Haiti Updates

Palais Video

2010-04-29T10:58:00.001-04:00

Click here to view a video posted April 20th on vimeo.com regarding the earthquake.

Mudslides in Haiti

2010-04-14T21:47:00.002-04:00

The BBC World News reports today that mudslides are putting the homeless in Haiti at risk. Please continue to pray for our brothers and sisters in Haiti. As we all know, when it rains in Haiti life can get difficult. It makes traveling and obtaining food near impossible. It also breeds and spreads disease.

As you run to the grocery store or hop in your car or ride your bike this week, remember our Haitian friends in prayer.

More News from the Covenant

2010-03-25T16:32:00.006-04:00

As life continues as "normal" here in the States, I was reminded this morning of our dear Haitian friends, sisters and brothers in Christ.

Covenant leaders have returned from Haiti and you may read about their experience: Haiti, Devastation cannot Overcome Faith, Resilience.

Above, you can see a photo from their recent trip (more info in the article linked above). Note that this tent city is just a glimpse of life now in Haiti. However, the Lord will meet people in these tents. It is not the first time the Lord has met his people in a tent (Exodus 29.42-43). While in the Wilderness, the Hebrews set up a tabernacle (or Tent of Meeting) where they met with the Lord. May our Haitian brothers and sisters continue to seek the Lord and may the Lord dwell with with them in the most unlikely of places...in tents.

Haiti: Transition from Relief to Rehab Under Way

2010-03-18T10:30:00.001-04:00

Click here for the latest update from Covenant World Relief in Haiti.

Haiti: What to Do with a Nation of Amputees

2010-03-04T22:37:00.002-05:00

Haiti: What to Do with a Nation of Amputees
By Tim Padgett / Port-au-Prince
Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2010

Read more: http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1964441,00.html#ixzz0hGnLwJ6S

Aid Begins to Pull Out of Haiti

2010-02-26T12:04:00.008-05:00

Wall Street Journal, February 24, 2010
Emergency Doctors Leave Haiti
By IANTHE JEANNE DUGAN

PORT-AU-PRINCE—Doctors here are bracing for another onslaught of patients, as emergency workers leave the country and thousands of surgeries done after the January 12 earthquake need to be redone.

Between 25% and 30% of postearthquake surgeries will need to be done again to avoid problems, says Dr. Jean "William" Pape, an infectious disease authority who is founder of Gheskio, an HIV/AIDS clinic next door to a field hospital set up by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. That estimate is corroborated by Haitian, U.S. and other medical officials involved in coordinating the international medical response, who say the problem is because of the massive numbers of injuries treated in poor conditions in an already weak health infrastructure.

The unusually high level of second operations, along with other mounting medical issues, comes as many emergency medical groups from around the world are returning home. On Wednesday, Feb. 24, the U.S. is pulling its crew out of the field hospital next to Gheskio—the last of a handful of temporary field hospitals that were set up by U.S. health authorities.

Gheskio officials originally expected the U.S. team to stay until mid-March, said Dr. Pape, and were surprised to learn that they had to take over this week. "It is reflective of the confusion surrounding all of this," he said.

Other nongovernment agencies are leaving as well. The USNC Comfort, a medical ship, also is phasing out patients. It has 50 patients currently, and is taking no more."We are moving from the immediate emergency phase responding to the direct consequences," said Dr. Ronald Waldman, the U.S. health emergency coordinator, who has been stationed in Port-au-Prince since shortly after the earthquake. Now, he said, medical aid is moving to a second stage "to make sure that people who are displaced don't suffer from indirect consequences."The shift threatens to overwhelm the medical community here. Many health-care facilities remain unusable, and new cases of diarrhea, malaria and other diseases are picking up in tent communities crammed with tens of thousands of people who lost their homes.

"If you want to spread tuberculosis, jam a bunch of people into tents next to each other," said Warren Johnson, a Gheskio co-founder who is director of the Center for Global Health at Weill Cornell Medical College. "The second phase promises to be as cruel as the first."

In the field hospital next to Gheskio, about 50 workers tended to more than 3,000 earthquake victims. Guards from the U.S. Army's 82nd Airborne division protected the hospital. The hospital saw 150 to 200 patients a day, according to Helen Miller, the chief medical officer there.

"It is hard to see where the emergency ends and where the line to recovery begins in this situation," she said.She said that the equipment, including big tents that made up operating rooms, a tuberculosis area and others would remain. But the Army will leave along with the medical team.

Gheskio will take over the field hospital, with help from the Caris Foundation, a Texas nonprofit that aids impoverished people, and Weill Cornell. The hospital will become a rehabilitation center and treat common diseases, as well as redoing surgeries.

Dr. Waldman said many people with amputations need to have their initial surgeries fixed so they can be fitted with prosthesis. "Because of the nature of this disaster and the nature of injuries to the survivors, that first emergency part is really not going to go away for some time," said Dr. Waldman.

Dr. Pape said that surgeries were done hastily under poor conditions. Makeshift operating rooms weren't sterile. Some wounds came in so dirty that they now have bone infections. Stefano Zannini, the chief of mission at Doctors without Borders in Port-au-Prince, said Port-au-Prince lacked operating theaters and surgeons after the earthquake and some patients refused to be operated on indoors.

Gheskio is seeing its own AIDS and tuberculosis patients while trying to care for 6,300 refugees who moved onto the clinic's property, clinic officials say. More than 1,000 children are under 5 years old.

Gheskio workers ask daily whether refugees have fever, diarrhea, cough or skin lesions, the clinic says. Meanwhile, Gheskio is making plans to try to move the entire tent city to higher ground before rainy season begins in April.

