Almost the Last Day from Kenita

   We visited College Bird Methodist Church in the heart of Port-au-Prince.  To the right of the beautiful church we saw little evidence there was the school.  To the left a prison remains.  4000 prisons esca[ed that night in January 2010.  No one was in the church or the school.  The custodian walked outside for a break.  The children are back in temporary classrooms.  We knew the students were ours because all Methodist school children wear yellow shirts with gray skirts or slacks.  We felt nothing but pride.

   Following the church visit we journed to the Hotel Montana.  I say it was a journey because our driver wanted to avoid demonstrations.  There is no hotel, but the restaurant and swimming pool are now open.  Bishop Elaine invited us to go go with her to an open sanctuary memorial site.  We remember our fallen UMCOR people and our Jim Gulley who survived.  I loved what Bishop Elaine had to say about the individuals who died and the people who survied.  Yes individuals died, but the people survived.  Haitian people have moved forward with faith and extreme bravery.

   We met six soldiers from Nepal.  They spoke English.  As with all groups there are the bad seeds, but the UN soldiers were welcome because without them civil rest is likely.

   We have been blessed with amazing experiences.  We felt love and we gained love.  Sending money is not as important as letting the people know we care IN PERSON.

    I look forward to returning home and showing you our stories.