We started this morning at Marie’s church which was being held in the temporary shelter area where the girls, Marie, and many of the neighbors had slept between the earthquake and the time Shawn and I arrived last Monday evening. It was good to see and hear the Haitians worshiping God. We passed a couple of outdoor churches on our way there as well. The tent cities have set up churches and were conducting services. Some we are told hold services every night –they are praising God with their hearts.
We walked the neighborhood a little and stopped at the neighbors who had lost everything and were sleeping in a two man tent. Shawn and I both gave them some money for which they extremely grateful. Marie is rekindling some old relationships with people who she hasn’t talked to in years.
One very cool event that happened today was Marie re-establishing a relationship with a woman who used to be her very best friend in Haiti. The woman had turned to Voodoo and Marie stopped talking to her. The woman involved in voodoo heard a voice that Port au Prince would be destroyed. She was told that she would be spared. And then it happened. I could not follow the conversation or the translation but the end result is the woman has turned from voodoo and toward Christ and is now a Christian with a wonderful testimony that she is sharing with everyone. She told Marie that when a friend goes down the wrong path it is the responsibility of their friend(s) to bring them back on track. Marie felt bad because her friend was right and Marie did not try to bring her back. It was another life lesson for Marie—still learning at age 73 just we all are. It weighed on Marie’s heart all day—but forgiveness has been given by her friend and by Jesus Christ.
We also saw Shawn’s sponsor child for Marie’s school and her brother who is another friend of ours sponsor child. We were able to get some photos and give her a little money to help with food. It was good to see them and the mother is so grateful.
We spent a good part of the day at the destruction site again. By the end of the day the entire orphanage-roof, wall, and rebar had been demolished. I think it the neighborhood has come alive with all of the activity and hammering and we have seen several other Haitian destruction crews working on various buildings today—Sunday—which is a day of rest in Haiti.
We continue to see and hear many transport planes and helicopters coming and going and it gives me hope that those in need are getting the life saving, life giving, supplies they need. We will venture out tomorrow to see how other neighborhoods are doing. We will go the airport to see if Shawn can get out soon and see when I may be able to get home. The radios says Americans who are going home should go to the airport and bring food and water—this is several day old information, heard second hand, so we will go and check it out. Things change rapidly each day and who knows what they will say tomorrow. We assume the American military is in control of the airport and at least we can have a conversation with them in English.
We ended the day at Marie’s and played with the girls a little. They sure love the attention they get. They are such beautiful girls with beautiful eyes and smiles. Let the little children come to me!!!
1.31.2010
1.30.2010
Saturday in Haiti
Shawn and I spent the entire day at the orphanage destruction site (after three hours of uploading two videos which makes me crazy but I know people want to see). I posted them on facebook and other people with more knowhow are working on getting them on the blog.
The entire orphanage, which was the second story of the church that collapsed in the earthquake, which was basically still in tacked but unlivable—leaning over with significant damage, has now been reduced to rubble with thousands of swings of the Haitian’s hammers. All that remains is the rebar that once held the concrete roof and the rebar that was inside the concrete roof. All the inside and outside walls and the entire roof have been reduced to rubble—all by hand. It has been sad to watch as I had once sat watching as they built it, brick by brick, and now the very same people who helped build it are knocking it down—brick by brick. I am happy to a part to this group of Haitians and in some ways I am happy they have a job as things are very difficult in this country on a good day, without an earthquake.
There were still pictures and notes on the walls of the orphanage from some of the girl’s sponsors. One Christmas card from a sponsor still taped to a now destroyed wall. Many memories of the last several years come to mind…but it is a new day and we will begin again. I continue to praise God that none of the girls or Marie were injured and that most of the people we know were not hurt. Many were not so fortunate in this neighborhood and in and all around Port au Prince.
Marie, Shawn, and I talked about how we may be able to help others in the neighborhood and we will continue to discuss this and assess the needs. Marie will make room for teams to come down once we get the rubble cleared away. It will take some planning so we can be helpful and not get in the way. Many things need to be done, people need help, many have lost everything, and most of us have more than we need—maybe we can continue to share our blessings with others just as God intended.
Shawn and I have been driving Marie’s car which is a disaster waiting to happen. It needs major work and I am going to talk to John tomorrow (I hope) to see if he will do it. Minor in comparison to not having a home but we can run and get things when they are needed with a car.
Continue to pray for the people of Haiti. It is a difficult life here but the Haitians teach me something every day. They are strong, resourceful, and wonderful! God bless them!
The entire orphanage, which was the second story of the church that collapsed in the earthquake, which was basically still in tacked but unlivable—leaning over with significant damage, has now been reduced to rubble with thousands of swings of the Haitian’s hammers. All that remains is the rebar that once held the concrete roof and the rebar that was inside the concrete roof. All the inside and outside walls and the entire roof have been reduced to rubble—all by hand. It has been sad to watch as I had once sat watching as they built it, brick by brick, and now the very same people who helped build it are knocking it down—brick by brick. I am happy to a part to this group of Haitians and in some ways I am happy they have a job as things are very difficult in this country on a good day, without an earthquake.
