Dear Friends,
It's difficult to put my finger on it, but there is something to this new endeavor of Haiti for Mercy League and the Mattenleys… that has taken me to a new place in my faith. I can honestly say that there was nothing that could have prepared me for this turn of events. We are planning to move to Haiti and work for Mercy League—an extension of our heart to share mercy with those in need. This has shocked us and brought us back to our faith to a place that we used to live both literally and figuratively. It is an interesting lifestyle to feel so many things out of control… things that are taken for granted in the developed world. Running water, the availability of food, fuel, medical personnel/facilities, law enforcement, electricity, political stability, storm drains, passable roads, refrigeration, open schools, personal safety, after dark security, social status, car/health insurance, land ownership, building codes, traffic laws, speed limits, federal employee conduct, and the list goes on and on… These things are the tip of the iceberg. Life is just plain unpredictable in the developing world, and then there is Haiti. Haiti is special. It is as close to Africa that you can get without going to Africa. It is an interesting mix of Carribean-African culture with expressions of France and the USA throughout the city of Port-au-Prince. This, of course, is an oversimplification, but it gets you closer to understanding what it is like to live and work in this country.
Lonne, Tyler and I left the evening of Feb. 25th and flew from Portland to New York, only to be trapped in an East-coast snow-storm. We were delayed, but what could be done, so I caught up on my reading. Once on route to the Island of Hispaniola (The Dominican Republic, and Haiti) we watched the sunset over the clouds across the western wing of our Jet Blue aircraft. It was beautiful. Once in Santo Domingo Lonne, Tyler and I gathered our supplies (Tents, tarps, cots, medical supplies, camping gear, and a few small gifts) and headed for the exit. The border agents simply waved us through and away we went—five hours late, but with all our supplies!
We will stay in Santo Domingo until Sunday morning (5 am) at which time we will charter a small van to transport us and our gear to a friend's guest house in the mountains above Port-au-Prince. Tomorrow we will spend much of the day shopping for our Daihatsu truck (even though we haven't enough to purchase (hint) it—yet.
Too tired to continue…
Shane, for Lonne and Tyler
Dinner at the Hotel Hamilton - Santo Domingo
We will stay in Santo Domingo until Sunday morning (5 am) at which time we will charter a small van to transport us and our gear to a friend's guest house in the mountains above Port-au-Prince. Tomorrow we will spend much of the day shopping for our Daihatsu truck (even though we haven't enough to purchase (hint) it—yet.
