J.L.‘s hotel accommodations on the border of Haiti & the Dominican Republic

J.L. flew into Santo Domingo on Wednesday (27th) and made the difficult trip from the airport to the border with Haiti—difficult because of intense traffic going in that direction, bartering and haggling with the taxi driver over his greatly inflated prices, finding a place to stay for the night, meals, etc.  The border closed at sundown, and the town, which looks like something from an old wild west movie, does not have hotels.  J.L. was laughed at whenever he asked, “Is there a hotel here?  Where can I find a place to sleep?”  The next morning, he texted me, “This is a little on the edge, but I love it!”  While looking for a cup of coffee at the local hospital (!), he ran into Don and Todd Mundy, good friends of ours from Burlington.  Don is a retired anesthesiologist and his son is a PA in orthopedics.  They were just coming off the night shift.  What a small world!

J.L. is traveling with Richard Moore from Manteo, and the two of them were finally picked up by Arie VanWingerden and taken into Haiti and on to Double Harvest (DH).  I guess that’s where they will be staying but I haven’t heard.  The generator at Double Harvest had died so the doctors and workers were scrambling to make do without the extra power to operate, cook, etc.  J.L. contacted Ambassador Lew Lucke and he was able to find a generator and arrange transportation of it to the Double Harvest site.  Lew is a former Ambassador to Haiti and was in the New Directions first singing group in 1968.  J.L. and he went to Haiti in December in part to meet our partners and see the work at Double Harvest.  Now the US government has appointed Lew, United Relief Coordinator—Haiti.  Lew has been such a help to so many during this difficult time for the Haitian people.  (Note: Please read Lew’s report on the relief effort to JL posted here).

J.L. on the tarmac in Port-au-Prince on Thursday awaiting the arrival of volunteers from the Joe Gibbs racing team

J.L. and I, the staff of New Directions and Impact of Hope, are very grateful for your on-going prayers and financial support.  Thank you, thank you, as we continue on a very long journey toward the physical and spiritual wholeness of Haiti.

Love in Christ,
Patt, for J.L.