Wow, so here I am. On a bus. Going to Haiti. Sorry, I haven’t posted anything for a while. It’s been quite a week. Let’s see if I can recap.

I left La Vega exactly one week ago (though it seems like a lot longer ago then that) and took a bus up to the YWAM base in Santo Domingo (aka The Capital) where I planed to stay for only a few days and then go to Haiti. I THOUGHT I was ready to go to Haiti and that my time in the capital would just mainly be passing time until I could to where I though was the main focus of my journey. Not quite the cause. Once I got to the base, it didn’t talk long to remember how much I missed my Dominican family. I immediately felt like I had returned home. My time was amazing. I was able to see 10 of the 16 people that I did my DTS with almost a year ago. (the other 6 are were not in the country.) And also, I was able to actually communicate with them this time! (The Spanish speakers) It was great! It’s kind of funny because during my school I spent everyday cleaning with this girl (who is staff at the base in the capital now) and we could barely hold a conversation, but this week we were able to actually talk. It was soo cool. I was also able to meet some other really cool people, Luke and Laura (both from the states). They’re awesome and I’m really going to miss them. I also got to play tour guide with them. They had never been to Jarabacoa before (the city were I did my school) nor had they ever ridden the bus alone not to mention motor conchos (motorcycle taxis). So we spent the day in Jarabacoa, it was really nice. We also met this amazing man. His name was Bernisio (or something close) and he did have any legs. I saw him scooting alone crossing the street and I ask him if I could help him with anything or if there was anything he needed and he said no, I don’t need anything with a big smile. And then we just hung out and talked for a little and he was telling me how a lot have things have happened to him in his life but that God has been faithful to him. I was so cool, and had the best smile and when we were leaving and saying good bye he said, I’m going to look for you in heaven. What I kind thought. The sweet old man made my whole trip and also taught me thing or to about having a good attitude. I hope I have able to find him again when I go make again.

The rest of the day was pretty fun too. We took moto-conchos to the base (which is always fun) and then went on a hike up to a waterfall, (long walk but worth is!) All in all it was a good day, but I had also realized that I had only been gone for a few hours and I was already missing the capital base. They really are like family.

I actually end up pushing my trip to Haiti back 4 days and I’m really glad I did. Here are some other fun things I did this week in the capital: saw Spiderman 3, bought lots of yummy Dominican cocoa to bring home, went to one of the most amazing churches ever and here Porfi (AMAZING VOICE) sing again, ate chimmies, share a house with people representing the countries of Dominican, U.S., Haiti, Nicaragua, and Peru, and went to the central plaza, and spent time with some of my most favorite people in the world.

I’m gonna be honest with out, I didn’t really want to leave. I would have been just fine staying in the Capital for another month or two, but I’m sure my mind will change when I’m back in Jacmel. Though I had to promise that I would return soon (and I can’t break a promise….) I had a great send-off though and I’m glad they were there because I didn’t realize how complicated buying a bus ticket to Haiti was!

So here I am now, on the bus. The most complicated part of my trip is over (hopefully) although we’ll see how, crossing the border goes. I had a great meal on the bus and now I’m just going to sit back and watch the Haitian soap opera that’s playing on the bus TV screens. I’ll check in when I get to Jacmel! Peace out, God bless, Good bye Dominican and hello Haiti!

Laure McConkey

Somewhere between Santo Domingo and the Haitian border