My friend Andy, a missionary in Haiti, writes with an update on what's going on in his village which is several hours drive from Port au Prince:
As things move along here, our town (and every rural town) is starting to receive refugees from Port-au-Prince. All of the young people from here who were in school in the capital are back in our town now...and for who knows how long. Then there people who know people from here, and they are showing up as well. Jean-Pierre's uncle is currently stranded in Port with no house, no food, no water. We sent a pick up (at quite a dramatic price..perhaps up to $200 US) to go pick them up this morning. I count on helping to house the family...man, wife, and four kids. Food is going to be an issue for everyone in the country before long, we expect. [If you're interested in helping, as some of you have mentioned, send funds to the Lutheran church* noted as a contribution to Andy Stump. I haven't yet found a way to cash checks since the quake, but we hope to be able to do so soon. I foresee the chance to help lots of folks...especially with a meal here and there and cash to resolve problems. Plus our church is having meetings everynight this week to 'welcome' people who are suffering.]
Our church may well become a refugee site for our sister churches in Port who have no church building and no homes to go home to. Nothing is planned yet, but they do need somewhere to go.
One of the ironic things about the earthquake is that prisoners became freemen. Our local convicted drug dealer who was in a Port prison showed up here yesterday. There are effectively no police in the country to do anything about it. And no one in town will do anything out of fears of retribution. SO, it makes an interesting twist. We'd heard that many of the prisoners were shot as they tried to escape. Apparently not all of them.
*If you wish to support Andy send your contribution to Andy Stump c/o Christ Lutheran Church, 126 Main St. Dallastown, PA 17313
RLC