Wednesday, Jan 20, 2010

not sure if you wouldcall it another aftershock...or a different earthquake.   had a pretty big one this morning, different epicenter, 35 miles or so NW of Port...closer to us.  don't know about any damage here yet, heard damaged buildings in Port fell.  who knew life could be so interesting??     the team of disaster assessors from Family Church in St. Louis is here, and on their way to Port and the Carefou area to see what they can, then they go back to the States to make a plan.  the nurse from Caanan called, there are nurse volunteers at te local hospitl in St. Marc who need a plac to stay.  so I will be getting the needed item for them to come here and stay today. the orphan kids are happy all day long watching movies.   they send the youngest one upstairs to just get in front of me and look at me when the movie is over.....TIME FOR ANOTHER!   the staff takes a minute here and there to see it also, they don't ge to see things like this, and frankly I am glad they can enjoy it.  we have one staff person who has\ lost 9 cousins in the Port area.  they need a distraction, and this works just fine.  so, pending any further shocks, or new quaks, or falling coconut trees.....life goes on, new people come in, stay for awhile, then leave.   school is closed indefiitely.  the govt has asked for all schools to be closed until the middle of Feb. at least.   don't know how we will do this yet.  I gues until the res of life settles down some, running school will be difficult at best, so maybe we will.  so, until the next shake rattle and roll....

Bondye benis ou

Dan Joshu

Sunday, January 17, 2010

asking for prayer for a particular group of kids. A family of 4 children from the Port area, from an orphanage who are waiting for adoption. They are staying here at the house now, the Walkers got them out at the request of their friend in the states who is going thru the adoption process.  The rules have been relaxed and they will be allowed into the country w/o finalized adoption papers...at least 3 of them.   One, the youngest, was only found a year ago, he had been living with an aunt who is now dead. The formal papers on him were not filed, as the adoption process on the others encountered many difficulties as those with any passing acquaintance to the process here can attest to.  Now, since his name was not on the "list" of those who had started the adoption process, we are hearing the US will not allow him into the country.  We are praying that this family will not be broken up, that an 8 year old will not be left to fend for himself in Haiti in another orphanage, without an older family member to watch out for him, that sense will prevail and he will be allowed to enter the US with the rest of his family to start a new life.  The main issue here is that there is no gov't to deal with to try and work out the papers here.  As we understand, practically no one in authority can be found, the president of the country can't be located, no Haitian gov't  leaders here are taking charge or trying to give the people hope that something is being done.  So, please pray for this family of brothers and sister to be kept together. 

Saturday, January, 16, 2010

I know the news is still grim, but even in the horrible things still going on in Port, the recovery starts.  flights went all night long over St. Marc, troops are coming to keep order, some supplies are here.  I know there is a long way to go, and it could get worse if they can't get enough supplies here to meet the need.  but it will happen eventually, and Haiti will recover.  this country lives from disaster to disaster, from drought to hurricane to revolt...and now to earthquake.   the people just keep going...what else can anyone do?  no doubt problems will come up, maybe revolt again, massive political unrest, who knows?   but with UN and Marines here to keep order, I think more likely it will just be the process of getting thru it.  Haitians are incredibly resilient.  life will go on.   my prayer is that from this, people will come to know again how fleeting life is, how really powerless we truly are, and how much we need God.  what else that is really good can come from this?  

Bondye benis ou

Dan Joshu

Friday, January 15

posting pic's on facebook, so much easier than blogger.  went to Port yesterday, couldn't get to the worst parts of the city, what pic's I have will show the nature of the damage.  some places it is sporadic damage, around Delmas area, many homes and businesses are gone.  went to Matthew 25 mission, took medical supplies and food, they will distribute to the locals who are coordinating the effort there.  it was fairly quiet there when we showed up, I think everyone was tired, it was middle afternoon and people rest.  we returned home as there was no urgent need for hands there.  will post video's on facebook also. 

last night people panicked here, someone waking everyone up saying the earthquake is coming.   panic in the streets.  it is amazing how superstitious people will react in fear.   so,  we go on today, getting ready for school next week and what is going on currently. 

Thursday, Jan 14, 2010

we are preparing to go to Port today to pick up Nancy and the medical team. the site for pick up, Matthew 25 mission, is damaged but operational and has become a triage center.  we will take all avaialble medical supplies.  I am planning on taking my backpack and staying to do what I can, if they have the space.  the need is staggering.  anyone who wished to donate can do so thru the paypal on the Walkers blogspot at touchstmarchaiti.blogspot.com or sending to Touch Ministries, 417 Rebecca St, New Martinsville, W VA, 26155.  

