Haiti Earthquake Update Jan 23, 2009 9:00 pm

Yesterday began with the emergency evacuation of a woman Dr. Harrington had seen the morning before. She has sickle cell anemia and was having health issues as a result of it. A family member had come by the night before to report that she was getting worse, so the doctor went to check on her. Upon his return to the mission he said she was in dire need of a blood transfusion, whiteout it she would die. The Navy had begun setting up a beachhead on the beach at Kirmiliton the day before so I took John (the doc) on the dirt bike across the river(s) to the camp to see if we could get them to med-vac her to the USS Comfort which had just anchored off shore in Leogane. The willingness of the military to help is very evident. Don't believe all the hype and speculation that says different. We were told she would be received at the medical base if we could get her there. As it turned out, a hummer with a survey team showed up to do some work and was heading back to Leogane upon the completion of their task. They agreed to transport the woman. We headed back across river and field, to pick up the sick woman. She was so weak we had to load her, onto a mattress with her feet sticking out the back of the SUV. Then it was back the "long way" over the incredibly disheveled dirt road to the Navy team. We carried her on the mattress to the Hummer and began the trip to Leogane 15 miles away, again over potholed and earthquake cracked roads. By the time we arrived she was literally near death and flown to the Comfort moments after our arrival. We have not received word of her condition, or if she even made it, and may not know for some time, but we are believing she received the help she needed to live. From my perspective it was a 5 hours well spent.

- Pastor Kevin Groder
---------------------------------

Hi Everyone.

I have been away from the office for the better part of the past two days. If you e-mailed and haven't gotten a response, please continue to be patient. Thank you.

Hey, today is A. Jay's birthday. He is 12 years old. We have no propane right now, so we weren't able to bake a cake for him. BUT, God has been so good to him. He received an ipod from Dr. Dave and $50 cash from several others in the group. More than we'd have hoped for at a time like this.

Thursday evening we went in search of 3 doctors and a nurse who flew over from Jacmel. We had a great time chatting with them and the team that was already here. Friday, they took over Forward in Health's team's schedule of treating people at our school and then in Lacuil, Leogane. FIH went to the government run hospital in Petit-Goave. They were faced with so many heart-wrenching injuries. A little boy that had a hot pot of soup pour on him was burned mostly on his upper body and arms. There were several children with broken femurs that received full-leg casts. There were others with lacerations that had to be debrided. And the most difficult of all, a young boy's foot needed to be amputated. I was grateful that A. Jay and Alexis were not translating in the hospital. It was a very trying day emotionally for the whole team.

A couple of days ago Dr. John Harrington and I went on a house call to see one of our neighbors. The 36 year old woman was the whitest I've ever seen a person! She was severely anemic. She had several other issues, as well. Dr. Harrington treated her and we went on our way. Yesterday we were called upon to follow-up and found her close to death. Dr. Harrington and Pastor Kevin Groder immediately went to the US marines to ask for a medical evacuation. She and another young boy with a dislocated elbow that the docs could not fix were both carried by a hum-v to New Missions in Leogane. From there they were airlifted by helicopter to the USNS Comfort, a US medical vessel moored near Port-au-Prince.

The US Navy and Marines landed in Grand-Goave on Thursday night. They came ashore right near what used to be our beach house (Kay Mirliton). Unfortunately between the quake and mini tsunami the buildings have been demolished. The military brought in many tanks and heavy equipment right off the ocean. Pastor Kevin really enjoyed seeing the gigantic hover craft come right ashore.

After the medical evacuations, we stopped at the new airstrip (a closed off road) in Leogane so that Pastor Kevin could check in with the pilots of the planes he'd come in on. He ran into a reporter from CBS Radio (Pete, from Atlanta, GA). He's been on our local Boston station WBZ 1030. We ended up taking him back to Grand-Goave with us and showing him around. He interviewed Pastor Kevin, Dr. John Harrington and myself. I was also interviewed by CNN down on the beach. There is a tiny clip of it online now. Not very impressive, though.

