Switching Gears

Today has been a much easier day.  Fixed a wiring issue on the generator - of course most things here seem to set off a sequence of other stuff that needs to be addressed first.  I got some boys to do some of the work for me, but had to go after more boys about 3 times to finally get it done.  We also did a tuneup on the water filter turns out the UV bulb was burned out - so good thing we did.  That’s really about it.  

Oh, there is one other thing - visited the site today - did a closer inspection and it looks really good.  There is some damage, but not structural.  That's another post with some pics - maybe tomorrow


It's hard for Haitians to see past today - so the idea of conservation is counter to what they know/do.  Got mad at one of the youth who directly disobeyed me – maybe that was yesterday.  

Michel and Louise are back.  

We are now getting concerned for our own security – it will come.  Last night there were about 30 or so gunshots very close by.  I expect at one point we will need to sit up all night to protect ourselves – gun in hand.  How is that for tough love.

Our perimeter walls are down – so I believe that we will start to get them at least partially back up.  When people in Haiti are hungry, need water, or for some it’s just an opportunity – to rob and loot.  Stores are not opening – I think mainly because of that.  There could  very easily be a mob mentality.  Imagine having food for 100 when 1000 want to be fed.  The 100 are happy the other 900 are much less so.  That’s when things easily escalate.  Its real powder keg material.

I am happy to hear that the churches are praying.  They need to know that this is not a short term thing.  The needs and our roles will definitely change over time.  In our area the damage and destruction is less than others – our neighborhood survived remarkably well, but we are surrounded with multi level buildings fully collapsed.  Many churches, schools, supermarkets, businesses – across the board.  The businesses that are intact are not opening and I think that they are afraid of looting. 

As of 5 minutes ago we just finished our tuneup on the water filter – we now have the magic ingredients to make good potable water – we have ordinary water, electricity, pump, filter and jugs.  We are providing water for our neighbors as well.  Pastor Michel talked with some kids next door who have not had any water all day.  They are now filling a 5 gallon jug and we will continue to give them water. 

We are now in a state of transition – going from rescue and recovery the first 3 days now into a phase of addressing our basic needs – we don’t have a food solution yet but working on that.  We have sourced some cement and will reuse blocks that we can to partially rebuild one of our bigger walls – it won’t be perfect, but far better than now.  Right now, all an intruder needs to do is just step over the rubble.  We just had a tremor as I am writing – forth one today - still many aftershocks occurring. 

Went to the Canadian embassy today to ask a few questions – to sum it up – seems they really aren’t all that interested in servicing Canadians – polite though eh.

I have been communicating with a MS on the HMCS Halifax – left port yesterday heading for Haiti.  They will arrive Sunday.  The MS has some supplies for us – mainly clothes and some other things.  We talked with a commander in the military and they may airlift the supplies from the ship by helicopter to a prearranged drop off point.  Of course the embassy isn’t really all that particular to help us – so we may use a nearby international school for the drop.  Of course again, once we receive the goods we have something that may be of interest to others – that raises our risks.

We are thinking about starting a shelter with food and using the new building for that.  It has come through with only very minor/superficial damage – nothing structural.  One of the key issues of course for us will be a good reliable supply of food.  Not money, but food.  We need the money, but unless you can buy the food... 

We have a medical team coming via the DR – I will be working on that a bit tonight.  They will be here on Tuesday next week I believe – but we need to communicate with them regarding some supplies.

Slept in my bed last night – figured I would start showing that its safe to go back into your house – I figure our house was undamaged with a 7 so it will more than likely survive anything that we get over the next week or so (when we would eventually move back in anyways).  It was nice spending a night under the stars – its dark here and the sky is clear – great combination.  Brings back fishing memories – big bay – punt. 

There is apparently an area with perhaps 10,000 or 15,000 people congregated near our place – they have no support.  We will likely take our medical team into that area – but we are a bit afraid of the mob mentality.  If we have 10 drs – we can only see 10 people at a time – how do you choose which 10.  And what about the 100’s or 1000’s of others.  Again – a potential powder keg.  We may go in without the medical team and bring a few out at a time.  Decisions. Decisions.

When we come from Canada it is really hard to understand places like Haiti.  Unfortunately what happens here is all to common I think world wide.  People here do not have support systems behind them – they can’t just go see a Dr, they can’t get help – they need to fend for themselves – to help themselves.  It’s a tough life here – and many don’t survive – statistics certainly tell us that’s true.