Hello! Our internet connection is very bad right now in Haiti but we have finally gotten a chance to send some pictures and updates. What's not included in this email, Vanessa will upload on to the faithandloveinaction.org blog page!
We left Pedernales, DR on Sunday at midnight and arrived in Jacmel by 7 AM. It took about 4 hours to unload the ship and it was safe at the port with the presence of the Sri Lankan military who helped get the trucks in and out of the port. We started delivering some foods to families in the community since Monday and we still provide a meal to some people in the community at our place.
Thursday we worked on packaging food for distribution. We distributed food to Cayes Jacmel where no help has been arrived. We visited the general hospital in
Jacmel where most of the buildings collapsed or are severely damaged. Many of the hospital's patients were killed in the earthquake. Patients are now under tents in
the yard and street. We focused on the 2 pediatric tents where we delivered baby formulas to many sick young ones. We found a brand new baby boy, Paterson, who
was abandoned. It was a blessing to hold and feed him and we pray and believe that God has a great plan for him. We will continue to visit and provide aid to these tents and figure out ways to help these children.
Our biggest distribution will be in Marbial tomorrow (Friday). No help at all has been reaching these people and they badly need it. Their homes are gone and many have lost family members. We prepare to distribute food to 600-700 hundred families up there for a first distribution and will see how much more food and supplies can reach them again. It is not going to be easy because of the road conditions and then how far vehicles can go in the riverbed. A group from the Sri Lankan military will accompany us to assess the conditions and try to help bringing more food soon.
Our school up in Marbial and the church buildings are damaged and we don't know yet how we are going to continue providing education to the 340 children.
We have relocated the children that we support at the orphanage in Carrefour to La Plaine area because their former buildings are severely damaged. Yesterday morning, Daniel traveled to Port au Prince to visit them and to deliver food and supplies to them.
Les Cayes is in southwest of the country and it takes 5 hour drive from Jacmel, and we are praying to find a way for transportation so we can reach the people with our help as well. Transportation is our greatest obstacle when it comes to reaching the people who are far. Bob Jones and Marlaine are speaking with the Canadian military to see if they could be of some help with transportation.
Rose, the Head House Mother at the Girl's Home lost her mother and we made arrangements to have the funeral in Jacmel on Wednesday.
The Haitian government has declared Friday-Sunday 3 days of national prayer; everyone is very motivated to seek God by prayer and fasting.
We will continue to send more updates!
Thank you so much for your support and prayers! None of this could be done without your aid!
God Bless,
~Marlaine & Daniel
2
2/6/10
Fundraising!!
Our Lord is amazing. My friends and family are too. When I didn't know what to do in response to the earthquake in Haiti you started calling and asking and suggesting. Bottle drives in Camrose and Wetaskiwin, a fundraiser at Lifegate Church, school fundraisers in Camrose & Wetaskiwin, staff dontations from Wetaskiwin School Division, personal donations from friends and family from across Canada, helping hands from friends at homeschool & church, friends of Elizabeth, Luke and Hannah, support from the local media - you all made a difference! Over $10,000 to be doubled by CIDA. TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS, all of it, directed to the orphanage through FAITH & LOVE. Our response will make a difference. It provides immediate relief. It supports rebuilding! It affirms there are people who really do care. It reinforces God's faithfulness. Thank-you one and all.Amazing. Between Wetaskiwin and Camrose, over $10,000 in donations to Faith & Love! Double that amount with the CIDA grant and that means a $20,000 contibution to earthquake relief and rebuilding. We know all of the funds raised are going directly to meet these needs over the next 6-12 months!
2/2/10
Update from Marlaine
Hello,
We pray this note finds you well! The past few days our hands have been really full and we are sorry that we were behind on the updates. Thank you so much for your patience! Daniel left for Jacmel on Friday and made it there safely . We were so blessed to find a private charter flight that to take him with supplies to Jacmel for free. His presence is a great comfort to everyone on the compound and he is trying his best to manage the difficult situation they all face. As you know, the needs are very intense and people feel hopeless. I am planning this week again to return to the DR to purchase more food and supplies. Our goal is to ship 200 bags of rice (110 lbs each) with the navy ship as well as other supplies like tarp and propane. More people are coming to the compound for food and supplies everyday and we want to meet those needs. I spoke with Edese yesterday (one boy in the homes) and he spoke about his one fear: that he will not be able to continue his education and make the difference he had wanted to make. Like some of our older kids, he had been in his first year of nursing school and we will need to figure out what the next step will be. Please keep Edese and the thousands of students whose schools have all collapsed!
Four kids from the homes: Judeline, Kenlove, Ermiline, and Aulain were on adoption process and flown to Canada on Saturday and united with their new families! Praise the Lord!
Thank you so much for your continued support and prayers!
God Bless,
Marlaine
We pray this note finds you well! The past few days our hands have been really full and we are sorry that we were behind on the updates. Thank you so much for your patience! Daniel left for Jacmel on Friday and made it there safely . We were so blessed to find a private charter flight that to take him with supplies to Jacmel for free. His presence is a great comfort to everyone on the compound and he is trying his best to manage the difficult situation they all face. As you know, the needs are very intense and people feel hopeless. I am planning this week again to return to the DR to purchase more food and supplies. Our goal is to ship 200 bags of rice (110 lbs each) with the navy ship as well as other supplies like tarp and propane. More people are coming to the compound for food and supplies everyday and we want to meet those needs. I spoke with Edese yesterday (one boy in the homes) and he spoke about his one fear: that he will not be able to continue his education and make the difference he had wanted to make. Like some of our older kids, he had been in his first year of nursing school and we will need to figure out what the next step will be. Please keep Edese and the thousands of students whose schools have all collapsed!
Four kids from the homes: Judeline, Kenlove, Ermiline, and Aulain were on adoption process and flown to Canada on Saturday and united with their new families! Praise the Lord!
Thank you so much for your continued support and prayers!
God Bless,
Marlaine
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)