Last night we received an emergency call from the hospital in Petit-Goave. There was a woman in labor and the baby was coming out feet first. They said the mother wasn't looking well. Lex left immediately with 2 doctors, an EMT and a nurse. Unfortunately, when they arrived, they found the baby delivered, except for the head. The baby did not make it. The mother recovered well, physically. Obviously, this was not a happy moment.

About 7:30 last night, we brought the team to the UN Camp in Petit-Goave, where we socialized and ate dinner with officers and several foreigners that are working in the area. It was nice to relax for a few moments and enjoy some nice, spicy Sri Lankan food. I've grown rather fond of it. The commander was so grateful to the team for all their work at the hospital during the day.

We just received word that Roger and Jenn Proulx's flight into Haiti was cancelled. They were to spend two weeks with us here in Haiti. The information they gave us is that Delta thought it would be about a month before they would be flying into Haiti again.

A lack of sleep caught up with me today. I awoke with a migraine, but was able to beat it after a couple of hours. I worked on several projects, reports, communications and got to spend some time talking with our family physician. I have received some words of encouragement from Manchester, Ct tonight. I believe that I will get some good rest tonight and be ready to go again in the morning!

Thank you all, for all your prayers, well wishes and words of encouragement. God bless you!

- Renee Edme

Haiti Earthquake Update Jan 22, 2009 9:00 pm

It's been an interesting day. It began very early in the morning when aftershock number 4 woke me from sleep sometime in the wee hours of the morning. These are always accompanied by near and distant shrieks. I did get a little more sleep than the night before though. Every time this happens people go running into the street for fear of crumbling walls. Renee even outran me on one "shaking" yesterday. After getting the clinic set up at the church I was off to Leogane to collect some doctors and additional supplies at the new makeshift "airport". The plane was late, so we decided to wait the hour or so until it's scheduled arrival. Marine helicopters have been landing in an open cow pasture nearby the airport, setting up LZs (Loading Zones). A marine captain approached me with a problem getting supplies from the landing area to their camp, just down the road, so we were able to help by loading up the bus with lots of water, rations and generator. It was cool being able to help out our troops. The planes that have been flying into the "airport" have been unable to fly anything or anyone OUT of the area. This is because there is a row of trees along the road ha shortens the runway considerably, so the planes can not go out loaded.. just not enough running room. The local landowner's people were supposed to clear the trees but became obstinate about doing so today, refusing to budge on the matter. They were probably holding out for money, even though they had been offered a fair sum to do so. We were still waiting for the plane so I decide to go have a word with them about it. Well, preachers can pile it on when they need to, and today I did. After a talk with the "boys" about the necessity of saving human life at the expense of trees (which will be replaced) and a promise for compensation (which is what they were really looking for anyway) they began taking the trees down. This was an important victory. So by now I'm the big boss on campus at the airport. Well, maybe not the boss but since I had been seen working with the marines, was wearing doctor scrubs, and already had a good relationship with the local Sri Lankan security forces there, I had some useful clout. An ambulance had been stopped at the entrance to the air strip because the plane was scheduled to land. Someone in the nearby refugee camp had an untreated fracture and had developed gangrene… surgery was needed immediately. The driver had been pleading with the security guys to get through with no success. A simple word with the CO got them on there way in no time. Yeah, this is kinda boasting, I know, but it is rewarding to be part of a life saving mission. Later in the day, the Marines showed up in Grand Goave at the beach in Kirmiliton where our mission house had been destroyed. They needed to establish a beach head for supply and equipment drops and asked if they could use the site of the demolished house. I had been out all day (see above) and decided to go check out Kirmiliton on the dirt bike (thanks Tony!) upon my return. I arrived at the beach just in time to see this huge LCU assault cargo ship pulling into shore. You've seen these things in the movies… they pull up to the beach, drop the front bow/ramp and drive off tanks and troops, etc. This time they were dropping off trucks and equipment. It was a surreal sight. I'm used to seeing the local fishermen and their hand carved tree-canoes on the beach, not huge dump trucks, amphibious vehicles and armed Marines! The medical team spent all day working at three different sites. They are a great bunch of people doing an awesome job for these people here. Well, I'm done for now. It's exhausting living through this all then writing about it. I'll get another update out soon.

