The arrival

We arrive just before 9am in the blistering hot 38 degree Haitian sun--a slight change in temperature for this Nova Scotia girl who just left frost warnings in the forecast only a few days ago! Interestingly enough, the girl I sat beside was also making her way to Deschapelles, as she works for Sean Penn's reforestation efforts in Haiti. Turns out she was here to see the planting of their 2 millionth tree! The number is staggering and hard to imagine when it comes to trees, but even more surprising was the fact that this reforestation effort is solely concentrated in the area of Deschapelles! No sign of Sean Penn, though!

After making our way through the airport and yet another customs' line, we join the hundreds of people in the relatively small baggage area--3 flights have landed within 15 minutes of each other, including a mission team all the way from South Korea, easily identified by their neon green vests. I am pleasantly surprised to see so many young people in the airport, and they are all identified with a mission group of some sort. 

Just exiting the airport with our 8 suitcases, carry ons, and 3 sewing machines was no small feat either. We wound our way up the incline of the parking lot to our air conditioned black van, Identified by the windshield full of cracks, and began the white knuckle drive through the streets of Port au Prince,  and continued onward to the orphanage!

After nearly 2.5 hours of twists and turns, and one 'near miss' with a truck, we finally cross the last bridge spanning the river that runs outside the orphanage. To say the drive was hair raising would be an understatement, but I came to realize that was the Haitian way! No yellow highway lines seems to mean that whoever gets in the passing lane first gets the right of way!

We are swarmed with happiness when the big blue gates open to the compound, revealing our welcome sign and 16 beautiful Haitian boys and girls singing a song in the Haitian language of Creole. The children immediately stole our hearts, from 2 1/2 year old Magdaly, the smallest and youngest, to 13 year old G.G., one of the oldest and tallest. They weren't long taking our hands in theirs, showing us to the swing set. I eventually was overwhelmed with trying to keep up with requests for pushes on the swings, and piggy back rides around the yard! 2 kids on one lap quickly became the norm, and they clung to my legs when I tried to get up to leave. 

To be here and see these children, you can't help but be drawn in by their big smiles and their beautiful brown eyes which seem to truly sparkle, just like their personalities.   But I have found out that if I spend too much time thinking about why they're here, it's impossible not to feel sad inside. Instead, though, I have to remember that they are well taken care of, they go to school, they are loved, and they are happy here--their giggles and laughter are proof of that! 

So, after a day of sewing lessons, some computer lessons, and our ride to the grocery store, I had time to play with the kids at their playground. It turned into more pushes on swings and more piggybacks, and ended with 3 sets of little hands braiding my hair in the dark, while one of the boys sat on my lap to hold the flashlight  for the girls to work! It was a real team effort!

Now we're off to bed, listening to the chorus of roosters who seem to do their best 'cock-a-doodle doing' between 11-7 am, along with their 'back up' band of neighborhood dogs, horses, and billy goats. Haiti, here I am...gimme all you got!