There were still pictures and notes on the walls of the orphanage from some of the girl’s sponsors. One Christmas card from a sponsor still taped to a now destroyed wall. Many memories of the last several years come to mind…but it is a new day and we will begin again. I continue to praise God that none of the girls or Marie were injured and that most of the people we know were not hurt. Many were not so fortunate in this neighborhood and in and all around Port au Prince.
Marie, Shawn, and I talked about how we may be able to help others in the neighborhood and we will continue to discuss this and assess the needs. Marie will make room for teams to come down once we get the rubble cleared away. It will take some planning so we can be helpful and not get in the way. Many things need to be done, people need help, many have lost everything, and most of us have more than we need—maybe we can continue to share our blessings with others just as God intended.
Shawn and I have been driving Marie’s car which is a disaster waiting to happen. It needs major work and I am going to talk to John tomorrow (I hope) to see if he will do it. Minor in comparison to not having a home but we can run and get things when they are needed with a car.
Continue to pray for the people of Haiti. It is a difficult life here but the Haitians teach me something every day. They are strong, resourceful, and wonderful! God bless them!
1.29.2010
Jim called from Haiti on the satellite phone...
Yesterday, Jim called from Haiti on the satellite phone and we spoke for twenty minutes. It's always nice to hear someone's voice rather than read their blog. As we spoke, I could hear the sledge hammers pounding and the workers singing while they work. It was an incredibly joyous moment in a time when much of Haiti is still in shock and experiencing loss. The orphanage has to come down so it can rise again, better and maybe even bigger than before.
The real joy comes in thinking we (Impact for Jesus supporters) are one of the first to rebuild. Through our quick response, the neighborhood is showing signs of life. The dollars we are spending to hire workers means people in the neighborhood will have money to eat and rebuild their own homes. As a result, the orphanage becomes a center of hope for the neighborhood. It is a symbol that the world has not abandon them and better times are coming. Our Christian witness couldn't be any stronger. Jesus followers are bringing hope. Please continue to pray for the Haiti, the government, the neighborhood, the orphanage, the orphans, Sister Marie, Brother Jim and Sean. We are making a difference!
Bob Butler
(Impact For Jesus - Board Member)
In the Neighborhood Around Marie's
We started today at the deconstruction site. Hammers were pounding when we arrived at 7:30. Pretty much the same crew as yesterday with the addition of some of the younger kids helping to remove the debris. They were carting it off and dumping it in the streets, the same as everyone else.
The girls were all doing fine at Marie’s with a good looking peanut butter bread and juice breakfast. They seem to fairing well despite the chaos and destruction around them. Shawn and I hung out with them a little this evening before we left—a bit crazy but fun.
We took a walk with Marie around the neighborhood which was really the first time she has seen more than the area immediately around her. Destruction is clearly everywhere with little pattern—well built houses on the ground in rubble, flimsy block building standing next to it. This was all throughout her neighborhood. We visited a doctor and his wife who house is completely gone, living a tent, with nothing but rubble around them. Small tent cities where neighbors have gathered to sleep together were seen in several locations. I had my CNN baseball cap on so people wanted to talk with me and help them somehow. Requests for college funds, food, new homes, prayer, etc. I told them I would help with prayer. Marie is very sad and distraught over all of the loss. We may try to take her into PAP in a few days so she can get a bigger picture of the devastation. Not sure if she will go.
There is a “rumor” that there is free land being “given” away not too far from here. It is a business man who said people can but their tents up there temporarily—but it turned into a free land giveaway rumor. Thousands were walking there maybe 10 miles from here. We drove there and people were staking out their piece of land—probably no bigger that maybe 15 by 15 feet, probably smaller. Both sides of the road were busy with people coming and going to check it out. Many of the work crew had gone to stake out their share. I believe it will be a temporary Refugee camp vs. the “landowner dream” many Haitians had. Marie did see some of the many collapsed buildings along the way, again no pattern to the destruction. She gasped at the collapsed ABC Market as she knows people who died there.
We walked down the road to see Marie’s brother Para Lou who was badly hurt when a security wall fell on him. His face and head were badly injured but he has healed fairly well. Two young children died in that same collapse. It was Marie’s neighbor who saved Para Lou and unburied him from the rubble. He was playing dominos in his familiar place along the wall.
The work crew destroyed another third of the roof today and by tomorrow the concrete roof should be broken into pieces with only the rebar remaining. They may begin to bring the rebar down tomorrow as well.
Shawn and I are doing well. We are staying down the road from Marie’s at Hope House and Debbie, a missionary in Haiti is feeding us well. We get one cold shower at the end of each day while the generator is running. No electricity since the earthquake—there rarely was before the quake. The people have all been very nice. Peace remains in the neighborhoods we have been in.
The girls were all doing fine at Marie’s with a good looking peanut butter bread and juice breakfast. They seem to fairing well despite the chaos and destruction around them. Shawn and I hung out with them a little this evening before we left—a bit crazy but fun.
