Have you ever needed something and at the last minute decided to shoot over to the local grocery store or pharmacy? It’s not that simple here. Boxed in by the gangs, the only place to purchase much-needed items is in the Dominican Republic. And the only town big enough to have what is needed is about a 2-hour drive from the Haiti border.

The process involves leaving Love A Child at the crack of dawn with a box truck and driving to the border. We have to take a box truck because only commercial vehicles have permission to pass into the Dominican Republic. After the long drive, we fill the truck with medicines and food and make the trek back toward Haiti before the border closes at 5 p.m.

Yesterday, we were late. The border was locked up tight. We had to sleep in Jimani, the little Dominican town at the border. But thank God, Philemon and I crossed successfully this morning. The quick supply run was a success!

Jesse Ostrander