The following is from CBF field personnel Nancy and Steve James who serve in Haiti.
It has been two months since the earthquake on Jan 12, 2010 in Haiti. No one ever gets used to the devastation of home or the loss of family friends or livelihood, but what we have observed on our visits to Port Au Prince that the people are trying to carry on in spite of great hardships. Many are buying and selling, around the ruble that remains of homes and businesses, schools that were not damaged are opening. Tent cities have sprung up everywhere but others are living in lean-tos that are very unstable.
It takes hours to travel through the city trying to get from one place to another as government and NGO’s and Haitian co-workers try to make order out of chaos. Most days are dry, hot and dusty but the rainy season is just starting, helping control the dust in its place mud and standing water and as a result an increase in malaria due to mosquitoes.
Scott Hunter, Herb Rogers and Roy Durgin have worked together with the Haitian Baptist pastors and workers in the town of Grand Goave to try to re-establish a school through clearing land and building a water tower. Thanks to funds given through CBF/ABC these needed projects can go forward and bring hope to many people, young and old.
American Baptist missionary nurse, Kristy Engel and missionaries, Ketly and Vital Pierre (Dominican Republic and Nicaragua) have faithfully traveled back and forth from La Romana, DR to Port Au Prince to bring medical teams from the US to work in tent cities.
Here in the north where we live, smaller teams have also come to help in the busy local clinics. The medical needs are great here as well as the ripple of its affects that are felt keenly in every way. Families have in some cases doubled due to their family members moving in. Resources are spread thin and homes overcrowded.
Steve and I have received many boxes of medical supplies both from the north as well as the supply- pool in Port Au Prince. We have been able to divide and share them with the needy clinics and hospitals in our area. Our house has become a warehouse and volunteer medical people have stayed with us and the UCNH campus helping in the clinics and sorting of supplies that we then distribute.
Tomorrow we return to PAP to attend a gathering of worship and solidarity with the leaders of the American, Cooperative and Haitian Baptists at a des- troyed church site where the pastor lost his life on January 12. We will gather in worship to grieve to sing and pray together with families of those who have died but also we will gather in hope to plan for future. Thank you for your continued interest in Haiti. We need your prayers!
Nancy and Steve James