Saturday, September 15, 2007

Today we woke up to still no power or water at the Orphanage, poor Roger Alexander and his generator problems. So we had cold breakfast and hung out with the children until it was time to go to the airport to pick up Jose, Jody and their children. We left at about 10 and hung out at the airport until they arrived, which was about 1045. There was a really nice café at the airport where we all had something cold to drink while we waited and learned about his hotel/resort that is going to be opening in Port-de-Paix. When all people and luggage were loaded up in the trunk we drove past this house that Larry rented for some of the local street boys to sleep in so they do not have to sleep on the street. He is starting this program called, Waves of Mercy, which is an outreach for the kids that live on the street and are too old to start at the Orphanage and too rebellious to fit in at a school. We got to meet some of the boys and they were so excited and grateful to be shown the Grace of God by someone who does not know them from Adam. Once back at the mission base, I just hung out in the dining hall working on my webpage and doing some emailing. Roland hung out with the other interpreters and watched a movie and the Owens and the Castillo’s went into Jose’s house to be together and have some lunch. We were at the mission until about 4 o’clock at which time Wisley showed up with Erin, Maureen, and Melissa who had spent the night in the Far West at Miss Pats. About 20 minutes after they arrived it started to pour, so we got in the truck and headed back to the Orphanage. We know however that this rain storm would cause a 40 minute trip to take just about 2 hours. The rain was so strong that any puddle or little stream that we normally drove right through became a fast moving current or huge puddle. I can only describe this trip as white water rafting in a flat bed truck. Any truck that was able to make it across the current became the new tap tap for however many people it could hold. Any other vehicles and people were stuck wherever they were until the rain stopped and the water subsided. It was so much fun to play in the water and help people make it through. I was a muddy mess by the time we got back to the Orphanage. We arrived back to find that we were still without power and water and had been all day. With this in mind we just used the rain as a shower and got all cleaned up and ate dinner. Then we spent the remainder of the night hanging out via candle light until it was time for bed. Still not having power by bed time it was amazing to see how dark it is without the presence of traffic lights, street lights, head lights, or even the neighbors light. I did not want to sleep on the roof since it had rained so hard and it was too dark to set my tent up so I slept in the heat of my room and I am sure that I lost several pounds sweating during the night. I was giving a glimmer of hope around 11 because the power came back on. It only stayed on for about 15 minutes though and I was back to sweating. It is ok though because after all that happened today I was ready to pass out. So I did. J Peace.