An Upclose Look at Life in Present Haiti

Please continue to remember the people of Haiti in your prayers and our missionary friends, Willem and Beth Charles. Recently Beth wrote my wife, Annette, a long e-mail. Much of it was very personal regarding what is happening in Haiti right now and in their own family. I am sure Beth would not mind me sharing the stark reality of the nightmare that is Haiti at the present. Beth mentioned that the nation is now experiencing the second wave of death and burial with those that were injured during the earthquake. The third wave is still to come which is death by disease & lack of sanitation. Beth mentioned that in her children's school only fifty-eight of the 285 students are survivors of the earthquake. Her son, David, is one of two from his class of 17 while Stephen is one of four out of 27 remaining from his class. They are the only missionary kids attending.

Willem and Beth's Mountaintop Ministries campus has become a huge command center for the army (h.s. & m.s. building, office buildings & soccer field) as well as a first response team, Crisis International that is also a command center & housing medical teams from all around the world (all of the elementary building, tents pitched wherever there is a place). National workers who lost their homes are also staying on the campus in the art & music rooms. The elementary library has become the school offices & our kids have the chapel area for classes.

Beth mentions that money here is still in short supply. Grocery stores are open with limited hours and with limited supplies. Gas for cars and cooking is finally available again. She says, "We have had electricity for four days straight! In all of my years of living in Haiti, I am not sure I have ever seen nonstop electricity like this! We were set not to have electricity for months. Praise God!"

Beth goes on to add that Culligan water is being delivered again & vegetables & fruit are in abundance.

Have a wonderful Tuesday!

-Pastor