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And the rain comes down

2010-02-23T16:29:00.002-05:00

“The day before we left I had the chance to walk through one of the IDP (internally displaced people) camps that we had been to several time. Heart wrenching. We gave them what supplies we could. There were still so many without even tarps over them. Their 'homes' were about 2 by 3 meters. I visited one older lady's home. The floor was stony and I asked her where she slept. She pointed to a piece of cardboard - it was about 3 feet long and 1 foot wide. She said she puts that down at night to sleep on. So very many needs everywhere you turn. . .
The last night in Haiti it rained - no, it poured. I woke to the water getting into my tent, because I had left the flaps open for a breeze. My first thought, though, was not about how wet I was, but how much misery the people I had visited in that IDP camp were now going through. The next morning, I packed up and began the journey home. The next morning, they had to start cleaning up, but they had nowhere to go. I hope you will continue to pray with me that we don't forget these people in their misery that we will work and care and reach out a helping hand to lift them out of where they are and give them the chance to have hope and a future." (Donna Adhemar, a Haitian-Canadian RN who’s been in Port au Prince the last week; friend of Caleb and Debbie Lucien...photo taken by Caleb).

Report from Pignon

2010-02-21T07:35:00.001-05:00

The following is from a recent letter sent out by Debbie and Caleb Lucien with Hosean International Ministries in Pignon on Februray 18th:

"Greetings from Haiti! ..... the refugee population at the camp had more than doubled. There are now more than 350 residents living full time at the camp [Camp de la Grace--part of Hosean International Ministries]. Most arrived through contacts in Port au Prince. One thing we are seeing is that the later arrivals are sicker due to longer exposure to the unhealthy conditions where they were.

Friday had been designated as a day of national mourning and area pastors had chosen my brother-in-law’s church, Jerusalem Baptist to be the meeting place. Pastor Jephthe Lucien later told me there were over 5,000 in attendance. This was an encouragement to see people gathering to begin to express the tremendous grief we all feel. While walking is the usual mode of transportation in our area, I’d never seen this many out walking to church. ...several of the people were carrying their own chairs to make sure they could sit down. We are hoping and praying that this will be the beginning of a time of healing for the nation as a whole."

Covenant World Relief Update

2010-02-20T07:31:00.001-05:00

Covenant World Relief has been on the ground in Haiti working mainly with World Relief International and Medical Teams International. It is reported that there is an urgent need for experienced physicians. Read more on the story here.

Canadian friend, Marilyn McIlroy, loses team member in Haiti earthquake

2010-02-16T13:12:00.006-05:00

In 2002 I met a dear Canadian woman, Marilyn McIlroy, who had devoted most of her adult life to serving the Haitian people. She served as a full time missionary in the Central Plateau in the 70's and 80's and upon her return to Canada, she continued to serve taking medical teams to coordinate medical clinics in rural Haiti. Marilyn McIlroy, a RN from Canada, agreed to join our first medical team from ECC to Haiti in Dec. 2003. Our entire team found it a privilege to work alongside Marilyn in LaMare. Fluent in Creole and having lived among the Haitians for many years, she was extremely valuable to our mission. In the years to follow I have had the opportunity to stay connected with Marilyn. We would often "run into each other" during my trips to Haiti. If ever I needed wise counsel on ministry matters in Haiti, Marilyn would be a trusted friend to seek advise from. On Jan. 12, 2010, Marilyn was in PAP with a Canadian medical mission team when the earthquake struck. Sadly, Marilyn lost a team member who was buried under the rubble at the Walls Guest House in PAP. Marilyn wrote a summary of her experience during those days. Please follow the link to read her account http://www.emcc.ca/news.asp?news_id=316 . I ask you to pray for Marilyn, the Canadian women who served on her team, and the family of their dear friend Yvonne Martin, who lost her life on Jan. 12th. I pray that the family of Yvonne will experience peace and comfort from our Lord Jesus Christ in the days to come. To God be the glory for His Kingdom purposes which are accomplished through suffering. "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Matthew 6:9 & 10

The Latest report regarding Covenant World Relief

2010-02-15T10:43:00.003-05:00

Click here to go to the latest Covenant newsire story regarding Covenant World Relief efforts in Haiti. Consider giving financially through Covenant World Relief.

Rebuilding Walls

2010-02-12T16:17:00.009-05:00

Many of you are familiar with Walls International Guest House. One of their buildings fell in the quake and a few people passed away. Today, they are rebuilding walls and facilities in order to host guests. Here are a few photos of their efforts. You'll notice the wall they repaired, the "shelter" they are building to house the "new" kitchen and laundry (far cry from the facilities they once had), workers out cleaning all that could be salvaged and guests staying in tents in the parking lot. This work is crucial as they look to be able to host guests who come to help rebuild Haiti, rebuild lives and minister to the people.

Patrick and his family

2010-02-10T11:40:00.006-05:00

Many of you know that Patrick's father died in the earthquake. After speaking with him online yesterday, he shared some things that are striking. He and his family are currently staying in their driveway for fear of their house (cracked) falling down. They take turns "posting" people at the corners of their driveway to keep guard at night so they can sleep. He said it is really hard for them right now. Food is expensive. They have to use a distribution card in order to get food from monitored sites or to purchase the food from other people (a small bag of rice is costing $38...that's US dollars!). He shared that it is really hard in the mornings when his young sisters wake up and tell him that they are hungry. He's got a lot of responsibility and he's "stuck", as he says. He also shared these photos from his father's funeral. He was able to have a small funeral and place him in a cemetery...not a mass grave. This is just one person's family in Haiti. There are many more suffering terribly, but I thought you might want to hear what Patrick had to say about his situation as he is a friend and translator of ours. Please continue to pray for Patrick, his family and the people of Haiti as they struggle to get by each day!

