Survivors are starting to arrive back in the area. Carla just witnessed the reunion of our team market lady and her daughter as the daughter got back from Port. People came running down the street with their arms open wide to receive her and rejoice with Madame Edwayen.
Some of the survivors have brought back news of people being fine and that there is not a single university which is still standing. Again, these are stories, and it is not certain how true they are.
There is still no word on Jacmel and my friend, Myrlene in the States wrote me to ask if I had news. They have not heard from her sister who works at the hospital. The hospital collapsed and Louloune was to go on duty at 6 pm. Please pray for Louloune Joseph's family and for Louloune herself and the people she serves in Jacmel.
There was news on the radio that they are working to get the Digicel cell phone network up and running again. In the mean time, the Voila phones at the front gate have allowed many people to get in touch with loved ones. Thanks for your continued prayers.
14 January 2010
Prices of items and News Press Articles
There is some more information available. The gas Elizert was able to buy in Pignon was $11.98 US per gallon! He is also going to try to fill the tank of the truck he took to Hinche with diesel when he gets to Hinche. We have a good supply of diesel on hand, but don't know how readily it will be available after this. We are hearing that food prices are soaring as well. Fon Koze the alternative bank we use will be able to change money for us tomorrow. That is a praise.
Zach made it across the border from the Dominican with the journalists. Check the following link to the Fort Myers News Press to see Zach at the border. http://www.news-press.com/article/20100114/HAITI/100114008/1075/Dispatches-from-Haiti-Massive-truckloads-of-food-at-border. Those articles might be your best way to keep up to date.
Zach made it across the border from the Dominican with the journalists. Check the following link to the Fort Myers News Press to see Zach at the border. http://www.news-press.com/article/20100114/HAITI/100114008/1075/Dispatches-from-Haiti-Massive-truckloads-of-food-at-border. Those articles might be your best way to keep up to date.
Port-au-Prince Yesterday
In our email from Barb and Greg last night, Barb described the situation in Port-au-Prince during the day yesterday. They were in several parts of the city looking for our loved ones but they spent most of the time in the area near Haiti Tractor, off the road leading to the airport trying to dig the three young men out of the house that collapsed. Here is what Barb wrote after a night with no sleep, a long drive and a horrific hunt for survivors. The parenthetical comments are mine.
“We can't get them out (the boys). The house is completely caved in. We also lost a girl from our area named Lolo (my cook's goddaughter) who was there visiting. People tried all day to get them out. They got Lolo out this afternoon. I and various people gave her first aid and it appeared she would make it but she didn't. We still haven't been able to get the boys out. We don't know where in the house they are. It is a complete disaster. The house and the city. Dead bodies everywhere. Buildings crazed net (Kreyol for broken completely). Unbelievable. A catastrophe of epic proportions. People are just walking. Very very few police, hardly any UN workers, no aid workers that I can see.”
“We can't get them out (the boys). The house is completely caved in. We also lost a girl from our area named Lolo (my cook's goddaughter) who was there visiting. People tried all day to get them out. They got Lolo out this afternoon. I and various people gave her first aid and it appeared she would make it but she didn't. We still haven't been able to get the boys out. We don't know where in the house they are. It is a complete disaster. The house and the city. Dead bodies everywhere. Buildings crazed net (Kreyol for broken completely). Unbelievable. A catastrophe of epic proportions. People are just walking. Very very few police, hardly any UN workers, no aid workers that I can see.”
Port-au-Prince Yesterday
In our email from Barb and Greg last night, Barb described the situation in Port-au-Prince during the day yesterday. They were in several parts of the city looking for our loved ones but they spent most of the time in the area near Haiti Tractor, off the road leading to the airport trying to dig the three young men out of the house that collapsed. Here is what Barb wrote after a night with no sleep, a long drive and a horrific hunt for survivors. The parenthetical comments are mine.
