Last night was such a pleasant way to wrap up this trip. After the departure of our friends Josi and Mary Therese, we spent our time reminiscing about the experience – the highs and lows, of which there were definitely more highs. We spent much time laughing and certainly some crying. This is Haiti after all.
The sleeping conditions and weather were the very best of the trip, but we got to bed quite late – trying to extend the experience any way possible. If you are curious, the roosters are alive and well in Port au Prince. They are now like an old cherished lullaby, so I drifted off quickly and slept well, though I was awakened early to the sounds and smells of a delicious breakfast cooking (my bed was in a somewhat open area above the kitchen). No matter…it just allowed me to soak up a few more minutes.
Breakfast was even better than advertised. Eggs to order, fresh fruit, pastry and coffee. I realize we have paid for this and it allows this mission to continue it’s own good works, but I can’t help but feel a bit guilty as I think of those all around us who have so little.
Imagine my surprise when my guilty musings were interrupted by one last gift…Andre, my regular translator on our first trip, was standing before me with his wide smile. It took a split second for me to realize who it was since I have not seen him in over 2 yrs, but the reunion was like that of 2 old friends. He is now the director of an orphanage run by the St Joseph’s organization near Jacmel in the countryside (much better for his health than the city of Port au Prince). I have truly missed him.
It is hard to say that I am now completely satisfied because there are others that we were not able to see – Loden and his daughters, Paulo, Mona, Manis, Lucson, Sendhie, Caroline, Jean Marc and Obed and their mother Marie…and I will always wonder about the children from the rooftop at Delmas 24. These people and those I did get to see are just my connections to this place and they seem to have their own gravity that will continue to pull me back. Every year the list gets longer and with it the pull gets stronger, but for now, though the task remains daunting, I must be content knowing that I am “returning one starfish to the ocean at a time”…and that does make a difference.
In fact a Physical Therapy team is arriving as we depart and will be teaching parents how to treat their children for the next week – it so happens Angel Missions paid for a bus to transport many children in need with a parent from the North (these are children we discovered during our clinics)…”one starfish at a time”.
We traveled to the airport with a much lighter load – only one bag to check for the return, filled with possessions purchased from local artisans. If our memories and experiences here could fill bags we would not be able to afford the extra baggage fees. As it is, the cost is so much greater, so please continue to support your loved ones and friends as they transition back to their usual routines and daily life. They are all now like a growing extended family to me and I will cherish these relationships forever.
We have endured one last driving experience playing chicken on the tight streets of Port au Prince and then ran the extortion gauntlet to get checked in at the airport. Now just waiting for the flight to board while we enjoy some fries and a beverage.
Will let everyone know when we arrive and are checked through to our gate in Miami.
Love to all. See you soon!
The Team