August 3rd:
We left for Haiti on July 30th 2014. We got up at 3 am(of course I was up at 2 and didn't go back to sleep). We got the rest of our things together and left for the airport. It only took us months to pack and weigh and repack and weigh again. Either way we had everything we thought we needed. (Aunt) Christi had spent the night in Van Alstyne so we took her car and Holly's car to the airport with all of our bags but two that Dan had taken to work the previous day and was planning to meet us at the airport on the 30th bright and early. Before we left the house Nancy randomly said we should take an empty suitcase just incase. We got to the airport with nine of our bags to check that included two big "tough" boxes. When we were checking in we were told about an embargo that would restrict us from taking our boxes! So in the middle of the airport we had to open our two boxes and prioritize what we needed from them. Praise The Lord Nancy felt the need to bring an empty suitcase. So we filled the empty suitcase and started stuffing the other suitcases with things from the boxes that we would need right away. Nancy's parents and Christi were a huge asset in helping us that morning. Thank God for them being there. So we had our now 8 bags ready to go(9 - 2 boxes + 1 new suitcase....I know, complicated). Since 9 bags were free for us we went ahead and checked one of our carry on's to make it 9 bags total that we checked (plus pipers car seat). We stood in the security line after saying goodbye (sweating from the bag exchange extravaganza) and of course behind us would be a member of Collin Creek Church and his daughter I remembered from youth camp the previous summer (go purple team!!!). It was a nudge from God telling us that He is with us. What a wonderful God we have!!
Well, two flights later, in first class I might add, we made it to Haiti. (By the way-it was cheaper for first class, that's not just how we roll. Lol. Go Nancy...the new Dave Ramsey!!!). Haiti had never been a problem with customs before on our short term trips, but of course the time we are moving with all of our things Haiti immigration was a nightmare. A little less then two hours of standing in line in the hot airport we made it through. The tough part was ahead...getting our bags with just Nancy, Piper(8 months old), Ainsley(4) and I. Yeah. 10 bags. 2 backpacks. 1 kid. 1 baby. And a car seat. What a joy!!! BUT again God is good. We made it through, got outside and linked up with Dan, Joy, Maya, Carl and Beth. What a huge relief that we had every bag, every person, almost all of our sanity and made it through the airport to the car!
We went out to the Ortlip center in order to relax and drop off a few things prior to going to Port-Au-Prince for language training for the next three months. We had dinner and crashed hard that night.
Home. We are home.
In true Haiti fashion day 1 was ...well... true Haiti. From a crazy car accident in front of the station (not to worry it wasn't us, and everyone seemed okay), to getting to swim in the Caribbean, swat mosquitos, unpack, pack again, eat, pray, laugh, sweat, and make several bad attempts at Kreyol...we loved every second of it.
We went to Port-Au-Prince on Saturday the 2nd and linked up with Carl and Maya (other GP missionaries). We are staying in their first floor apartment. We went to our first Haitian church service the next morning and were getting real excited to start language school Monday August 4th.
Pray for our language learning to come quick and easy. It can be a bit overwhelming and we will take all the prayer we can get. More stories to come of course! Stay tuned!