-Pastor Kevin Groder

Haiti Earthquake Update Jan 17, 2009 4:23pm

Today I had the opportunity to get out a little and see some of the village of Thozin. So many houses were destroyed, from little stick and rock houses to very large two story cement homes. In general people are dazed. There's that "nobody's home" look in their eyes. Last night we had dinner at the UN Camp that is responsible for Grand-Goave and Petit-Goave. We have been working with the officers from Sri Lanka for close to 6 years now. Lex actually visited Sri Lanka two years ago. Every six months they bring in new troops and the officers tell us that their friends back home tell them all about Pastor Lex. In this way, we have found great favor with the officers here. Today they have started patrolling our city and will be bringing drinking water for the people regularly. We also will receive water for our office and the orphanage. We are "negotiating" for a food distribution in our city, too. The ride to Petit-Goave was quite fascinating. The mountain had fallen into the road during the earthquake and the UN had cleared a lane so that traffic could go through alternately. There were huge boulders. Cracks (both shallow and deep) ran across the road in several places and in other places the road was sunken. Trees had fallen down the mountain side. Sanitation could become an issue for us here in Grand-Goave. People are gathering in open places to sleep. They are also relieving themselves in these same open places. Building toilets may need to become a priority. The aftershocks continue. Yesterday one of them registered 4.3 on the Richter scale. It is still not safe to begin working to recover people's belongs and cleaning up. It is my understanding that because of the force of this quake, aftershocks could last for a month or more. As long as there are significant aftershocks, the Haitians are terrified and will not sleep in their houses...if they have one still. The aftershocks themselves are so interesting. Sometimes we refer to this time as "the hurricane under ground." We hear the aftershock coming from a distance and we ready ourselves to run if it should be a big one. It sounds just like distant thunder coming closer and closer. We came home last night in the rain. It was very light and over by the time we arrived at our "refugee camp." People were pretty riled up. Some went into the church, but others just sat in the rain, too scared to risk sleeping under a roof. Everyone praised God that once again the rain was held back and we were all able to sleep under the stars. Sounds almost romantic, doesn't it? It might be if we didn't freeze every night and get wet with dew, rolling over in the wee hours of the morning. It seems that everyone's nerves are frayed. Tummy's are upset. Brain function is slower than normal. People getting the runs and vomiting. So many aches and pains that I think are all associated with stress. We lack sleep so much that we just are not functioning properly. Our team of visitors got up at 3:30 this morning to go to the airport in Port-au-Prince. They arrived without any major incidents and were immediately received into the airport by the US military. Everyone flew out, one on a military cargo jet to Florida and the other s on a Missionary Flights International flight to the Dominican Republic and then will fly on American Airlines to Boston. We were all talking together yesterday and realizing that we are not super heros. On the contrary, we are all victims of the earthquake right along side of the Haitians. We are working hard to try to find help and at the same time our emotions are high and our bodies are tired. Here are a couple of verses that friends have shared to encourage me: Isaiah 54:10 "For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee." Isaiah 57:10 "Thou art wearied in the greatness of thy way; yet saidst thou not, There is no hope: thou hast found the life of thine hand; therefore thou wast not grieved." God's Word brings comfort, hope and strength to my soul. I've been writing this note all day and my joy has been growing and growing... Our church in St. Etienne is the only church for miles that wasn't destroyed (it was made of sheet metal rather than concrete, so it was able to move with the quake better than the others). It has become the center for the entire mountain community. Most everyone suffered loss of their homes in this area. The people are so scared about their future and so grateful for Mission of Hope being there to help support them. We need to help this community to rebuild. We are the only missionaries working there and the folks are desperate. A brave soul just climbed down into our well and we have water!!!!!!! This is huge for us, as we need it to cook for everyone and for the toilet and bathing and washing and :) Right now the generator is running so that we can pump the water up onto the roof. There is a crowd of people at our gate that we are also giving water to. Dr. Bijou just came to our office again from Port-au-Prince. We had asked her to help us get 2 containers of food released for some missionary friends that we are working with here in Grand-Goave. She came with the great news that they have been released and can now be picked up from the port. Woo Hoo! Our dear, dear friends, Pastor Guy and Gina Joseph from les Cayes just showed up here! I was like all emotional. They work during the week in Port-au-Prince and I was so concerned about them. I am rejoicing!!!! They are both alive and well. By the way, Gina is a very popular Christian singer here in Haiti. Alexis sang one of her songs at the singing contest she was in last month. Okay. I'm going to post this, even though I'm sure there are lots of cool things I haven't told you about yet. Another day. I am grateful to God for giving me so many wonderful friends who are thinking about me, praying for me and encouraging me. May God touch each one of you by His Spirit in such a way that you KNOW it was Him! Blessings! Renée

