To say that it is crazy that I'm actually here would be an understatement as well as a disservice to God. Door after door has been open that only He could have done and Monday morning at 6am I found myself looking out the window of a plane, feeling more peace and less fear then ever in my life--it definitely was a peace that passes all understanding! But..this isn't about explaining the wonderful ways God brought me here (if you want to know, you can ask me later). This blog is going to update my mom (who's sent numerous emails already haha) and whoever else cares to know what God is doing down here. It may contain random thoughts, poems, stories, or simply verses. Don't mind the typos :).
Ryan Wells and I took off from Cleveland on Monday (Feb 1) and after some flight delays and going through D.C., San Juan, we landed in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic where we met Ashley Glaze. The YWAM base in the DR took us in and fed us and were all-around wonderful. They had 84 volunteers staying there that night: young and old, from tons of different states and countries, backgrounds--some medical some not. Supplies kept flooding into the base so we helped unpack and talk with all those around. It was quite a full house!!!
We took off for Port-au-Prince at 5 am. The ride was about 7 hours and bumpy..but it was so great to be surrounded with people who prayed over the drive and all those on board. Met a wonderful man named Richard who was a Haitian-American (more on the later). As we got close we started to see the destruction. NOTHING can prepare you for the back neighborhoods and the damage that was done. The pictures DO NOT do it justice.
After much confusion the bus stopped in the center where the (now-crushed) Presidential Palace sits. More than just the sights, nothing prepares you to look out the window and into the eyes of the beautiful Haitian people looking back, directly into yours. There is such love and beauty and heartbreak in many of them.
I stepped out of the bus and the smell is truly mind-blowing, yet is much better I'm told from the previous week. I was greeted by a small boy pulling on my arm, who said, "I am hungry. Can you feed me. I need food. I need food." How do you say you can't? But he is only one out of hundreds of thousands. The person who met us told Ryan to get Ashley and I behind the gate of the police station immediately and not to let us come out without an escort. Ryan went out to meet Marion Coblentz (which is another miracle too long to type!). We were then whisked off to various places, dinner, and finally back to Jarrod and Jalayne Coblentz's place and Ryan to some missionary friends' place.
Today Ash and I headed out into the city along side Josh, Jake, and Patrick who are 3 guys from Akron that have been staying here for the past week and a half. Having them with us has been a Godsend as they have showed us how to get around on the taptaps and exchanged our money with the people on the streets since no banks are open. We went to a boys orphanage that has been converted to a clinic. Old women and young babies alike are laying on cots in the sun with broken bones and open wounds. Ryan was there working with a team on a young girl. The woman running it was so excited when I told her I was a nurse and asked me if I had OB experience...to which I could definitely say YES! So..I will be starting tomorrow or soon to relieve some of the nurses that have been doing back to back to back 12 hour days. Another blessing is that Bernard has come back from the Mercy ship to stay at Jarrod and Jalayne's and I will be able to change the dressing on his foot every day from his amputation, so I'm thankful for that opportunity. (see their blog, address below)
The boys took us around the city to pretty much everywhere. We got rides from men working with World Vision. Planes and choppers are flying overhead like crazy, although we are told it's slowing down. We've seen UN vehicles, military personnel, Unicef, and many other relief organizations left and right. We headed into one of the tent cities set up..and it is heart breaking. They beg for food and money....and help. The heat in there and the dust and dirt is awful, yet little ones run around steeling our cameras to play with and laugh with us.
Tonight a lot sunburnt later, we all headed to dinner with all the boys from the orphanage. They have never been out like this and when we got there they were in their best clothes, sitting up so still and proper, with the biggest smiles on their faces.
Immediately a Haitian man pulled me aside and said, "Some come with pity, some with love." Those words have really been on my heart tonight. He smiled and gave me his card. I talked with some people about what that meant. Unfortunately, sometimes people simply pity these people when they show up and make decisions based on these feelings which has led to many sad things--children being separated from their families and such. To love these people is to go beyond pitying them and their devastation. Loving these people and this beautiful culture means going to any lengths to do the absolute best for them, but as I'm quickly finding out, loving them breaks your heart. Pray that God will best use me to go beyond pitying the people I meet here, and to love them with His love......
Alisha
See these blogs for more updates:
http://www.jjcoblentz.blogspot.com/
http://web.me.com/ryanjwells2010/Nahum_1_5/Bonswa%21.html
Quick Thoughts:
I hate roosters. 4 am is NOT the morning
If I make it out of here without malaria it will be a miracle bc I'm a human mosquito pin cushion
All countries should have taptaps and allow us to ride in the backs of trucks at high speeds (don't worry mom!)
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