We were met at the airport in Port-au-Prince by Bishop Zache Duracin. He had made arrangements for us to move quickly through customs as honored guests. Night fell as we left the airport, but we were able to see the huge tent city that has been built on the road into the center of Port-au-Prince.
I was last in Port-au-Prince fourteen years ago. I had visited on one of the trips from the Diocese of Connecticut when we were partnering with the four dioceses (Haiti, Puerto Rico, The Dominican Republic, and Cuba) who were seeking to form an independent province of the Anglican Communion. It was during that time that many of the deep parish to parish partnerships were formed between our diocese and parishes in Haiti.
Even in the dark, I could see that the traffic was much the same with brightly painted Tap-Tap trucks carrying people through the city. People crowded the roadways and stands were selling everything from fruits to crafts. But also just beyond the verge of the road were temporary buildings, tents, wooden walls surrounding rubble and destroyed buildings and homes.
Another thing that has stayed the same is the welcoming spirit of the Haitian people. The Bishop and his staff, especially Angela Galbreath, have done everything possible to make us welcome.
Tomorrow we will be briefed on the work of the Episcopal Church of Haiti and have a chance to tour sites throughout Port-au-Prince. I'm sure that in the daylight we will see both the extent of the devastation and the energy of the people of the church to be about God's Mission.
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