We took a walk with Marie around the neighborhood which was really the first time she has seen more than the area immediately around her. Destruction is clearly everywhere with little pattern—well built houses on the ground in rubble, flimsy block building standing next to it. This was all throughout her neighborhood. We visited a doctor and his wife who house is completely gone, living a tent, with nothing but rubble around them. Small tent cities where neighbors have gathered to sleep together were seen in several locations. I had my CNN baseball cap on so people wanted to talk with me and help them somehow. Requests for college funds, food, new homes, prayer, etc. I told them I would help with prayer. Marie is very sad and distraught over all of the loss. We may try to take her into PAP in a few days so she can get a bigger picture of the devastation. Not sure if she will go.
There is a “rumor” that there is free land being “given” away not too far from here. It is a business man who said people can but their tents up there temporarily—but it turned into a free land giveaway rumor. Thousands were walking there maybe 10 miles from here. We drove there and people were staking out their piece of land—probably no bigger that maybe 15 by 15 feet, probably smaller. Both sides of the road were busy with people coming and going to check it out. Many of the work crew had gone to stake out their share. I believe it will be a temporary Refugee camp vs. the “landowner dream” many Haitians had. Marie did see some of the many collapsed buildings along the way, again no pattern to the destruction. She gasped at the collapsed ABC Market as she knows people who died there.
We walked down the road to see Marie’s brother Para Lou who was badly hurt when a security wall fell on him. His face and head were badly injured but he has healed fairly well. Two young children died in that same collapse. It was Marie’s neighbor who saved Para Lou and unburied him from the rubble. He was playing dominos in his familiar place along the wall.
The work crew destroyed another third of the roof today and by tomorrow the concrete roof should be broken into pieces with only the rebar remaining. They may begin to bring the rebar down tomorrow as well.
Shawn and I are doing well. We are staying down the road from Marie’s at Hope House and Debbie, a missionary in Haiti is feeding us well. We get one cold shower at the end of each day while the generator is running. No electricity since the earthquake—there rarely was before the quake. The people have all been very nice. Peace remains in the neighborhoods we have been in.
1.28.2010
Jim and Shawn--Destruction Crew at Orphanage
Spent my 21st wedding anniversary in Haiti without Patty. I know she wants to be here too. Shawn and I spent the entire day at the collapsed church and orphanage. The second story of the church was the orphanage and although severely damaged and non livable it was still standing on top of the collapsed church. In discussing rebuilding it was decided that the old buildings had to come down and the rubble hauled away before anything new could be constructed. Shawn and I knew that it would require heavy equipment to demolish the remaining structure and bull dozers to take it away, and whatever heavy equipment exists in Haiti (which is not much) is being used elsewhere. We were mistaken and must have forgotten we were in Haiti. The Haitians are used to working with their hands. Nineteen neighborhood men arrived at 7AM with hammers in hand. They built rebar hooks and began to pull the concrete block walls down. The chunks of the walls hit the ground with a thunder and shook the school building I was standing on. Then they proceed to take their hammers up onto the roof and begin pounding the concrete and bit by bit it began to come down. They took down about 1/3 of the roof which is about 50 by 100 feet of 8 inch thick concrete and rebar intertwined. They will use the rebar in the construction of any new structure. Amazing people. The best part of this was that when they all got up on the roof they stood and sang praise to God—how cool—19 men singing praise to God in Creole, it was a familiar hymn but I don’t recall the tune right now. It was a great way to start the day.
One of the saddest parts of the day was seeing the crosses come down. They stood high above the neighborhood as a sign that this land had been claimed for Christ! Marie asked for them to be saved and the men would have it no other way. They carefully hammered around the base and broke the rebar and lowered the crosses to the ground with a tow rope. It was similar to stripping the sanctuary on Good Friday—at least that is how my heart felt. I sent Patty pictures and she will try to get them posted somewhere so you can see them. Shawn and I will make a wooden cross and mount it on top of the gate tomorrow to make sure the cross stands high in the neighborhood.
I was wondering how they would get all the rubble out of there and Marie said she has been asked by several of the women in the neighborhood if they could be employed taking the rubble out. They will work all day for a few dollars US and haul all of it away…probably dumping it into the streets.
We asked about the laborers who were swing the hammers as to how much they may make—I would say that somewhere between 3 and 10 dollars US for the day depending on how big you hammer was and how well you used it. They worked hard from 7 to 4 in the heat of day on top of an unstable building, breaking concrete with hammers for what we spend on morning coffee or a quick drive through. They are amazing people and I am glad to know them and become friends with many of them even though I don’t speak their language.
Shawn and I will attempt to arrive there tomorrow and pray with the workers before they begin. Please pray for their safety as well. Many of them are working in sandals, tennis shoes, crocks, and none of them have safety glasses.
I will continue to keep you posted of the events of the day if the internet connection continued to work.
