20 April Back Home

Glad to be back home-the kids and I all slept over 10 hours last night following more than 8 hours of travel. Good trip over all. Will be sharing pictures over the next few days.

First day we visited the site where an estimated 80,000-100,000+ earthquake killed people were buried. A couple of larger crosses stand beside many small black crosses placed there at the 1 year anniversary. The biggest question that echoed through my mind again as so many times following the earthquake "How many of them were ready to face the Lord?"

Retreat is meetings, fun, different food, swimming, hot showers, air conditioning but the biggest positive remains talking and getting to know other team members and others working in Haiti. A young man who started at the Petit Goave Wesleyan clinic-now working a long term clinic in the same area 'happen' to stop in and we passed on a few health book copies. [My ankle did OK-sore some days but OK]

On Monday we caught a ride to LaGonave with the other's returning and spend the afternoon visiting with friends and staff members, visited the gardens and hospital. LaGonave remains dusty as the last rain in town fell before Christmas. We received a nice rain totally more than 1.5 inches just last night--wish we could send our extra rain to LaGonave or other parts of Haiti.

Our return trip took longer as we made a few stops to buy a bit of food, mangos, drop folks off and pick up John Pierre and Genier in Limbé. The folks in the area continue to protest the deputy race and completely blocked the road. We saw 3 spots being guarded by groups of people. Some of the Wesleyan pastors arrived at Fauche after us by the road as the groups let them through.

But John Pierre and Genier advised us to return home via the river bed. The river being very low, did not cause any problems thought we forded it at several locations. Even down by the river we noticed the groups of men..because we shared banana plants in their community they did not throw rocks at us and we arrived home without problems. They believe that following the announcement of the final election results these problems will stop.

Eli slept more than 12 hours last night while Anna and I reached more than 10 [don't know about Cory as he stayed up later than us and was up before us.] Will do some school this week as well as prepare to celebrate Easter. A leadership training time is occurring.

[3 rd picture is John Tinnie and his kids while the 4th is John Tinnie standing by the date palms so you can see how they've grown..notice in the first picture that John will soon be shorter than Anna.]

Thank you for the prayers!