Greeting to all our Loved Ones,

This Sunday October 12, 2008, I, Kihomi Ngwemi Nzunga and a group of five women left our homes at 5 a.m. to go to Gonaives to assist our sisters and brothers, victims of the four hurricanes there. We loaded the rented vehicle with all kind of goods -- rice, sugar, bananas, beans, cooking utensils, sheets, T-shirts and shirts, pants, dresses, towels, suitcases, blankets, toys, back packs, sardines, cooking oil, macaroni, etc. We took with us whatever is usable we could lay our hands on. We had over half-a-ton worth of articles.

We got there at 10 a.m., and some ladies were waiting for us. We had a time of worship together as women and we encouraged those we met. They were quick to share the food since they are starving and hold on for the rest of articles for the afternoon.

OBSERVATION:

-Most of those we met were depressed having lost whatever sustained their lives. They are ready to cry and one could easily read the signs of despair on their faces and in their talk.

-Many persons would greatly benefit if we had Christian trained counselors to assist them to cope with the loss and the defining of their life at this new stage of their history as expressed by their pastor.

-Many families are forced to divide because those receiving them can not take in all of them. Children stay with X while parents with Y.  

-The mountains of mud are all over the city. It will take hands to clean them. They still have houses that have not yet been open and stuck in mud. Many people think that in some of those houses may be humans buried under the mud.

-The city looks like a ghost town. It is horrible to visit the city a month after. We toured the city and I got headache just to see the way it looks.

-Many agencies are working to alleviate the misery of the victims there but many of those victims are hardly getting the help they deserve. Churches seem to be the good places where to canalize help.

-About 200 persons had their feet imputated with the 2004 flood. The same symptoms started to manifest themselves in the feet of some people. The sores will develop and then lead to the amputation.

One of our Haitian Baptist Convention church hosted 1800 persons during the flood period. Many of those non-churchgoers have promised to become members of that church when it is back cleaned. Because, they say, that church saved their lives.

-Gonaives needs prayers, material and financially supports of all of us. It will take time for this city to recover.

We appreciate as you give your heart, your love, your support of all kind to mission -- because, through you, Jesus touches the needs in GONAIVES.

Your servants in Haiti,

Kihomi and Nzunga Mabudiga