7 February 2010

Sunday morning in Haiti. There will not be any pictures today, not because I lost the camera, which I did but what was lost has been found. Actually Thursday was one of those days when you just want to sit down on curb and cry. By the time I started to drive for the border at 5:00 am on Friday I thought that I would never see the camera, the GPS or my sun glasses again. But through the day friday they just started appearing, so I do have a camera and I am taking pictures but I was just planning to post when I got back to the Dominican Republic.

Getting back to the Dominican Republic is another issue. Late Friday night, as we were evaluating the situation it was decided that I should stay here next week, rather than go back to the Dominican Republic on Monday morning. I not sure when or how I will get back over there, I am booked on a flight for Friday afternoon which may get changed to Saturday.

I left most of my stuff in the Temple housing in the Dominican Republic because I thought it would be a short trip so I am going to need to find someway to do some wash or they will not let me come into the mission home. Matthew and Kimberly would understand what the smell is like after sweating for two days in the same clothes.

I have seen the Hotel Montana, thats the one that had about 10 floors that just pancaked. There are other buildings here and there and even one or two areas where there are several buildings that have collosapsed. I have not been West of Port-a-Prince or even to the central or west side, just east side. I understand damage is worse to the west. For the most part it appears life is back to normal. The roadside stands have bread, fruits and vegetables. The streets are full of vehicles and people, the business of staying alive is open. Probably the most visible thing is the new shanty towns which are going up, not the normal wood pole and tin one room hut but a variety of tents.

We are learning that there is a cultural that need to be respected. We were thinking that we make food deliveries during the day, after all unemployment is over 80% there should not be a problem with labor. However, making food deliveries during the day leads to riots. So the "volunteers" come to the warehouse after dark, we load the trucks and make deliveries in the dark.

Another problem is we give out 125 lb bags of rice thinking it should last a small family for a couple of weeks. The problem is they have no way to keep 125 lbs secure. The whole culture is and has been for many years day to day. The concept of a two week supply is foreign and impracticle.

There is an open field next to the warehouse. Yesterday a wonderful humanitarian flew in with a helicopter touched down, threw out a quantity of food and took off. A riot ensued. The sureal thing is that along the street there is food for sale and people are usually able to rustle up enough to get something, but free is free. Look at what we Americans do the day after Thanksgiving because there are some great bargins. We are all the same basically.

Anyway, I did see Julee yesterday and delivered the care package of Pringles, Oreos, Jello Pudding, Corn Nuts etc. She was happy to see the supplies but had to be careful to stand up wind. The 82nd Airborne is on the other side of the soccer field so they are nice and secure. One of the cable companies has set it up to broadcast the Super Bowl on a large white sign. The US military is an impressive. Organized, diciplined, neat and large.

I ate an MRE last night which is actually pretty good except the rye crackers. They call Neal blan, which means white, but they don't call me white although it is a pronounce farmers tan.

I would answer your questions but I don't see any so I will close.