After spending the morning in the lounge with a free breakfast, feeling thankful to God, we were off to Haiti. Flight was smooth slept through most of it. How pleasant to arrive in such a warm, sunny climate. The airport was looking nice and had been rebuilt since my last visit. I was happy to be back, but sad over the recent loss of my friend Windy who went home at just 26 less than a month before my return. It was disheartening to know he’d died after suffering a bout with what was said to be leukemia, possibly lymphoma, a disease that wreaked havoc on his body from a lack of health care access. He endured a lot of pain and fortunately for him he was a strong believer and is home in God’s kingdom. He story gives hope to anyone with a dream like my visions for mobile clinics in Haiti. He had a dream, a big project, to have a school started in Cite Soleil an area deemed to be perhaps the most dangerous in the world. Slums so extremely impoverished, I recall heartbreaking visions of poverty, one infant so grossly malnourished after her mom was feeding her what was believed to be flour water and oil cause she didn’t have resources, one story of numerous in this crime ridden area. Windy’s vision was to start a school here and with the help of many volunteers it has come to fruition, creating a beacon of hope in the area along with the churches and scattered clinics all bringing hope in promising ways to deserving communities. Windy introduced me to the 1st orphanage where we did a mobile clinic. He had a unique way of engaging the children, teaching them and educating them that was endearing. He completed Haiti’s first paramedic training program to become an EMT. His legacy of service and captivating energy will live on in the school he dreamed of which even has a clinic developing in Cite Soleil. Accomplishments in his short life exemplify what Christ can do with one. His zeal and passion are motivating forces behind my trip and vision for mobile clinics in Haiti. As I exited the plane into the airport, it was so refreshing and brought joy to be created by a serenade gentleman singing songs in the airport. I could not think of a warmer, friendlier greeting to make me feel welcome. My heart smiled ready to begin another journey, feeling like it was with a nod from God.

I was greeted by a customs agent, a lady who remembered my from the last trip, what a hard ordeal it was trying to get medications through customs on that visit. I somehow knew this trip would be different, easier in some ways. I got all my luggage and had just enough cash, $2.00 to rent a cart for luggage. Great, I forgot to bring cash! Oh the minor details and there is no ATM in the airport. All good, after getting through customs, thank you Jesus, uneventfully, I proceed outside and am greeted by friendly gentleman trying to help with luggage. I repeatedly explain I had no cash, one man was sweet enough to help regardless, these are the loving qualities I’ve come to love in Haitians. He and another man helped me find the guy Phillip, we’ll known there as he often comes to pick people up who are coming to work with Project Medishare at the trauma hospital. We headed to the hospital about 10 minutes away. It felt good to be back. The poverty that used to stand out more around the airport is no longer as noticeable to me, my focus is different now, and perhaps more geared towards seeing the possibilities. It seems fewer people are living in tented camps by the airport, maybe displaced to elsewhere or on the streets or maybe even in housing. I was excited to pull into the hospital and find my fabulous Dad there who was socializing with other volunteers. I had a tasty meal from the hospital I missed this delicious Haitian food, rice, beans, sauce and plantains was just what I needed. Phillip enjoyed my chicken. The hospital changed a lot, felt different I heard they got rid of 40 people on staff with budget cuts, sad. My Dad’s tool room that he assembled was torn up no longer organized, its hard to keep things maintained with so many people going in and out. He was short on tools. I stayed until evening hanging with plans to return in the morning. I got a ride to the beautiful guest house I was staying out through Heartline Ministries in Tabarre, about a 20 minute ride from the hospital. To wrap the night up I had talks about getting medications in Haiti and connections on how to do so among other topics with volunteers, including Kim, Ryan and Nick.