Sharon St. Germain Update (Sept. 24th)

Networking-Thank You

We cannot begin to say "Thank you" to so many who have been networking to help us get the needed help to Haiti. We have brothers and sisters in the DR who coordinated flying in bags of rice to the Les Cayes Airport; brothers and sisters in Columbia, SC partnering with PCA and non-PCA churches in SC and NC to drive down an 18-wheeler truck of donated items; brothers and sisters in Boca Raton, Ft. Lauderdale, S. Miami, FL planning to do their own container; and the list goes on and on.

There are two containers currently on the El Shaddai Presbyterian Church property. The word is that we may need to order another.

Gonaives

Yesterday, the ESMI team visited Gonaives again. The water has receded in most areas. However, the entrance into the city from the south still has a huge lake. After Hurricane Jeanne in 2004, the lake that was formed in this same area took over 12 months to dry out. The current lake is about three times bigger. There is no telling how long this new lake will take.

What the people are now contending with is the mud. Lots of it. And everywhere! Mountains, hills, piles of mud are left to clear. Then there are the flies. Swarms of huge green flies. And then, there were the funerals. These are a sad reminder of the effects of the hurricanes. The smell is also there. The citizens of Gonaives are totally dependent on help from the outside. There is nothing and no one in their city to help them. This is the story for most of Haiti. We are happy to see a couple organizations focusing on giving clean drinking water to the people.

God's willing, in a few weeks we should have about 4 containers with clothing and medicine to distribute to the people. Thank you again for all that you are doing to make this possible.

Southern Haiti

The water at Miraguane has now risen higher than 5ft. This is the lake that was formed separating the road from Port-au-Prince to the South. Last week we took a chance in our rental when it was about 4-5ft. Now it is impossible to cross. You have to rent a boat/canoe to take you on the other side. This is how we have to get food supplies to the south.

Yesterday, Louis and a team drove further south from Port Salut. They found several villages that were totally destroyed by the hurricanes. Some villages in Port-a-Piment coastal area were totally washed away. He knows that when he returns, he will find many orphaned children. The cities around the southern coast such as Les Irois, Aux Coyeaux, Chardonierre, suffered great damage. These are cities dependent on the land and livestock. Land and livestock are no more. You won't hear about these cities and villages on the local radio station or on TV. There is no way to get to these places unless you have a very good vehicle. Some areas, have only motorcycle access; others, by boat only. Louis and the team are out today again.