Updates and thoughts

What tragedy has struck the island of Haiti!!! The cholera outbreak has not stricken Port au Prince in the way it has other areas of the island, especially since the Hurricane Tomas skirted the western edges.

I received a call last week (Nov. 12) that the northern borders into the Dominican were closed due to the outbreak and that food was becoming extremely costly. With Pastor Geordany feeding about 35 children this causes some real issues. Thank God for Antioch COB who sent money immediately to help offset that.

It is disgusting to learn that the customs and government are up to their old tricks again. A package expecting to cost $7 or $8 to get out of customs cost a Haitian pastor $85 ~ more than the contents were worth. I keep wondering why those "peace keeping" forces don't keep peace, enforcing fair trade or fair customs or SOMETHING. Why does the UN or even the Haitian Government (what's left of it), allow the gouging of people, their OWN people and then expect there to be faith in the government. The Haitian people are not stupid. Far from it. On the one hand, you can't blame individuals for trying to make an extra buck, but there has to be order and lawful behavior. It's hard to see between the two.

I know others from our District were scheduled to go down with the Midwifes for Haiti, but I am unaware of their current status. The Cholera is near to Hinche where they would work.

We are planning a trip to LaJeune and other points on the island for January 25 - February 8th. We have a doctor and P.A. heading down with us for the first week. The tickets are purchased, so we shall see how that develops.

The Haiti Mission Advisory Team meets the end of this week (Nov. 20th) in Miami. I will have the joy of setting in on that meeting and look forward to learning what the COB has planned for Haiti in the coming months and years.

Samaritans Purse has a huge settlement in the earthquake stricken area that is doing work removing rubble and helping the people. Practical help. Makes sense to me.

I am convinced that there can never be too many organizations working in Haiti. The government is, for all intents, useless, at this point and the government entities set to help the island aren't doing too great a job either. It appears either Christian organizations do it or it doesn't get done.

What the people need is a well placed government to provide cleanup, food, medicine and jobs. Once the island is stabilized as a viable entity then, maybe, just maybe, they can self-govern. Until then, there is no confidence, so who knows how these elections are going to go.

So, this is my two-cents on the travesty in Haiti for the moment. They desperately need our prayers, our money and our help. Prayerfully give.

Enough thoughts for now... Janet