My first post in Haiti

I arrived this morning at 9:20. Was more nervous this morning than I have been since...don't know when. Maybe when I moved to England, sight unseen?! More so, I think.

The airport in Port Au Prince is unlike any I've seen - small and packed with people and HOT (we were inside a metal storage type building with no a/c for immigration, customs, and baggage claim.) Then the part I was the most nervous about - leaving the airport and finding my driver. I started to walk outside and was asked by one person after another if they could give me a ride. I repeated "non merci" about fifty times I think! One particularly persistent guy followed me all the way until I finally saw my person who was to take me to my ride. Anyway... the driver was nice but didn't really speak english at all - we had very limited conversation but I was too distracted by the scenery. I've never in my life seen what I've seen today. I am thankful to God not only for keeping me safe as I asked Him but for the many, many blessings I continue to be showered with EVERY DAY. I wish I had seen Haiti before the earthquake - some of what I've seen I imagine is a result of that (trash everywhere, shacks, tent cities, roads with giant holes in the middle). I do have to also say how BEAUTIFUL it is here. Huge cliffs, palm trees, flowers, deep valleys, smoke-ringed mountains. It's a beautiful place.

I got to play with several children today, including a 16 month old who is the size of a 7 month old and is working on standing and babbling. I was told he weighed 5 pounds when he was brought in at 1 year of age. He was a sweet boy and I gave him some extra cuddling time this afternoon! I also played with a chunky sweet girl who is working on sitting by herself and also held a TINY baby who is just a few months old. The children are precious and I am looking forward to knowing them better and being able to tell them apart better too!

I'm grateful the internet was working tonight (it hasn't worked all day!) so that I could post. Not sure how often I'll be able to, so don't worry if I don't post or email any of you back. I'll have lots of pictures and stories to share when I return home, I'm sure.

Love, Emily