2010-02-09T01:24:00.004-05:00

Bill Clinton, in Haiti, Emphasizes Urgent Need for Sanitation and Health Care

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/06/world/americas/06haiti.html?scp=1&sq=Gheskio,%20Haiti&st=cse

Port-au-Prince Unprepared for Influx

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4188/is_20100206/ai_n49283779/?tag=content;col1

Providence Guest House Destroyed

2010-02-09T00:49:00.018-05:00

We are deeply saddened at the loss of Providence Guest House. Gertrude and her staff made this guest house a home away from home for us each time we passed through PAP. We pray for Gertrude and her staff that God will bless them and provide for their every need. May God be with you.

Photos from around Port au Prince

2010-02-08T11:32:00.003-05:00

Here are a few photos from the destruction in Port au Prince. You'll notice the Palace, tent cities in the middle of the city (in front of the palace) and one of the guest houses we stay in has been destroyed. You'll also notice the "One Stop" on Delmas where we often shop has been destroyed. Please continue to pray for the people of Haiti, for the government, for the people living on the streets, for the orphans and for our dear friends like Gertrude and others who have lost their guest houses which have so welcomely hosted us.

Refugees find rest in Pignon

2010-02-05T11:03:00.002-05:00

Pignon is one of the towns we often fly into when traveling to LaMare. They are seeing an influx of people from Port au Prince taking refuge in the country side (central plateau). Pignon is only 10 miles or so from LaMare. Please pray for the people of Pignon as they serve and minister to the refugees.

A prayer for Patrick's family

2010-02-02T16:37:00.003-05:00

Patrick is one of our translators. He lost his father (who worked at Walls Guest House where we often stayed) in the earthquake. Here is a recent photo of him with his stepmother and sisters. Please be praying for them as they continue to live day by day in the aftermath of the quake.

Covenant World Relief Response in Haiti

2010-01-30T09:41:00.003-05:00

David Husby, director of Covenant World Relief outlines their response in Haiti. To view the article, click here.
Click here to view a related article from the Covenant Newswire on physicians being resourceful in treating Haitian patients.

Human Trafficking and the Children of Haiti...a Call to Prayer and Action

2010-01-28T11:25:00.009-05:00

Human trafficking is a REAL and present danger in many societies...in Haiti and yes, even in the United States! Children in Haiti are being targeted and taken into modern day slavery (even taken into the US)! Here are just a couple websites regarding this news:
CNN and Daily Mail.

You can advocate for these children. "Earlier this week, Save The Children and World Vision urged European Union foreign ministers to announce an immediate ban on any new adoptions into Europe of children who have been separated from their relatives in the devastated country." Spread the news. Please read and share the following article on the International Justice Mission website. There are people on the ground in Haiti working against this injustice. One of those individuals is our friend Caleb Lucien (he met with UNICEF last week to address the issue of children in the streets).

Pray for these children, aid workers and families searching for loved ones!

"And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God." (Micah 6:8)

2010-01-26T14:57:00.002-05:00

A thank you note from Abdais Marcelin, Son of Pastor Adam Marcelin. To The Evangelical Covenant Church Family

God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5 . . .

My friends;

My family want to take that opportunity to thank all of you for your prayers and financial support in that special circumstances.

January the 12, 2010 is a date any Haitian will never forget. I’ve personally see death coming to directly me; then I realized that I’ve been still alive and unhurt. I saw so many suffering and despair, that I started to ask God ‘why’? Who am I to question God?

But in the middle of all that, God has revealed himself to us several time in a manner that even my 15 years old daughter can see his hands acting for us. Through all of you, God has blessed us and is continuing to bless us.

It is sad to say that million in Port-au-Prince are not as lucky as my family. They are either dead, wounded or losing everything. The world has standup to help as they can. But the calamity is so huge that 13 days later, it’s like nothing has been done.

I want to express publicly my thankfulness to the Doyle family for accepting my family into their house. Thank you again to all of you. Please keep praying for my family and me particularly. I need God assistance to cop without my children and wife now.

May God bless you all.
Abdias

Pray for rest

2010-01-25T15:56:00.002-05:00

For those of you who are wondering why there hasn't been a recent post, I suspect that with the recent arrival of Abdias' family, things have been a bit hectic. Supposedly, they arrived via a military cargo plane (no seats or belts...just the floor!), yesterday. I'm sure this was just another traumatic experience for a family who has already endured so much! Please be praying for rest and peace as they (mother and two children) adjust to being evacuated to Lafayette (the length of their stay is unknown). Also, please pray for Abdias as he is still in Port au Prince.

Covenant World Relief Update

2010-01-22T16:26:00.002-05:00

We (Covenant World Relief) just received an update from Haiti--our partners are expecting to serve over 10,000 meals per day by working with local churches and are seeing hundreds of patients each day at King's hospital. Thank you for your prayers as they continue to work long hours in grueling conditions. Follow Covenant World Relief on Facebook.

2010-01-22T14:15:00.003-05:00

Missionary Pilots continue to serve throughout Haiti. These men are passionate about their ministry and I enjoy reading their updates of how God uses them daily during this time of crisis. Here's a recent note:

Another great day of flying and minstry in Haiti. I was able to deliver over 2000lbs of food supplies to mission workers on Lagonave. Also able to help several Haitian friends at the airport who were lacking food and water. Tomorrow will be another busy day of ministry. Please pray for a good nights sleep and no more aftershocks! Just had another aftershock while writing this.

Update from missionary in the Central Plateau of Haiti:

So far 263 family units have entered our area from PaP. A family is anything from one to many many people. At this time I can't recall how many individuals have arrived, but it's more than 263. We heard that one man had 19 visitors show up at his house. We are hoping that he has been able to spread them around some. The important thing to note is that so far, the refugees are being absorbed into existing families. In most of these cases they are merely staying with relatives (both close relatives and "distant" relatives). If this trend continues, then we should feel both fortunate and totally blessed. We are trying to determine the best way to address the housing issue. For now the houses are crowded. Eventually additional housing will be needed as these people become permanent members of the community. We fear that once the media attention cools off, the donations will begin to taper off and Haiti will be facing this decade-long challenge alone.

