It is always a good reminder as you enter a new country to get a feel for 'timing'. This was achieved in 3 hours of waiting in the Port au Prince Warehouse (I mean, 'Airport'), as we stalled until our trip liaison arrived. The 10am site visit, per our well-intentioned schedule, began at 5pm and was a race against the sun.
Grace International is a light in a very dark storm. I cannot believe how unbelievable this place is; the team has tried to talk our way through the overall state of this land, and it does not add up. There are gaps at every level, and it would take a Dr. Vanegas-style flow chart to even establish the basis for a prognosis, not even beginning to lay out a treatment plan.
I struggle on multiple levels - this engineer is aghast at the trash, the rubble, the half-built buildings, the half-collapsed buildings. In my best John Wayne impersonation, I want to turn to the masses (the 20,000 people tented outside my window at the moment), and challenge, "Give me your best, who will work hard, long, with a vision for the future...", and then I realize I am not John Wayne, and this is not a Warner Brother backlot.
There are signs of life, and signs of death and signs of change and signs of stagnation. I am proud to be here and hope that what we are involved with provides opportunities and hope for people who have been given a fairly difficult lot in life.