Dear Adopting Parents and Friends,

Time Now: 4:05 PM

I didn’t get much sleep last night as I was hyper thinking about the fact that the elections would soon begin in a matter of hours.

At 3:15 this morning, I could no longer contain my anxiety and I rolled over and turned on the radio. Much to my surprise the reporters on the radio had already begun their commentaries. The problem I encountered right away was station hopping to tune in to the most accurate news. Just until now…. I am skipping from radio station to station. Stress Level at 10. Oh Lord!...I am believing that this is the change for Haiti.

The election, as you know, was to begin at 6AM….. At 6 AM, the police, the UN, the election observers were in place BUT…. there were no signs of opening at ANY of the election stations (ESs). Knowing that Haiti is not very well known for keeping appointments, I wasn’t very worried. I told myself….relax, things will be functioning in another hour. At 7AM, NOTHING had started. At 8AM, NOTHING had started in any parts of the country…. NOW…. I’m getting worried, Stress Level remains at 10), radios are interviewing and your are listening to some very disturbed people who have been waiting for hours. Most of the people were saying that they weren’t leaving because they have waited too long for a change in the country. There were some who were more angry and left your heartbeating as it seemed that roits could break out at anytime. At 9AM, some of the radio stations were announcing that election stations were operating and people were voting. WHEW! ……Stress Level down to 8-1/2.

I got a few telephone calls from different parts of Haiti from friends of mine who reported that things were going on fairly well; however, there were several election stations that had yet to begin functioning. Stress Level down to 7.

Then, there was an outbreak in Cite Soleil when the citizens could not find the election station where they were suppose to vote. Each citizen that registered were given a specific location to go and vote. Some of the election stations were a long way enough and some were fairly near. There was discontentment about the distance and the means to get to the ESs. On one radio station there was an announcement that there were bandits (thugs) in Cite Soleil that were beating people that were trying to present themselves to elect and that there were some deaths. Stress level up to 8 again….

Back to listening to the various radio stations, we are hearing encouraging news again. Many, many more ESs are beginning to function and people are happy for the most part. There is hope in the air! There is joy in the air! Stress level down to 6. Smile on my face. It is about 11:30 when we hear that people in the Delmas area are manifesting (demonstrating) their discontentment with the fact that the election is so disorganized. Governement officials speak and ask the people to be patient and to please not do any demonstrating. They assured the people that there were some problems and to be patient while they worked out the kinks. Stress Level down to almost 5.

Many radio stations are reporting favorable voting. Stress Level down to 4. However, now (2PM) there is concern that the elections are going to close at 4 and radio stations are reporting discontentment of the people again. One radio station announces that the Minister Boniface is going to make a public announcement at 3:30. I suspected that he was going to say that the ESs would remain open awhile longer. After all, there were almost 4 hours lost in the start of the election. Stress Level down to 3. At exactly 3:30, Minister Boniface spoke and announced the ESs would remain open until (SORRY…didn’t hear the extension time). Stress Level remains at 3.

It is 4:00 and radio stations report that many of the ESs had already closed. They did not hear the announcement. Many of the ESs that closed had already finished, i.e., all citizens that were to vote had voted. I was particularly worried about the province Gonaives since this is a zone where so much political outbursts begin. When outbursts happen in Gonaives, you can be sure that they will spread throughout the country. Praise the Lord….there were no serious outbursts. Everybody is happy about the time extension but now there is talk about what if it gets dark….many areas do not have electricity? Hmmm good question and one in which I don’t think was addressed. Stress Level back up to 5.

It is 4:40 and I am listening to the news coming from Cite Soleil. The citizens are mobilizing and transportation is being found to bus the people to their ESs. WOW… Stress Level down to 3 and a smile on my face. Radios are playing songs written especially to encourage people to vote so they can see change…. I’m dancing in my chair, head going from size to size with the music. Stress Level 3. I heard that Wycliff Jean the singer was suppose to come today and vote but I don’t know if he did come or if he is still coming.

Back to you later………………. If I don’t fall asleep…..

Bin