Good evening from Jolivert! Last night after I sent the message we were hit by a real deluge for about 30 minutes and everything cooled down nicely allowing everyone to get a good night’s sleep. We awoke early to a very nice breakfast prepared by Michael of St. Joseph’s.
Once the transportation arrived, the bags were all loaded aboard and nearly all the team were treated to an air-conditioned luxury motor coach for the ride to Jolivert. However, the luckiest member of the group got to ride shotgun in the “Suicide Van”. This might have been the poorest vehicle I have had the opportunity to ride in…..ever! Certainly not the worst I have seen though. And I got to enjoy the fresh Haitian, exhaust filled air blowing through my hair-what little I have. That said, it held together remarkably well for the trip. More on that later.
We started our journey at 8:30 with plans to meet Kez for lunch in Gonaives. The trip was, for the most part, quite smooth as there was little traffic, both pedestrian or vehicular, being Sunday. We arrived in Gonaives at noon and the real excitement of the day was getting to spend some time visiting and catching up with Kez. She is doing well and inquired about many of our previous team members by name and hopes to see you again! She arranged for us to eat at a nice restaurant and the food was great!
Unfortunately, our leisurely lunch had to come to an end and we set off for the rest of our journey to Jolivert. This is where the fun started. For those who experienced it last year or read about it, the roads are absolutely NO better. I am sure the occupants of the motor coach got bounced around on there suspension but the van essentially did not have a suspension and it had a clearance of about 8 inches when we started. We challenged more than our share of rocks bigger than that. Everything in the vehicle was rattling so much I was waiting for pieces to just start falling off. I was amazed it held together and half expected to bend the drive shaft or break an axle. The windshield started with one large crack and by the end had three. We crossed the water at least three times and twice I expected to see water pouring into the vehicle. Just when we were spitting distance from our entrance we blew a tire….we would have made a Nascar pit crew proud changing the tire and we were moving again in no time and we arrived within a few minutes.
We had survived the Gonaives to Jolivert challenge again. This really should be an off road race event. At first I thought our new driver did not possess the same skills as Sorel from last year but then it became apparent this guy beat him hands down considering the equipment he had to work with – I mean all that and just one flat tire! I can only imagine what this guy could have done with the Nissan Patrol SUV???? I’m sure it would have been an even more white-knuckle experience.
Once we arrived we unloaded all the baggage, sorted the “loot”and then enjoyed a wonderful dinner of pumpkin soup with rice – deeelicious! Now the team is enjoying a raucous game of cards as I type this message. Laughter is truly good medicine.
As I listen and type, I look back on this day as a series of reminders. As we drove north and entered the city of Arcaie, I was reminded of the meeting with our friend Christine last year – Kez says she is doing well. Further up the road I was reminded of our little Prestige stop last year when we really had no idea what we were in for once we left the main highway. I was reminded throughout the drive that the center line is really more of a suggestion. I am also reminded of some great Haitian games like dodge the goat, dodge the motorcycle, dodge the boulder and my favorite…dodge the donkey with the rider on his cellphone. Great fun for the whole family!
I am reminded of the laughter of friends who are missing on this trip and I miss them tremendously, but am just as happy to have the company of these new friends. I am reminded what a harsh place this country appears to be, but once you scratch the surface, “harsh” seems like the wrong word. These are a resilient and warm people who get after life every day with an infectious spirit and that is the real reason we return year after year!
Tomorrow we begin our work and again hope to provide some measure of comfort to these wonderful people. As always, please keep us and them in your prayers for success.
As I sign off the roosters are quiet but the donkey is braying. We had hoped to repopulate the Goose flock but were informed it was not possible in this area, so we plan to try a release program upon our return to Port next Saturday. Wish us luck and a restful night. Will write again tomorrow.
Love to All,