“We can't get them out (the boys). The house is completely caved in. We also lost a girl from our area named Lolo (my cook's goddaughter) who was there visiting. People tried all day to get them out. They got Lolo out this afternoon. I and various people gave her first aid and it appeared she would make it but she didn't. We still haven't been able to get the boys out. We don't know where in the house they are. It is a complete disaster. The house and the city. Dead bodies everywhere. Buildings crazed net (Kreyol for broken completely). Unbelievable. A catastrophe of epic proportions. People are just walking. Very very few police, hardly any UN workers, no aid workers that I can see.”
“We can't get them out (the boys). The house is completely caved in. We also lost a girl from our area named Lolo (my cook's goddaughter) who was there visiting. People tried all day to get them out. They got Lolo out this afternoon. I and various people gave her first aid and it appeared she would make it but she didn't. We still haven't been able to get the boys out. We don't know where in the house they are. It is a complete disaster. The house and the city. Dead bodies everywhere. Buildings crazed net (Kreyol for broken completely). Unbelievable. A catastrophe of epic proportions. People are just walking. Very very few police, hardly any UN workers, no aid workers that I can see.”
Refugee Transport
Our Chauffer Elizert was just able to buy some gasoline in Pignon, so we can at least run the motorcycles and small generators, if we run out of diesel and can't get more. Elizert is now on the way to Hinche to meet people who have arrived on foot from Port and have no way to get any further. Jean Jean Mompremier from UCI also sent a truck. Some of the people need medical attention and Elizert said that the Hospital in Pignon is receiving wounded people for free. And thank the Lord, there is a surgical team from North Dakota at the Pignon Hospital!
My cook just found out that the girl who died after being rescued yesterday was a goddaughter she loved like a daughter. She is grieving, but working and serving. Her grief made me realize that some Scripture at the front gate might be of comfort. So I had our gate guard take my Kreyol Bible up and write out John 10:27-30 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-15 as reminders that those who are in Christ can not be taken from the Father's hand and that those who die in Christ are not lost – they will be raised with us when He comes. Please pray for the grieving families.
HAFF's Benevolence committee is also getting clothing ready to help those who arrive in the area with nothing. And they are talking about the need to prepare for the potential influx of refugees who may need housing, food and other necessities. Pray for them as they make these plans.
My cook just found out that the girl who died after being rescued yesterday was a goddaughter she loved like a daughter. She is grieving, but working and serving. Her grief made me realize that some Scripture at the front gate might be of comfort. So I had our gate guard take my Kreyol Bible up and write out John 10:27-30 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-15 as reminders that those who are in Christ can not be taken from the Father's hand and that those who die in Christ are not lost – they will be raised with us when He comes. Please pray for the grieving families.
HAFF's Benevolence committee is also getting clothing ready to help those who arrive in the area with nothing. And they are talking about the need to prepare for the potential influx of refugees who may need housing, food and other necessities. Pray for them as they make these plans.
Some Cell Phones Working!
We got news this morning that the Voila cell phone system is working. However, there was only one Voila phone card available in the community! So, since, thankfully, Voila can be topped up on line, we are topping up a few phones on line and making them available at the front gate for people to try to call folks to see how they are. But we are having trouble connecting with the website. Probably a busy issue. Pray that we can get through.
Colin and Carla also have a chalkboard at the front gate where they are posting the names of those who have been confirmed alive and well.
Finally, there has been news on the radio that people with trucks are supposed to converge on Port-au-Prince to bring people back to their home areas since people are hungry and thirsty and there is nothing with which to feed them or give them drink. I foresee a huge traffic jam leading into Port from all directions, unless someone is directing this. Please pray for us as we consider if we should send a vehicle. We only have one reliable vehicle here (Since Greg and Barb have the other one in Port already) that is large enough to do any good. And this area needs to brace for the refugees. Please keep all these things in prayer.
