The sewage guy (hey, that’s what he calls himself) is from Canada, then there’s the children’s worker from Germany, 7 Brazilians pastors and leaders, a retired police officer from the Midwest, 5 nurses from San Diego, a pastor from Nebraska, 4 carpenters from Wisconsin, the public health worker from Minnesota, a water purification expert, our new Haitian friends and …. Uh… me???

That was the group gathered around the dinner table (OK, make that tables!) this evening in our base house here in Haiti. When I was here 3 weeks ago the decision was made to set up this base house; at that time it was just a dream; today it is reality. 23 people will be sleeping here tonight and when dawn breaks we will be heading off in at least 5 different directions. It’s incredible to see the energy of each and every one.


Can I tell you a bit about today…’cause today was pretty cool…

The nurses headed off to a clinic about 30 minutes from here, seeing over 150 patients in about 7 hours. They are working alongside 2 doctors in the entry way of an old church. The construction team finished up the bunk houses outside (where else would you put 24 people?) and tables (that are littered with papers, water purification schematics, lists of contacts, travel schedules and laptops...ever the laptops.) 2 went off to a UN “Shelter Meeting” to talk about needs, resources and housing challenges for this beleaguered nation.

Then there were the Brazilians. All are members of the Evangelical Free Church of Brazil. The EFC-Brazil had NEVER… had NEVER sent a team to do any kind of relief or mission work in the past. Yet with less than 2 weeks notice 8 were able to raise the needed funds and make their way here. We set them up in groups of 2, brought along translators for each and sent them out.

They came back after about 4 hours chomping at the bit to share their stories. One was of a pastor who is 71 years old, having served his church for 55 years and who watched as his building fell to the ground before his very eyes. Another told of an orphanage, 50 some kids who are now living in a cleaned out chicken coup after the destruction of their building. Then there was the Brazilian who went out with a soccer ball under his arm and ended up with about 50 kids and youth around him. Being Brazilian, he set up a soccer game for this afternoon and while I wasn’t able to go—I did hear about 30 neighborhood kids singing and chanting as our “Team” came home after the game.
It did all of our hearts good to see this level of joy around us today.

And as each day ends, we sit around the table(s) and talk about our experiences. It’s a way to talk about—at times with laughter and most nights with many tears—the experiences of each during the day. Last night was a special night as several commented on the privilege of not only being a part of the relief efforts here in Haiti, but also on the privilege of sharing their lives...and pancakes, in this most international of houses.