Posted by Maike, a German volunteers stuck in Haiti at the Mission

After the earthquake
We had more al 70 aftershocks since the quake on 12 real January, it was the 12th? Time goes by so different, since all this happened.
Everywhere are built refugee camps, we've already slept for 4 nights in the open. Because until now no one has returned to his Houses, provides it with the hygiene is not really exhilarating. Everywhere stinks of urine and feces, the stench of death wafted through the streets. I can not after the quake about 60 hours sleep. The intense Nachbebeben kept me awake, also the people screaming at each pouring and began to sing and pray. My pulse was over 120 the first two nights and I just could not come to rest. If I ever really felt fear, then it was in these last days and night.

We require an urgent and fresh food. Medications and the needs doctors are in demand. Once these terrible upheavals finally stop, we can save more objects from the rubble. We do not yet know when we can pray to leave the country again, ask for wisdom in every step, the safety is paramount! The only airport is located in Port Au Prince, and currently it is still impossible to get there. The mountains are sometimes slipped, bridges collapsed and merged the ground. Nevertheless, we believe that the assistants to penetrate quickly into these areas of the island and we can safely leave the country. Please follow my updates here and on facebook! Thank God we have some of the few people holding thanks to the still-functioning solar panels on the roof of contact with the outside world can ;-

Thursday, Jan 14, 1:00 PM

Hi friends
I just wanted to get a quick update out to you from Haiti. We survived the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that rocked Haiti 40 hours ago. We are still getting aftershocks, a number of them over 5.0. Our whole team is safe, and we are doing fine. We were in the red zone of the quake, a few towns from the epicenter. Structures are down all over the city of Grand Goave where we are staying. I will update with pictures and videos when I am able. Our lodgings on the beach were completely destroyed. Praise God the quake didn't come 4 hours later when we would have been sleeping.
It is too early to know the loss of life in our region, and the extent of the damage. For sure, countless homes have been destroyed. One miracle story in all this is that the local Cathedral completely crumbled burying alive the priest a nun and 10 others. Word went out they had all died. However, we just got word that they are all alive. We went to the spot and saw the hole in which they were dug out at 4pm yesterday, 23 hours after the quake.
As of yet I have not showered yet, and food and water supplies have certainly been disrupted. The nights are quite an experience. No one is sleeping inside yet, as the quakes are still powerful, and there is little confidence in the structures here. This has made for two nights in a row of sleeping outside at the Mission of Hope school and church ground, with 32 orphans, many homeless church people, and other towns people with no where to go. It is in actuality a refugee camp. I'll allow you to imagine the sights and smells, and the sense of uncertainty and panic. Hopefully the quakes will quiet soon and we'll find solid structure to sleep under.
The mission is mobilizing to help many displaced people in the area, and there are teams scheduling to come down with resources, medical help, and skilled and unskilled laborers who are willing to rough it. If you are interested, please contact Kevin Groder who is organizing all state side mobilization: pkg@northshorecf.org. If you attend church, please pass along word for people to pray, or through your network to get word out for people who are interested in helping. The mission here is Mission of Hope Haiti in Grand Goave. The Haitian people are incredibly resilient and it is amazing to be among them in the moment of crisis. We were scheduled to fly out this Friday, but it looks like the first commercial flight will be Thursday the 21st. We are seeing this as an opportunity from God to be a blessing in this great time of need. I will send a much more detailed and coherent account when I do arrive home. For those who want updates along the way, you can check my facebook page or befriend me there. Thank you so much for your thoughts and prayers.
May the Love of Jesus shine through in this moment. Blessings, Stuart

