The first 2 hrs

     I had gotten quite comfortable on the plane, and was enjoying the quiet time.  I was thinking about the week, what we would encounter, and also thinking about seeing my wife and son again when we return.  Somebody from our team,( I can't remember who)  said they could see Haiti out the window.  I did not have a window seat, but I stretched my neck in every way possible trying to catch a glimpse, but I could not see it.  Then the plane tilted hard, and out the window I saw it.  It was beautiful.  Mountains just shooting out of the sea.  Nothing like I had imagined.  I will never forget the first glimpse I saw.  However, as the plane began to descend, and things came into better view, the beauty was from afar, and the reality was far from good.   At over 1,000 feet you could already see the poverty, and the devastation.  Not just a few neighborhoods, but a country of despair.

     We arrived at the airport, and went through security and customs.  The inside of the airport was not that different from some of the smaller airports I have visited before.  It was even more commercial than I had anticipated.  We went through a 45 minute search for some missing bags before we left the comfort of the airport, and headed for the mission house.

      The first 30 minutes outside of the airport was difficult to explain.  We were told in advance not to let anyone touch your bags.  Hold on to each other, and if someone touched your stuff, tell them No, No.  When we stepped outside their were hundreds waiting and watching.  I am not sure what they were there for, but they certainly were interested in us.  Staring at us, yelling at us (I have no idea what they were saying).  We loaded on to a large truck with a large cage on the back.  17 of us with bags in tow.  We felt like livestock.  Locked in the back of this truck, peering out at this world around us.  Our truck had some difficulty navigating through the town, and we had to back up several times because our truck would not make it up a hill.  More yelling, some honking, and some nervous laughter among our team.  The traffic was like nothing I had ever seen.  For a few moments, I questioned, (are we safe).  Have I put my daughters in a bad situation?

      Pretty soon, as I began to really look around and feel the poverty, I forgot about my nervousness.  These people had nothing.  Everyone was out on the streets.  Standing, sitting, walking, and even laying on the sidewalks.  Everyone looked to be selling something, but who were they selling to?  It looked as if nobody had anything, so I am not sure who they would make a sale to.

There was instantly a big difference between the Haitian people and us.  We set goals, we think about the future.  We make plans, and do it as if we know what will happen next.  These people were focused on today.  I say the Lord's Prayer daily, but it brought new meaning to part of it for me.  Give us THIS DAY our daily bread.   Not tomorrow or next week.  Just sustain me for today Lord, and I will let tomorrow take care of itself.  I worry chronically.  I realized how sinful that can be.  I can't control things.  We need to focus more on the moment. More on the people who are within arms reach.  I pray that I will worry less, and be more grateful for the little blessings that I receive everyday.

I am reminded of this scripture today:

James 4: 13-15

¹³How foolish it is to say, Today or tomorrow we will go into this town, and be there for a year and do business there and get wealth:

¹⁴When you are not certain what will take place tomorrow. What is your life? It is a mist, which is seen for a little time and then is gone.

¹⁵But the right thing to say would be, If it is the Lord's pleasure and if we are still living, we will do this and that.