Faith

You must have Faith and Trust in God in order for Him to prove Faithful.

We were scheduled to leave June 1st around 4:00pm.  The plan was to get to Miami by about 11pm and crash in the airport, wake early and hop on a 6am flight to Haiti.

That didn't happen!

At 4:00, we got on our plane in Tulsa.  After waiting for 15 minutes or so, they came on the speaker and said that there was some bad weather in Chicago (our destination).  They had a "stop flight" into Chicago until 6:00pm, so they were going to let us off the plane.  We deplaned and waited...and waited...and waited.  Finally at 6:30, we were reloading and then we were off.  It was a bumpy flight but we received a beautiful site upon arriving to Chicago:

This was actually a full-circle double rainbow.

An amazing site!

Well, since the flight was so delayed, we had missed our connection to Miami.  This is what ensued next:

1. Try to figure out what is happening to our bags.  Will they hold them till morning?  Do we need to get them?  Happily, we find out they will hold them and get them on the next flight to Miami along with us!
2. Get on the phone with my mom so she can use internet to book us a hotel room.  (The airline will not cover it because it was bad weather)
3. Wait for shuttle.  Wait.  Call.  No Answer.  Wait.  Call.  "It's on it's way."  Wait.  Call.  "Tell the driver you have a reservation."  Wait.  Call.  No Answer.  FINALLY-an hour later-the shuttle arrives.  The 16 passenger shuttle had about 25 people waiting for it.  We crammed on as many as possible.  Not comfortable.  At.  All.
4. Turns out the "LaQuinta Airport" hotel is about 25 minutes away.
5. Deal with snotty flight attendant that thinks she is better than anyone else.
6. Arrive at LaQuinta.  Ghetto-not updated since 1980-LaQuinta.  11:00!  (Should have crashed in the airport)
7. Get ready to enjoy my last warm shower before a week in Haiti.  Hear someone fiddling with the door.  Flip bar at top to lock it.  Good thing!  Someone uses a keep to open our door while I am in my birthday suit!  I scream and slam the door.  Paul goes into the hall to find nobody.
8. Finally get to sleep.
9. Get up at 4:00 to go back to the airport.

Our flight that morning to Miami went without problem.  We were scheduled to leave for Haiti around noon.  We got on that flight with no problem either.  It looked like all would be fine!  Notice I said "looked."

As we were probably half way to Haiti (that means over the ocean), the pilot came on the speaker and said, "Uh we are now turning around and returning to Miami.  We are experiencing mechanical failure. Flight attendants-prepare for landing."  Upon that announcement, the flight attendants put up the drink cart and HURRIEDLY came through the cabin having us put away electronics, put trays  and seats up and make sure we were all buckled in.  No other words.  They then went to the back of the plane and strapped themselves down.  We still had probably 30 minutes back to land.  Nobody knew what was going on.  We wondered.  Some worried.  I prayed.  I made jokes-that is what I do when I'm nervous.  

Thanks to God!  We landed safely around 2:00.

They informed us that they had another plane arranged for us but it would be at a different gate.  Let me give you some more of this story in a speed round:

• We had people waiting to pick us up at Port au Prince (PAP).  We couldn't get ahold of them.
• They said the new plane was smaller.  Not enough room for everyone.
• They were taking volunteers to get on the next plane.  It would leave at 3:25 and give us $500 each for taking the other flight.
• I figure we are already late.  That isn't too long away.  We can use the $$$ to our next trip.
• We volunteer.
• They assure us our luggage will make the switch.
• We head straight to the other flight, hop on, finally make it to PAP.
• Luggage didn't make the switch.
• Communication barrier at luggage counter.  They don't know where our bags are-no record of them.
• We file a claim.
• Still don't know if anyone is here to get us.  Call US contact (cringe at the thought of the bill).  Lots of calls.  Lots of texts.  Can't figure it out.
• See a guy with a small sign reading "Tami".  I say "Jami?"  "Oui.  Oui.  Jami?"
• They had been waiting for over an hour while we had been dealing with baggage stuff.
• Hop in van.  No luggage.  Just want to arrive to familiar faces.

We enjoyed some great conversation with Mollier, our driver, while on the way to Montrious.  It is about an hour drive.  He has decent English.  It's a relief.

We arrive at "Creche #3", where we will be staying.  It is delight.  One of the missionaries, Shane, has given up his room for us for the week.  It is delightful.

This creche is home to approximately 12-15 kids.  It is a gorgeous Haitian home.  We are pleased with our accommodations.  

A good night's sleep is what we need.  We will deal with the baggage issue tomorrow.