One of the saddest parts of the day was seeing the crosses come down. They stood high above the neighborhood as a sign that this land had been claimed for Christ! Marie asked for them to be saved and the men would have it no other way. They carefully hammered around the base and broke the rebar and lowered the crosses to the ground with a tow rope. It was similar to stripping the sanctuary on Good Friday—at least that is how my heart felt. I sent Patty pictures and she will try to get them posted somewhere so you can see them. Shawn and I will make a wooden cross and mount it on top of the gate tomorrow to make sure the cross stands high in the neighborhood.
I was wondering how they would get all the rubble out of there and Marie said she has been asked by several of the women in the neighborhood if they could be employed taking the rubble out. They will work all day for a few dollars US and haul all of it away…probably dumping it into the streets.
We asked about the laborers who were swing the hammers as to how much they may make—I would say that somewhere between 3 and 10 dollars US for the day depending on how big you hammer was and how well you used it. They worked hard from 7 to 4 in the heat of day on top of an unstable building, breaking concrete with hammers for what we spend on morning coffee or a quick drive through. They are amazing people and I am glad to know them and become friends with many of them even though I don’t speak their language.
Shawn and I will attempt to arrive there tomorrow and pray with the workers before they begin. Please pray for their safety as well. Many of them are working in sandals, tennis shoes, crocks, and none of them have safety glasses.
I will continue to keep you posted of the events of the day if the internet connection continued to work.
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While standing in a hot shower today...
trying to relax my mind, I had the thought that I wish I could give one hot shower to every Haitian as a gift. I pictured their elation to just stand there and have the luxury to wash away all the grit and grime that I know covers them. The more I thought about it the more it brought despair knowing that 99.9% of Haitians have never stood under a hot steaming shower - PRE-earthquake let alone now.
Most have never even had the experience of standing under a little trickle or weak stream of cold water, or maybe slightly warmed by the sun. Those would be the lucky ones who had a big refillable water tank on their roof. A cold bucket bath is the norm. Just another minor daily occurrence that we take for granted. It's hard to understand all of this exists an hour and half from Miami!
January 28; Haiti Update
Today is Jim and my 21st wedding Anniversary. Marie always teased me and told me she was going to steal Jim from me....well, her wish came true. I can't think of another person I would like him to be with on our day of celebration. Unless of course it would be ME with Marie and him at home.
We just exchanged, "I love you" on the phone as he called while standing on the roof of the school for the best satellite phone connection. Plus, he has a bird's eye view as he described the scene. There are about 30 Haitian men with sludge hammers working away on demolition duty of the church/orphanage. He was excited to see some of the things that they are salvaging from the church and orphanage. While it didn't look that way to begin with, he thinks if you had been sitting down in the church when the earthquake hit you would have gotten a pretty bad headache - but that's about it. The roof of the church stopped just short of that. They were able to get out some of the pews.
He said that they have taken long pieces of rebar and bent one end into a 90 degree angle and hooked it inside of a section of brick and then they all pull on the rebar and sections come tumbling down. Jim just kept saying, "This is unbelievable!"
He brought masks with him and work gloves -- and while they almost gave away the masks, they see now what they were needed for. The men are all in masks and so excited to have a pair of work gloves. One group working with sludge hammers breaking up sections that have come down, while others prepare for the next section.
The VERY BEST thing about the call, for ME - was that I could hear the men singing down below through the phone as they worked. Tears form as I write this. I am not surprised in the least. You have NO idea, unless you meet one, of what Haitians are like. These men will be SO thrilled to be paid a miniscule amount for their horrific labor today. This means their family will be able to eat. I am sure they are all celebrating the hope of rebuilding and returning to some form of "normality". Jim said over and over, "We really have something to learn from the people of Haiti."
Jim had to hang up to go back to Marie's to get more gloves, but says he will call later.
One of us will share more later, but in the mean time. Pray for the men's safety and I say --- "Let the rebuilding begin!!"
ALL of you reading this are a part of this journey. Without you, progress would not be made. May you celebrate knowing your contribution and prayers are being utilized and answered in a mighty way. "ROCK ON"....a very sick pun. Patty
1.27.2010
Jim and Shawn in Haiti--Wednesday
Today we had a much smaller world that we lived in. After yesterday’s journey through tent cities and Port au Prince, today we spent with Marie and the orphans behind the confines of her security walls (if you could call them that now that they are leaning and broken. Marie is concerned with girls safety sleeping outside and the tremors have subsided to small almost unnoticeable movements, so last night the girls slept on the outside patio of maries home—a big step towards post earthquake living. Marie slept in one section of her house but was very nervous all night and did not sleep much.
After several car battery mishaps this morning we got to Marie’s and the girls had already been cleaned up and were already dirty. We did a little cleanup work inside the main portion of Marie’s home but things had already been cleaned by others for her.
The “men” (not Shawn and I) were given money to buy tools to begin the huge task of destroying what remains of the orphanage. Luckily they found several sledge hammers and they were working on putting the handles on them and practicing swinging them. They are preparing to break up the concrete and block into smaller chunks that can be hauled away in wheel barrows. I said they would probably do it with hand held hammers and they will—but I was talking a regular hammer so the sledge hammers are way better.
