First Impression:
Driving into Gonaives last Thursday and Friday (Sept.11-12), I was amazed to see the people going about their daily routine as if nothing had happened. But this is what I could see on the outside. There were merchants selling a little of this and that. People were entering their homes cleaning the feet of mud that had now settled in their home. The word that came to mind to describe these dear people was "resilience." They have to move on with life. They have to do what they can.
Saturday morning (Sept.13) was a different story. As we drove into Gonaives with the medical team, there were hundreds of people walking into the city. When asked what was happening, they said they came to get food. There were a few with bags of rice but most of the people were walking back empty handed. The need was still there.
The Medical Team in Gonaives:
The medical team wanted to ensure that the children at the Gonaives Mission Site orphanage were fine. Not only were our children there but there were many from the community wanting to see the doctors. After leaving the Gonaives Mission Site, the medical team went into another area and saw several more patients. The third stop was in a slum area called Raboteau. In this area the water level was still high. I cannot describe to you the emotions of the medical team but it was expressed in their tears and sobs as they saw adults and children suffering from pneumonia, high fever, stomach pain, diarrhea, etc., all a result of the flood. It was obvious that significant help hadn't reached that community. Arrangements are being made to get more food into that area. This is just one of several areas that is still in desperate need...two weeks after the flooding.
The team wanted to visit the Gonaives General Hospital. They were shocked at what remained of the hospital. Windows and doors were wide open exposing the feet high of mud that had gathered in every room. The hospital had lost everything. I leave you to imagine what will happen later to the very sick in Gonaives. The medical team hopes to return in two weeks.
Taking Photos of the Plight in Gonaives:
In the city of Soleil, the water is still knee high and even higher in some areas. It was difficult after awhile to take any more photos. I felt almost as if I were robbing the people of their dignity. This is just what they had to do to survive. I saw people making their homes on the roof, waiting for the water below to recede; a pregnant woman taking a bath on the main road, a gentle man sorting through clothes in the mud; and an old man dressed in a child's shirt, khaki pants, and white girl's shoes a size smaller than his feet. I saw people using their toes to grip their sandals on their feet as they walked through the slippery mud.
Journeying to the South:
On Sunday, Sept 14, we started our journey south from Gonaives to Les Cayes. We had heard that the south was cut off because of the high waters in Miraguane. The only way across was on a canoe. We were in a rental and made the daring venture across. With the vehicle turned off, we made our way to the roof of the car with our luggage. Eight men were hired to push the vehicle across the 3/4 mile of water. The flood rains from Gustave had made a lake of 4 feet high water and in some spots as high as 5 feet. The hired men made their way across, pushing the vehcile while one was in the front feeling with his feet the raod underneath.
Returning the same way yesterday morning (Sept.16) was different. This time no vehicles were allowed to cross the waters because 3 huge trucks were stuck. They dared to venture in the night, after 6:00pm, and two people lost their lives. The only way to get back home was to hire a boat to take us across and then a bus to take us into Port-au-Prince. The rental would have to be left on the south side and returned later. As we were waiting for our boat, a tractor came by and was able to pull one of the trucks out. We boarded our boat and began making our way across. As we came on the north side, we saw DouDou, yes DouDou, with several hired men pushing the rental across.
Because of this difficulty in Miraguane, all the cities to the south are slowly feeling the effects of not having enough food and gas. A container of food donated for the south is to arrive this Saturday. Pray for protection as this is done because the atmosphere at Miraguane is, shall I say, nothing short of chaos. (Photos below)
What's Next?
We will still continue to give food to the communities in need, both in the north and the south. This will have to be done for awhile.
Thanks to several of you who are planning to send containers of clothes for the people. Please don't forget to send new or gently worn clothing. Complete list on ESMI website- www.ESMIHOME.org
A container will be at El Shaddai Presbyterian Church from Sept. 22-29. The address:
El Shaddai Presbyterian Church
11303 NE 13th Avenue
Miami, FL 33161
At all the mission sites, there are repairs to be done. Some are major such as the bridge to the Cambry orphanage that was destroyed. At Gonaives, all the cement bought to finish the church and the school were washed away in the flood waters. School opens on October 1, so ESMI staff is working hard to have the construction men back on site to finish the second floor of the Gonaives school.
Much to pray about with us. Thanks for all your support.
Please send funds to:
MNA
1700 North Brown Road, Suite 101
Lawrenceville, GA 30043
Memo: Haiti Disaster Relief
Thanks to brother Frantz who is updating our website with all the latest info. www.ESMIHOME.org
Photo Story below:
Flood waters in Soleil, Gonaives, 2 weeks after Hurricane Gustav.
The massive force of the flood waters toppled cars, broke down strong concrete walls, washed away gas stations, moved a 40 ft. container to the top of another vehicle.
Thanks to Spanish River Church in Boca Raton, FL who partnered in the construction of this church on the Gonaives Mission Site. This area remained dry as it is situated on higher ground. However, most of the cement bought to complete the work was washed away. The Gonaives Mission Site is an unusual one for ESMI in that it was started because of the many left orphaned after Hurricane Jeanne in 2004. When the south could not provide a home for the older orphaned children, the promise was made to build a home for them in Gonaives. This promise was made possible with C3 Mission. Now there are 250 orphans onsite. We anticipate that another home will be built for 300 children left as orphans from this flood. By God's grace, this will be their home church.
This is the lake formed by the flood waters at Miraguane in the south. Via ground transportation, there is no other way to get to the south. Here we are, on Sunday, on top of the roof of the rental. One man is in the front directing the others how to push the vehicle. Be in prayer this Saturday as we try to send a container of food to the south. 
This was taken yesterday morning, Sept 16, trying to cross Miraguane. In the middle, there is the white rental being pushed across with DouDou at the wheel. To the back of the rental are the two trucks stuck in the water. A tractor was able to remove the third.
Medical team visit the kids on Saturday, Sep.13, at the Gonaives Mission Site
Dr. Jim with one of the patients from the community around the orphanage.
Children and adults waiting to be seen at the Gonaives Mission Site.
This lady trying not to get her skirt wet as the vehicles pass.
Food being prepared at the Gonaives Mission Site for the orphans.
Here's a blind lady with her granddaughter taking refuge in the Fox's Clinic on the Gonaives Mission Site. This is just one of many families who are there at night. During the day, they go out to clean their mud-filled home, or to look for food, or to do what they have to do to survive.
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