Good morning!
We have been in Haiti for less than twenty-four hours and already so much has happened! Our team of eighteen landed in Port au Prince, Haiti right around 1:30, however we did not make it out of the airport until 3:30-4:00.  Friday night before we left two women from our church who had previously traveled to Haiti with Hearts United came over to talk to our team and tell us a little of what to expect, however it was one of those things that could be explained and explained and explained but until you step off of that plane and into the Haitian culture you will never fully understand what it is like.  Once we had landed we had our passports checked and went down to baggage claim.  That all seemed normal but then as soon as we started to collect our bags mad chaos started and really didn't calm down until we made it to the base a few hours later.  Gathering our bags alone was quite the job because if you didn't grab them the first time they went around the belt the airport employees would pull them off and put them in a pile beside the belt.  Several people from our team dug through the pile, other small groups stood around the conveyor belt pulling off the few that we actually saw still on their, and others stood around our growing pile of luggage.  Once we finally gathered it all together, which though I honestly have no idea how long it actually took us, felt like it took at least an hour just to get it all together. Then we huddled together and tried to get through customs.  This was the craziest thing I had ever seen.  This is one thing is specific that we were warned about.  But again didn't fully understand until I was experiencing it.  We tried to stay together as a group but that was almost impossible.  The moment our large group of eighteen entered the line to get through customs we started feeling people pushing in from all sides, quite aggressively.  It was like everyone absolutely had to be first and it was a little scary and overwhelming.  I had started out right behind one of my group leaders and followed by one of the guys in my group so I felt very safe, but then we started to be separated and I started to feel very scared.  We made it through safely and much to everyone's relief saw our guide sporting his blue Hearts United with Haiti shirt.  We were right by the door to exit the airport and walk through the parking lot to make it to our bus, easy right? Not so much.  Right before we walked out the door our guide told us to hold on tight to our bags and if anyone asked to help us say no thank you and keep walking.  We were told that they would be quite bold and follow you and keep asking to help, but not to accept.  I grabbed my friends hand and we plowed through the crowds full speed ahead and a few minutes later our whole group was together loading into our bus.  James was our bus driver and absolutely the BEST driver I have ever ridden with.  The streets were crazy...the sights, the sounds, the smells, the overwhelming absolutely no type of set road rules everyone just drives just purely completely different from anything you would ever experience in the states.  But so awesome!!  We made it to base and set up camp on the roof,  had debriefing with the team, relaxed, ate some amazing authentic Haitian food, complete with plantains!  We went to bed early partially because we were all exhausted from the crazy day partially because it is hard to do anything past dark when your electric is turned off.
       Well, it is Sunday morning now, and we are all getting ready to go to church.  We are ready to start another crazy day!  And I am soo excited!  Because of all the craziness of travel yesterday we didn't get much opportunity to interact with any of the Haitians besides our staff.  But today and the rest of the week we will, and I am so incredibly excited to do that.  I can hear all the "Haitian" sounds outside my window as I write this and cannot wait to be a part of it.

-Kristin