Olafson 21 June Monday

At the Olafson by the POOL in Port au Prince.
From Beverly
Short report here. I woke Sunday morning at 4:30 to thunder! It had been dry all week and we were optimistic about the river staying low enough for our 2nd car to make it from PaP and would leave with both vehicles Monday morning. Short story: We decided to leave as the weather in PaP was lots of rain and the clouds mounted even as we deliberated about our options. Our driver, Fednar, took the first 3 gals and all of the duffles, including our donations for the Visitation Clinic in Petite Riviere. He was back to St. Paul's in 2 ½ hours and the rest of us loaded up and blasted. The first “bigger” river crossing was fine. Such relief. BUT the second river had Class 4 rapids! We waited for about 2 hours with 2 other cars and lots of people. Banana trees and a huge coconut palm fell from the saturated banks. The first 3 attempts found the truck stuck and needed help from 9 Haitian men to push and lift it out. Eventually, they came up with a strategy of lifting and pushing it through the first 15 yards of the deepest section and he made it! The team walked across a foot bridge, ever so grateful to be on the east side! Mind you, our Haitian interpreter and her 5 month old baby were still with us, too!

Shorter version of the rest of the story. Our driver's gasoline engine got water in one of the small river crossings (this was the guy who had driven out from PaP Sunday morning and he hadn't crossed the 2 big rivers). We choked along at about 20 MPH to Miragoane where he and the other driver worked on the engine. No good. It was getting dark and beginning to rain...he thought we would be able to make it to PaP, usually about 2 hours from there, but this was also where we started into a mountain pass. Miraculously, as we dropped into the flatlands, the car healed! Our driver said it hadn't wanted to go to Jacqmel, which had been our plan. So we made it into PaP just before 10 pm, not knowing if we'd find rooms.

Here I sit, poolside at the Olafson Hotel. (It was the site of the Comedians, if you know that book). I was able to sleep in – didn't wake til 5:10 today! The team is scheduled to depart Tues morning. They may try to stand by today, but no decision has been made on that.

For me, as surreal as it seems, my focus is shifting to playing cello. I even had to cut my fingernails yesterday! I anticipate moving to the guest room in Petionville this afternoon and beginning playing and coaching tomorrow. I'm going to start using my own blog now, so here is the link: LyneGlobalHealth.blogspot.com.