Update from an Agronomy Student living in the Central Plateau:

So for me I don't feel well, because during the earthquake I was in Port-au- Prince and just went to see my family. God was protect me during the earthquake so I didn't lost any parts of my body and I just only feel some pain sometime. Please help me in your prayer and then to God help me to find some money and then to go to the hospital to make pain go away. So about my family, they are not dead just only some of them hurt in their body, and then lost their house too. Right now they need money to buy something and then to find some food for feed. Right now some of them sleep in the street because their house were broke. So about my school, it 's not open yet, maybe it will be open in February. I don't know exactly when I have to return at school because you know about the situation of the earthquake in Haiti.

Thursday, January 21, 2009

2010-01-22T14:12:00.005-05:00

The Unbearable Situation

As many of you have read and heard in the news, many people are fleeing Port au Prince. Those with means and those less fortunate are all "in the same boat". Even those with money can't access it (the banks are closed). Imagine what it would be like to have to live off the money in your wallet! And even then, food and supplies are running short and not even money will help. This is just the "tip of the iceberg". Many of you have been to Port au Prince and know what it's like....how chaotic it seems and how it has a distinct smell. Well today, just imagine what it's like. Here is a photo I thought was telling of the situation in Port. Though a bit fuzzy, this photo is striking. It is a photo of our friend and translator Patrick. He's is on a truck in Port with a team of people. The stench in Port au Prince is too much to bear. May you be impacted not just through your eyes, but through your sense of smell and ultimately....your heart. Please continue to pray for the people of Haiti, especially those who have lost loved ones and are stuck on the streets of Port au Prince. Please pray for those who are serving day and night to bring aid and care to those in need.

Video Clip from Missionary Flights International of Haitian Orphans being united with their adoptive families.

2010-01-19T18:27:00.006-05:00

I found this video clip on the MFI website. It is a very heart warming clip of orphans from PAP, being united with their adoptive American families. These children were legally adopted by their American families; however, they were being held up by the Haitian paperwork nightmare. They are now at home with their American families. Praise God for His hand of protection over these children. http://www.missionaryflights.org/field-reports/up-to-the-minute

News from Greg & Barb VanSchoyck in the Central Plateau

2010-01-19T13:15:00.002-05:00

Within hours after Hatiti earthquake, Greg & Barb were headed to PAP to search for former HAFF students