Thank you so so much to everyone who is writing in with encouragement and prayers and offers of help. Gabi and I are trying to get to the emails as fast as we can, but they are coming in faster than we can answer them! Thanks for your love and prayers and encouragement. We will get an answer to you all just as quickly as we can. Keep checking here.
Colin and Carla also have a chalkboard at the front gate where they are posting the names of those who have been confirmed alive and well.
Finally, there has been news on the radio that people with trucks are supposed to converge on Port-au-Prince to bring people back to their home areas since people are hungry and thirsty and there is nothing with which to feed them or give them drink. I foresee a huge traffic jam leading into Port from all directions, unless someone is directing this. Please pray for us as we consider if we should send a vehicle. We only have one reliable vehicle here (Since Greg and Barb have the other one in Port already) that is large enough to do any good. And this area needs to brace for the refugees. Please keep all these things in prayer.
Thank you so so much to everyone who is writing in with encouragement and prayers and offers of help. Gabi and I are trying to get to the emails as fast as we can, but they are coming in faster than we can answer them! Thanks for your love and prayers and encouragement. We will get an answer to you all just as quickly as we can. Keep checking here.
13 January 2010
News from Greg and Barb
We heard from Barb and Greg via email from Port-au-Prince. They are fine and staying with an MAF pilot. They are fairly certain that Fabnot, Jocelyn and Romon are dead, but, after spending all day trying to find them, they have still not found the bodies. Please pray they do and pray for their families.
They also found a girl from our area in the same collapsed house who died as she was receiving first aid from Barb and others. Thankfully too, they found many of our folks from our area who are alive and well. They still have not heard from Wood-Ky and Edwine, but are pretty sure they are fine. Please pray for Barb and Greg as they have had no sleep and have had a horrible experience.
Zach has landed in the Dominican and will be making his way to the border tomorrow with a friend and some journalists from Fort Myers, FL. Barb will meet them on the Haitian side. The border is currently closed, please pray they get across.
Please pray for Gabi and me as we are exhausted – Gabi had 15 minutes sleep last night and a 2 hour nap today. I had 1 hour and 15 minutes last night and no nap today. We have been fielding emails and skype calls and posting to the blog all through the night and all day. Colin and Carla have cared for the staff and community people and coordinated information being distributed to the community. We had a precious time of worship and prayer with 16 Haitian staff this afternoon at 1. Please keep us all in prayer. Good night.
They also found a girl from our area in the same collapsed house who died as she was receiving first aid from Barb and others. Thankfully too, they found many of our folks from our area who are alive and well. They still have not heard from Wood-Ky and Edwine, but are pretty sure they are fine. Please pray for Barb and Greg as they have had no sleep and have had a horrible experience.
Zach has landed in the Dominican and will be making his way to the border tomorrow with a friend and some journalists from Fort Myers, FL. Barb will meet them on the Haitian side. The border is currently closed, please pray they get across.
Please pray for Gabi and me as we are exhausted – Gabi had 15 minutes sleep last night and a 2 hour nap today. I had 1 hour and 15 minutes last night and no nap today. We have been fielding emails and skype calls and posting to the blog all through the night and all day. Colin and Carla have cared for the staff and community people and coordinated information being distributed to the community. We had a precious time of worship and prayer with 16 Haitian staff this afternoon at 1. Please keep us all in prayer. Good night.
News bites
I am just going to put down some random things we are hearing. I am getting a bit tired and I probably need to eat supper. But here is what we are hearing. I do not vouch for the accuracy of any of this.
- A lab tech who works at the Clinic in LaJeune said that he heard that the town of Jacmel south of Port-au-Prince has major damage and that people are being buried in a mass grave. Pray for Haitian friends of mine in the US who have family in Jacmel.
- Cap Haitien is not having trouble with earthquake damage, but with flooding -- too much rain was already a problem when I flew in there last Thursday and they have had more rain since.
- I was premature in saying that our former student Louine was home or coming home. We don't know that. He might be or he might be with his mother and siblings in Port. We just know that he got out of the school ok.
