The Nzungas serve in Haiti. They write: 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 has been cut from the rest of the country. The plateau central, the Hinche region has also been flooded.
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.

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 deserted, like after a war, not crowded as they always are.

In the 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  $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. But they are 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.

•    Pray for strength, patience and wisdom the Nzungas as they minister in this crisis situation.
•    Pray also for their safety as they are in a very insecure country.
•    Pray for their children, Benita (15) and Gracia (19).
•    Pray for help, material and spiritual,  for those suffering loss and desolation in the aftermath of these hurricanes.