Dear, dear friends,

We wanted to give you an update and a short recap of the activities of this last incredible week. First, we want to praise the Lord for you and for the many, many, many prayers that you have prayed. Those prayers have supported the Haitian people and us in ways that are beyond understanding. God’s grace has proven, over and over again, to be sufficient. And so, bless you for your prayers and your love and your concern for our Haitian brothers and sisters, and for all of us trying to help in any way we can.
As some of you know, HAFF is located about 80 miles northeast of the capital city. We felt the quake, but only mildly. Because cell phone lines were cut immediately, it wasn’t until a few hours later that we found on the internet that the quake had damaged Port-au-Prince significantly. We immediately tried emailing and calling our many friends in the city, most of whom were former students of ours who were in university in PaP. Among those was Fabneau Jean, our Zachary’s best friend and our second son. We were still unable to reach any of them. Meanwhile Zach, at school in Atlanta, was frantically doing the same thing. He could not reach Fabneau, but miraculously was able to reach another close friend, Tonpy, one of Fabneau’s roommates. Tonpy relayed to him that he had been inside one of the upstairs rooms in the house along with Fabneau, Fabneau’s cousin Lolo, and Jauslin and Romond (two other young men from our community who were former students from our school) at the time of the earthquake. But he told Zach that of the five people, only he made it out of the 2-story house before it collapsed like a house of cards. He believed Fabneau and the three others to be dead under the rubble. We got this news around 11 o’clock Tuesday evening. From the States, Zach began making plans to fly down and help dig them out, hoping against hope that they were still alive. From our end, we quickly made plans to drive to the capital immediately with the fathers of Fabneau and Jauslin. In the middle of the night, we packed the Land Cruiser with 15 gallon jugs of diesel fuel, ten gallons of water and a hand-pumped water filter, a shovel, a Haitian hoe, a heavy pry bar and machetes, a box of limited quantities of assorted first aid supplies, and whatever food we had in the house. At the last minute Greg grabbed two long extension cords, a floodlight and a 400 watt inverter that when plugged into the cigar lighter, produces 110 volt power. By 4:15 a.m, we were pulling out of the front gate to begin the journey. As we left the gate, two more dads anxious for news of their children in PaP joined our packed truck. In all, there were 5 dads in our car, plus the two of us (Greg and Barb). Because we had no phone communication and didn’t know the extent of the chaos in PaP, we felt as though we were flying blind but needed to get down there anyway.
The people of Haiti in general, and our many students and local families with people in PaP in particular, were heavy on our hearts as we made the journey. We reached PaP by 8:30 a.m. Wednesday morning, 15 hours after the quake. The devastation was beyond imagining. Big buildings, crumbled like cookie pieces. Bodies, covered at street corners serving as temporary morgues. Thousands of people, walking in shock along the roads. A sense of unreality pervaded. Our eyes could hardly take it in; our minds could hardly believe what we were seeing.
We dropped off 2 of the dads so that they could begin searching for their families in their respective neighborhoods. We continued with Fabneau’s and Jauslin’s dads to the boys’ house. The two story house was demolished. We had just been to the house 2 weeks before and had been so thrilled that Fabneau was living in a nice house with water, latrine, and shower in the yard. But when we arrived and saw the extent of the damage, it appeared that there was no hope of ever finding their bodies. But we had to try. And so began 3 days of digging through the broken and crushed cement roof and walls and rebar to find them. Among the many men digging were Fre Fabius (Fabneau’s dad), Fre Telius (Jauslin’s dad), and Fre Rosmy (Romond’s older brother). As the day progressed, the number of men digging increased as more and more people from our area came to gather on the street in front of the house. It was to serve as a home base for many of our local people wanting to get back to Bohoc/LaJeune.
By early afternoon, we began to hear the weak voice of a young woman calling from under the rubble. Our hope was renewed as we followed the voice and tried to dig our way to her. As the men dug to try to reach her, she was able to feebly tell us that she was being pinned. By late afternoon, we pulled her out alive. She was Fabneau’s cousin Lolo and one of the five people in the boys’ upstairs room at the time of the earthquake. She was carried to the street where we tried to attend to her visible wounds, knowing that internal injuries were a definite threat. But within an hour, there lying on the street, she died.
Many, many people in the neighborhood came to us for first aid. We tended to as many as we could with our limited supplies. Most had been injured as concrete blocks fell on them during the quake. All were amazingly patient as they waited to be tended to through our feeble efforts. No one wanted to go back into any homes that were still standing, because of aftershocks and the news that it was unsafe to do so. As a result, almost all of the survivors we saw and heard about slept on the streets of PaP that night.
The Haitian men kept digging tirelessly. God gave them an extraordinary, and what could only be a supernaturally-provided, strength. Thursday morning, Greg and Barb (along with Tonpy), drove the 1 ½ hours to the Haiti/DR border to meet Zach, who had flown in to the Santo Domingo airport late Wednesday afternoon. Despite word that the border was closed – and no real plan for where/how to meet up except the agreement to both be at the border – miraculously, after five minutes, there came our Zach walking across the border, accompanied by a photographer friend from the Ft. Myers News-Press and the journalist he was travelling with. We quickly loaded them into the truck and headed back to the city to join the others in the rescue efforts at the boys’ house. By late afternoon, Jauslin’s and Romond’s bodies were found and unearthed from the rubble. Zach, Greg, and Tonpy were able to secure (amazingly, by God’s grace) three body bags from the UN headquarters. But the work continued to find Fabneau. It was to be another almost 24 hours of non-stop digging before we could unearth his body. Throughout Thursday night, the people sleeping on the streets around us held spontaneous prayer services, singing and praising the Lord for His mercy. Their faith strengthened ours, and the work continued. Our truck and the inverter we had brought enabled us to have a light throughout the long night of digging. By Friday, it became apparent that we could not return with Jauslin’s and Romond’s bodies, as had been planned. And so the men took them to a nearby cemetary and were able to bury them there.
During the day on Friday, Barb (who had been administering first aid throughout the week as best she could) met up with a young Haitian doctor in the neighborhood who was willing and ready to start treating the more seriously injured, but had no materials to work with. He gave us a list of medical supplies he needed, and by God’s grace Greg, Zach, and Tonpy were able to secure everything on the list. Barb was able to help the doctor and a few other Haitian medical professionals as they treated the wounded. What a privilege this was for Barb.
The digging for Fabneau continued, because no one was willing to stop until we had found him. Finally, around noon on Friday, the diggers began to uncover his body. It took them several hours to completely remove him from the debris. We buried him in the same cemetary as the other boys. We then immediately began making preparations to leave PaP with as many Bohoc/LaJeune-based survivors as we could. Unrest had been simmering in Port all day, and we were concerned that if we stayed in the city any longer, we might not be able to get out safely before things completely boiled over. Early Friday evening, we and the exhausted fathers left Port-au-Prince in our Land Cruiser, driving behind a hired camion (large truck) full of about 40-50 local community members who had been displaced by the earthquake and were trying to get home. After a long, exhausting trip, we arrived home in Bohoc at around 2 am Saturday morning.
We came back to find a community shocked and devastated. The deaths of Fabneau, Jauslin, Romond, and Lolo are being felt by everyone. As young university students, the three boys represented the hope of the community’s future, and they were well-loved and respected by all. The community is also desperate for news of many family members still unaccounted for in the capital. Phone lines have opened up but many are still unable to reach their loved ones. Streams of refugees are coming to our area constantly, as thousands upon thousands of victims flee the capital. Our church, where the three boys attended, had a memorial service on Sunday. It was God-honoring, comforting, and allowed us all to grieve and mourn together. School has been suspended for the week, but our schoolmaster and vice-principal have planned a service for our students on Friday to honor the three boys, since they had all been students at HAFF. From there, our 210 students will divide into three groups to visit the three families to pray with them and offer their comfort.
In the meantime, we are at work, shoulder to shoulder with our community leaders, building plans to help the displaced and our local families who are receiving them. Watching the community and church leaders working together is a beautiful thing to see. We are also working logistics, listening to our brothers and sisters as they process what’s happening, and trying to serve in whatever capacity God would have us. We are convinced that our local area is where God wants us to minister in this crisis, because our entire community is being affected.
We are also trying to Zach back to school in the States. Please pray during these next 48 hours that the logistics of that happening will work out, that he’ll be able to catch up on his schoolwork, and that God would continue to minister His healing grace in his heart. He has been used mightily during his time here, displaying courage, quick thinking, strength, and maturity; he has been a great comfort to the grieving families and to us. We praise God that He brought him here. We also praise God for our daughter and trusted colleague, Gabi. Her presence, calm gentle spirit, willing heart, and many skills have been used by God to bless us and help so many. God had her here for this season for His purposes, and we praise Him for that.
Thank you for letting us share this with you. Thank you for your prayers. Thank you for your love for the Haitian people and for us. We covet your prayers for the hundreds of thousands of people who are suffering, and that God would allow us to be used as His instruments of love, tender mercy, and grace to everyone in the coming days, weeks, and months. Please continue to check our blog site and website, and know that we love you all.
Trusting in our faithful God,
Greg, Barb, Gabi, and Zach

Pray for adequate fuel supplies in Haiti.

