Haiti Update – Tuesday, January 26, 2010, 3:53 PM

Historical district downtown Jacmel Destruction in Jacmel Many of the people living in the city are afraid to sleep in their homes and choose rather to sleep in tents on the streets. Dinner time at one of the refuge camps in Jacmel.  There are approximately 3500 refugees in this camp.  Frans, the Mayor's assistent told us there are an estimated 6000 refugees in the camps. This was Jacmel's only trade school. The hospital room tents are sitting in the ground.  The rain season begins in another month.  These tents will more then likely flood it not rebuilt by then. The main hospital in Jacmel was destoyed so temporary structures, some nothing more then tarps have been set up. Child sleeping in the debris in Jacmel

Today our group split into 3 teams.  The medical team spent the day at one of the clinics, where our team’s doctor performed surgery on a woman with a large mass on her neck.  Another team assisted the missionaries we are staying with, Cody and Maria, as they passed out food in some of the local villages.  Our other team met the Canadian commander in charge of the airbase and leaders of another organization that are co-ordinating logistics among the numerous medical clinics that are overwhelmed at this time.  We then met with Frans, the Mayor’s assistant.  Frans showed us property that we could use for future operations and gave us a tour of the city, which included a walk around Jacmel’s destroyed hospital.  Dozens of patients are being housed in temporary structures there.  Some of the structures were nothing more then tarps strung between trees.  Later in the day we checked on a remote clinic, which we found to be intact.

The more time we spend here, the larger the problem becomes.  The desperate nature of this nation was only exacerbated by this disaster.  As this day ends, we are convinced that the only hope for the people of Haiti is Jesus.  We are discussing and praying that God would show us how we, as His ambassadors, are to respond to this disaster. Please join us in prayer as we seek God’s wisdom, His heart, and His mind in ths matter.

Lord Bless
Tim Wylie
Parakletos International

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