We're Off!!!

Corey and his dad, Ray, arrived in Haiti on Wednesday.  After a long wait in Les Cayes for a lost bag they arrived in Rosier on Friday!  Upon their arrival, the Mayor (Pierre) and lots of neighbors came over to welcome them with fresh coconuts cut down from the trees, a camping stove to cook on, and a generator to borrow until ours is found in Les Cayes.  C and his dad spent their first night sleeping on the balcony listening to the ocean crashing and roosters calling.  C reports that life in Rosier is a great relief after 2 days in the polluted, crowded streets of Les Cayes.  He's home.

Our main concern about life in Rosier at this point is access to communication.  Corey can call out from the village on his cell phone but must walk the coastline to find enough bars to call home.  The costs of setting up a satellite internet system run about $1800 for the equipment and $100 a month for service.  We also are in need of some sort of transportation in case of an emergency and to access food, medical care, etc. in the city.  The price of an inexpensive pick-up in Haiti runs about $3,000 to $5,000.  

Luc, Anna Ray, and I packed up our house yesterday with lots of help from my mom, C's mom (Ila), my sister Mia and Nico, and Joe our next door neighbor.  It was a long day but we are finally ready!  I'm nervous about the two long days of travel with Luc and Anna Ray.  Corey plans to fly back to Port au Prince to meet us at the airport.  From there we will take a smaller plane to Les Cayes and then drive the two hours to Rosier.  The longest part of our journey will be a 5 hour layover in the one-room, over-stuffed PAP airport.  I will be packing lots of snacks and breakfast/lunch/ dinner for the kids as there are no places to eat.  

My hope for these next days are that I might leave all of my anxiety and worry here so that I might approach the people of Haiti with the warmth and love that they will surely welcome us with.  We will write again soon.  Please keep us in your prayers.  Elisabeth