Today we drove 2 hours through the center of Port au Prince on our way to a mountaintop Baptist Mission, established in 1946. The complex includes a farmers’ market where we purchased fresh blackberries for dessert tonight.  Josh gave us an assignment as we slowly snaked through downtown to write down the Bible verses or sayings that we spotted on the ubiquitous tap-taps. They all have sayings and decorations relating to God or Jesus. It was a fun exercise-Haitians seem very devout. Our hosts told us many of them have memorized the Psalms.

At the Mission, we visited the gift shop and museum, which is about the history, ecology and geology of Haiti. We ate lunch in their American-style café and then walked a bit on the beautiful grounds where we saw a number of animals and birds in a little zoo, and took a team photo at a magnificent overlook with mountains in the background and the valley below. It was a bit misty and cooler at 4700’ when we arrived, a welcome relief from the heat and humidity in town. We also shopped at a few sidewalk vendors outside the Mission. Nearly everything you could need or want to buy is sold on the sidewalks all throughout the town. Cattle, goats, pigs and dogs also wander the streets at will.

On our way back, which took 3 hours due to the traffic (Did I mention there are NO traffic signals in Haiti?), we tried another street vendor treat called “pistache,” a kind of honey roasted peanut that is so much better with ginger and other flavors. Due to the traffic, we arrived back at the compound almost too late to work on our Hope House project, but the team flew into action to make the most of the daylight and power they had left before the power cut off for the night. We are working on a room expansion for the co-director’s 13-yr old daughter, Grace, since their house has only one bedroom. Grace is currently sleeping on the living room floor.  We're looking forward to experiesncworship tomorrow morning and work back at Hope House in the afternoon.

Pam