February 11, 2010

Last night, Manno and I exchanged a couple of emails. I asked him how things were going and here was his response:

Things are going well. We continue to help several of the refugees regularly with money, food, medical supplies and whatever we have. We go to them where they are especially the ones who cannot come to us. We do also have people coming to us at home and at Pillatre for help.

When they come they very often say that either they themselves have been or one of the people from their family are at the hospital in town. They don't have any money to buy food for them so they go out trying to find them something. It is hard to really how much of what they say is true but as money is available we do our part. Everyday, some of the wounded people are being sent home to their relatives or at a place where they can find some help.
Every Sunday have several of them coming to our church at Pillatre. We not only take advantage of their visit to present the good news but we also help them with their needs as much as we can. Both Pastor Dunois and Pastor Marc-Aurel have relatives that have been effected.

One thing to note that is different from the states, hospitals in Cap Haitian don't provide food/meals for their patients. That is the family's responsibility. This is what Manno meant when he said people are trying to find their family members something. I'm not sure what happens to the people who don't have family available.

In partnership with both local churches and organzations as well as those from across the US our first container of rice, beans and cooking oil should be shipped this week. A second semi load is being packed this Saturday at Eastview Christian Church at 2:00 pm.

We were also able to purchase a semi load of rice from Arkansas with the help of the Fellowship of Christian Farmers. That rice will be loaded on Monday the 15th and then transported to Miami as well.

We will continue to send containers of food and medical supplies as funds allow.

Blessings and prayers,
Shelley