2010-01-19T10:20:00.004-05:00

We are getting reports from the Central Plateau that fuel prices are rising rapidly and there is already a shortage in that area. Please pray that the fuel supplies will come to Haiti to meet the demand of usage. This is critical for all aspects of relief, rescue and rebuilding.

2010-01-19T07:57:00.007-05:00

Update from MAF Pilot on January 18, 2010
Today I was contacted by a doc at the UN about transporting injured people out of PAP. The field hospital was full of adults and children with amputated arms/legs and mangled bodies. Row after row of cots of broken people. Later this evening I learned that the Haitian pastor I have been helping with his church was killed in a house collapse.

FB Post from Jean Kedler Abelard, A Haitian man attending IV Tech College in Lafayette, IN. Update sent Saturday, January 16, 2010
Dear Friends in the US,
I am writing this journal of my journey here in Haiti after the earthquake. I traveled Friday to Dominican Republic later at night and then drive to Haiti; I got here at 7 in the morning. All my family is safe except for my sister and mother there were a block felt on their feet while trying to get out of the house and our houses are tear down as well. On the road to Haiti you already see sadness in the face of the people. Everyone is sad because they lost a family member or friends. I could see a lot of houses tear down. When I get in a town before mine there are some houses tear down as well. Croix-des-Bouquets the commune that I from exactly Coupon the name of my town and surrounded villages all are faces mean miserable. 98% of house in my town are also tear down. No houses for them and they’ve to sleep outside and someone who has a house fears to sleep inside because they’re scare and have the cicatrix of the situation and the houses reveal some cracks. They’re all hungry and waiting for something to eat, everyone in all families in Haiti need assistance right now. It’s going to be worse if they can’t get something to eat because it will be famine for them. Foods are now I can’t explain how that will be in one week later. I can’t really describe the situation in Haiti because it’s not describable.
People there are in need, the situation is really bad and you’ll need to be here to see what is the people are facing now. Thanks already for your prayers and contributions to help those people.

Kedler, from the voice of the community

Michael B, MAF Pilot serving in PAP, News link of family's return to U.S.
http://www2.tricities.com/tri/news/local/article/missionaries_returning_home_today/39257/

2010-01-18T07:55:00.006-05:00

Update from MAF Pilot:

Getting ready to go to the airport. I will be processing 9 planes arriving with aid today - including one carring a team of friends from TN. Keep the prayers coming. This is going to be a months long project, not a weeks long one.

An email from the father of American Missionary, Jeanne Acheson-Munos who is presumed dead after the January 12, 2010 Earthquake. Dolly and Pastor Acheson are Jeanne's parents

Your prayers join the multitude of praying people who have called from all over the country. We are inundated in prayer! And God is giving special grace to Dolly and me - Dolly breaks out in a sob and tear occasionally but there is an awesome calm and a peace that passes all underatnding. Jesus spoke of building on the sand and storms causing the house to fall, but when we build on the Rock, storms my shake the house but it doesn't fall. We are experiencing the truth of that now - we are foundationed on the Rock, and it doesn't even tremble.

It will be a couple of weeks before they will be able to excavate the rubble that has entombed Jeanne. When they were here a while back, I said to them, "Kids, you have given away all of your furniture to go to Haiti - you have nothing but what is on the mission compound. When you finally leave Haiti to come home, everything in this apartment belongs to you - and if we go to heaven before you return, we will see that it is stored for you." Jeanne said, "Dad, we aren't coming back to the States, God has called us to Haiti, these are our people, we will die in Haiti!"

She wanted to be buried in Haiti. Now headquarters has aked our permission to do just that when they have extricated her body. We agreed - that is what she wanted.

We are experiencing the special grace God has promised, we have a peace thst passes all understanding. Jeanne is in heaven and we will see her soon.

Love you both,

Pastor Acheson

2010-01-17T21:41:00.008-05:00

Update from MAF Pilot:

After a full day of flying yesterday, am able to take off as we start to cycle guys for a little rest. It was a great time of worship, prayer, sharing and healing at church today. One of our church family was in their 4 story apartment building when it collapsed. She was able to crawl through the rubble to get out and ...was evacuated by the Embassy to a medical center in GTMO.

Relief efforts continue. I was able to make two flights yesterday to evacuate a team stranded in Hinche. We took them north to Cape Haitian to catch a flight out. One missionary lady was stuck in Port and her daughter was in Jacmel during the quake. I was able to fly her back home with some supplies.

Sad news about our missionary friends Jack and Jeanne Acheson-Munos:

Jack has been flown from Guantanamo and is hospitalized in Miami. Pastor Acheson is Jeanne's father. Jeanne has still not been found. The people have dug away everything they can by hand and are waiting (as many) for heavy equipment to come in. Jack & Jeanne, along with many people, were in the basement of a 3-story building.
Also, I need to correct something from a previous e-mail: Jack & Jeanne have one son (Jimmy), a daughter-in- law, and a granddaughter, and they live in this area. Jack has family in Texas. Thank you for praying.

So glad your brother's friends were found alive, Jeannie. Sadly, my update does not end that way (see below). The update is from the 90 year old father of Jeanne. His faith in God and our eternal home speaks to my heart in a way I'll fail with words to express. Here is the update:

Thanks for your caring and prayers,
Jeanne has not yet been heard from. Jack has been airlifted from Guantanamo to a hospital in Miami. The nurse called this morning and I was able to talk briefly to Jack. His voice was weak and I couldn't understand everything he said, and I didn't talk long. I told him we were hearing conlicting stories and I needed to know where he and Jeanne were when the earthquake struck.
He said they both were on the fourth floor of the Foho House - a
large 4-story building with many guest rooms and kitchen and dining facilities on the first floor - their apartment was on the fourth floor.
Two men had come from Michigan just a few hours before and were with Jeanne in her office. Jack was in the adjoining room on the window side.
When the quake started, he looked toward the office and saw Jeanne rise from the desk and step to the office door - then everything collapsed: four floors and a roof and walls. Jack landed on the first floor on the edge of the rubble, and they removed the rubble and a block of concrete by hand to free him. Jeanne and the two men were lost in the great mound of rubble and concrete. Jack doesn't think they could possibly survive,
Dolly and I are inundated in your prayers. We are experiencing the special grace God gives in times like this. Jeanne and Jack should have been here yesterday for a 2-week vacation - she said she really needed the break. Mission work in Haiti is more stressful than in most places.
If she had called to say, "Dad, we won't be coming to Indy, we 're going to the Bahamas for a rest," I probably would say, "That's good, Jeanie, that's a beautiful place for you to spend a couple of weeks." I guess heaven would be a much more beautiful place to spend an eternity of weeks!
Love y'all,
R.B.