We met with the pastor of the second orphanage at Maries house and he verified that all his kids and staff are OK. His neighborhood is similar to all others, lots of destruction but not everything destroyed. Shawn and I hope to visit him tomorrow.
I think some of the Haitians who have homes they can live in are beginning to go back into them, maybe not for the night but they are becoming more comfortable that the quake is over—however there is a rumor going around that another large quake is likely to happen soon so many are still understandably afraid to be inside. Shawn and I are under a tin roof so we feel pretty good.
The battery in Maries car was changed at least five times today with other batteries and once it begins to run the old battery is put back in??? Not sure what that is all about but I would bet her car won’t start tomorrow just as it did not start this morning.
So, in summary things are slowly progressing toward more of a normal Haitian life—people feeling a little better about going inside. The neighborhood construction workers will now deconstruct the orphanage with sledge hammers—amazing.
One more side note, Shawn and I observed an older man within Marie’s walls, working on a bicycle that was clearly “destroyed” in the earthquake—at least if we were looking at it. He spent the entire day replacing spokes, making spokes, and worked on straightening the front wheel. He got close to getting it straight. I am not sure how he is going to fix the rest of the bike but I know he has a plan and he will carry it out. It is clearly a bike that would be garbage in the USA and no one would ever consider “fixing” it—but we are not in the USA—we are in Haiti—and the people here are determined. God bless them all.
After several car battery mishaps this morning we got to Marie’s and the girls had already been cleaned up and were already dirty. We did a little cleanup work inside the main portion of Marie’s home but things had already been cleaned by others for her.
The “men” (not Shawn and I) were given money to buy tools to begin the huge task of destroying what remains of the orphanage. Luckily they found several sledge hammers and they were working on putting the handles on them and practicing swinging them. They are preparing to break up the concrete and block into smaller chunks that can be hauled away in wheel barrows. I said they would probably do it with hand held hammers and they will—but I was talking a regular hammer so the sledge hammers are way better.
We met with the pastor of the second orphanage at Maries house and he verified that all his kids and staff are OK. His neighborhood is similar to all others, lots of destruction but not everything destroyed. Shawn and I hope to visit him tomorrow.
I think some of the Haitians who have homes they can live in are beginning to go back into them, maybe not for the night but they are becoming more comfortable that the quake is over—however there is a rumor going around that another large quake is likely to happen soon so many are still understandably afraid to be inside. Shawn and I are under a tin roof so we feel pretty good.
The battery in Maries car was changed at least five times today with other batteries and once it begins to run the old battery is put back in??? Not sure what that is all about but I would bet her car won’t start tomorrow just as it did not start this morning.
So, in summary things are slowly progressing toward more of a normal Haitian life—people feeling a little better about going inside. The neighborhood construction workers will now deconstruct the orphanage with sledge hammers—amazing.
One more side note, Shawn and I observed an older man within Marie’s walls, working on a bicycle that was clearly “destroyed” in the earthquake—at least if we were looking at it. He spent the entire day replacing spokes, making spokes, and worked on straightening the front wheel. He got close to getting it straight. I am not sure how he is going to fix the rest of the bike but I know he has a plan and he will carry it out. It is clearly a bike that would be garbage in the USA and no one would ever consider “fixing” it—but we are not in the USA—we are in Haiti—and the people here are determined. God bless them all.
Haiti-Tuesday Jim and Shawn
We started our day at Maries where the orphan girls sleep, eat, and play. They were all up and fed and cleaned up when we got there. Went with Marie inside her house, she was very nervous and we only stayed there for a little while. Everyone in Port au Prince (PAP) is sleeping outside for fear of another quake.
We then got in Marie’s car with several Haitian friends and drove into PAP. Incredible destruction nearly everywhere. Stopped at my friends store to see if she and her daughter were OK. They survived and went to the US. Her husband was managing the store. Her sister died when the store down the street (ABC Market) collapsed, many died in that collapse. This is a common story here. Everyone is affected. Many have incredible survival stories and many have stories of those who died.
We went to Marie’s sisters three story church—it is a pile of rubble now. Six people died, 20 plys injured. They were practicing for an upcoming adult immersion baptism to be held at Maries the following day.
We went into the tent city in her area which are formed everywhere there is open land away from walls and buildings—everywhere. We walk through the tent city and talked to many people. One woman had given birth to a baby boy on Monday, they were doing OK considering they live in a 6 by 4 “tent” made of sheets, and delivered right there. A first aid station was set up by a Haitian nurse from the neighborhood and she was treating people with the little she had in supplies. One woman, thousands of people. She looked weary.
From there we drove into PAP a few more miles. Massive destruction everywhere. The amazing thing is that the Haitian people are going about their day amongst the rubble. Street vendors selling their wares, store reopening, tap taps running. The Haitians are so resilient, so determined, they are amazing people. Death is not new in Haiti. “Stupid deaths” are a way of life here and have been for a long time. Conditions under which they all live would be incredible to any American—before the earthquake. They are worse now but the people are going about their day—surviving.
