Monday, Jan. 31

For the Western USA team members it was a full day of travel — flying out of Denver, Colo. shortly after midnight, meeting Jordan and me in New York City early this morning, flying to Santo Domingo, and then making the tedious six-hour drive to the Dominican frontier town of Jimani. We arrived in Jimani around 11 p.m. local time. The trip was not without incident. One of our 11 duffel bags was suspiciously missing when the flights ended and then Dominican customs officials decided to inspect all of the medical supplies (as team members prayed). They seized a handful of bottles of vitamins that were past the expiration date but still good, especially in dirt-poor mountain villages where there is no medical assistance. Satan, get behind us.

The team is a little tired, but excited to be here. We are sleeping tonight at the Episcopal church in Jimani and will be working in Jimani on Tuesday before heading for the hills of Haiti on Wednesday. Four of the six American members have a combined 18 missions to Haiti. For Eileen and Justin it’s a new experience, although they have lived it vicariously through their family. Eileen is Lisa's mom and Justin is Dr. Steve’s nephew. This is a family affair. Of course, we are all related through the blood of Jesus. And it’s in His name that we have come to serve.