2010-01-16T18:03:00.013-05:00

Note from MAF Pilot:
PEOPLE TRYING TO GET OUR OF HAITI - CONTACT ME. I have 3 flights tomorrow that I can assist in getting you out on. 3784-3958 D or 3912-9699 V. Cell Circuits are busy, so try multiple times if you need to. You can also e-mail me at MBroyles@maf.org. Meeting at the "small airport" at 9:30 tomorrow.

We are so thankful that:
Gabe is safe in PAP! I got to talk with him on the phone :)
Gertrude and Rosie are both safe!
Lafayette woman, Sue Alexander is safe!
Patrick, his girlfriend and little boy Evans are all safe! Was able to talk to him on Facebook.
Dr. Edouard Paul has received word that his finance, Yadele is safe, as well as her family and all his family except for one sister named Darling. Please pray that Darling will be located soon!

2010-01-14T08:29:00.007-05:00

More devastating news from Haiti:

3:00 pm - Phone call from Vetres Garcon, Construction boss & friend from Port au Ciel

I was shocked when I received a telephone call from Haiti at 3:00 pm today. It was from Vetres, our construction boss who told me that the situation was overwhelming him. He has lost six family members in PAP. Four of his nieces are hospitalized and their parents are dead. I don't know the ages of these girls; but I can only imagine how difficult their life will be without parents. He has many family members that are still unaccounted for. I tried to call him back when we were disconnected, but couldn't get through. I am so thankful that we were able to have even a brief conversation. Please pray for Vetres, for his family who are living in these devastated areas.

10:30 am - Email from Dr. Edouard, physician who partners with our Haiti project

Edouard Paul has had no communication with his finance, Yadele, her family, or his family. Edouard Paul is studying medicine in Spain and is very scared for their safety. We put Edouard Paul in contact with Adbias Marcelin by way of satellite Internet and have made a plea that Abdias hire someone to go to Carefour, the epicenter of the quake, and search for his family. He is feeling compelled to return to Haiti and search for his family. We are uncertain if he will be able to get into the country. Please pray for Dr. Edouard Paul and family.

Join us for a prayer service tonight from 6 pm to 7 pm at Evangelical Covenant Church, 3600 S. 9th St., Lafayette to pray for the citizens of Haiti following the devastating earthquake.

Go to www.ecclife.net to support Covenant World Relief's relief and rescue operations in Haiti. The most effective way to help the earthquake victims is through financial gifts that fund relief and rescue efforts.

2010-01-13T23:52:00.006-05:00

Friends we know that are safe . . .

2010-01-13T22:11:00.004-05:00

Abdias Marcelin & family - Pastor Adam's son
Maculouse & family -Pastor Adam's daughter
Yolette & her husband - relative of Pastor Adam
Kenson - Godson of Pastor Adam
Students from LaMare living in PAP to continue post-secondary education
All Missionary Aviation Fellowship (MAF) Pilots based in PAP
Fonkoze Staff based in PAP
Martin Glesil and his family - Translator
Patrick, his girlfriend and son, Evans - Translator
Gabriel - Translator
Veniel & family - Manager, Walls Guest House
Gertrude & Rosie - Manager, Providence Guest House
Jack Munos - Missionary PAP
Dr.Yadele - Dr. Edouard Paul's finance
Dr. Yadele's family
Dr. Edouard Paul's family
Sue Alexander - Lafayette Nurse
Doug Taylor & son, Austin - Lafayette, Director of Habitat

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

2010-01-13T22:08:00.011-05:00

Prayer Service

A prayer service will be held at Evangelical Covenant Church on Thursday, January 14th from 6:00 - 7:00pm. We invite our community and friends of ECC, to unite in prayer for victims and those working in rescue and relief operations.

11:10 pm – Note from MAF Pilot in PAP

Made it to the airport today. Lots of dead bodies in the roads and buildings collapsed. The hangar and planes were not damaged. Julie, Abby and William are sleeping outside again. Been having aftershocks all afternoon/evening. They have calmed down a little now.

9:54 pm - Email from American Missionary in the Central Plateau

Dear friends;

First, let me thank all of you for your prayers, your letters, and your wishes to help out in any way. We really appreciate it.

We just received word that my husband's family is OK. Praise the Lord! We don't know anything about whether their buildings are stable or whether they can get food and water but we are so thankful that they are alive. There are at least 4 confirmed deaths of sons and daughters of our church friends that perished in collapsed buildings. Every time I think of my nephew buried in his school building overnight, I get shaky. Thank you, Lord, for saving him. My husband is breaking the news to the families of the deceased as I write this. Every single one of those boys was here for the Christmas holidays one week ago.

Many of you have asked us what you can do to help with this disaster. We do feel a great burden to help the families in our community that have lost loved ones or houses in Port. And, we do have several church contacts in Port-au-Prince. We will be praying and searching how best to help those who have lost so much.

Please, please continue your prayers. There is nothing better than that! I felt another aftershock an hour ago. If we felt it over here, I don't know how intense it is near the epicenter. There are a lot of unstable buildings that could still collapse.