Many are still digging through the rubble but probably not for survivors they are digging for things. Many people are breaking up what is left with hand held hammers—solid concrete with hand held hammers. Construction vendors and laborers are hauling twisted rebar down the street, it will be used again somewhere in the reconstruction efforts. Anything that can be salvage will be. Crushed cars are being dug out for parts. The Haitians use everything they can for whatever they need.
We passed several buildings where Renee, our driver, would tap my shoulder and hold his nose indicating a building that had the stench of decaying bodies. He was right the smell was bad. We did see a couple of burned corpses on a couple of street corners. Skull and spine was all that was left of the bodies. Probably done a couple a days after the quake before anyone was able to move around. Very sad. People walking by them, carrying on with their life.
Drove to the Presidential Palace—massive destruction. Many federal building gone. Ninety percent of the school and colleges in PAP were destroyed. Tent cities in every park downtown. Thousands of people in the streets. I was very comfortable amongst the people as I walked with them. Everyone was peaceful and orderly. Lines at the banks were long but everyone was peaceful. There is a strange peace in the air and perhaps I am mistaken, maybe it is numbness instead. The Haitian people often have a stoic look about them anyway.
We drove by several familiar landmarks for us, the Caribbean Market is a pile of rubble. They would not let us into the site of the Montana hotel as they were still digging bodies out. I spoke with a US Army man there. Nice to find someone to have a conversation with.
Back to Maries and we walked down to the collapsed orphanage for the first time. This was difficult as it is a huge mess and will require lots of work tearing it down to rebuild—especially with hand held hammers. The Haitians will figure it out and get it done. We will continue to discuss our options with Marie and she will need time to think but she is ready for action and planning ahead—God bless that woman.
That’s all for now.
We then got in Marie’s car with several Haitian friends and drove into PAP. Incredible destruction nearly everywhere. Stopped at my friends store to see if she and her daughter were OK. They survived and went to the US. Her husband was managing the store. Her sister died when the store down the street (ABC Market) collapsed, many died in that collapse. This is a common story here. Everyone is affected. Many have incredible survival stories and many have stories of those who died.
We went to Marie’s sisters three story church—it is a pile of rubble now. Six people died, 20 plys injured. They were practicing for an upcoming adult immersion baptism to be held at Maries the following day.
We went into the tent city in her area which are formed everywhere there is open land away from walls and buildings—everywhere. We walk through the tent city and talked to many people. One woman had given birth to a baby boy on Monday, they were doing OK considering they live in a 6 by 4 “tent” made of sheets, and delivered right there. A first aid station was set up by a Haitian nurse from the neighborhood and she was treating people with the little she had in supplies. One woman, thousands of people. She looked weary.
From there we drove into PAP a few more miles. Massive destruction everywhere. The amazing thing is that the Haitian people are going about their day amongst the rubble. Street vendors selling their wares, store reopening, tap taps running. The Haitians are so resilient, so determined, they are amazing people. Death is not new in Haiti. “Stupid deaths” are a way of life here and have been for a long time. Conditions under which they all live would be incredible to any American—before the earthquake. They are worse now but the people are going about their day—surviving.
Many are still digging through the rubble but probably not for survivors they are digging for things. Many people are breaking up what is left with hand held hammers—solid concrete with hand held hammers. Construction vendors and laborers are hauling twisted rebar down the street, it will be used again somewhere in the reconstruction efforts. Anything that can be salvage will be. Crushed cars are being dug out for parts. The Haitians use everything they can for whatever they need.
We passed several buildings where Renee, our driver, would tap my shoulder and hold his nose indicating a building that had the stench of decaying bodies. He was right the smell was bad. We did see a couple of burned corpses on a couple of street corners. Skull and spine was all that was left of the bodies. Probably done a couple a days after the quake before anyone was able to move around. Very sad. People walking by them, carrying on with their life.
Drove to the Presidential Palace—massive destruction. Many federal building gone. Ninety percent of the school and colleges in PAP were destroyed. Tent cities in every park downtown. Thousands of people in the streets. I was very comfortable amongst the people as I walked with them. Everyone was peaceful and orderly. Lines at the banks were long but everyone was peaceful. There is a strange peace in the air and perhaps I am mistaken, maybe it is numbness instead. The Haitian people often have a stoic look about them anyway.
We drove by several familiar landmarks for us, the Caribbean Market is a pile of rubble. They would not let us into the site of the Montana hotel as they were still digging bodies out. I spoke with a US Army man there. Nice to find someone to have a conversation with.
Back to Maries and we walked down to the collapsed orphanage for the first time. This was difficult as it is a huge mess and will require lots of work tearing it down to rebuild—especially with hand held hammers. The Haitians will figure it out and get it done. We will continue to discuss our options with Marie and she will need time to think but she is ready for action and planning ahead—God bless that woman.
That’s all for now.
1.26.2010
Jim spent the majority of the day...
