Special Alert:
Earthquake Disaster Relief
Click here for more information
Donations Received: $29,676.24 (Feb 06, 2010)
Click here for more information
Donations Received: $29,676.24 (Feb 06, 2010)
Saturday, February 6, 2010 at 10:40 AM EST:
Blessings! After an uncomfortably long silence, I've gotten reassurance that the funds transfers made to Fr. Amboise and to Nicolas at St. Augustine's went through normally, if a little slowly (perhaps you saw photos of "banks" set up in tents in open plazas -- Haitians are very resilient!). So at least it's possible to get monetary relief and funds for rebuilding through. As it now stands, I'm still scheduled to fly down on 2/22, but I tend to regard that as tentative, after two reschedules already.
To all of you (and many others not on this list, a profound thanks for your contributions, which have now reached just under $30,000 (not counting regular pledges received in the past month). Much more will be needed in the long run; please prayerfully consider an ongoing pledge to help the poorest of your poor brethren.
From Fr. Amboise yesterday (2/5):
Christ
is in our midst! Most everything is in good order, except for
the cost of
living which is rapidly rising in Haiti. We have received the
transfers,
and I'm doing my best to get started with the work to rebuild the
cloture wall
at St. Dorothy's. We'll have special services for St. Dorothy
tomorrow,
and liturgy as usual Sunday. In the aftermath of the
earthquake I was
really in a difficult situation for getting aid to the victims.
Now, no
means of transportation -- no tap-taps in the streets. The
14th I had to
lease a tap-tap in order to get about to get some food and water to the
victims. In such a fashion our mission was able to aid
directly.
The tap-tap cost US$50; more to buy water; some cash to help
some people
get out of the city and into the countryside. Next week I'll
go to Jacmel
to bless the homes of the faithful there and inspect the damages from
the
earthquake. I suppose you've heard from Bill [I haven't]; his
is OK.
May God protect your life.
Communications are still very irregular. I've tried several times to reach Fr. Amboise by phone without success, other than the one time last week. E-mail gets through eventually, but only when a cybercafé with a working generator (fuel is in very short supply and very expensive) and a satellite connection can be found.
Please keep us all in your prayers!
