Arrival in Port-au-Prince

Arrived about 4pm in Port-au-Prince, Haiti after two uneventful  flights.  The Port-au-Prince Airport main building sustained enough structural damage from the earthquake that it is unusable.  A hangar has been converted into a baggage claim area and immigration.

Since the team members were wearing our VIM t-shirts, the porters recognized who we "belong to" and the usual porter that many of us select as our baggage "boss man."  (Seeing our VIM t-shirts, a couple over weight bags were allowed to be checked in by the U.S. ticket counter clerks without an over weight fee.)  Our usual porter is Jacson, a one-armed man.  By selecting one person as boss man and giving him the tip money, the chaos that could ensue is handled by Jacson.  We do not have to deal with each individual who carried or "touched" a bag.

I have read that some VIM teams insist on handling their own luggage.  Realizing the situation in Haiti, I prefer to have porters and tip them.  They certainly are not going to become rich.  Who knows how many people depend on them for food and shelter?  As part of my preparations, I enclose in an envelope $3/bag all in $1 dollar bills.  I also put in a $10 for Jacson.  I show him in private what the envelope contains.  Thus, the deal is struck and he handles all the various porters' claims for tips.  I look as this as another way to help feed the poor.

As I write outside on the patio, Sharon and other team members are in the Methodist Guest House swimming pool.  It is waaarm, and I am perspiring.  We have seen lightning but not any rain.

Some observations.  The stop lights still work.  For days after the earthquake, the satellite photos pictured little traffic.  Traffic is back to pre-earthquake levels - heavy.  There seems to be even more street side vendors.  On the way to the Guest House, we did see some tent villages.

Tomorrow morning, we will be working at the Croix des Mission building site.

We have had a nice supper and are off to bed.