|
Wednesday March 3
Dear Friends,
What a day we had, but let me first go back to Monday. Early in the morning we left to take the first team back to their flight from Santo Domingo. We travelled over the same bad road we came in on, be it that this time it was worse because of the rains. In Qantamith we had to work ourselves through a crowd of thousands and 4 inch deep mud on the back of slipping motor cycles. In the midst of it all were people selling meat from tarps in the mud. It really is the armpit of the world. In the Dominican we got on a bus after a very annoying haggling war with the drivers who all like to rip off Americans and so they did. I think that some of us did not want to be on the bus but it turned out to be a God thing. Halfway a couple of men boarded and sat close to us. One of them spoke good English since he worked in the States for many years. He was upset about the driver ripping us of and he and his friend Mario, arranged for a young man, the son of Mario, to wait for us in Santiago so he could take us with his taxi to Santo Domingo. Although a little crowded we made it over to the airport there just at midnight. I could not sleep on the benches or the floor so I just stayed up all night until the group left and the driver showed up again to take Laura and me back to the border. Well then it happened! Mario called me on my phone to see if his son was treating us well and he asked if it was alright if he joined us for the ride back to the border. We picked him up and on the way we got to talking about his work. He is second in command for a huge plantation. 125,000 hectares where they grow bananas for export. He asked what we were doing in Haiti and when he heard me explain that we take care of hungry children and refugees he offered us free food. He talked in quantities of 30-40 tons per week. Plantains, rice, beans whatever, it was no problem. He would have given a truckload right then and there if I would have had a way to move it. He promised to call me and he really did today! I think it is going to happen and I am working on getting the transportation set up. Awesome! All this while I am wondering how to pay for the feeding centers. God seems to have a Plan of His Own. I hope y’all are as excited as I am.
This morning Laura and I went to Fontaine to do a clinic. Early in the morning the people lined up and by the time we arrived there were over six hundred people waiting. Way to many to be able to see in one day. We worked ourselves silly and had several pretty stressful moments trying to stay in control of the crowd but it worked and at least 400 plus received medication and prayer before we called it a day and left the rest of them to a local doctor. Laura had her first day in Haiti and is pretty shocked by all she sees. She is working the camera but also helped out in a great way with the clinic and she is determined to make a great documentary of our work here. That’s what we need!
Back at the orphanage Laura took more pictures of our kids receiving cards from Scottish school kids who made wishing cards for their Haitian peers. They were all in awe.
I had meeting time to arrange for the food transport and we are getting ready to put the show on the road. Thursday we will take possession of the land and Saturday the selection committee will have its first meeting. So much to do in so little time.
Good times and bad times. Last night after traveling up the road from Cap Haitian we were stuck behind a big truck and we were going slower than walking up the mountain. The smoke made me get sick pretty quick and those of you who know how motion sick traveling by night makes me will be proud of me. I kept it in for 4 hours. Then I had to get out and climb on the
back of the truck to stand in the wind. The last hour I really was spent but I think it was more due to not having slept for 38 hours. But hey, I am feeling good again today and I know that many people are praying by the energy I have. Thanks guys.
I am going to bed now. Talk to you soon,
In Christ,
Hein
Donations can be made by going to our website matthew28.org - look for the PayPal button
or send checks to:
Matthew 28 or Matthew28
HeinVingerling Mark Hopkins
241 Willow Way 2105 Woodwind Circle
Warne, NC 28909 Vestavia Hills, AL 35216 |