Haiti

The fantail. Love this part of the ship. It's where everyone goes to escape the beige-ness. OK, so maybe I'm the only one escaping the horrible color of the walls, but everyone loves the fresh air and relative quiet altho there is still plenty of noise there too. I haven't heard complete silence since I got here. Don't take it for granted.

Republic of Haiti

I know it is just water but I haven't got tired of looking at it yet.

Wandering the ship the other night we found a lounge chair on one of the decks that is used to store all the donated goods. Can't find me? This is where I'll be hiding.

I was out on the fantail last night after dinner enjoying the fresh air when I noticed a flashing light off in the distance. It took me a second to realize it wasn't a boat, it was a lighthouse. Land. Haiti.

We didn't actually pull in to the port until this morning. I heard the first call to the MAS deck to muster and board the boats to go ashore and the excitement level went up a notch. Right now as I'm typing the helicopter is landing after being gone for about a half hour. It has been coming and going all morning as well as the boats taking in supplies and the first 'boots on the ground' setting up for the clinics tomorrow. The whole ship has been buzzing with this enthusiasm that is so contagious. I woke up this morning for the third morning in a row without the aid of my alarm clock ready to get up and do something. Anything. It's like I've been plugged in to some invisible battery. That, or the amount of carb consumption is propelling me up and down the stairs, but I think it is the feeling of being part of something like this that keeps us all buzzing.

Working with the Chaplain has been a treat. I go to am mornings with him and his staff. We talk about the upcoming day and ways that we can be most useful. I've filled out my paperwork to go onshore sometime next week to do some community stuff including being a part of Project Hand Clasp. {giving out teddy bears to kids}