A Change of Plans

Today we almost overslept and missed breakfast, because half the clocks said it was 6am (including our cell phones) and the other half said it was 7am.  The little info sheet at the villa says that breakfast is at 730am.  Haiti decided to follow the USA when our time changed last weekend, but somehow the airlines and the cell phone companies didn’t get the memo.  Anyway, the breakfast bell rang at 7am and luckily we were already up and trying to figure out what time it was.

Today was the day that we were planning to go to Gonaives and pick up the bus, but the bus is not ready.  We are still waiting for government insurance and licensing and all the Haitians agree that they should definitely NOT drive the bus without the license plates.

Our new plan is rent a big truck and go to Gonaives on Saturday to collect all the items that are in the bus.  While there will make all the introductions and make the final arrangements to have the bus delivered to Port-au-Prince.   Everyone here is very excited to see all the donations and finally get them to the orphanage.

So today after  a quick breakfast, we went to the nursing school to take photos of the classes.  Some of the third year students weren’t there because they were at the hospital for training.  And the entire first year class had the day off so that they could prepare for a big exam on Monday.  This school has really grown and is gaining a reputation as one of the best nursing schools in Haiti.

After that we made the long drive a little ways out of the city to see Martha’s house and meet her husband and 4 month old Convington Jr.  On the way we actually saw a working traffic light, but this did nothing to help the massive city wide traffic jam that seems to exist 24 hours per day.  At one point while stopped,  Claude got out of our  truck to strongly discuss the location of a big tap tap that was blocking the road.  He made a good point and the tap tap backed up and we and many others quickly sped through the gap.

Martha and Convington are building a cement block home in what you would call a suburb.  The house is only 20% done, but they are happy to be living there (even with no electricity or running water).  They are a happy couple and Jr. is growing up in one of the most loving families I have ever seen.  His grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins all adore Jr., and so do we.

We said our sad goodbyes, spent a few hours driving back to the orphanage, had a quick meeting and called it a day. 

Well, that’s all for tonight, as its now 930pm (or is it 830pm?).  We have to get up early to make the long drive to Gonaives and will be back late tomorrow.  Please pray that everything goes as well as it can.

-Rob