The thought of waking up at 2:00 AM on an average day would have most people hitting snooze on their alarm, but I was flying out of bed. Today was the day our team would begin a week of service in Haiti, for myself personally the first time. Half of us were coming with previous trip experiences and the other complete rookies. After the initial adrenaline wore off, we groggily were off to a start to Miami by 5:30.
After landing, we faced our first slight bump in the road (and very literally, far from our last), as our group was split. Three of our newbies, one being myself, and a fourth timer for Haiti would be boarding a flight to Port-au-Prince and landing an hour prior to the rest of our group. We hit the line, and the three musketeers of newbies turned around in the plane aisle only to notice our fearless leader was nowhere in sight. That was until her name popped up on my phone screen only to tell me she was on the next flight. I don't know exactly how Haley and Lynn were feeling when I relayed the news over, but I just kept telling myself "We're fine! Maybe. Oh no.".
My nerves only dissipated as the tropics appeared below us: rolling hills, aqua blue waters, and finally Haiti. Before we knew it we had arrived! Customs, baggage and locating two of our other team members from Florida was much easier than anticipated, and soon our team was one again.
As we headed toward the exit and the security of the airport, I had no idea what to expect. We were immediately swarmed by men offering to help with our luggage as we tried to bust through the crowds. The humidity and noise hit like a tidal wave as we anxiously awaited for the arrival of our tap-tap. As we handed off luggage to load on top, I looked at the blue vehicle dressed in colorful paints, Bible verses, and Haitian phrases. I was encouraged to hop up in shotgun as we
made our way to the guesthouse. I couldn't take my eyes off the window even through the hectic traffic, and as mentioned before bump two, three, ninety-two?
We took time to settle into the guest house and enjoy dinner together. We spent the rest of the night having our first group talk and enjoying guest house #2's view over the city. Below in the lot, a few of us ran down to join in a game of soccer. Our moves were no match for their skills, the only reason I was ever able to score was a boy kicking the ball to a stop at the goal border and exclaiming, "Shoot Superstar, shoot!".
As dark had finally arrived and we all gave into the reality of sleep at 8 PM, I among everyone else began to reflect on our first day. From my perspective thus far for my first trip to Haiti, any expectation one can try and mold before arriving will be completely dismissed. All the pictures on social media are a way to get a glimpse of where you'll go, but the emotions while here can't be replicated.
Excitement and joy has filled our team's hearts and we are ready to share it with the people here in Haiti. The phrase at the very back of the tap-tap reads, "Working to be the hands and feet of God" is something I will look at and hold close to my heart each time we exit into the field. Bonswa from Port-au-Prince, more updates are to come!
Paige Aschenbrener
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