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Haitians continue to deal with the emotional strain, joys, and grief left in the wake of the quake of January 12. A missionary sent me a text message today, telling me he had a visit from a good friend. How happy he was to know his friend was still alive after the quake!After talking with him, he learned his friend had been rescued from the main floor of a 5-story building that collapsed on him. The good news quickly followed on the heels of bad news, as the missionary learned that the same building collapse had killed some of their mutual friends. The miraculous part of the story was that the friend talking to him happened to fall into a space between two checkouts when the building fell. It could be he was referring to the collapse of the Palmera Market in Port-au-Prince.Live Cams in Palmera Market the day of the earthquake (1/12/10)
"With the nightly rains, life has become very miserable for so many who are living in very makeshift shelters. Everyone stays cold and wet, and it's difficult to get things to dry. Doing laundry is almost out of the question."Last night's rains were heavy and have not stopped yet this morning. Mudslides are now a major concern in many areas where some of the mountains had already opened up and slid during the quakes." These words were sent to me this morning by a close missionary friend in Haiti, via text messaging.A news report was released today about a Haitian woman who, like hundreds of thousands across post-earthquake Haiti, has been unable to obtain even a basic tent or tarpaulin from relief agencies. As the rainy season approaches, this mother sleeps on an uncovered mattress with her newborn child in the backyard of her quake-damaged home. Read more.Meanwhile, corruption continues, depriving Haitians of urgently needed medical care. Yesterday, the Miami Herald reported that corrupt customs officials were asking $65,000 to release a 36-foot mobile medical unit and ambulance from a northern port. You can read the full news article here. Our totally spent, Haitian missionary friend laments, "We had hoped we'd be further along after two and a half months."If you would like to help support a 30-year veteran missionary couple in Haiti, please contact me for details.
The rains have begun in Haiti and countless people are still without shelter. Many are living in tents which are not waterproof, being soaked to the skin. I have read reports where it has been difficult to sleep in tent cities because of the continual cries coming from mothers and children throughout the night.Nighttime temperatures dip down into the 60s this time of year. Combine that with rain and wind and you get a chilling combination.Hundreds of bodies have been left, decomposing under the rubble of earthquake devastation. As the rains come pouring down, they are mixing with decomposing bodies, carrying life-threatening illness into the streets and surrounding tent cities.I was pleased to discover a wonderful ministry that is providing lasting, mini water and wastewater treatment systems. The name of this ministry is Water Missions International and they are known for their outstanding work wherever disaster hits. Right now, Samaritan's Purse is working with Water Missions, helping them get these systems set up throughout Haiti.
One of their mini water treatment systems provides safe drinking water to 3,000 people. Already they have installed enough mini water treatment systems to serve the needs of 300,000 people in Haiti but so much more is needed.Churches and individuals have responded to Haiti's water needs by raising funds to purchase and ship Water Missions International water treatment units that can be set up and running within two hours of delivery.For more information and to learn how you can help, please read this news article entitled More Haitians Could Die in Aftermath than from Quake, Without Access to Safe Water and Sanitation
Haitians continue to deal with the emotional strain, joys, and grief left in the wake of the quake of January 12. 
