Dear friends-
Just a quick note from Haiti to say "nou la" (we're here!) The flights were uneventful and right on time. The city is bustling and feels quite normal...we saw no demonstrations of any kind and are so thrilled to be in one of our favorite places in the world for the holidays.
One of my favorite moments when we arrive at the airport is when Bebe (a deaf airport worker) spots Sarah O. With animated joy he leaps over suitcases and people and practically tackles her. This has been going on for years. Because he can't speak he makes all sorts of 'joyful noise' and it blesses my heart immensely. I always get the secondary "courtesy hug" from him after his joy at seeing O subsides! The spirit of welcome in that man is so lovely! Bebe helped us drag our suitcases to Beth, who was waiting for us in tears--so grateful that we were there. It is SO good to be back.
We went to the grocery store and saw some new buildings and houses that have gone up since we were here in June. Signs of improvement and order. I am hopeful! :) Rosemond (the 10 year old boy who was injured in the earthquake, whom we instantly fell in love with) and his grandmother left the hospital (after making it their home for 11 months) and moved into their own house yesterday. (Rosemonds parents were both killed in the earthquake). We will see him on Saturday. Heartline has hired his grandmother as a cook so we were able to spend some time with her today. Antoinette (our friend who lost her leg in the earthquake and delivered her son Eden by C-section on the USNS Comfort Ship) is still at the hospital. She is walking great on her prosthetic leg but having a lot of pain in her other leg which was badly fractured in multiple places. Eden is growing like a weed! And so are the babies of the teen moms. It was a full and very happy day.
Our friend Jonna has graciously offered us her apartment for the 3 weeks that we're here, so we've spent the evening organizing all the Christmas gifts we brought (including the Christmas turkey and ham in Sarah O's carry-on!) Tomorrow I'm hoping to run with Beth in the morning before we do prenatals, which will take most of the afternoon! I know the days will go by quickly. Thanks for your messages, thoughts and prayers! We are grateful for our friends on both sides of this hemisphere! :)
with a grateful heart,
Sarah D (for O and I)
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