Dear Loved Ones,

 

May the peace of God be with all of you. We are doing fine over here and going on with our daily business. We are in good physical health.

Many of you have seen on TV how badly Haiti has been hit by Hurricanes Gustav, Hanna and Ike but we are now living the aftermath of their passages. The road from Cap-Haitian, the second largest city of the country, to Port-au-Price the capital city has been cut off. Two bridges have been destroyed. Many parts of the road have been washed away. 

Gonaives as you have seen has been cut from the rest of the country. The plateau central, the Hinche region has also been flooded.

This situation means what exactly? 

This means that we, in the northern part of the country, don’t have gas since it comes from the capital city, Port-au-Prince. The gas stations are closed until they find gas. The price of the public transportation has gone up if you are lucky to find it. I went to Cap-Haitian today to the eye clinic and it took me over one hour waiting for the tap-tap, a pick up used for public transportation. We were cramped like sardines. Private vehicles have also become a luxury.

Here and there you find women, children and boys selling gallons of gas in plastic containers. That gas unfortunately is mixed with water and some avocados juice. A little bit cleaver. Once you take a chance to buy that, you know for sure that you are on your way of destroying your engine.

Food is rare and expensive. There is no more cold or frozen food. Many small businesses have closed. In the city of Cap-Haitian, streets look like after war, not crowded as they always are.

In that affected regions, many people have lost their houses, gardens and goats, chicken and cows (livelihood). Many of those who lost their gardens are so disappointed that they don’t want to go back to gardening. This means that we are seriously heading to a famine. At this stage, we are not yet talking about diseases to come in those flooded cities.

 

Schools have delayed their opening this year until October 6. We, at University Chretienne du Nord d’Haiti are open since early September. Many students have not yet showed up. Those who have come are crying because they can not afford to pay. It takes about US $ 1500 a year to cover the expenses of studies here. For this semester I am teaching Introduction to Psychology, Christian Ethics and Pastoral Theology. I have two assistant professors to train.

Many parents of elementary, high school and university children are now knocking on doors here and there hoping for some heavenly help for the studies of their children. I don’t know how many knocks we get daily. Too many.

Kihomi has been meeting with women just to encourage them to face this crisis head up. Last Saturday she gave clothes, dishes, silverware so that women can share with those who are afflicted.

At the eye clinic, the number of patients has dropped. With children going back to schools, hunger knocking at the doors, and transport being a headache nowadays, people's eyes get a second seat unless they are badly hurt.

So we are ministering in this crisis situation. Your support of mission has changed many lives in the past and will continue to impact the Haiti of tomorrow. If we are here it is because you give to missions.

We deeply appreciate your support, material and financial. 

May God keep you all safe and under His strong wings.

Nzunga & Kihomi