Dear Loved Ones,

Let us praise God from whom all our blessings come. Haiti, our dear country is back in the news and on the front pages of magazines.

In Jan-Feb. of this year, the year of the 200 years of the independance of Haiti, the city of Gonaives started what was then called rebellion. Many people lost their lives. For days and nights we lived in fear of the unknown. It came time when we did not have the appetite to eat the food. The country has not yet recovered from this crisis.

In May the flood hit the country killing thousands of lives and destroying homes and gardens. At this time when parents are deeply concerned with the results of the state exams, which qualifies one to go to the university and the return of the school children, the country has once again been hit by hurricane Jeanne. The city of Gonaives, Pilate, Port-de-paix have paid the heaviest prices. Many people have died from hurricane Jeanne. Gonaives, the city of independence, the city of the "rebellion," has become the city of death. As of today, the report talks of 600 people dead.

My student Samuel of 2nd year theology came from Gonaives, his city. He said that he has never seen anything like what is going on in his city. The water reached 5 meters. Many houses and what one can imagine a poor family can own in Haiti gone. According to Samuel the death toll will go over 1000. Our own

Pastor Petit D of the Beraca Baptist Church, his wife and their child and another person living with them are all supposed dead.

We are in Haiti where there is no insurance to help in cases like this one. Many persons don't have any savings. Now many questions are coming to my mind and giving me headaches and insomnia.

How will we be able to provide safe and drinking water to this city of about 4 million people? All the wells are now contaminated. Who will help clean them and with what kind of means?School children were late finishing their school year because of the war. Now they are going to be late to start the new school year. How will their parents pay for their education this year? The parents in the northern part of the country who have not been affected by this Jeanne are having difficulties coming up with the money. How will those parents react in this situation? How will we deal with all kinds of diseases that will come after the water goes down?Many persons build their houses in the risky region because they don't have means to build in good places. Will we help them not built in those risky places or will we let them go back to the same destroyed homes?

I don't know what would Jesus do and think about all these questions and many more one can ask.

Thank you, all of you, for your prayers for the people of Haiti and for us. May God guide you as you try to give to the World Mission Offering without it we would not be able to minister in this country.

With all our gratitude and thanksgivings for your prayers, emails, cards, letters and financial support. We deeply appreciate it and words cannot tell enough.

Yours,

Nzunga Mabudiga