People are asking how they can help. The HAFF board of directors are working on our response now. In the mean time, I will personally recommend that the following organizations would use any donated funds wisely:
- World Vision. The Haiti Director Frank Williams was a HAFF staff member when I came to Haiti 24 years ago. We went through a lot then and I know his integrity and honor and wisdom.
- Missionary Flights International www.missionaryflights.com is the airline that brings us, our cargo and mail to Haiti. They are already making flights of relief supplies.
I have heard, but don't know for sure, that these organizations are also on the ground in Haiti working:
- Samaritans Purse
- Doctors without Borders
Lastly, we have not heard from Barb and Greg yet. But we did not expect to yet. There is still no cell phone service. We understood that they planned to look for and help as many people as they could find during the day today. We hope to hear something from them this evening if they can find a place to base where they have access to the internet. They took a generator and some fuel, so that should help.
Please pray for our mourning community. And keep checking this blog as I will update it as often as I can and as often as I have anything to report.
News
We have some news. Fabnot Jean, Jocelyn Bercon and Romon Victor are all dead in the house that collapsed. People who were in the area brought the news. I taught all those boys and Fabnot was Zach's best friend and like a son to Barb and Greg and a brother to Gabi. Thankfully they all knew the Lord. But there is wailing in the street and tears in our eyes and our hearts. Please keep the Fabius, Telius and Orina families in your prayers. And us as we deal with our own grief and try to help the community.
We got some good news of Louine, a former student and nephew of Jean Jean and Kristie who was trapped in his school all night and was able to get out. He is either home now or on his way. We are still waiting to hear news of others -- Edwine, Marie Noel, Wood-Ky, our headmaster Phanes' family and our teacher Gabriel's family among so many others. Please keep praying. Thanks.
We got some good news of Louine, a former student and nephew of Jean Jean and Kristie who was trapped in his school all night and was able to get out. He is either home now or on his way. We are still waiting to hear news of others -- Edwine, Marie Noel, Wood-Ky, our headmaster Phanes' family and our teacher Gabriel's family among so many others. Please keep praying. Thanks.
Pray for Earthquake Victims
Just a quick post to let everyone know that we here at HAFF are all well and safe after this evening's strong earthquake in Haiti. There was no damage here. But we are all concerned and grieving as we are unable to contact loved ones in Port-au-Prince since the phone system is down.
We were able to get news in a round-about way that Fabnot Jean, a former student at University in Port and Zach Van Schoyck's best friend, is trapped in a collapsed building and feared dead. Friends are trying to dig him out. Another former student, Marie Noel Accilien who has a HAFF scholarship for University in Port lives in an area where a big supermarket collapsed. And another HAFF university scholarship student Wood-Ky Cadet went to Port Sunday to visit his mother and we have no news of him. Please please please pray for these and the families of our employees and neighbors who are dealing with continuing aftershocks.
Barb and Greg are preparing to leave about 4 am to go to Port and Zach is flying in from the States to the Dominican and then making his way to Haiti somehow. They hope to meet and find a way to help our loved ones. Please keep them in prayer as they travel and seek to help. Thanks.
We were able to get news in a round-about way that Fabnot Jean, a former student at University in Port and Zach Van Schoyck's best friend, is trapped in a collapsed building and feared dead. Friends are trying to dig him out. Another former student, Marie Noel Accilien who has a HAFF scholarship for University in Port lives in an area where a big supermarket collapsed. And another HAFF university scholarship student Wood-Ky Cadet went to Port Sunday to visit his mother and we have no news of him. Please please please pray for these and the families of our employees and neighbors who are dealing with continuing aftershocks.
Barb and Greg are preparing to leave about 4 am to go to Port and Zach is flying in from the States to the Dominican and then making his way to Haiti somehow. They hope to meet and find a way to help our loved ones. Please keep them in prayer as they travel and seek to help. Thanks.
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