God bless all of you for your support and love.

3:34 pm - Email from Pastor Adam's son, Abdias, in PAP

Sandy;

I went to my sister Maculouse's house and also I went to Delmas 33 to see the students from LaMare who live there. They are all alive thanks God. The fence at Delmas 33 house has collapse.

I toured Delmas 33 and Route de Delmas, Sandy, all I see is death and desolation. Port-au-Prince has been reduced to rubles. My house has been severely damaged and the GHESKIO clinic also has been severely damaged.

Please keep praying for us.

Abdias

11:11 am – Note from MAF Pilot

A friend and her two daughters had 5 stories collapse ON them last night. God protected and they were able to crawl out with only minor injuries. This is one of Kaydence's good friends. PRAISE THE LORD!! Still awaiting news from other friends.

9:12 am - Email from Pastor Adam's son, Abdias, in PAP

Dear Sandy;

Thanks God, my family survives the quake. Our house has substantial structural damages, but the most important we’re alive. There is actually no way to contact anyone in Haiti by phone, so I don’t know the status of the rest of the family. Sandy, this no joke; I consider it a miracle that we survive. Several houses have been destroyed in my neighborhood. My family was in the house when the quake happened. I will do my best to reach my sister, Maculouse, and cousin, Yolette. I will let you know ASA I hear from them. Central Port-au-Prince has been destroyed; we should expect thousand of thousands of victims. There is no infrastructure what so ever in Haiti to face such a tragedy. Thank you for your prayer, we need it in that particular time. I also haven’t heard from my colleagues, I’m very concern for them. Let’s wait to see how things are progressing. Actually the country needs URGENT help to free the wounded from the wreckages, food and water, antibiotics, Xray and all kind of support possible. Thanks for your prayers. We are in great needs for it.

Abdias

6:15 am – Note from MAF Pilot in PAP

Sun starting to come up and we've got the generator running. Inverter died about 5:20am. Still getting some aftershocks but not as bad.

4:33 am - Note from a MAF Pilot in PAP

Phone lines are jammed. All MAF staff are ok, but I know we have all lost friends already.

1:00 am - Note from MAF Pilot in PAP

Still getting aftershocks shaking the house. Tried to lay down inside by the doors but got tired of going outside when things started to shake. Back sitting in the street and sleeping in the car away from the house.

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

2010-01-13T21:40:00.007-05:00

11: 54 pm – Note from MAF Pilot in PAP

Dear Family and Friends. We are all fine after the very hard and devistating earthquake here in Haiti. We were hit and were very scared. Our concrete house is still standing. Have a lot of damage inside. Staying outside in our drive way and not risk the house collapsing on us. Still feeling the aftershocks. David will send an email shortly with details. Thank you for your prayers, messages, care and love. Keep praying!

11:02 pm - Email from American Missionary in Central Plateau

Dear ones,

Thank you for your outpouring of love and prayers for us and the people of Haiti. Our village felt the quake but, praise the Lord, it appears no damage was sustained as we are about 80 miles northeast of Port. We are all fine here at the HAFF campus and from what we can tell in our village as well. Cell phones are down so it is difficult to get info from Port. However we have gotten word that a seminary in Bolosse has been hit pretty badly. We are also very concerned about some dear friends in Port-au-Prince, particularly our students who are there at university. Please be praying for them, and for all the beleaguered people of Haiti as they walk through this tragedy. Greg has been on email and skype calls all night trying to help with whatever information we can give. Please pray specifically for Fabneau, Edouine, Jean Rony, Marie-Noel, Wood-ky, the families from our local areas, our friends at MAF, CSI, and all those who are spending this night in the dark still feeling the aftershocks. We know that tomorrow there will be many people from our area scared and worried. We will be contacting organizations on the ground there that we know to see how we can help. Please pray for God's guidance and His wisdom, and that His peace will descend on Port tonight and through the coming days. We will be in touch as we know more. Know that we love you all.

Praying,
Greg, Barb, and Gabi

9:35 pm – Note from MAF Pilot in PAP

All our MAF staff are OK but have been sitting in the street ouside for the past few hours as aftershocks shake the houses. Probably will sleep outside tonight.

5:06 pm - Email from American Missionary in Central Plateau

Well. We just had one. A big one. No joke. The strong tremor lasted about 2 or 3 minutes and I am not sure it is completly over -- I might just be feeling a bit quivery. Nope. There was definately an aftershock while I was writing that last. This one rattled the buildings and you could feel things swaying back and forth. The community was instantly in an uproar.
But all is well. So far.

Blessings, Connie

Thanks in advance for your prayers and concern. We continue to experience small aftershocks -- the coke in my glass was wiggling an hour or so ago, even though I was not touching the table and I could feel a bit of a shake from the floor. We have not been able to get in touch with any of our former students in university in Port-au-Prince. We are really concerned. Keep us and them in prayer as we consider how we can be of help. Right now Greg and Barb are planning a trip to Port tomorrow since we got word that one of our former students is trapped in a collapsed house and thought to be dead. Please, please, please pray. We have no news of another former student who is in an area where a big super market collapsed.

Blessings; Connie

Then, about an hour later . . .
All is well now. There were 2 after shocks that we felt. But no damage in the area, that I know of. But Port doesn't sound good. Keep our kids and employees' family members and American friends in prayer.

Blessings; Connie

2010-01-13T18:42:00.007-05:00

This is what we know . . .

We find comfort in knowing that the village of LaMare has not sustained damaged due to the recent earthquake.

There are family members of our friends from LaMare, ministry partners, and our translators that are still unaccounted for. Please pray for God's protection and provision for all.

Prayer Service

A prayer service will be held at Evangelical Covenant church on Thursday, January 14th from 6:00 - 7:00pm. We invite our community and friends of ECC, to unite to pray for victims of the earthquake in Haiti and those working in rescue and relief operations.