Haiti airports are now closed due to the tropical storm warning. Hurricane Ike is expected to bring more rain to northern Haiti; this of course includes Gonaives. Only one helicopter was able to leave the DR before the warning was given. But once it landed, there were other issues with the government not wanting the food to be boarded. And then came the closure of the airport.
Dony and DouDou got to Gonaives at about 3:00pm yesterday. A rented truck filled with water, followed them into the city. The people were happy for the water but were also looking for food which we hope would have come today. Since the helicopters were being held up, the next plan was to return to Port-au-Prince, rent several trucks to drive the food back to Gonaives. But then the weather began to change. So he and DouDou used whatever funds they had and bought all the food they could find in Gonaives, gave these to several church leaders along with funds and began the journey back to the south.
When asked how was the situation there, Dony's response was to think of the worst that you can, and then think Gonaives. He was driving through 2 feet of water in the city. Some people were cleaning whatever was remaining of their home and at the same time standing in knee deep water. As he returns to Les Cayes in the south, he has a passenger. He is a 12 year-old boy named Widly. Widly was walking in the streets all by himself. When asked why, he said because he had lost his family. He took Dony and DouDou to what remained of his home. Widly says that he has other family in Lester and so they will drive him there to find them.
Tuesday night as the rain came pouring down, a pregnant lady sought refuge on the second floor with the 250 orphans. There she gave birth to her child. Another 200 were in the medical clinic and are still there as they have no where to go. Meanwhile, yesterday in Les Cayes, Louis was giving out food and funds to people in the community who had lost everything. Why give them funds if you give them the food such as rice and beans? Well, they now need to buy the charcoal to cook, oil to cook, the pot to cook, etc.
This effort cannot be done alone. We are thankful for ministry partners such as C3 Missions who are doing the food coordination at this time and another partner who have opened there warehouse for us to take food supply to the people in Gonaives. However, due to the change in weather and the expectations of more rain from Hurricane Ike, Monday will be the return date to Gonaives.
Have a blessed Lord's day tomorrow.
Attached is a photo Dony took on the way to Gonaives.
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