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Team Trips We finally made it back home this afternoon. The team was dropped off at the airport in Port-au-Prince yesterday morning. After getting in line for the ticket counter at American Airlines, we were informed that our flight to JFK was cancelled due to mechanical problems. We were able to get all 14 of us on a flight later that day to Miami, and then to JFK the next morning (this morning). Our flight to Miami was diverted to Ft. Lauderdale when the whether took a turn for the worse just as the pilot tried to land (those were some scary moments). After waiting on the tarmac in Ft. Lauderdale for an hour or so, we were on our way back to Miami. We finally made it to our hotel last night at about midnight, and got up between 5:00 and 5:30 this morning to make the JFK flight. Needless to say, we are all very tired, but thankful to be home. In many ways the return trip from Haiti was the hardest part of the outreach. That's partly because we did not expect to go through what we did to get home, and partly because so much of the rest of the outreach went well even though we did not know what to expect when in Haiti. So much of what the team did this past week, both in word and pictures, can be found on Ed's Facebook page. Hopefully many of you are already friends with Ed and followed us in that way. If not, feel free to friend request him (Edwin J Lockett Jr). His Facebook page is a great way to keep up not only with Ed's ministry in Haiti, but with much of what is going on in Haiti in general. Here are some highlights: - The team. Truly awesome! It was great to see how everyone came together in unity, with different personalities, talents, gifts, and passions, to serve with humility, flexibility and humor no matter what difficulties each one faced. - The VBS program, which was done in three different schools. Great job and a lot of hard work by Courtney, Diana and Sam, with a lot of help from Ian, Carole, Jen and much of the rest of the team. - Construction projects. Although we did not know coming how we could help, things really did take shape while we were there. Several projects were identified for the team to help out with both physically and financially. One home for a family consisting of several generations is being built completely with funds raised by PCC, and several of the guys (Wally, Ryan, Bobby, Ian, Bob, Bill, Matt) helped dig the foundation. The guys also helped with roofing on another home, and with the foundation of a pavilion at the camp to be used to house future mission teams (the girls helped with that too!). The finances raised will also help complete some of those projects, as well as putting in cement floors, roofing and doors on several other homes of people identified by the local church for aid. John had severe issues with his back, but was a great help with engineering advice and supervision on these projects. - Medical clinic. Bob and Wally used their background to help out in the clinic several days during the week. - Clothing distribution. Ed had a couple of batches of needy children visit the Happy House where Jen, Courtney, Diana, Sam and Carole helped them pick out donated clothes to bring home. - Visiting and playing with kids and families, including a tent city where money raised by PCC was used to purchase 900 pounds of rice and beans - Church services. The team participated with singing, sharing, and Ryan preached at Manno's church the last night we were in Haiti. There was some tough going too (besides the trip home). I already mentioned the back problems John had, and he needed to be on his back for a few days. It was rough dealing with the heat and the mosquitoes and the Haitian Hustle. Lack of sleep was a problem for most people...dogs barking, roosters crowing, voodoo drums beating, and loud music from neighbors at all hours of the night contributed. And a few kids who hung around our camp consistently nagged us for stuff. But the hardest part was having our hearts broken for many of the children and people that the Lord put in our lives at one time or another this past week. I pray that is what will stay with us more than anything from this past week. Thank you for your prayers. They truly sustained us and continue to sustain us as we try to adjust to our daily lives again while processing what we have witnessed and considering what God will continue to do in us through this experience. For the least of these, Joel and Carole