Day 24 - The Last Post

Unfortunately, I do not have much to update over the past couple days as I was out of commission since late Wednesday night. At least a dozen people and I became quite ill between Wednesday night and Thursday night and lasted about two days. I'm not sure exactly what spread through a decent portion of our camp, but the sudden 106º fever, hot flashes, nausea, and other ailments made it impossible to move, much less get any work accomplished. I had four doctors and nurses wake me up Thursday morning after someone reported I wasn't looking so good (of course, I asked them how that differed from any other day). Our medical team took great care of us and loaded us up on several medications and converted one of the tents into a quarantine area to eliminate further spread of the illness. I was feeling better this morning - just in time for my flight home. It was a long day of delayed flights typical of American Airlines, and finally around 6:00pm I landed in good 'ol Charlotte, NC. Amanda was a doll and picked me up from the airport, which was a good thing since I needed to get a feel for American style roads and driving habits (never thought I would say that).

As many things that wanted to keep me in or bring me back to Haiti, I can already see how many more things will want to keep me home, however, whichever way I am called to serve will be the way I go as neither option is poor in choice. Haiti is a country that needs lots of prayer. As I went to bed Thursday night, I had to go to sleep to the sounds of a Vodou ritual going on right outside our compound. The shrills, screams, and chants were unsettling and a reminder of the darkness that clouds the country. People that have this little and live in these conditions are always searching for something to believe in - something to hope for - a reason to live, and how easy it is for the spirit of this world to take hold of the desperate. Haiti is smaller than half the size of Florida. Haiti can be reached. I encourage anyone that has the opportunity to do mission work in Haiti to go. The people are just looking for hope, and we can give them that hope - we can give them Life; it's more important than any amount of money or buildings or food we can give. So I hope this short blog gave you a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to deliver a large scale relief effort, but more importantly, I hope it encourages and motivates you to spread the Good News, whether in Haiti or next door.