January 13, 2010 9pm

just heard from Yvesner, our staff member who went to Port today.  the area where his family lived is gone. he found his family, injured but ok with exception of his sister who is missing.  He said he see's no way she could have survived. all landmarks are gone.  I fear that the good people at Matthew 25 are injured or worse. all we can do is pray and see what we find.  we are planning on bringing what food and water we can carry in, as all reports are of people w/o either. 

Bondye benis ou

Dan Joshu

January 13, 2010 4pm

and so it starts.  Rose, our cook, just came in and told us she has 4 cousins dead in Port.  we are sure to have many more like this.  Haiti is about to come to a standstill, looking for and burying the dead.  school will likely be closed for a period of time, though we have not made a final determination of this.  for those who want to come to school it would be helpful,  but we don't know how many staff we will have available.  

Wednesday, January, 13, 2010

at the school opening today, I explained to the kids what an earthquake is, how it happens, and how fragile our lives really are.  we prayed and got thru school.  Yvesner had to leave early, he has family he can't contact, which is the same for most of the staff.  I don't know if we will have school Friday or not.  Life goes on in the streets here, but few know about the death estimates.  I have no recollection of any event in human history where it is possible a half million people may have died at once.  I am too stunned to feel or think at this point.  all I know is that God reigns, all things happen towards a purpose.  I know many agnostics and atheists will be angry at such a statement.  Believe me, I would have been when I was one of them.   All I know now is that I can't get thru such things without God.  Please pray for the people of Haiti. 

Bondye benis ou

Dan Joshu

Tuesday, September 12, 2010

earthquake several hours ago.  lasted for about 45 seconds here.  fairly strong, far worse in Port au Prince area.  no obvious damage visible here, reports of homes, buildings and a hospital collapsing in the Port area.  everyone I know of as far as missionaries are ok, but have not heard from everyone.  we cannot contact Nancy Hibbard, who is in the Jacmel area on a medical mission up in the mountains.  the strongest aftershock apparently was in that area.  phones are down, but the 'net is ok for now.  what can we do right now but pray, for the Haitians injured during this, for the mission teams in what kind of conditions?  will update as more is known,   most of you llikely know more than I do now.  

Bondye benis ou

Dan Joshu

Sunday, January 10, 2010

hello to everyone.  yes, blogging has become a chore for me recently and I have little motivation in it.  however, I will endeavor to persevere until the writers block reaches a conclusion.

warm, cloudy, some afternoon sun, intermittent rain even though we are in dry season.   read it is 1 deg in St. Louis this morning....glad I am here.  cold weather does not appeal to me much anymore, not that it really ever did.   I admit it is fun at times to get the snow thing going, but zero temps are beyond what this old body wants to go thru. 

Nancy is up in the mountains now, doing a dental clinic starting tomorrow.  she is in the Jacmel area, nice tourist area, but up in the mountains around it in a village.  it can get very cold up in the mountains, and she took a lot of extra clothes for the trip.

school is ready to roll tomorrow.   went over yesterday and did some last clean up's in some of the rooms, we are good to go.  we will be arranging some teachers and kids differently this year, promoting some, trying to encourage others who don't seem to have much interest in learning.  the thing here is that the girls go to school, the boys reluctantly go, and as soon as they can do anything, like drive a taxi, they drop out and seal their future.  Haiti is a "today" place.   if someone can get a little now, it is worth far more than what may come in the future.   reminds me of a story Charles Mellon told in his book about seeing a man chopping down a tree.  He tried to stop him, as he knew even then that Haiti was being deforrested at an alarming rate.   He asked the man how much money he could get for the crop of the fruit tree each year, and then what he could get for cutting down the tree for charcoal.   The answer to both was about $75 Haitian.   he tried to convince him to wait for the crop.  the man told him he didn't know if his family had a tomorrow, all they had was today, and they needed food now.   that mindset is so pervasive here. 

on the good side, things do seem to be changing for the better.  the new road construction is continuing to come north and it seems will hit St. Marc w/i a few months.  the road is already so much better, the trip to Port is MUCH easier than when I started here.  it has gone from 3 1/2 hrs, to about 1 1/2 hrs.  you can drive highway speed's on most of the road there.  the down side to that is that the vehicles are very poorly maintained and overloaded, and the fear is that accidents will increase as speeds increase.  many people die each year in road accidents here.   there are no traffic laws, speed limits, and big trucks and busses just basically fly down the road and it is your job to get out of their way. 

life in Haiti continues, no great changes, but a succession of little ones.  the new Delimart store in town has spurred another competitor to spruce up his store.   things like that.    so as we get ready for the school routine to resume, it is so easy to lose focus on the other things here.  but as in everyones life, things work out one way or another.   I hope everyone is warm, or at least safe.   

Dieu benis ou

Dan Joshu