We arrived in Haiti on time, and it was an interesting start to the adventure.

Meeting Keith and the group from Michigan went well. The flight to Port-au-Prince was delightful, even if the landing was a bit rough. Made it through customs with no problems, and we did not have to pay the $100 we were afraid the agents there might try to stick us with

Exiting the airport was in the rain, and the thing more disconcerting than the weather was the volume of people there begging. The ride to the guest house was intriguing. I have never seen a worse condition for humanity to live in and call such conditions "home." There were literally thousands of people on the street, going every which way. They were dressed in a style, and carried themselves in a very proud way which belied their living conditions.

The guest house was St. Joseph's home for boys. A clean  house,  with some of the outside smells lingering in our room. And, we met Mickie,  an old dog, very skinny and a large tumor growing right in the center of its face. You can't help but feel pity for the poor beast. It seems like it is a very good-natured animal, although the boys invoked a loud bark and growl while teasing it about its food.

We had a good meal (chicken) and a time of togetherness. Janet and I were assigned a room together, for which we were thankful. The bed was very comfortable, and I slept soundly until early in the morning when the power went off and my sleep machine went off. Also, a rooster started crowing about 2:30 and crowed until way after day break.

After church, we went high into the mountains and had lunch with an American woman (Carla) and met her friends, Ari (Harry) and Ja. It was soon to become a political discussion, and Ja did most of the talking. I don't buy everything he said, but I believe there is sufficient mutual understanding and I can call Ja a friend. He said I should come to Haiti and start a church, and if I did he would come - at least once. The name of the community we visited is DOA/BN and I am not really sure what its purpose is. Carla has been in Haiti since 1985 and is a real advocate for Haitian customs. She provided a traditional meal, not exactly what we liked but no one complained. The home-grown fruit was delicious, and the ground corn and beans weren't bad. The smoked herring was a bit strong, but I got it down. Janet, of course, didn't even try.

After the meal, there was quite a bit of political wrangling. I probably upset the kids from Michigan with some statements about America's role in causing poverty. It is so difficult to see yourself as others see you, and Americans are really blind to their greed and willingness to take advantage of others to maintain their standard of living. It is much easier, and comforting, to believe our lies that we are a wonderfully-generous country, kind of the developing world's big brother. If we are honest, we will recognize there are truths to both statements.

It was a difficult trip, transportation-wise, and very adventurous traveling back to the guest house. We are so spoiled with our highway and road system.

We returned home to St. Joseph's for an evening meal of meatloaf, egg plant, potatoes and fresh tomatoes. We were late, but the food was waiting for us. One thing we learned is that one must take responsibility for oneself, and if the food is cold, it is your fault alone.

After a long session together to debrief, we were dismissed for bed. I was glad. Physically tired, climbing up a mountain (I rode the last 1/4 mile. Janet walked.

I gave to the woman who hosted us $50, which Janet didn't really like because of some of the things that had been said. Prejudice, and unwillingness to listen objectively, is such a subtle temptation of Satan.

Began an early day trying to shower. Girls get in the shower room very quickly and take a long time once there. I was the last one at breakfast...still had good meal, and all I wanted. Fruit here is delicious.

We went to Grace Children's Hospital. At devotions I was asked to greet the people. There is a large group of people who attend this service.

Then we went to a terrible place. We went to two urban health clinics. Keith didn't know the names of the places, I can say one thing for certain: I shall never forget them. We were taken there to learn about a vaccination, and it was difficult walking down the rocky street (?). We had to cross a bridge over a flowing stream of gray, smelly, running water. A pig was in the water, sticking its snout under the water for bits of food. . . .and to think someone will eat those hams and bacon and think it is great.

I began playing the harmonica while the crowd was a loud rumble of human sounds, none of which I could understand since it was in Creole. Quickly, the noise disappeared, and all you could hear was the harmonica. I played "This is the day that the Lord has Made," and soon nearly everyone was singing -- Haitians in Creole, Americans in English and the harmonica playing for both. Hands began to clap, and rhythm rushed to feet and we had a grand time singing "I Will Rejoice and be glad in it."

I wondered how people who live, if you can deem it so, in such conditions could still sing "This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it! But, they did and they were.

It was a good moment -- people who declare God is good in making this day and chosing to rejoice in it.

f we were shocked at this first clinic, we were horrified at the second. We descended into what could be best described as a cesspool of animal and human pollution. Refuse of every imaginable kind was in the water, on each side of the stream and everywhere you looked. In the middle of it, two large pigs were rooting for food. Sewage pipes ran out of second story living quarters and nearly dumped onto Keith who stood almost under it. You learned quickly to look up, down and around you.

The people were very friendly and joked with us. Houses were built in such a way that it reminded me of a maze, narrow, dirt, pot-holed paths, wet with water. I was walking up one of the inclines and three teen-age girls came down one of the narrow streets, turned their palms upward as if to beg for food, patted my stomach and said "big." And, off they went laughing.

Janet and I got separated from the larger group, and Janet started to panic that we were lost. We just retraced our steps, came to a large, nice looking building and saw the larger group.

I was glad to see the Grace Children's Hospital van because the heat and the effort required to climb the hillside had taken a big toll on my feet and energy. It was hot, but just to sit in the van and look out the window was such a blessing. Besides, we were going to lunch at a restaurant - a real, honest-to-goodness restaurant.

It was in Port-au-Prince, not too far from where we were staying. It is called La Pause, and I had a chicken sandwich, freedom fries and a large coke. It wasn't diet coke, either, and didn't taste as strong as American Coke. But it was cold, and that's what really mattered.

Following lunch, we went to the Super Market, rather modern and more to our understanding. The prices made you do a double-take, as they were marked very, very high. But, you had to do some math to understand the American price. If an item were priced at, say, $100, it would have been about $2.50 American, because there are 40 Haitian gourds (pronounced goodes).

Now, we are back at the Boys Home, waiting for dinner and hopefully an early bedtime.

For now, a shower..... Cold one, but a shower. Oh, for five minutes of hot water. (click on Journal Page 2 to continue)