Update

Well, its been five days since I've written on my blog.



Again, another posting without pictures - after today - I realize that I need to get the camera out - I saw the most hilarious vehicle today. 

Passed a weekend in that time as well.  Saturday was, well, almost a day off.  Certainly the closest to one in a long while.  I called a friend for a bike ride in the morning, but he couldn't.  He is the one that I conned (or that conned me into the trip over the mountain (actually mountains - many mountains).  We've only been riding once I think since I've been back - I'm worried.  So, hopped on my bike and went down to see another friend.  He was feeling a bit sick - and in no mood for a bike ride.  Their house collapsed in the quake.  His wife was in it at the time but escaped with just bumps and bruises.  She and there adopted (in progress) daughter have gone back to the states for the time being.  He is doing well, but living out of a van at his garage.  He is working/volunteering as a forklift driver at the airport.  Says he hasn't damaged too many passenger planes badly - but next time you board a flight glance out the terminal window at the side of your plane just in case.  He is actually doing awesome work and one of the cogs in the wheel that gets all the good stuff to where it should go.

Was feeling a little weathered myself in the afternoon.  So changed plans and curled up with a good sermon and my bible for the afternoon and evening - awesome.  Pastor Bill Johnson spoke out of Nehemiah 6.

We are making great progress at the site.

The boys sometimes don't know how to react to me.  I am joking of course at times - but they are not always sure - there just has to be the possibility that maybe.... There are a few that I can get just about every time and repeatedly.  I see the other boys laughing when I start - they can see it in my face I guess - but some can't  There is one boy here at the church that I've completely blown my cover with - his automatic position is to laugh - I need to set him up with something good.  Anyway back to the site.  I got one boy several times today - I'd be walking by him and suddenly stop - surprised to seem him - what's he doing here - when did he come.  About 4 or 5 times today he actually tried to convince me that I saw him first thing this morning - he even tells me the very first thing that I asked him to do.  I see the other boys of course behind grinning.

I was working at our gate at the top of our property and our neighbor across the street from the worksite came to me today - he has just moved into the house across the street - in Dec and paid the rent for a year - that is typical here.  He is not sure if his house is safe to live in.  Of course like most haitians - afraid after the quake - they are camping outside in their own yard.  I looked around the house with him.  There are many fine cracks - but mostly in block walls - not too concerned about that, however there are a few cracks along ceilings and beams - little more concern and several fine cracks right across ceilings and between/within columns and beams.  These I'd be a little more concerned about - but they are not opened up.  I suggested - given the number of cracks and some in key places that he should call his landlord and have the landlord inspect.  I am not so sure that his landlord will do the inspection.

He also mentioned his need for food and water - so I think that I'll follow up with him on that tomorrow.  I don't believe that I have seen a water truck stop along this street since we've been back at work - and I don't know the status of his family in terms of income and the impacts of the quake.  I do know that his immediate family is well, but that he lost a cousin.  He speaks a little english and I a little (move - thats Kreyole for bad) Kreyole - so we communicate okay. 

Went down to the hardware store at the end of our street to pick up some cement this morning.  The hardware store is at a very busy intersection - lots of traffic typically goes by - especially at 7:30 am.  The man that loads the cement wasn't there yet so I had to wait a few minutes.  While I was waiting, I was talking to the owner and watching the traffic.  You see all sorts of stuff, but this one particular vehicle was very unique - I really wish that I had the picture to show you.  The driver was driving along as unconcerned as ever - however the car was missing a few parts - obviously it had wheels tires, a motor and everything required to make it go.  Stop I don't know, but it was moving - so it could go.  The floor was there, the fenders and I think a hood - the back end was basically gone, the roof was gone, no drivers door and no rear door on the drivers side,  The passenger door was half there - the top was gone, the rear door on the passenger side had glass,  the top half of the steering wheel was missing, there was no roof, no windshield, no rear window, no trunk.  It looked just like something out of the salvage yard - that was about 1/2 gone.  At one point - our eyes caught and we both grinned. 

I also saw rice distribution from a bit of a distance from the same vantage point.  Many people were coming down the hill with bags of rice - large - i'd say likely 50 lbs bags - lots of people and lots of bags.  I asked the hardware store owner and he indicated to me that the Catholic church just over the top of the hill was doing the distribution - this church collapsed completely in the quake.  The people seemed orderly and I didn't see the competition for the rice - however I also couldn't see the point of distribution.  By the time this scene was clearing - I saw a UN vehicle come down the same hill with about 15 plus or minus troops, then followed shortly after by two US military vehicles again carrying troops.  I can't help but think the security was there to aid in the distribution of the food. 

I have heard it said a few times that "people" who "see" the way some things are done - ie dropping food -  don't understand why it is done that way and think it should be done differently.  Of course there are always going to be critics - always a better way.  Some seem to think so, but a week in Haiti does not make an expert.  I know many people that have been here 5 or more years - and I think with all of them, the question isn't have they been robbed - the question is how many times have they been robbed.  The reality on the ground here in Haiti is disarray, confusion, contention and those that would rob and loot and take from others.  That is why in tent cities, you commonly find groups banded together - to protect themselves and their resources (food).  I saw recently where there was an attempt to highjack a food convoy - I am sure not an isolated incident.  Highjackings, kidnappings, looting and robbing were going on long before the earthquake and if anything is helping to keep a lid on it - then that would be the local police and the military presence.  Doctors, food, water are escorted - why is that?  Because where there is need - there are those in Haiti that want to take advantage of the resource over and above others - its  a way of survival - especially in PAP.

We live in an imperfect world - just ask me, unfortunately I have experience.  But there is another side to this coin - we know that one day it will all be perfected and we will no longer need to drop food on people.  Our God is a great God and His mercy endures forever. 

Okay, as for pictures tomorrow I'll take my camera.  Promise.