Phone Convo with Bryn .. January 31

I just got off the phone with my dad, he has so many things to tell us it seems like there isn't enough time to get it all in.All he can really say about Haiti, is what an amazing place it is, and that he would like to go back (with myself, mom, Dani, and Steven of course). They now have a chef to cook for them on the compound, and dad says the food is great! He described a few of the meals, they included; fish, rice and beans, and lots of spices. He said its like nothing else he has ever tasted, but its wonderful. He also says the presentation of the food is beautiful. We asked for recipes and my dad said, "there is a little language barrier, so that would be tough. I could have her write them down....but I don't think we would be able to read them." As a group, they paid the chef $100 dollars, that money will be enough to feed their entire crew of about twenty people, for the entire time they are there.Today, a young man asked my dad, "you want coconut?"...my dad replied, "what?" not understanding what the kid was saying to him. The kid said again, "you want coconut?" Dad said yes and the kid started speaking in Creole to his friend. His friend then went to the tree and started to shimmy up the tree. This tree was about 50 feet tall and the young boy made it to the top, knocked down a couple coconuts, and shimmied back down. He sliced the top off the coconut and they were able to drink the coconut milk, and dad said it was great! Then the boy broke the coconut in half and they ate the meat inside. My dad said this was nothing like the coconuts we have here. He said it was very tender and creamy.My dad met a little boy who is 5 years old named Watson (Wat-sown). Every time he sees dad, he runs up to him and gives him a hug. Its nice for my dad to get hugs while he is there. He also says that the people learn English so quickly. They will say something to them, and the people can repeat it back to them.They opened the clinic yesterday and were able to treat about 150 people yesterday, and 120 today. The doctors and nurses are very busy with this. Dad said that many people come because they 'think' they need treatment, the doctors check them out and make sure everything is alright, but the people don't want to leave without something, so the doctors are giving the people vitamins to 'heal' them. He told me a lot about the compound. Like updated earlier, the compound is on a steep mountain. He said there are like five terraces. He walks all the way across one, then up to the next, doing security. Dad says the people there have been so friendly, and they like to get pictures taken, so when he gets home, we will add some pictures to the blog. Thanks everyone for your prayers!

Phone Conversation .. January 30

Mom was able to talk to Dad last night for a few minutes! He was super excited about the blog, and happy that everything was being logged, as he really has no place to write everything down. He gave my mom all this information, and asked that it be added.

When we landed in Florida, on our way here, we had to sit on the tarmac while a fresh crew boarded the plane. I was watching out the window and saw a police car, lights and sirens driving out to our plane. Behind the police car was a pizza hut delivery car. Pizza was put into the storage of our plane, not for us though. We took it to those who were already there serving the Haitians, specifically the 82nd Airborne Company. They were so thankful and have provided extra help and security for our group.

Our 6 acre compound is on a steep mountainside and at the bottom is a river. This river is used as their garbage dumping area, bathing and yes, they use the water for drinking. We have a small water supply for drinking and are hoping to have our water tank repaired so that it will provide water in the next day or two.

The Haitians are such hard workers. Little kids will help us move our supplies from the compound to the clinic which is about 500 yards away. Two of them will latch on to the sides of the 35 pound buckets and carry them down. One of the employees at Healing Hands for Haiti compound has a job of sweeping the leaves off of the compound that fall from a large tree each day. At 5:30 in the morning you hear the whoosh, whoosh, whoosh of her broom. They are hungry, they are thirsty. They continue to hope and to make things happen.

Another employee from the compound was trapped inside a collapsed building. His children stayed by the building, helping to get him out for 4 days. They kept speaking to each other through the rubble. His wife was at home where their home had collapsed on her, and she passed away. There is not one person here who has not lost a loved one, a friend, someone they knew.

Their building materials are so faulty. You can pick up a piece of concrete that was used in a building that has collapsed and it will disintegrate in your fingers. The clinic is a 'MASH' tent. All of the supplies are carried back and forth each day to protect them. Haitians are lining up to receive help. They come here for everything, it is really a one stop fix it shop! The people I am working with are so amazing. They have one goal .. To use their hands and hearts to heal.

January 30

Good Morning! I hope your day is starting off good. We got the clinic up and running and have starting seeing patients! First guy needed his artificial leg repaired. They made his leg here at the compound. One of the guys here had to go dig through the rubble to find what they needed to make the repair. Today they treated 175 patients! Mostly minor stuff. Some related to the quake, but not all. Two of our guys got a generator working so we have power to the only building still here. They think they might get water for showers tomorrow.

January 29 at 12:13 PM

(Dad and the other members of the security team at the Airport)

I have been moved from the main camp to the clinic, Healing Hands for Haiti. I am with a team of 10 medical people. Tell Lori I am with her friends, Lisa and Katie. They are heartbroken over the destruction. But otherwise good. There is a breach in the security wall at the back of the 6 acre compound. So that is a concern. I have two Haitian police with me. We can't understand each other so we just smile as we pass. So far the locals have been very friendly with big smiles. Any that speak english, say thanks for coming to our country. I expect on problems after talking with soldiers from Hill AFB. They have been here for two weeks with no problems. I love you all!


** Just to help clarify - Originally my dad was being sent over as a medical personnel. He found out the night before he left he'd be doing security with a group of four other guys. He was asked to bring alot of his own guns and ammo. -Dani

January 29 at 6:33 AM

We made it! It was tense for a while at the airport. Threw my phone in my pack and just found it!

January 28 at 6:13 PM

We just landed in Orlando. They say it's about 2.5 hours to Haiti! We will spend the night at the airport.

Hello everyone, It's Dani - Kirk's oldest daugther. I thought it'd be nice to keep a log of all the updates my dad has been sending us via text message, and in the end .. We'll have this printed out book style for him :). So .. Enjoy reading! Please leave comments, we'll have those printed too - Kind of like a journal for him. Thanks to everyone for all your love and prayers - I know he really appreciates it!