Friends and Family,
Basically, Jim spent the majority of the day in the car as Marie had a driver and three other Haitian friends drive him and Shawn around. Jim said that Port-au-Prince feels like one big tent city - tents being made out of anything and everything. There were a few skeletons here and there that had been burned. He got out at the capital "palace" and walked around and most people are just resuming the life he was used to seeing at previous visits. Street markets are beginning to resurface. Lots of people carrying rubble and anything they can salvage from the wreckage. Many men trying to break the cement with small hammers everywhere - the rescue hope is over - the time to break up and salvage what you can in full swing. They are even using bigger bricks as "hammers" to break up smaller bricks. He said it is totally bizarre.
Marie has several sisters in Haiti - but Jim visited one in particular. She had a huge three story church that is leveled. There was a meeting of about 24 people at the church discussing a baptismal ceremony which was to take place at Marie's church the following day when the earthquake occurred. Six people were crushed.
Back at the orphanage...Jim called on the cellular phone while standing on the roof of the single floor school. He said to look at the orphanage sitting broken on top of the church was overwhelming and very sad. He said it is discouraging and a disaster area for the children. He said he knows now why Marie hasn't wanted the girls to be around there, nor sleep in the school rooms which are only about 30 feet away. The fear continues to sleep under a roof.
When I talked to Marie she sounded so weary. It made me so sad - but I encouraged her the best I could with all the positive outreach we are receiving from people wanting to help. She said that sleeping on the ground for two weeks, she isn't getting proper sleep - lots of night noises, etc. She says she tried sleeping in her car - but it's too small. There are two houses hooked together by a walk way/patio like area on the second floor. It is covered by a roof on only half of the area. Jim thought he had convinced Marie to let the children sleep there tonight - at least they are off the ground - not that a cement floor is much better. Jim did bring some food and "panties" with his today, but Marie hesitated to bring too much of it out all at once, so as not to jeopardize her safety.
Jim intends to have a more lengthy talk with her tomorrow of her thoughts about rebuilding, possibly buying other land - the options go on and on. But the priority is to get a better place for the girls. Can you image having the responsibility of all these girls from age 3 to 16 to feed, entertain, and provide a secure place to sleep?
I would like to say talking to Jim left me encouraged...HE is the optimist in the family, and I wasn't feeling that attitude coming through. Why would we think it would be anything but what he has described. CNN has pretty much told the story he has witnessed.
Tomorrow is a new day with new possibilities. My experience when I'm in Haiti that it starts out overwhelming for the first few days as you forget the level of poverty. Then after about 4-5 days it all starts to feel "normal". You almost get numbed by the disparity. I can't quite imagine what it is like now.
Please keep praying for his safety and all those in such despair. To top it off, Marie had a filling fall out and is miserable with an exposed nerve in her tooth!! No dental choices on a good day - let alone now!
Thanks for caring and your kind words.
Patty
Jim had an incredible day in Haiti...
Spent some time with Marie and the girls and then headed into Port au Prince a few miles away. Too much to describe. Destruction everywhere. Tent cities wherever there is space. The Haitians are going about their daily lives amongst all the rubble. They are amazing people. I will try to blog tomorrow. Too much to process for me.
Haiti Today
I just wrote for an hour and lost everything I wrote. Sorry-going to bed. Patty will have to write what I told her today. Too much to start over.
Good morning...
We are at Debbie's and just getting ready to go to Marie's. Slept great. Woke up only when the noise from the aircraft landing at PAP started. Heavy air traffic begins at 4 AM as relief supplies are brought in. Things look very different in the neighborhood with all the security walls down. Lots of rubble in the "streets" and there are many families who have set up shelters in the areas away from anything that could fall on them.
Water in this neighborhood is available via the wells. People seem to be busy going about there day. I did not like seeing Marie and the girls getting ready to sleep on the gravel yard last night. We will take clothes over there today along with the food. We will need to be careful on the delivery of those things so we done make a big scene in the neighborhood but it all will be welcomed.
I will follow up later tonight with what I have found out.
Water in this neighborhood is available via the wells. People seem to be busy going about there day. I did not like seeing Marie and the girls getting ready to sleep on the gravel yard last night. We will take clothes over there today along with the food. We will need to be careful on the delivery of those things so we done make a big scene in the neighborhood but it all will be welcomed.
I will follow up later tonight with what I have found out.
Made it to Haiti
We are heading over to Marie's and will spend the day with her and her and the girls. I will update later tonight. We are doing fine. Things look like a mess here but people seem to be going about their daily activities. Later.
1.25.2010
UPDATE ON JIM MEYER - HAITI
Dear Friends and Family:
I just hung up from Jim and am so relieved and pleased to report that he has safely made it to the orphanage! He said the trip was very long and he hasn't slept for many hours, but it went much smoother then he ever imagined!
