Team Haiti May 2012: Getting There

They say that half the fun is getting there.  And that is certainly true for our Vacation Bible School (VBS) teams.  Team Haiti arrives twice every year to teach the kids the truths of the Bible using the Children's Catechism that has been translated into Haitian Creole.  Our first team arrived Monday and we have already spent a lot of time on the road getting there.

The team's journey actually began late Sunday night as most of the team members boarded the red-eye flight from Los Angeles to Miami.  The first 2300 miles made for a very short night.  A couple other team members joined them at the Miami airport and then everyone boarded the plane for the flight to Port-au-Prince.  Haiti may be a world away but the flight from Miami is just 1 1/2 hours.  On the ground at their home for the next 10 days.

After the bus ride to Kaliko the team was able to rejuvenate with a swim at the pool before preparing for the boat ride to Lagonav.  Planes, no trains, automobiles and a sailboat.  All the ways it takes to get to the churches for VBS.  This time it was a very pleasant early morning ride on the Wesleyanna, the older sailboat chartered from the Wesleyan mission.  The bags of sand are not ours but we had plenty of bins and bags to load.

But the team is not finished traveling.  The journey to Plenn Mapou, a spread out community nestled in a mountain valley takes over two-hours from the OPC guest house.  The roads are dusty and rough.  We average about 6 miles an hour, time to enjoy the scenery and say hi to various folks working along the road.  Part of the team goes in a pickup truck with benches in the back and part of the team gets to ride in the slightly more comfortable Kawasaki Mule.  Either way we talk and watch as we journey up into the mountains near Plenn Mapou, about 1500 feet above sea level.

So for the last two days the team has labored to communicate the truths of the gospel to the kids at Plenn Mapou.  They have been attentive for the most part and very animated at points.  Singing and games are always a favorite.  Everyone is glad to have made the effort in getting there.  We are praying that God will bless our efforts and continue to be with us in our travels over the coming days.