  Ping Pong

Hello, All,

There s a ping pong game going on in my head right now. With less than a week before we leave and a very busy weekend coming up, I am addressing practical needs one moment and emotional needs another. Ping. Pong. Whack the ball. Then give the next a gentle spin.

Trip facts:

Tues Mar 9- Fly to Port-au-Prince; met by Keith and Tom; spend afternoon at Grace Children s Hospital; stay at Palm Court Inn Wed Mar 10- All day at GCH Thurs Mar 11- All day at GCH Fri Mar 12- Morning at GCH; fly to Miami

Log Entry #1- Sat Mar 27

Preparing to go:

Am aware of some areas of preparedness-- spiritual, emotional, professional, physical. Here are some ways I'm doing it.

Perspectives from visit to Port-au-Prince, Haiti: March 8-12, 2010     - Tom Hunsdorfer, Secretary for the U.S. Board of Directors

What I Heard

“Thank you God for giving me time to apologize for the bad things I have done in my life.” – spoken by a nurse who was in the second floor of her home when the earthquake struck, watching concrete walls collapse behind her, the stairs in front of her falling away, and believing she was about to die.

Arms filled with babies.  Bowls of cereal and stew to feed.  Searching eyes. Bubbles.  Smiles, giggles, patty cake and humming songs.  Rocking chairs and benches.  A child's book enjoyed by many.  Busy workers, volunteers and parents.  Diapers, cotton gowns and washclothes.  Tears, wails and sad good-byes.  A day at Mother Theresa's orphanage reminds me how vulnerable children are and how much we all need to be loved and cared for.  May God bless the sisters who carry out his work here on earth all day, every day.

We were greeted in the courtyard this morning by one of our Haitian friends that our mission team met last year........................ Roseanne, a mother of 10 children who lives in Cite Soleil.  We hugged, smiled, and reconnected.  We traveled to a rural church in Duplan and were blessed with beautiful music and gracious people who showed us much hospitality.................................. we learned that we can understand the language of God even though we do not understand the language itself..........................until Frank gave the sermon, which&nbs

A great day on yet another visit to Haiti......amazing to me that an invitation to come on a trip in 1977 has led to a lifetime of such trips.....but now I don't just want to come to Haiti....a part of me NEEDS to come.

A good nights rest ( too tired to hear the roosters and barking dogs at 3am ) led to a trip this morning to a Methodist Church in Duplan....a village about 30 minutes away.  In 1989 I was last there, and participated in baptizing a Haitian baby.  Returning today brought memories....and a reminder that the people called Methodist are connected across the wor