He didn't arrive until dusk so wasn't able to see clearly due to darkness setting in. They didn't travel through Port-au-Prince, but more on the outskirts. He said that there are bricks everywhere as most everyone's security brick wall is down. (nearly everyone in Haiti has a very high wall of brick surrounding their land with wire or broken bottles cemented to the top ledge to prevent or for sure discourage robbers or the like from entering their property!)
He said as they neared Bon Repos - the town of Marie's and Debbies, he didn't even recognize where he was with all the walls down and houses damaged. Thankfully, he said there were more buildings standing in that area.
He visited briefly with Marie, the girls, and neighbors of Marie's who we have come to know and love. He tried to assure them that things will get better. He said the girls looked sad, but some smiled here and there. He said when he arrived they were all gathered in this little section getting ready to "bed down" and trying to be close together under a tin roof Marie has constructed in case of rain. He said the land is on a slant and that if it rains they are going to be soaked. He commented that it was "really bad" and that they are going to have to do something soon.
Jim and Shawn were going to spend the night at Debbie's mission where there is running water and electricity through a generator. He was exhausted and said that he may try to email later or would call tomorrow.
I'm very thankful to all of you for your thoughts and prayers and help in so many ways during a very stressful past two weeks. The madness continues-but in good ways-as many offers to help and provide continue. I am so proud and touched by the response of people to this disaster.
I will keep in touch with you as I hear from Jim. It will be so great to have him on the ground loving and serving those in such need!!
Also-I understand the Impact For Jesus website has a BLOG you can visit for updates, as well. Jim nor I made it, or know to access it-but hey-we're OLD!
God Bless - Patty
I just hung up from Jim...
They are safely in Santa Dom. loading up a big truck with supplies. He has joined a team of 10 and they will be traveling in a bus together. All their bags came thru and they hope to be to the border of Haiti in about six hours and meet up with Debbie or a designated driver. Then we got disconnected.
So - as I see it, they have jumped ahead to the next rock on their journey - the path curves around and they go forward, unable to see what lies around the bend --- but they have the faith and prayers from all of us that God goes before them and His way will carry them to where they are intended to go.
So - as I see it, they have jumped ahead to the next rock on their journey - the path curves around and they go forward, unable to see what lies around the bend --- but they have the faith and prayers from all of us that God goes before them and His way will carry them to where they are intended to go.
I'll update as I hear anything. You know both of them are in their glory and filled with excitement.
Patty
1.23.2010
Haiti Travel Preparations
Shawn and I and sever others are running around today to get together the items we will bring to Haiti. We have requests from our friends for batteries, food, hacksaw blades, coffee, and various other items for immediate use. We are also bringing plastic tarps for shelter from the sun and rain.
Patty spoke to Marie today and Marie said there were a lot of naked butts running around and asked if we would bring "panties" for he orphan girls. I sent Patty out on that purchase run and if there is room Shawn and I will allow these to be added to our stuff. We will bring clothes to the girls since they are wearing what they had on when the earthquake hit. Everyone is still afraid to go inside any buildings as the aftershocks keep coming. Thankfully it has not rained yet.
Marie opened up the gate at the former orphanage to allow the neighbors to use her well which is a hand punp water well. Otherwise they would have to walk quite a ways to the "public" well to get their water. They are cooking meals for the 33 girls on charcoal on the side of the street. They have food for now and we will get more when we are there.
Shawn and I have stayed in touch throughout the last few days as we think through what we need and try to pack as much as we can of whatever is needed. We had a request for a cell phone charger from our friend in Haiti because someone took hers and traded it for something--now she doesn't have a charger. I found the charger this morning at a resale shop--the phone is rather old based on our standards so it was hard to find. It is the simple things we take for granted here.
Things are coming together--more to follow.
Patty spoke to Marie today and Marie said there were a lot of naked butts running around and asked if we would bring "panties" for he orphan girls. I sent Patty out on that purchase run and if there is room Shawn and I will allow these to be added to our stuff. We will bring clothes to the girls since they are wearing what they had on when the earthquake hit. Everyone is still afraid to go inside any buildings as the aftershocks keep coming. Thankfully it has not rained yet.
Marie opened up the gate at the former orphanage to allow the neighbors to use her well which is a hand punp water well. Otherwise they would have to walk quite a ways to the "public" well to get their water. They are cooking meals for the 33 girls on charcoal on the side of the street. They have food for now and we will get more when we are there.
Shawn and I have stayed in touch throughout the last few days as we think through what we need and try to pack as much as we can of whatever is needed. We had a request for a cell phone charger from our friend in Haiti because someone took hers and traded it for something--now she doesn't have a charger. I found the charger this morning at a resale shop--the phone is rather old based on our standards so it was hard to find. It is the simple things we take for granted here.
Things are coming together--more to follow.
1.20.2010
Haiti: Grace House of Hope
Impact for Jesus' efforts have extended throughout the world. Throughout 2009 extensive work has been done in Haiti. Rebuilding of an orphanage, Grace House of Hope, located just outside of the capital city of Port au Prince, has resulted in better living conditions for the 30 orphaned or abandoned girls living there. Work has been completed on the rebuilding of the school located there as well.
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