Wednesday, Jan 13, 1:00 PM

Pictures of our mission and surrounding area after the quake. Tremors continue. http://picasaweb.google.com/missionofhope/EarthquakeJan122010#

Wednesday, Jan 12, 12:39 PM

We've lost all the new school buildings and orphanage buildings at the church compound. We've also lost the school building behind the church. Aftershocks continue and may do so for days. I get very cold at night th

is time of year and there are so many houses destroyed. Pray it doesn't rain... the Haitian people are not accustomed to cold and would likely get sick in those conditions.

Wednesday, Jan 12, 11:00 AM

Hi Everyone

I lost power and lost the entire note that I'd written. I may be briefer with this one...

Our visiting team, our children and I were at the office when the first tremor hit. It took a couple of seconds to realize that it was an earthquake, by which time I was falling on the floor and screaming for my children (I didn't know their exact location). That first tremor seemed to last forever and it was sooooo violent. It was certainly the most terrifying moment of my life and I am so grateful that the peace of God rules my heart and mind.

Lex was in Leogane at the UN headquarters there when the earthquake hit. That, of course, was heart wrenching for all of us, as there was no way of contacting each other. As he made his way back home (partially driving, partially walking) he witnessed the horror of seeing so many bodies along the street some people severely injured and others already dead. Knowing that we were likely in the office, he was very concerned about the structure falling on us. We were all greatly relieved upon our reunion.

One of our preschool teachers was killed. Many of our staff and students' families lost their homes.

A young girl 2-3 years old, was struck in the head when a concrete wall fell. Her skull was split wide open, but no medical help was available. She was close to death when they carried her away.

The group visiting spent the night in the Forward in Health bus. Our family laid in the yard along with the orphans and the many neighbors that joined us.

Some of the "after shocks" most certainly were earthquakes themselves. It was horrifying in the dark listening to the orphanage crash down behind me.

We are still experiencing tremors and would appreciate prayer for them to stop...permanently!

There must have been something like a small tsunami, because the ocean rose all the way up to our well at the very back of the beach house property...about 125 ft higher than normal. Everything on the property has been destroyed, including all the surrounding walls.

Bathrooms at the orphanage are not accessible so we now have people relieving themselves in the yard. And we don't want people near the buildings or walls, so it's pretty concentrated. Sad, since we've worked so hard to train the Haitians to use the bathrooms.

We have NO food available for distribution. A container of Kids Against Hunger food is expected in about 3 weeks...unfortunately it'll be about 3 weeks too late.

We will use the chapel to house some of the homeless families in Grand-Goâve.

We expect school to be closed for quite some time, as we all dig out and determine where to go from here.

Today, January 13th, there are still several tremors occurring every hour. Please pray. Anyone wanting to help with the tremendous financial burden of providing relief to people in urgent need, as well as rebuilding much of the mission, may make donations to Mission of Hope. Checks may be sent to PO Box 176, Merrimac, MA 01860. If you prefer to use a credit card, go to http://missionofhopehaiti.net/donations.htm to make a donation online.

That's the update for now. Again, thank you everyone for all your encouragement and prayers.

Blessings!

Renée