The People In the Middle

We (Joe, Cindy, Shaun and Austin) got up early this morning and met two friends from the village of Neply, Ti Blanc and Guinel.Then we actually visited the families who live in the makeshift tentlike structures that they call home since January 13th. The people live in the middle of the road in Carrefour,Haiti, on a narrow median.

We were received with joy and gratitude. We were so glad to have acquired the disaster relief kits (from N.E.W Missions) and the food (from Kids against Hunger). We spoke to mothers and fathers and many children. One lady told me she and her children had not eaten in three days. They have not been getting any help at all. "Well Mama", I said, " Start cooking! You will eat well tonight."

We met the12 day old baby of a 19 year old woman. She had delivered by Cesarean and then took her newborn to the middle of the road. Another baby, that was born on that fateful earthquake day, January 12th was given he name "Catastrophe".

Surprisingly, many of the people were young twenty something adults, most with one small child. And there were a lot more families living in the middle than we had estimated. Some of the dwellings were only as wide as a single bed; no room to stand. The heat was intense. There no sources of water or proper places to go to the bathroom.

We were told that a couple of children have died already, after being struck by passing vehicles.

By the end of four hours we had distributed 360 food packs (each serves 6) and about 100 disaster kits. As we went "house to house", we prayed for each family and tried to encourage them; told them they were not forgotten, that God loves them, that we would try to find more help for them.

Sadly, we ran out of supplies 90 dwellings short. We told them that we would return to help them soon. I felt myself starting to cry. The need is so great. We are so little. I know I am not done crying...