Haiti through a child's eyes

We arrived safely today. The flight was uneventful and even baggage claim was very easy. We found "the missing bag". It came through with BT's name on it and said "lost tag". I am not sure how they found it, got it to NY, and then got it here on our flight with our name on it. Especially considering it was still missing last night in NYC. Either way we have it and the guys at the airport who check your tags twice to make sure you are taking the right bag let us have it. In my mind, it was divine intervention. Thank you to whomever prayed our bags all arrive.

Two cars and our driver from before, Vlad, were waiting with some guys from Justin's work to take us. I was so happy to see Vlad I almost cried. I was feeling a little like the kid lost at a store looking for something familiar. Only I was the adult here which was even more scary. I am sure he thinks I'm nuts for being so excited to see him. Anyway, we loaded up and off we went.

All of our bags in the truck

I took pen and a paper with me while we drove "home" to see what the kids had to say. As we were landing, they could not shut their mouths they were so excited!

- I see a tent city (IS)

- Are we going to land in the sea? (TJ)

- Look at all those people.(CT)

As we went through customs, immigration, and baggage claim they gradually became more and more quiet. By the time we walked out and were swarned by 20 guys in red shirts trying to "help us with our bags", their mouths were shut and their eyes were huge. They did not say a word down the long walk to the car.

Then our family got in one car to the house. It took over an hour to get there with traffic and they were pretty excited the whole time.

- They sure wear nice clothes for the conditions (CT)

- Upon seeing some chickens (BT) asked "What that dog called?"

- That guy standing up in the twuck (BJ)

- Dad, was it an earthquake or a tornado? (TJ)

- Just a little earthquake sure did a lot of damage (TJ)

- Look there is a Mom and a Dad and a kid on one motorcycle (IS)

- Why is everyone honking? (TJ)

- Mom, look I just saw a Michael Jordan jersey! (CT)

- (SF) saw a little girl about her age sitting outside a tent and said "Nanana (what she calls herself) sit." I think it was the first time she has identified with someone her same color.

- Wow, everything is so colorful (IS)

- Upon seeing street vendors (CT) "Are they selling all that stuff?" (Later we saw a vendor selling tons of locks, he made us write down where we saw him)

- Everyone is so good at balancing stuff on their head (CT)

- That is because they have a bandanna under the basket to help them (IS)

- They sure have beautiful art (CT) (This is true the art they sell on the street is colorful and beautiful)

- Uh-oh a car in that house (BJ) about a car parked behind a gate under an awning

- Hey a guy on top of that truck (BJ)

- Where do you tap a tap-tap (TJ) (The taxi's are brightly colored pick-ups with a roof they call tap-taps)

- Why are they walking goats (IS)

- That a dog (BT) (about the goats)

- There is a little girl selling stuff, she has 3 baskets, where is her Mom? (IS)

- I thought some people would not even be clothed (CT)

- Hey someone forgot to paint that tap-tap (TJ) (when he saw a plain tap-tap)

- That little kid is just walking around by himself. Is that why there is so much kidnapping here because kids are just running around without parents everywhere? (CT)

- I want to ride that truck (BJ)

- Hey I saw a Dora and a Phineas & Ferb movie (IS)

- Do they like all that graffiti (TJ)

- Who is up on that mountain (BJ)

Then we were stopped near this building for while. BJ could not get enough of it. I was surprised he was even phased by it, but he totally got it.

"Dad who knocked it over" He must have asked this 10 times while Justin tried to explain "What been in it?" "It been up?" Later he saw another building and happily reported "That one not knocked over."

The kids each wrote in/drew in journals tonight. They are going to send an e-mail to their classes about what they saw on their first day. It was interesting the kids each commented that they felt "stared at" and they noticed we were the only white people around.

Tonight when we tucked them in BJ said to me "Mom, we in Haiti now?" We have been talking about this for a while. I think we are all relieved to be here.

A Tap- Tap, loaded down with people

"Da guy on da twuck"

After 2 long days of traveling this is what my row looked like by the time that we arrived at our new house. It was good they were asleep as those who were not were ready to throw up. For those of you in CO think of the 2 lane road to Winter Park, add heat, pot holes that could swallow your car whole, random goats in the road, smells and lots of braking for no apparent reason.

All in all we are elated to be here. We feel tired, dirty, and overstimulated but extremely grateful. We are grateful to all of you and for the prayers that we know helped us, our kids ,and our bags to make it here safely.