We have been in Haiti now for 5 days, and each day we have experienced a little bit of true Haitian lifestyle. We are staying with a nice couple, Julio and Lucien, who work during the day, but offer up their house to missionaries as their service. They provide us with breakfast and dinner daily, and it serves as our opportunity to pray with them.

Every day begins waking up to no power, no water, and limited plumbing.  Did you know that you could flush the toilet with just a bucket of water and shower with another bucket of cold water?  The girls sleep in one room inside the house on cots, and the guys sleep in a tent on the roof of the house. Really! Even though some of the houses in Haiti are still standing, many people especially kids, are scared to sleep inside since the earthquake. So its very common to drive around and see tents on the roof or in the front yard with the families inside.

The house is up in the mountains, about 12 miles from the city of Port-au-Prince. After we have our daily morning debrief, we all pile in to our mode of transportation, lovingly known in this country as a "Tap Tap." The Tap Tap is basically a pickup truck with benches in the bed of the truck. The roads here are not paved, with trash in the middle of the road, so riding in the Tap Tap can be quite a painful experience!
The 12 mile ride generally takes about an hour because of traffic, and lines of cars waiting for gas.
The Tap Tap rides have created several interesting stories, one of which is when we got caught in the rain!

We spent half the day today back at the Good Samaritan orphanage.  We have gotten quite attached to the kids and it was hard to say goodbye. We then went to a local church and participated in the Saturday youth group before heading back up the mountain in our Tap Tap.

This trip has been an eye opening experience on many different levels. The time we have spent in the city has shown us the poverty that many have described before me. The time we have spent at the orphanage has shown us the importance of love and care and how God really works miracles in ways we least expect it. The time we have spent together as a group has shown us how God can unite a group with a common mission.

Victory is ours!