Haiti Post Matthew

Dianne and I (Terry) are in Haiti to check on our clinics and visit for a week. We wanted to see first hand the damage from Hurricane Matthew in our communities. As you would expect, the damage on the mountain where Jasmin is located is greater than that in Colin, which is lower and more protected. Many families on the mountain lost their roofs, gardens were destroyed, and trees were toppled. Amazingly, in just a few short days, much of the debris has been cleared, but the families whose homes were damaged, are living in temporary shelters. That does not mean what we think in the US. A temporary shelter in Haiti is usually a few palm leaves over some kind of structure made from whatever can be salvaged. Lower down the mountain, the primary damage was from flooding, which destroyed gardens. A destroyed garden means no food and nothing to sell at the market. So, here the loss of a garden, no matter its size, is catastrophic.

Haiti Companions collected funds from many friends and was able to quickly send funds to our Country Director, who bought food and clean water in Port au Prince, and delivered it to the affected communities, which we serve. Christ Church, Norcross, Jasmin's partner, collected funds, which we will give this week to families which the lay leaders identify as those most in need for roof repairs, and help replanting their gardens. We are so thankful for everyone's support, which is so appreciated here.

Yesterday, we received an amazing gift of two chlorine producing units from Hope Source International. This non-profit based in Les Cayes, in conjunction with SWIM (Safe Water International Ministry) produces and distributes these units for free. They are very simple, yet amazingly effective in producing chlorine which kills bacteria in the water. With the threat of cholera looming after Matthew, it is more important than ever to use clean water, which is not available in our communities. The units are powered by a car battery, which is charged by a solar panel. In 1 short hour, salt water made from "raw salt" readily available at the market, is transformed into chlorine. Then, it sits for 24 hours so the sediment can sink and the solution clarify, before bottling it. Five ounces will purify 40 gallons of water. Amazing! What an incredible difference this will make in the lives of those we serve.

Yesterday, we started the process and today, we are bottling. We will take the units and the bottled chlorine up to our communities later in the week.

Saturday, we held the monthly clinic in Jasmin. The change to monthly clinics has been well received in the communities and everything is very orderly. Each patient attending the clinic is given a card identifying him/herself as a patient of Haiti Companions and they make an appointment for the clinic so that the clinic is not overwhelmed. We have more than 300 patients at Jasmin, so far. And, many new patients came on Saturday. I do not know the number served in Colin yet, but will learn that later in the week. Between the two locations, we serve 150-200 patients monthly at this time, with thoughts of expansion dancing in our heads.