Quick update on supplies and shipping - May 2, 2010

NOTE: Pictures added May 5, 2010. Post written by Kevin Watterson.

Hey everyone!

 

I wanted to share some pictures and updates from the field. Charles and I arrived in Cap Haitian on Sunday night, where we have one truck left to retrieve from customs. We didn't know if how long it would take, and if it would even be released, after a "problem" with the title. I have found that the best way to deal with these issues is to show up and start asking questions (what do you need to keep things moving?), and get the answers that the brokers and customs need to process the paperwork. People respond better when you are there in front of them. (Being 6'5" 270 helps a bit, too, I think.)

I have found the Broker firm we are using to be very helpful and responsive. Rico (pictured below with Charles) and Poalo (pictured at left with Kevin) from Services Courtage Rapide (see the previous blogs by Kevin) have gone out of their way to get our stuff through customs quickly, as well as to keep it safe and untouched while it has been in customs. We will be getting the final truck out of customs tomorrow and making the 7 hour, 170 mile drive to Gressier probably in about 10 hours. We will have to go slow (CHARLES!!) because of the glass windows and french doors that are on the truck. (I can't wait to see how this turns out- It could be VERY ugly!)

  

I was in Ft Lauderdale last week "helping" ( not much help as my back was not in the best of shape) with Ken Freia from 1st Baptist Church of Deerfeild, FL, and Jim and Karen Esson of Side by Side Ministries in Pensacola, to load a 40 ft. container. Our buddy Antonio from Wheeler Flooring ran the forklift for us, and we were able to load 20,000 pounds of cargo into the container. Anything from vegetable seeds, to a welder, to tools, building supplies, and a 25 KW generator, for which we still need donations to cover the costs of shipping and customs ($4,000 for the container, and about $4000 for customs).

 

Here in Haiti, we just had our generator shut off, so I only have a short amount of time to post this before battery back-up runs out.

 

Highlights of the day:

• Having lunch with Rico, Poalo and Charles, feasting on goat while over-looking the Beautiful Cap Haitian bay (if you can look beyond the trash at the shoreline).
• Hearing Rico tell me that he is doing an online course for Bible and one on Biblical leadership through, of all places, Trinty University!
• Then, meeting Pastor Codo (pictured below with Rico & me), the friend who turned Rico on to the online course and is himself currently in the MDiv application process for acceptance into Trinity.

 

 

Low light -- not sure what I ate or drank, but i'm "running" to the bathroom frequently.

 

Look for upcoming posts about our solar panels and the tent distribution that is in the midst of taking place.