First Teams

True to my word, I took some pictures yesterday of the house and things. However, the camera left the house with my hubby this morning with the pics still on it, so I had to use some old ones again. (A cool helicopter we saw from the plane, us on the roof of the church in Fauche, Bill and Elaine on our way to the market by a new route, we had to cross the river!) We had our first teams come in yesterday evening. Chris left for the airport with Wilber, one of the drivers, about 2:30 and came back with a team of 8 medical people from Canada at about 6. A few hours later, Dan came with a team of 5 from St. Louis, also medical people (docs, nurses, residency people). They came in shifts, which was helpful, so the first team ate and got their beds situated before the second, smaller team got here! We ate chicken tetrazzini, (Darlene our cook helped me prepare the chicken) come leftover pasta (hopefully the teams didn't know it was leftover and this was about it's 4th appearance on our supper table...we tried to spruce it up!) some bread and a cold canned fruit salad with cookies. They were great. The moment they arrived, they all started setting up their mattresses and mosquito nets outside. They weren't picky about anything, and were so appreciative. During dinner we got a chance to talk with them a little and hear a bit about them. There's some really neat people coming and going from this country right now! One couple had left their 2 kids--a new baby and a three year old I believe, at home with their parents to come serve, and others had taken time off work and other stuff to come. They were all suffering a bit from the drastic climate change, in Canada is was -25 when they left! Oh and some of them knew some French so that will be helpful to them as they venture out.
After all had gotten here and eaten, (and I breathed a sigh of relief that they were all fed and didn't appear to have any immediate aversion to the food) Dan gathered them together to talk to them about what to expect. It has been 22 days since the earthquake but there is still a lot to be prepared for. I have such admiration for medical workers. Going into something that you have no idea what you might see and knowing you are trusted to handle it, wow.
People slept everywhere! Some inside, some out. Chris and I decided to brave it and sleep inside, but neither of us slept very well! Even though we know the risk inside is not too terribly much greater than being outside next to tall walls, it was still a bit strange.
This morning we were up at about 6 and made coffee and pancakes. People ate as they were ready and then were off by 8. It was a whirlwind! Chris went with them to drive to Ti Gauve and then bring a team of 14 back to the house to fly out tomorrow back to South Carolina.
This experience is so interesting. Days are flying by, but they're so long. We like what we are doing, but it's really hard at the same time. I found myself wishing that Darlene and Awold didn't work so much a few days ago, but now I'm so thankful for them. Darlene makes amazing Haitian meals, (Kris, Eli and Anna you wouldn't like them..they're so spicy! much water is required!) and Awold mops and sweeps the floors and sings and prays out loud all day long!
Chris has had to leave each day so far for a while. The last two days it was for about half a day, and today I think it's for all day, he won't be back until evening. As silly as it sounds, we aren't used to this! Usually we are together all the time, and able to work together on things. We are really blessed--most of our friends have actual jobs so they are used to some long times apart. I think it's different being in a different country too, we have just come to depend on each other. But this time is also good--I'm learning that I can do things on my own and survive :) And it's challenging us in a new way to try to keep close while we aren't together.
A huge blessing of today: A new generator arrived yesterday with the team which means a few things: 1. It can charge the invertor so lights/fans will work at night. 2. It can handle a fridge, freezer, and lights, and coffee maker working at the same time. 3. It is about 50 times quieter than the last one! 4. WE CAN USE THE WASHING MACHINE!! Woo! I don't have to resent innocent team people for taking a regular sized towel to use anymore! :) It's an awesome provision from God.

Well, that's all for now. Hopefully Chris will have a chance to write sometime soon. Thanks again for all your prayer, we really appreciate it. Have a good day!