Rippling Effects
The rippling effects of the quake are already beginning to be felt. Today as we sent some of our staff in to Port de Paix to buy supplies to sustain us for a little bit — prices are already escalating. Odines got the last 100 of 120 bags of concrete at the depot in Port de Paix. He was told not to buy gas if it was above $60.00 a gallon and it was — it was $80.00 a gallon. It has doubled in price in two days. He said that tap-tap after tap-tap was full of people coming to the north from Port au Prince. We have had several of our staff needing to bring their families that survived the quake in PAP to Beauchamp and the surrounding areas. They escaped with their lives but everything else is gone.
This is just the beginning of what is to come. There will be a need for medical attention outside of PAP, for food for the starving who have left with nothing more than the clothes on their backs. The need is going to be overwhelming. The toll it takes on you when everyone you see is in need — and their needs are real — but how do you help them all. I know that you can’t and God will direct our work. We all need to be aware of the economic earthquake that is heading this way. Please pray that it does not cripple the entire country. Whatever happens this is just the beginning of a long, long and hard road.
We would like to say that we are proud of our mission staff. Some have gone to the front lines to help with the medical needs in PAP. Jody and other mission staff (Haitian and American alike) have worked tirelessly in getting the groups out of the country. Janeil, Sam and Pam are trying to run the office as well as set up a major offensive plan for the future. The phones are ringing off the hooks and the emails are endless. The good side of that is that people are responding and people are showing their care and concern.
Thank you so much for caring about the people we love and the country we also call home.
Continue to check the main mission website for the best ways that you can help and be involved at the present time. http://www.nwhcm.org